This week has been a pretty successful one for me, but last night I hit a dead end. Life is funny though. I have to admit, rather, give credit where credit is due. I didn't want to be stuck. (Who does?) I'm a pretty spiritual person for those who don't know me and when I realized I had no idea where to go next, I literally prayed for help. It's amazing how some prayers take awhile to get answered while others don't get answered at all. This prayer doesn't fall into either of these categories. I got my answer last night in a dream of all places. (Now I just sound crazy, I know. I accept that.) I'm so happy that I can continue on. I was really wondering what in the world I was going to do. Of course, all the details won't come until I sit down and write it out. I'm at the point in the book where the MC is going to be put through a series of tests to become a part of an elite group of, well, Watchers. They look after all things in my little country of Vismour. Anyway, I didn't want these tests to be easy or cliche and I got a few great hints last night as to where I need to be taking him.
Before I do, I have one question. The beginning of this chapter has already been written, but it's rushed. I was just reading Kate's WiP post about how she was rushing the plot forward and needed to go back and slow it down for her characters, but what if your character is feeling rushed? Do you let time fly by in those moments to heighten that sense? Do you blur details? I did, but once the trials begin, I had intended to slow down time and become more detailed. Is this appropriate? What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts on the matter. What can I say? I'm insatiably curious.
And I have to cheer for myself because I'm so dang proud. I got that little link to work! Maybe there's hope for my computer skills yet.
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That is so cool that you got unstuck from a dream - I wish I could have dreams like that!
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your question about how to show when a character is rushed, I would say to focus on certain details, while maybe letting others blur. Maybe as an exercise watch an action scene in a movie where things are happening really fast, and then try to write that same scene in novel form and see how accurately you can capture it. I did a similar exercise in a creative writing class ages ago, and it really helped tune me into how to better write action sequences.
See? I knew you'd have some good advice. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGood for you. I often get inspiration from my dreams. Last night, I dreamed I saw an advertisement for my novel. The cover was beautiful. It was a good dream. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Janyece,
ReplyDeleteDropping in from Kate's WIP wednesday. Welcome to WIP Wednesday first of all. I truly wish I could solve problems with a dream and funnily enough my character in my first wip is a vivid dreamer. Figuring out how will show her dreams helping her with life.
Kate had a great suggestion. One other thing that came to mind is sometimes when we are rushing or rather rushing our characters, details stand out - sort of like slow motion. Capturing our attention. I think that's what kate just said, so just repeating.
If you are talking about rushing the story itself because anxious to write it and leaving out details. Get the thoughts out there, then make notes to yourself or in the document and fix it in the edit. I discovered handwriting the story, then typing it up later really works and gets all my thoughts out there. Yes, it can be messy, but that's what the rewrite are for. Right?
Angie, that's awesome! Hopefully, we'll all be seeing that advertisement soon!
ReplyDeleteRobin, thank you! I appreciate the advice. Your novel sounds fun and interesting as well!