Characterization

Captain's Log, Stardate 09.28.2005

Well, I finished the novella this weekend. Yay! Now to hack and slash at least 10K from that puppy. Yes, you read right. Luckily I have a very sharp Chinese cleaver. I might even chop out the mystery element if I have to, although I don't want to--it's my hero's main motivation for throwing him with the heroine.

I am also finally turning to my Hawaii Chick Lit/Suspense manuscript. I also just received notice that Hawaiian Airlines has cheap fares right after Christmas. Hmm, heavenly sign? LOL

Now is the funnest part of a novel, for me (Well, it falls close to the other fun part, when I'm writing those zinger dialogue scenes that just rush out of my typing fingers). Now I get to grab this heroine and peel back her character like onion layers, only less painful to my tear ducts. What's her story? What's her hangup? Who'd she like to kiss and who'd she like to kill?

Brandilyn Collins's book "Getting Into Character" is invaluable to me for this part. Her methods don't work for every writer, but for me they work GREAT. I can get totally under my heroine's skin, although not as gruesome as Silence of the Lambs.

My first priority--what's the character's external goal? I'm not talking anything vague like "be a movie star," I'm digging deeper. I try to define her desire, like defining "stardom": Making a certain amount on a movie? Working with a particular director? Being on a certain TV show? Something where it's obvious she's obtained her goal.

I also try to put a ticking clock in there for good measure, because stardom could take years and I don't want my book to be an epic saga. For example, aspiring starlet only has enough money to stay in New York for nine months, or else she has to return to her trailer-park home and marry Bob the used baby clothes re-seller.

Of course, that also means she needs an internal reason why she wants it so badly, beyond the desire for money and fame, deeper than her poor deprived background. A really good motivation for a character requires very intense digging.

Maybe heroine wants to prove herself to her richer cousins who always looked down on her. That's nice, but why does she care what they think?

Internal motivations usually come back to some belief the character has about herself. This is always the hardest part for me about a character, but I've found that when I can push through and get it, the character is rich and consistent.

Diet: Well, I haven't been exercising (a torn ACL will do that to ya) but Nothing To Eat In The House = low caloric intake. I have to exercise, though. I'll try to go walking tomorrow.

Comments

Anonymous said…

Hey hun, I think you REALLY need an assistant for that trip to Hawaii! *VBG*

Yay on finsihing the novella!!! Yay on finally getting to the other one! (Have I mentioned I'm a slug?)

love ya

Wed Sep 28, 10:55:00 PM 2005

Anonymous said…

Wahoo, congrats!

Mon Oct 03, 03:31:00 PM 2005

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures

「戌年」連載小説第10章

キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか？しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか？過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第10章 - 赤いブーゲンビリアの低木「マリ、ごめんなさい。」マリは、答え機でラナの後悔に満ちた声を聞いて、犬の餌の袋を落としそうになった。「あなたのこの犬の施設の計画に、私が最も支援的ではなかったことを知っ

Psalm 139:14

Dear God, Thank You for the comfort and joy this verse brings! You created me personally and made me exactly how I am. You have made me beautiful and wonderful, and my soul longs for you. Amen 親愛なる神よ、この聖句がもたらす慰めと喜びに感謝します！あなたは私を個人的に創造し、私のありのままの姿を造ってくださいました。あなたは私を美しく、素晴らしいものとしてくださり、私の魂はあなたを待ち望んでいます。アーメン

Join Camy's brand-new Patreon!

My Patreon is now live! Thank you so much to those of you who have followed and subscribed to my Patreon! I hope you're enjoying Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster so far. For those who missed the announcement, I now have a subscription on Patreon where you can read chapters of my next book ahead of the ebook publication. You can subscribe to the tiers and receive more benefits in each higher tier. I put together a very PINK comparison chart so you can see the benefits available. Patreon is also a bit like a Facebook group in that you can comment on my chapters and my posts. Feel free to post reactions or ask questions, although I reserve the right to decline to answer if it would be a spoiler. :) To celebrate the launch, I’m offering something special. All patrons will receive “Bidding on Treason,” an exclusive, limited-availability short story starring Lena, whom you met in The Gentleman Thief , and who appears in Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 7: Spinster . However,

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Lady Wynwood #7 early release Kickstarter