About Life and That Novel-In-Progress...
Jun. 30th, 2008 05:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
starvinbohemianWhile a responsible adult would probably be going out and finding employment about now, I have been taking some vacation from life time to do various things like swim in the doughboy, hang out with friends, and work on writing projects. Went shopping for a bridesmaid's dress for Shala's wedding with said bride and Ellen, which was a ton of fun (still can't believe my BFF is getting married). Good times.
One concern I have is that I'm falling into the Mary Sue trap of having all the male characters obsessed with the female protagonist. That's a no-no, because while it may give a vicarious thrill to various thirteen-year-old readers, everyone else will roll their eyes. My initial intention was to go the opposite route and have none of them want her. And, in a way, I've remained faithful to that. None of them really want her, but they do want her previous reincarnation. So, in that respect, I haven't remained faithful. I feel like I justify their various obsessions and one of my main themes is my protagonist's struggle to cope with all the fucked up baggage she inherits from her previous life, but that might not be good enough. I'm trying to put myself in a reader's position, but it's hard when it's your baby. I also justify to myself that all their obsessions are not necessarily romantic.
I look at Saya, the heroine of Blood+, with her similar situation and think that her relationships with all four of the men who want her throughout the series are justified so that I appreciate them without rolling my eyes. They all make sense to the story, possibly because Saya remains this somewhat aloof symbol to them, representing something they want (and only two of them really want her as a person). Saya also never really seems to want any of them back. Another example is Rukia from Bleach. She has a harem of male characters who would all be more than happy to take her off the availability list. I have no problem whatsoever with that.
Then, I look at Bella of Twilight, who makes me roll my eyes constantly. Every boy she meets wants her, and it feels like a bad fanfic. So in conclusion, it seems to me that as long as the relationships can all be justified and made interesting enough, they can be allowed.
Yes, no, dear God I hope so?
Other than that, I'm happy with how the novel is coming. I'm on 56 pages and near 19,000 words. I've also begun working on FE 8. The chapter has finally revealed itself to me, so it's been outlined. It's just a matter of forcing myself to complete it. I've been re-reading the previous chapters to get myself back into Slytherin mode. It's been a while since I've been able to write so... acerbically? XD
Also, Maggie and I have officially crossed the threshold of acceptable nerddomin public. She recorded in her lj our lengthy historical debate over whether Richard III actually murdered the princes in the Tower. Because this is what History nerds do, people. ;)
One concern I have is that I'm falling into the Mary Sue trap of having all the male characters obsessed with the female protagonist. That's a no-no, because while it may give a vicarious thrill to various thirteen-year-old readers, everyone else will roll their eyes. My initial intention was to go the opposite route and have none of them want her. And, in a way, I've remained faithful to that. None of them really want her, but they do want her previous reincarnation. So, in that respect, I haven't remained faithful. I feel like I justify their various obsessions and one of my main themes is my protagonist's struggle to cope with all the fucked up baggage she inherits from her previous life, but that might not be good enough. I'm trying to put myself in a reader's position, but it's hard when it's your baby. I also justify to myself that all their obsessions are not necessarily romantic.
I look at Saya, the heroine of Blood+, with her similar situation and think that her relationships with all four of the men who want her throughout the series are justified so that I appreciate them without rolling my eyes. They all make sense to the story, possibly because Saya remains this somewhat aloof symbol to them, representing something they want (and only two of them really want her as a person). Saya also never really seems to want any of them back. Another example is Rukia from Bleach. She has a harem of male characters who would all be more than happy to take her off the availability list. I have no problem whatsoever with that.
Then, I look at Bella of Twilight, who makes me roll my eyes constantly. Every boy she meets wants her, and it feels like a bad fanfic. So in conclusion, it seems to me that as long as the relationships can all be justified and made interesting enough, they can be allowed.
Yes, no, dear God I hope so?
Other than that, I'm happy with how the novel is coming. I'm on 56 pages and near 19,000 words. I've also begun working on FE 8. The chapter has finally revealed itself to me, so it's been outlined. It's just a matter of forcing myself to complete it. I've been re-reading the previous chapters to get myself back into Slytherin mode. It's been a while since I've been able to write so... acerbically? XD
Also, Maggie and I have officially crossed the threshold of acceptable nerddom
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 07:47 pm (UTC)I would let you know, but you wont let me read it because you are a meanie-head.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-04 11:05 pm (UTC)Aw, I don't think Rukia is idealized. Then again, she can do no wrong with me, and that's kind of like idealizing... Hmn.
I want you to read it, and you will as soon as I have enough in linear order.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-05 07:22 am (UTC)Is that the kind of icon that you wanted to make? I will learn soon promise.
Do you like my Billie one?
oh, i also found some screen caps of diary of a call girl, that shit is HAWT!!!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-06 08:30 am (UTC)Yes, your Billie is lovely.