Friday, November 5, 2010

"I was just trying to be funny..."

My book is written from two points of view. For example. Chapter 1 is written from A's point of view (POV), and Chapter 2 is written from B's POV.

All characters in any book have a distinct, unique "voice." They have their own personality, how they see things, how they say things, etc. Just like people.

I am over 50 pages into this book, and I realized, oh no. I think A and B have the same voice. I think all along I was writing them with the same "voice," just a different POV. Ahh! How boring is that going to be? Because the reader is smart enough to pick up on that kind of thing.

Anyway, I was telling Tyler all about my problem, and I could physically see his eyes glaze over and his jaw go slack, but I didn't care. I still told him because sometimes you just need someone to bounce ideas off of. And quite frankly, I don't like to talk about my books. So it was even better that he wasn't paying attention.

Mind you, I gave Tyler all of the same information I just gave you except I told him the genders of A and B.

So after I said I was worried that they both had the same voice, he looked at me and said, "Just have one of them use sign language."

If you laughed at that, great. Tyler will feel much better. Did he get a laugh from me?

No.

Why? Because one of my characters is mute. I'm not even joking. She doesn't speak. So she, essentially, does use sign language. It's quite a challenge to write a book written from the POV of someone who cannot communicate without using her hands or a pen.

I stared at Tyler with narrowed eyes and a growing temper.

"What?" he asks.
"Did you read my book?" (My books are strictly forbidden. I went to the temple last night so he had 3 1/2 hours to read. He could have done it!)
"No!" He laughs.
I continue to stare and he stops laughing. My eyes continue to narrow until they are slits.
"Are you serious?" I ask him.
"No, I mean yes. No, I did not read your book."
"Then how did you know one of my characters is mute and has to use sign language?"
He kind of smiles again, but it's the, "Oops, I just ruined my Christmas present," kind of smile.
"Well you said voices, and I thought speaking, and I thought maybe if they didn't have to speak then you wouldn't have to worry about their voice..." his voice is getting quieter and quieter until he says in almost a whisper, "I was just trying to be funny..."

Such is the stress of living in our household during the month of November. Pin It

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Want to help me with my book?

I'm in the middle of a brainstorming session, but I feel like this is more of a brain sprinkle than storm.

I need help.

Here's what I'm looking for: I need ideas on supernatural abilities a person might have. They can be big or little, though mostly little. Here are some examples:

The ability to-

(Small)
Sing birds out of trees and make them go wherever you want
Spark a fire with a snap of your fingers
Turn water into wheat
Control a small amount of wind
Grow a potato instantly in your hands
Turn air into music

(Big)
Tell if a person is lying or telling the truth simply by looking at them.
Control a person's thoughts

The setting is in a medieval type world. No technology and such. If you have any ideas to share, that would be welcome. If not, that's cool. I hope you enjoyed a few random things that may or may not appear in my book.

If you are shy about posting your ideas online, I completely understand. You are welcome to email me! But please, only give me ideas you won't mind if I use in my story. If you have a great idea but don't want me to use it, then wait until I'm done writing this book and then tell me - with the strict instructions that it's for entertainment purposes and not personal use.

Thanks a bunch! Pin It

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Can't talk right now...

I'm busy writing.

NaNoWriMo has begun!

Don't know what I'm talking about? Click here for a general rundown. And then check my stats here (or in the sidebar) to keep track of my progress.

*I've just realized the NaNoWriMo website is probably taking forever. Here's how it works. November is National Novel Writing Month. I hope to write a 50,000 word novel before midnight on November 30th.*

May I just say it's day 3 of the "competition," and I've already met 43% of my goal? I think that translates to: "I kick hiney." I guess you could say I have a healthy obsession. Pin It