I'm intrigued by Maile's suggestion to know your character's better and write their stories. I think I know my current MC pretty well, but how deeply could I know her, and would knowing her better change her story? Interestingly, I first wrote the preceding phrase "would knowing her better change MY story," indicating that I am (or think I am) in control of the story. I am, after all, a plotter. I went back and changed the words to "HER story." If I'm loosening my death grip on her story, will she now invade my reality and attempt to take over her own story, like the character Harold Crick in the film Stranger Than Fiction? (Shawn, if you and Maile haven't seen that film, it's a MUST for your first free evening.) I love that film!
And on another note: Is it possible to write real and raw if you have a Christian publisher? I'm reading Katherine James' Can You See Anything Now, published by Paraclete Press. Right there on page 13, the suicidal painter, Margie, thinks "She should do something with this, . . . a retrospective of suicide attempts, so fucking meaningful and so fucking stupid and so fucking futile." Well, there you go, Shawn. You can write your next novel envisioning Paraclete as your publisher!
First of all, I don't know if you know this but Kate James and I are good friends--she was a critique partner of mine at one time--and I love that you used her as an example. I have such admiration for the way she writes courageously.
Second, we LOVE Stranger Than Fiction!
Third, loosen that grip, Robin! And I'll do the same.
I thought you knew K. James from your mention of her on fb when Christianity Today came out with their "To Read" list with you both on it. That led me to get her novel--which I'm enjoying very much, btw.
Maybe we could watch Stranger Than Fiction as a TSBU Community virtual movie date. Or at least the Fiction Group (which I finally just joined).
There’s something in counseling we hear often which goes something like “you can only lead someone as far you’ve gone” or “as deep s you’ve gone yourself.” I like that and it horrifies me. And I think a lot of the baggage that I’m working through in counseling is the very baggage that holds me back in creating and etc. That being said, you can’t be were ain’t (also helpful phrase I’ve heard) and there’s some stuff I’ll probably publish after a few people die (to be frank) or after some more healing… But then, writing and sharing and taking courageous steps is a path of healing too, right?
I want to read the dark stories of Shawn’s soul. Take the gloves off. Let the adults act like it. The world is not filled with saints.
I'm going for it. Brace yourself.
I'm intrigued by Maile's suggestion to know your character's better and write their stories. I think I know my current MC pretty well, but how deeply could I know her, and would knowing her better change her story? Interestingly, I first wrote the preceding phrase "would knowing her better change MY story," indicating that I am (or think I am) in control of the story. I am, after all, a plotter. I went back and changed the words to "HER story." If I'm loosening my death grip on her story, will she now invade my reality and attempt to take over her own story, like the character Harold Crick in the film Stranger Than Fiction? (Shawn, if you and Maile haven't seen that film, it's a MUST for your first free evening.) I love that film!
And on another note: Is it possible to write real and raw if you have a Christian publisher? I'm reading Katherine James' Can You See Anything Now, published by Paraclete Press. Right there on page 13, the suicidal painter, Margie, thinks "She should do something with this, . . . a retrospective of suicide attempts, so fucking meaningful and so fucking stupid and so fucking futile." Well, there you go, Shawn. You can write your next novel envisioning Paraclete as your publisher!
First of all, I don't know if you know this but Kate James and I are good friends--she was a critique partner of mine at one time--and I love that you used her as an example. I have such admiration for the way she writes courageously.
Second, we LOVE Stranger Than Fiction!
Third, loosen that grip, Robin! And I'll do the same.
I thought you knew K. James from your mention of her on fb when Christianity Today came out with their "To Read" list with you both on it. That led me to get her novel--which I'm enjoying very much, btw.
Maybe we could watch Stranger Than Fiction as a TSBU Community virtual movie date. Or at least the Fiction Group (which I finally just joined).
I'll work at loosening that grip!
I love that idea!
There’s something in counseling we hear often which goes something like “you can only lead someone as far you’ve gone” or “as deep s you’ve gone yourself.” I like that and it horrifies me. And I think a lot of the baggage that I’m working through in counseling is the very baggage that holds me back in creating and etc. That being said, you can’t be were ain’t (also helpful phrase I’ve heard) and there’s some stuff I’ll probably publish after a few people die (to be frank) or after some more healing… But then, writing and sharing and taking courageous steps is a path of healing too, right?
Thanks for the encouragement, Michael.