Major *facepalm* & Writer Sadism

So some of you might have seen this over on Noveltee(n) already, but since it's pretty silent around here because of NaNo, I'm double-posting it. But, first...

I am a terrible person. O_O I have school, 4 exams to take in two months, a song(in Korean) to memorize, and novel to finish writing before the 30th, and guess what I go and do?! I get 8 books from the library.

Plus I can't for the life of me figure out how to make all the fonts in this post the same... O_o Today is not my brightest day, to say the least. [Maggie: Twin to the rescue! *fixes fonts*]

But I'll live. Probably.

Anyway! On to the next bit.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that writers are really just sadists.

Okay, maybe only some. But it is pretty common, when one overhears writers talking about their work, to hear the writer gleefully discussing maiming or emotionally scarring their characters, or killing people off, etc.

But I'm thinking it's not actually the hurting the characters that the writer delights in (okay, maybe a little) but rather what the hurting will lead to. As S.E. Sinkhorn says over on her blog*:

"Try it. Take away something your character loves dearly. Cut away their family. Steal their significant other. Annihilate their best friend. Destroy their freakin' world. Then let them change. Let them grow. Let them become someone with a different outlook on the same past. Let them be stronger for it. And let the story continue."

What doesn't kill your characters  make them stronger. If you kill the character's whole family, they will probably be devastated. If you throw their life in a mud puddle and stomp on it with soccer cleats, they will suffer. But they will get over it, and become better characters. Because that is what people do.

So really, it is a truth not-so-universally acknowledged, that writers love their characters so flipping much that they are willing to put them through the pain that will make them better, stronger people.

*Nooo, I didn't just choose a blog topic that would fit that link because that link is about Doctor Who, why do you ask?

Twin Moment of the Day: Well, it's not really a TM, but I did get "Between Shades of Gray" from the library.

On my Mind: Where is all my time?!

Listening to: "I Dreamed a Dream" by Ruthie Henshall from Les Miserables

Grateful for: Very little homework

Wanting to: Eat. Sleep. Read. Write. Get one of Hermione's hourglass things that makes me be in two places at once.

Writing: Defiance (NaNo novel--27k!)

Timed Writing

So, today has been a full day for me. I started by waking up late, and nearly DIED, since today is Midterms Day for two classes. O_O But I made it to both, and I think I did pretty good. Following that up with being almost done with reading an MS someone sent me (not to mention the knitting I shall do tonight), today's a day of Things Getting Done!

Buuuut anyway. Someone should poke me when I start getting sidetracked. *pokes self*

My second midterm was for English, and we had to write a timed essay. It made me think of NaNo (also "timed", for those that have been living under rocks like the guys from that Geico commercial).

What is so magical about timed writing, eh? It's used frequently in our society, for both happy reasons (NANO!!!!!!!!!!!!) and tests (...midterms...). I see where both are coming from; for NaNo, you hope the tight deadline will produce results, despite their probable crappiness. For tests, the prof is hoping a deadline will force you to use your brain, and that such a test will show your level of... something. Okay, so maybe I don't get it in the test case.

Ahem. But what I do get is this: the two different uses of the same method have the same magical non-fail solution! And that is...? Come on, guys, say it with me! Yup. Pre-prep. Doing as much as you can beforehand so you spend less time later staring blankly at the page. What does this involve? Outlining. In fiction's case, world/character/plot building. In essays, thinking your thesis statement and all your arguments through till they're as tough as nails. You do whatever you can to be as ready as possible to start throwing your words on the page, to form thoughts and pictures, when the timer starts.

Can you think of any other instances where you've had to do timed writing? How about what you do to prep for such a task? Hope y'all are having a fantastic fall in your part of the world. ^_^

Twin Moment of the Day: We loves us some Dad time.

On my Mind: The MS I'm reading. I almost missed my midterm because I lost track while reading it. >.>

Listening to: "Suddenly" by Bo-Kyung Kim. Seriously, I have this song on repeat I love it so much.

Grateful for: No more midterms!

Wanting to: Do many things, like knit, read, or go poke a random stranger.

Writing: Selfish [on hold for NaNo prep]

A Little World Building

Just a quick update in WIP-land.

This afternoon I sat down with full intentions to write. Right now I'm drafting a novel called Sovereignty, as you might or might know from the bottom of my posts. The other day, as you probably also know if you've been keeping up with this blog, I was going through old story ideas to hopefully find some jewels.

Well, I did. And I managed to string together said jewels to make a necklace. In plain english: I have my next story mapped out.

I'm a pantser, but that doesn't mean I don't plan sometimes. I detest plotting when it must be done. My weakness IS plotting, generally. But I think I have something special here, and I'm so excited about it. Thus, I was excited to do some work on it today and start answering those questions now instead of later, when all I'll want to do is write it.

All that to say, I ended up spending this afternoon world building for my new novel. The one I'll write just as soon as I'm done with Sovereignty.

So, for the comments, do you ever multitask? How many novels have you worked on at a time? Perhaps some are in your head?

I think I might go practice my guitar now. I'm learning a new song. I'll just go ahead and put this in-the-process-of-being-learned-song on my Music Pick for today.

Until next time!

Best Part of Today: Getting some super good plot work done.
Currently Craving: Ice cream. In the WORST way.
Music Pick: "Everybody" by Ingrid Michaelson (lovely song on guitar, truly)
WATM: Sovereignty (drafting)