Kurt Vonnegut was a legendary, visionary author who had some fantastic advice. I’ve written about it before, let’s see how it holds up, huh?
In personal news, it’s been really busy. Lots going on with work and the business and the kids. It’s all good, it’s just a lot of a lot. Writing continues. My anniversary approaches. There are gripes, but when aren’t there?
Drawing from the Well
There’s only one new chapter left to write. It took me a while to map out what was going to happen and this is feeling like a longer chapter, which is great. The manuscript needs it. I’m proud of these new chapters I’m writing, for the most part. They need almost as much editing as the rest of the manuscript, which is the way that goes, but that’s fine. It’s still a step in the right direction. Hopefully, next week, I’ll be able to report on that very next step. It’s another big one, but I’m AMPED to attack it.
Pages 309
174,390/178,445 Words (see how close we are???)
Filling the Well
It was another great reading week, even better than last week. I plowed through SEVEN books this week to get way ahead of pace. It feels fantastic. The current week is going a little slower, but it’ll pick up.
I finished Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol 1 and 2 and they were all good. It’s fun seeing what happened between Wizard and Dorothy Must Die. I also read a short story called Evan: A Remainder and it was creepy and cool. I really liked it.
18/100 for #ProjectBookworm2024
Well Chat
From February 19-22, 2019, I covered a few pieces of advice from Kurt Vonnegut on writing (#3, #4, #6, #7). Here’s the advice bits I mentioned:
- Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
- Every sentence must do one of two things: reveal character or advance the action.
- Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
- Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
Now, years later, how do these hold up and how have my opinions on them changed?
Point 1
People are complicated.
Everyone wants a lot of things, all at once, all the time. You can’t plop a character in a scene without giving them SOME motivation. This is something I could use to incorporate into my process. Now, it doesn’t always have to be “save the world.” It could be as simple as getting out of the scene they’re in, talking to a friend or love interest, or dinner (I’ve definitely used this one). Knowing what your characters want allows them to act from that perspective, making them more believable.
This advice still holds up.
Point 2
This is fair, but difficult.
Okay, hear me out. Advancing the action is pretty clear. Plot things happen and the story moves forward. I can guess what you’re thinking on the other part of that advice, though. “What do you mean reveal character? What about world-building?” Yes, world-building and scene setting is important, but it can pull double duty in revealing character. Yes, it can. Instead of laundry-listing setting details, characterize them through your POV character. The walls weren’t blue, they were the color of a clear, sunny day; it’s a shame the real sky didn’t match the cheeriness of their interior portrayal. Whoa! Now THAT reveals character. You can get a character’s mood, and thereby the mood of the scene, from a sentence fragment like what I just wrote. It tells you about who is telling you this story. That informs the plot and gives your story much-needed texture.
Point 3
Yeah, this is really important.
No. This is important. You have to put your characters in situations that will hurt them. You don’t learn how to sail in calm seas. Neither do characters become their best, strongest selves without adversity. Bad things must happen to them. Without trouble, hardship, and difficulty, there is no story. Read that again. The whole point of the story you’re telling is taking them on a journey. Whether it’s romantic, thought-provoking, emotionally moving, or climactically world-ending, your characters are the vehicle for that journey. Your reader will insert themself, whether intentionally or not, into the mind of the character. Reveal your character’s true self and that will allow the reader to see something through that. Otherwise, what’s the point.
Point 4
I’ll get more specific, write for you.
Yes, you. Here’s the thing about that. Most of the work, and thereby the satisfaction, will only be experienced by you. There is no audience for writing, only publication. On top of that, you aren’t as unique as you think. Yes, the collection of thoughts, likes, dislikes, hobbies, experiences, and thoughts is unique. When it comes to story, though (for which we’re all hardwired), you’re not that unique. If you like a fantasy book with certain tropes and aspects, chances are there are many others who would like it too. Even it it isn’t a perfect intersection, there will be enough pieces of the book that you like that they would like to that you would both read it. That means if you write a book for you, there’s someone else out there that will like at least most of it. So, write the book you love. Write the book you wish already existed so you can read it (so says Toni Morrison). Be true to yourself, write what you love, and you’ll find an audience.
I did.
Have a great week and let me know how your creative efforts are going on social media at the links below. What do you think of this advice and my take on it? Good idea? Bad idea? Sound off.
May the tide carry you to safer shores.
BSG