Katherine Frances's Blog, page 345
July 9, 2015
"I am the background person.
The one who no one knows -
The one who’s never noticed,
When he comes..."
The one who no one knows -
The one who’s never noticed,
When he comes and goes.
I have been forgotten,
And people pass me by -
And when I’m crying,
No one asks: how, or when, or why.
As absent as the whitewash,
Which hides away the walls -
The one who lives - indifferently -
And they never cared at all…
No, they never cared at all.”
- broken poetry (via br-o-ken-poetry)
Romance Isn’t the Problem in YA Lit
A lot of writers might argue that romance in YA lit is a
boring old trope that needs to die. If you’re into reading YA lit, it’s been
nearly impossible for you to avoid the “she was a normal girl until she met
[insert cool boy character]”, but I’m here to argue that romance and love
triangles aren’t necessarily the problem in young adult novels. The problem is
when the main character completely loses all of their power and motivation when
romance is introduced to the story. When it’s done right, the story can be
captivating and realistic.Here are a few reasons
why you shouldn’t be afraid to include romance in your novel:Many of us have had
crushesMost of us, starting at a young age, have had a fondness for
someone and may have possible done something foolish because of those feelings.
We can’t pretend like we’ve never had these feelings or they don’t exist for
many people. Even if we weren’t in love, those feelings were probably very
strong for a lot of people.You can still build
strong charactersHaving two characters fall in love does not mean your
characters are weak. You can still build strong characters will believable/understandable
motives and they can still be extremely relatable. The romance doesn’t have to
be the main focus. The main character shouldn’t lose themselves or become
weaker because of their romantic relationships (unless that is the point of the
story).We do a lot of things
for loveLove can sometimes be the main motivating factor for our
actions. We tend to do a lot of things in the name of love, whether these
decisions were smart or not.Relationships are
importantExploring both romantic and platonic relationships with
others can be important to your novel. As people, we tend to care about and
love family, friends, partners, etc. This can be a natural part of our lives,
so it’s not the worst idea to explore it.Here’s how to do it
right:Build your characters
up separatelyEach character should be someone separate from the
relationship they’re in. Two characters can fall in love, but they should be
more than that relationship. Explore who they are separately and what makes
them different/similar. Does the relationship make them stronger? Does it make
them weaker? Does it affect your story at all?You don’t have to
make romance the main focusRomance and love does not have to be the main focus,
depending on your novel. Take some time to think about what that relationship
means in your story. What else is going on? Is it a sub-plot or is it the main
plot?Love triangles: make
the decision hardLove triangles become pointless when you can easily spot the
better choice. You should have as much trouble as the main character does when
choosing sides. I think the Hunger Games does this very well, because both Gale
and Peeta are good options for Katniss and both represent different things. Her
relationship with both of them does not make Katniss any weaker as a character.
She is motivated by her desire to protect those she loves, which is what makes
her relatable and honorable.Figure out wants and
needsEach character should have wants and needs separate from the
romance. There should be a story beyond the relationships formed. You should be
able to build your character and really get to know who they are on their own.
Otherwise, it can all feel very contrived.Ultimately, I don’t think you should cut something you
really feel is important/integral to your story because people say it’s overdone.
Just avoid talking down to your readers and treat your characters with respect.-Kris Noel
July 8, 2015
thebookhangover:
Modern AU - All Grown Up series » The...
Modern AU - All Grown Up series » The Powerpuff Girls
Their father would always joke that they were made of “sugar, spice and everything nice”. It didn’t take long for them to figure out who was who.
As children, Catherine “Blossom” Utonium was considered the leader of their trinity. She has always been the most level-headed and composed sister, while also strong and determined. Able to talk herself out of most situations, she values her ability to speak freely and honestly. She is currently at Harvard University studying law. She has a keen interest in civil rights.
Annie “Bubbles” Utonium was always the sweetest of the three. She is often overlooked because of her gentle nature, and she yet knows how to get down and dirty like her sisters. Once she began taking Spanish classes at school it was no time at all before it became clear that she had an affinity for languages. Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Arabic. No matter the language. It comes naturally to her. She is currently studying linguistics at UCLA on a scholarship.Francis “Buttercup” Utonium has been tough since birth. Growing up a tomboy who loved to get dirty, she has always fought harder and played rougher. She does not plan and is all action, finding it hard to concentrate on purely mental tasks. As a result, she has always leant towards more hands-on work. She has recently finished Police Officer training and has excelled in her first few weeks as an Officer. She hopes to rise the ranks and join Narcotics.Thanks to readthebloodybook for the series idea ♡
July 7, 2015
The writer's blessing:
May you write 1,500 words with ease. May your characters be lively and not cardboard. May you need little editing. May your muse visit you as soon as you sit. May the Internet not distract you much.May your phone lie dormant while you write.
