Jade Varden's Blog, page 39
March 18, 2014
Writing 101: Going with the Flow
Sometimes, writing is the hardest thing in the world. You have to think twice about every word, struggle with each line, repeat the dialogue out loud before you change it all around. But sometimes, it's not. Sometimes, you'll settle into a groove. You'll get into a zone. And that's when words just start flowing. When that happens, you've got to go with it.
Words Before Agony
I'm a big advocate of doing the research and getting it right, and I don't care what you're writing about. If you're going to describe a tree, I think you should get out your reference materials (like Google) and learn about that damn tree. But I also believe that when the words are flowing, you need to go ahead and flow with them. Because when the well is dry, you'll have plenty of time to do your research.
So basically I'm telling you that if you're in the moment and you have to get it wrong, get it wrong. For example, you're writing an historical epic that's set in the 1840s. You're writing a scene where a character receives a photograph, and you're really in the scene. The words are flying. And you know, because you're reasonable, that they didn't have photographs the way we have photographs today. But you don't know the proper name for these early photographic endeavors (you ready for it? daguerreotypes), so you write PHOTOS in caps instead. When you go back to look at it later, you'll see the caps you'll know that you need to go research this. It's just that simple to stay in the zone and skip right over the parts you can't exactly write...not right now.
When the story is really speaking to you, it's not always a good idea to stop what you're doing so you can look up information about corsets, or whatever. But go back, read it again, and make sure you get all that research done. It's not okay to get it wrong in the final draft or even the second draft. It's only okay in the first, and only when you're so in tune with the story you're not going to stop to go to the bathroom, either. Go with the flow, but please don't take what I said about the bathroom literally. I don't want any angry emails.
What I'm really saying is this: write right now. Answer the questions later, when those words stop flowing and you have to go looking for water again.
Words Before Agony
I'm a big advocate of doing the research and getting it right, and I don't care what you're writing about. If you're going to describe a tree, I think you should get out your reference materials (like Google) and learn about that damn tree. But I also believe that when the words are flowing, you need to go ahead and flow with them. Because when the well is dry, you'll have plenty of time to do your research.
So basically I'm telling you that if you're in the moment and you have to get it wrong, get it wrong. For example, you're writing an historical epic that's set in the 1840s. You're writing a scene where a character receives a photograph, and you're really in the scene. The words are flying. And you know, because you're reasonable, that they didn't have photographs the way we have photographs today. But you don't know the proper name for these early photographic endeavors (you ready for it? daguerreotypes), so you write PHOTOS in caps instead. When you go back to look at it later, you'll see the caps you'll know that you need to go research this. It's just that simple to stay in the zone and skip right over the parts you can't exactly write...not right now.
When the story is really speaking to you, it's not always a good idea to stop what you're doing so you can look up information about corsets, or whatever. But go back, read it again, and make sure you get all that research done. It's not okay to get it wrong in the final draft or even the second draft. It's only okay in the first, and only when you're so in tune with the story you're not going to stop to go to the bathroom, either. Go with the flow, but please don't take what I said about the bathroom literally. I don't want any angry emails.
What I'm really saying is this: write right now. Answer the questions later, when those words stop flowing and you have to go looking for water again.
March 17, 2014
Writing 101: Being Ridiculous
By nature, writers spend a lot of time in their own heads. I'm one of those writers who takes this to a dark place. I'm overly analytical, highly critical, and I've learned that I'm getting in my own way when it comes to creating stories. My newest project is a perfect example of how I spend so much of my time being afraid to just be ridiculous.
Wishy-Washy
As I've mentioned, I've been struggling with my current manuscript. It's one of those stories where I have to bleed over every line and I'm soaked in sweat before even one more paragraph is completed. Every time I try to think about it, I change my mind about 10 times and end up right back where I started.
I found myself taking another look at different projects instead, anything to distract me from this nightmare of a story. And I found myself drawn to the same project again and again, something I started working on before the Deck of Lies. I realized that I have a full outline and character sheet for the book, not to mention 5 completed chapters. Why did I ever stop working on this in the first place?
Because, I finally realized, I was afraid. The story isn't my usual genre. There's no mystery in it. If I had to call it anything, I'd say it was a fantasy. And that's different, for me. There's even some folklore in the story. Well, a lot of folklore. And other mythical elements that I'm not always comfortable writing about.
I had another chapter written before I even knew it, then another. And I realized that it's okay for me to feel a little ridiculous about what I'm writing -- and I'm fine with being ridiculous when it's coming to me so easily. Being a writer means being uninhibited. It means not worrying about what other people think, and sometimes it means you can't even worry about what you think. If the words are coming, write them down. Write the story that comes to you when it comes, and don't be afraid of it.
I have to tell myself this all the time, and it bears repeating: Don't think so much. Just write. That's when good stuff happens.
Wishy-Washy
As I've mentioned, I've been struggling with my current manuscript. It's one of those stories where I have to bleed over every line and I'm soaked in sweat before even one more paragraph is completed. Every time I try to think about it, I change my mind about 10 times and end up right back where I started.
I found myself taking another look at different projects instead, anything to distract me from this nightmare of a story. And I found myself drawn to the same project again and again, something I started working on before the Deck of Lies. I realized that I have a full outline and character sheet for the book, not to mention 5 completed chapters. Why did I ever stop working on this in the first place?
Because, I finally realized, I was afraid. The story isn't my usual genre. There's no mystery in it. If I had to call it anything, I'd say it was a fantasy. And that's different, for me. There's even some folklore in the story. Well, a lot of folklore. And other mythical elements that I'm not always comfortable writing about.
I had another chapter written before I even knew it, then another. And I realized that it's okay for me to feel a little ridiculous about what I'm writing -- and I'm fine with being ridiculous when it's coming to me so easily. Being a writer means being uninhibited. It means not worrying about what other people think, and sometimes it means you can't even worry about what you think. If the words are coming, write them down. Write the story that comes to you when it comes, and don't be afraid of it.
I have to tell myself this all the time, and it bears repeating: Don't think so much. Just write. That's when good stuff happens.
March 16, 2014
Affected by Hope's Rebellion
"This book is so jammed packed with emotion that you can’t put this book down without feeling unaffected."
"This book gets under your skin in ways you didn’t think of and draw a lot of emotions out of you."
Hope's Rebellion has been reviewed at the Reading Cafe. Visit the blog to see the review, and you'll find a post from me about deadline stress (and how to deal with it)!
"This book gets under your skin in ways you didn’t think of and draw a lot of emotions out of you."
Hope's Rebellion has been reviewed at the Reading Cafe. Visit the blog to see the review, and you'll find a post from me about deadline stress (and how to deal with it)!
Indie News: A Time for Segregation?
If the self-pubishing craze continues to grow as it has done, next year 50% of ebooks will be self-published or indie titles. And now, some bloggers are saying they should be separated from the traditionally published books. In fact, one says it's time to start segregating them.
Talk About Shopworn...
If history counts for anything, segregation of anything doesn't really work. When it comes to people, forced separation leads to resentment. When it comes to products, the market usually ends up choosing for itself.
But to play Devil's advocate, there are reasonable points to the argument. The blogger calling for the change points out that many books with very adult themes can appear online inside inappropriate categories, and self-published titles may be listed right along with more traditional books. The blogger says plainly that ebookstores must separate the "good" authors from the "bad." According to him, "good" authors earn a living solely through writing books and "bad" ones do not.
It's flawed logic and a bad argument, to put it diplomatically, that self-published titles should be separated from more traditional fare. Traditional publishers don't decide what readers should read -- the readers decide. This is called the open market, and it's been a celebrated cornerstone of world economy for centuries. Books are presented in lists to readers, and they pick the ones they like. Maybe they choose indie titles like Fifty Shades of Grey or traditional titles like The Hunger Games, but they get to choose. Books are already sorted by genre, price and content. Why should they be segregated based upon publisher as well?
At the end of his piece, the blogger warns that self-published titles will destroy all bookstores. But some nervous Nelly probably said the same of indie films, movies made without Hollywod's big-budget theatrics and studios, and they haven't ruined the movie industry. But at least me and this other blogger can agree on one thing: self-publishing is very powerful. I just don't think it's also destructive.
Talk About Shopworn...
If history counts for anything, segregation of anything doesn't really work. When it comes to people, forced separation leads to resentment. When it comes to products, the market usually ends up choosing for itself.
But to play Devil's advocate, there are reasonable points to the argument. The blogger calling for the change points out that many books with very adult themes can appear online inside inappropriate categories, and self-published titles may be listed right along with more traditional books. The blogger says plainly that ebookstores must separate the "good" authors from the "bad." According to him, "good" authors earn a living solely through writing books and "bad" ones do not.
It's flawed logic and a bad argument, to put it diplomatically, that self-published titles should be separated from more traditional fare. Traditional publishers don't decide what readers should read -- the readers decide. This is called the open market, and it's been a celebrated cornerstone of world economy for centuries. Books are presented in lists to readers, and they pick the ones they like. Maybe they choose indie titles like Fifty Shades of Grey or traditional titles like The Hunger Games, but they get to choose. Books are already sorted by genre, price and content. Why should they be segregated based upon publisher as well?
At the end of his piece, the blogger warns that self-published titles will destroy all bookstores. But some nervous Nelly probably said the same of indie films, movies made without Hollywod's big-budget theatrics and studios, and they haven't ruined the movie industry. But at least me and this other blogger can agree on one thing: self-publishing is very powerful. I just don't think it's also destructive.
March 14, 2014
Judging Jade
"I read this amazing book in one day. I read it until my eyes were twitching and watery because it was such a page-turner (like the rest of the books in the series)."
Amazon
"Just go read this series because it’s one of the best out there! GO, NOW!"
The fourth and final book in the Deck of Lies, Judgment, was reviewed recently at Little Book Star. Read the whole review to find out why the reader loved the book!
Amazon"Just go read this series because it’s one of the best out there! GO, NOW!"
The fourth and final book in the Deck of Lies, Judgment, was reviewed recently at Little Book Star. Read the whole review to find out why the reader loved the book!
March 13, 2014
Writing 101: It's Not Always Emotional, It's Physical
Start looking online, and you'll find hundreds of articles and blog posts that detail the emotional toll of being a writer. You're going to get rejected. You're going to get bad reviews. You are going to get your feelings hurt, and it's going to be really hard. But even if you think you're handling these dark emotions well, there may be something you've overlooked: stress can cause physical complications, too. Even if your mind can handle the trauma of being a writer...can your body, too?
A Gut Feeling
I began to experience extreme pain in my abdomen last summer. It became chronic, an everyday affair, so I began seeing doctors. I'm a woman, and being a woman always muddies the waters no matter what the hell you're attempting to do. And when you're a woman experiencing pain and there is no immediately obvious cause, everything is more complex because now all your female parts have to be studied under a microscope, along with all the usual pain-causing suspects in the anatomical lineup.
The point is, I saw different doctors and took several extremely invasive tests over the course of 8 months. I very nearly had major surgery that would have removed a somewhat vital body part, and then at last I discovered the source of all my discomfort and my big "mystery" ailment: stress.
I've given myself a permanent condition as a result of too much stress and it can't be cured, but don't worry about that because it can be managed with diet and I'm a professional when it comes to dieting. All those times I threw another rejection letter away or blinked away the tears created by a stinging review or harsh criticism...may have gone directly to my stomach instead. I don't throw myself on the floor and cry hysterically when I get rejected. I always just move right along and send out more letters or start editing again, or whatever. I always thought I really handled the emotional aspect of being a writer very well.
Until my body fell completely apart.
It Takes Guts...
Stress may be getting to you even if you don't know it's getting to you. My stress isn't solely caused by writing, either, so I'm by no means a cookie-cutter example. I tend toward worrying as a general facet of my personality, but being a writer certainly isn't the most stress-free career choice I might have made. I could have spent my life baking cakes, and how relaxing does that sound?
But I digress. It boils down to this: stress can get to you in a variety of physical ways. As a writer it's part of your job to learn how to relax to keep it from getting to you. Stress may literally eat away at your insides otherwise. So don't think that you're feeling totally stress-free because you're not an emotional wreck. Stress may be getting to you in other ways that you don't even realize yet. Learn to relax, and try to avoid stress in other aspects of your life. Start managing it now so it doesn't become a bigger problem later.
A Gut Feeling
I began to experience extreme pain in my abdomen last summer. It became chronic, an everyday affair, so I began seeing doctors. I'm a woman, and being a woman always muddies the waters no matter what the hell you're attempting to do. And when you're a woman experiencing pain and there is no immediately obvious cause, everything is more complex because now all your female parts have to be studied under a microscope, along with all the usual pain-causing suspects in the anatomical lineup.
The point is, I saw different doctors and took several extremely invasive tests over the course of 8 months. I very nearly had major surgery that would have removed a somewhat vital body part, and then at last I discovered the source of all my discomfort and my big "mystery" ailment: stress.
I've given myself a permanent condition as a result of too much stress and it can't be cured, but don't worry about that because it can be managed with diet and I'm a professional when it comes to dieting. All those times I threw another rejection letter away or blinked away the tears created by a stinging review or harsh criticism...may have gone directly to my stomach instead. I don't throw myself on the floor and cry hysterically when I get rejected. I always just move right along and send out more letters or start editing again, or whatever. I always thought I really handled the emotional aspect of being a writer very well.
Until my body fell completely apart.
It Takes Guts...
Stress may be getting to you even if you don't know it's getting to you. My stress isn't solely caused by writing, either, so I'm by no means a cookie-cutter example. I tend toward worrying as a general facet of my personality, but being a writer certainly isn't the most stress-free career choice I might have made. I could have spent my life baking cakes, and how relaxing does that sound?
But I digress. It boils down to this: stress can get to you in a variety of physical ways. As a writer it's part of your job to learn how to relax to keep it from getting to you. Stress may literally eat away at your insides otherwise. So don't think that you're feeling totally stress-free because you're not an emotional wreck. Stress may be getting to you in other ways that you don't even realize yet. Learn to relax, and try to avoid stress in other aspects of your life. Start managing it now so it doesn't become a bigger problem later.
March 12, 2014
Writing 101: Listening to Your Inner Voice
Normally, stopping a project before it's finished is considered a bad thing. But when you're a writer, you have to learn how to listen to your inner voice -- and how to respond to it.
Compulsion
I've been working on a new project lately, as writers are wont to do, and I've been struggling with it. The words don't want to come, so I've been trying to force them onto the page.
But while struggling through every paragraph of this manuscript, I kept finding myself continuously drawn to a different project -- one I'd discarded long ago. I kept reading it, and looking at the outline, and thinking about it. And then I kept on going back to that other manuscript, and just staring at the screen.
So the other night, I was back to that unfinished project again -- and I just started typing. Before I knew it, I'd finished a whole new chapter. Now that's the project I'm working on, because that's the project I'm currently compelled to write. The words are coming easily now, and the ideas are flowing.
My inner voice started telling me to switch projects, and I listened, and now I can say I definitely don't have writer's block. I'm excited about the project, and I'm writing with ease again. I don't know that it's going to stay this way, and I can't guarantee that this is going to be the next project I finish. Because I don't know what I'm going to be compelled to write next. All I know is, right now I'm listening. And that's working.
Sometimes, that's just what you have to do.
Compulsion
I've been working on a new project lately, as writers are wont to do, and I've been struggling with it. The words don't want to come, so I've been trying to force them onto the page.
But while struggling through every paragraph of this manuscript, I kept finding myself continuously drawn to a different project -- one I'd discarded long ago. I kept reading it, and looking at the outline, and thinking about it. And then I kept on going back to that other manuscript, and just staring at the screen.
So the other night, I was back to that unfinished project again -- and I just started typing. Before I knew it, I'd finished a whole new chapter. Now that's the project I'm working on, because that's the project I'm currently compelled to write. The words are coming easily now, and the ideas are flowing.
My inner voice started telling me to switch projects, and I listened, and now I can say I definitely don't have writer's block. I'm excited about the project, and I'm writing with ease again. I don't know that it's going to stay this way, and I can't guarantee that this is going to be the next project I finish. Because I don't know what I'm going to be compelled to write next. All I know is, right now I'm listening. And that's working.
Sometimes, that's just what you have to do.
March 11, 2014
Writing 101: The Art of Brevity
Mark Twain famously said that writers should replace the word "very" in their manuscripts with the word "damn" instead. Then, editors would remove the word and all would be as it should. It gets really easy to stick extra words into manuscripts, and it doesn't stop at "very." Have you learned the art of brevity yet?
Just the Facts, Ma'am
Extra words are just one problem that keeps you from mastering brevity. I don't have a big issue with very, but I do have a problem with just. My characters are always just going to do this and just thinking about that, until the word has completely lost all meaning. Once you know you use certain extra words, it's easier to spot them and rout them out of your manuscripts.
But in order to truly master brevity, you have to take things one step further. You have to learn how to avoid over-writing and repetition. You can't simply eliminate that extra word that you always tend to over-use. You've got to get rid of all the extra words.
Read and re-read every single scene in your book, and ask yourself what it's doing there. Does this scene compel the story forward? Does it give us some new information? Does it reveal something about one of the characters? If the answer is no to all three, then you clearly don't need that scene in your book.
You also don't want to over-reveal something. If you tell a reader something once, you don't necessarily have to keep repeating this information. Once you make it clear your character has a problem with substance abuse, for example, the reader shouldn't be dragged through a dozen nearly-identical party scenes. Repetition and over-revealing become boring very quickly. The reader just wants to learn something new.
This is why overly-embellished descriptions can be a little wearying as well. To truly master brevity, you must keep your descriptions brief. Impart the necessary information, and move on. Relay information, keep going. This is brevity, and for many authors it's been their bread and butter. Even if it's not the style you want to bring to your readers, learn how to do it. Make deep cuts in your manuscript. Learn how to edit yourself, because it's a skill that can only help you become a better writer in the end.
Just the Facts, Ma'am
Extra words are just one problem that keeps you from mastering brevity. I don't have a big issue with very, but I do have a problem with just. My characters are always just going to do this and just thinking about that, until the word has completely lost all meaning. Once you know you use certain extra words, it's easier to spot them and rout them out of your manuscripts.
But in order to truly master brevity, you have to take things one step further. You have to learn how to avoid over-writing and repetition. You can't simply eliminate that extra word that you always tend to over-use. You've got to get rid of all the extra words.
Read and re-read every single scene in your book, and ask yourself what it's doing there. Does this scene compel the story forward? Does it give us some new information? Does it reveal something about one of the characters? If the answer is no to all three, then you clearly don't need that scene in your book.
You also don't want to over-reveal something. If you tell a reader something once, you don't necessarily have to keep repeating this information. Once you make it clear your character has a problem with substance abuse, for example, the reader shouldn't be dragged through a dozen nearly-identical party scenes. Repetition and over-revealing become boring very quickly. The reader just wants to learn something new.
This is why overly-embellished descriptions can be a little wearying as well. To truly master brevity, you must keep your descriptions brief. Impart the necessary information, and move on. Relay information, keep going. This is brevity, and for many authors it's been their bread and butter. Even if it's not the style you want to bring to your readers, learn how to do it. Make deep cuts in your manuscript. Learn how to edit yourself, because it's a skill that can only help you become a better writer in the end.
March 10, 2014
Writing 101: Let's Go to the Movies
Many authors write books about authors, because that's what they know. And I've learned that watching another writer struggle can be very beneficial to actual authors who may also be having trouble finding the right words. At least, it's helpful to me. So today I'm going to share my favorite movies about authors with all the other indie authors out there.
Stories Within the Story
It happens in Stephen King adaptations all the time. The main character or the main narrator of the film, or both, is an author. Or a writer. Maybe a poet. Even a screenwriter. They've all been the subject of film, books and anecdotes the world over. But some have the power to make you feel a lot better about your own writing. At least, that's what happens for me when I watch them.
Misery: A classic. To me, the most horrifying scene of the film is when Kathy Bates forces the author to burn his manuscript. My heart stops every time. I'm told that non-writers are more frightened by other scenes but trust me, this one is the scariest. Watch Misery next time you've got writer's block, and just imagine a crazy psychopath screaming at you to finish. Capote: Starring the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Capote plunges the audience into the dark, disturbed genius of Truman Capote. His name appears often here at the blog because he had strange writing habits, and this film doesn't exactly shy away from his various quirks. Julie & Julia: Writing isn't always about fiction. I love Julie & Julia because it features not one writer, but two. The movie details famous chef Julia Child, and the journey she took to write Mastering the Art of French Cooking. But the movie is also about blogger Julie Powell, and the journey she took to become a writer. Powell had a tiny apartment and a day job and plenty of stress, like so many indies. It's a great movie, and you should watch it. Stranger Than Fiction: The presence of Will Ferrell in the movie makes Stranger Than Fiction my favorite movie about an author. In this case, it's Emma Thompson. She's writing a book about Harold Crick, Ferrell, until she discovers that Harold is actually a real man. Ferrell is charming and funny in the film, Dustin Hoffman is a wonderful addition to the story and Queen Latifah is also totally in it so now you have no reason not to watch it right now.Whether it's writer's block or some other problem you're facing, it's okay. You're not alone. Other writers have been there, and I can prove it. I can point you toward many different movies where authors, and their problems, take center stage. So sit back, watch, and revel in your problems a little. Then get back to the keyboard, and keep going.
Stories Within the Story
It happens in Stephen King adaptations all the time. The main character or the main narrator of the film, or both, is an author. Or a writer. Maybe a poet. Even a screenwriter. They've all been the subject of film, books and anecdotes the world over. But some have the power to make you feel a lot better about your own writing. At least, that's what happens for me when I watch them.
Misery: A classic. To me, the most horrifying scene of the film is when Kathy Bates forces the author to burn his manuscript. My heart stops every time. I'm told that non-writers are more frightened by other scenes but trust me, this one is the scariest. Watch Misery next time you've got writer's block, and just imagine a crazy psychopath screaming at you to finish. Capote: Starring the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Capote plunges the audience into the dark, disturbed genius of Truman Capote. His name appears often here at the blog because he had strange writing habits, and this film doesn't exactly shy away from his various quirks. Julie & Julia: Writing isn't always about fiction. I love Julie & Julia because it features not one writer, but two. The movie details famous chef Julia Child, and the journey she took to write Mastering the Art of French Cooking. But the movie is also about blogger Julie Powell, and the journey she took to become a writer. Powell had a tiny apartment and a day job and plenty of stress, like so many indies. It's a great movie, and you should watch it. Stranger Than Fiction: The presence of Will Ferrell in the movie makes Stranger Than Fiction my favorite movie about an author. In this case, it's Emma Thompson. She's writing a book about Harold Crick, Ferrell, until she discovers that Harold is actually a real man. Ferrell is charming and funny in the film, Dustin Hoffman is a wonderful addition to the story and Queen Latifah is also totally in it so now you have no reason not to watch it right now.Whether it's writer's block or some other problem you're facing, it's okay. You're not alone. Other writers have been there, and I can prove it. I can point you toward many different movies where authors, and their problems, take center stage. So sit back, watch, and revel in your problems a little. Then get back to the keyboard, and keep going.
March 8, 2014
Books on Film: Camille
I only recently learned that one of my all-time favorite movies was actually based on a book. It's not my fault for not knowing this; the book is French, and it was written in 1848. But the story itself is timeless.
The Book
Alexandre Dumas, more famously known for The Three Musketeers, wrote The Lady of the Camellias in 1848, before the United States ever waged its Civil War. The story is so popular, it became a stage adaptation almost immediately. Many film adaptions would follow. The book also inspired the opera La Traviata and a popular Broadway play. According to legend, the main character in the book was based on the real-life lover of Dumas, Marie Duplessis.
That character is Marguerite Gautier, a courtesan. In other words, she lives off the kindness of stranger like so many great heroines (think Holly Golightly, in a far different time and place). She is known as the lady of the camellias because she wears white camellias when she is available to her lovers. When the red camellia is donned instead, she cannot entertain.
By chance one night, she meets Armand Duval. They fall in love, and all is well until Armand's father intervenes. It all leads up to a heart-wrenching ending that you have to experience for yourself. The character of Marguerite Gautier has become one of the most coveted roles of all time. On stage, Sarah Bernhardt played her in London, Paris and on Broadway.
The Film
There are almost too many adaptations of this story to count. Across multiple countries, at least 20 different films have been made. But among them, I have one particular favorite: Camille.
It was made in 1936, and it stars Greta Garbo in the title role. She's sensational as the flirty woman of the evening, who entertains friends lavishly and does exactly as she pleases. She plays with heartstrings until she finally meets a man who can touch hers. Camille is truly one of the most romantic movies ever made.
This particular version was directed by George Cukor, so you know it's good. Robert Taylor stars as Armand and Lionel Barrymore does a strong turn as his father. If you've seen Annie, you know Camille. It's the movie they watch together in the empty theater. It's every bit as good as it looks and too amazing to spoil, so go watch it for yourself already!
The Book
Alexandre Dumas, more famously known for The Three Musketeers, wrote The Lady of the Camellias in 1848, before the United States ever waged its Civil War. The story is so popular, it became a stage adaptation almost immediately. Many film adaptions would follow. The book also inspired the opera La Traviata and a popular Broadway play. According to legend, the main character in the book was based on the real-life lover of Dumas, Marie Duplessis.
That character is Marguerite Gautier, a courtesan. In other words, she lives off the kindness of stranger like so many great heroines (think Holly Golightly, in a far different time and place). She is known as the lady of the camellias because she wears white camellias when she is available to her lovers. When the red camellia is donned instead, she cannot entertain.
By chance one night, she meets Armand Duval. They fall in love, and all is well until Armand's father intervenes. It all leads up to a heart-wrenching ending that you have to experience for yourself. The character of Marguerite Gautier has become one of the most coveted roles of all time. On stage, Sarah Bernhardt played her in London, Paris and on Broadway.
The Film
There are almost too many adaptations of this story to count. Across multiple countries, at least 20 different films have been made. But among them, I have one particular favorite: Camille.
It was made in 1936, and it stars Greta Garbo in the title role. She's sensational as the flirty woman of the evening, who entertains friends lavishly and does exactly as she pleases. She plays with heartstrings until she finally meets a man who can touch hers. Camille is truly one of the most romantic movies ever made.
This particular version was directed by George Cukor, so you know it's good. Robert Taylor stars as Armand and Lionel Barrymore does a strong turn as his father. If you've seen Annie, you know Camille. It's the movie they watch together in the empty theater. It's every bit as good as it looks and too amazing to spoil, so go watch it for yourself already!
