Writer's Paradise discussion
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Jaimey's Regency Townhouse of Woolgathering
In your Regency brand, Jaimey, masks were more important than now.Behave in character in public, rage and smash things in private. Or weep, vomit, sit staring blankly at a wall, or at a mirror before smashing things in impotent rage. For the reasons Renee mentioned.
Valid point, Paul. This is something I considered. I need a blending of the Regency mask with the natural anguish of a mother who has lost a child. When her grief becomes "public" (translation: within the family circle) it tends more towards bitter remarks followed by remorse and a return of her usual calm. She doesn't cause scenes at balls or anything of that nature. That would be far too out of character for the time period.
I think you should consider how you would feel. Then put on the polite mask. People haven't changed that much.No good asking me, I'm a man.
You may be a man but you offer some valuable food for thought.:o)
where did the expression 'food for thought' come from anyway? *is sad* people think I would make a good porn star
Hah! Woman, I'm either a blaggard or damned as a 'sensitive' soul. A chap can't win with you gels, can he? Either way, you get what you want!
Barman, damn your eyes, where's my port!
GreenDaisy BlackStem wrote: "where did the expression 'food for thought' come from anyway? *is sad* people think I would make a good porn star"
Greendaisy. GO take your meds again! What a thing to say. No one makes a GOOD porn star. Go find a respectable aspiration that will add to your self esteem rather than pull you down like used bits of yesterday's newspaper.
Next time someone says that to you, then say, "Happily I've better things to do with my time than muck about on screen."
Nuff said.
Daisy: LOLPaul: LOL
Wendy: LOL
(My daughter has told me to stop laughing now.) :o)
Wendy: "...pull you down like used bits of yesterday's newspaper."Another metaphor/simile? You just can't stop now, can you?
That one was on accident. Daisy knows we love her, so it's okay.Jaimey- happy to provide a bit of entertainment for you. no sweat.
I also agree with the second. Seems more natural to me. ;)
Wendy wrote: "GreenDaisy BlackStem wrote: "where did the expression 'food for thought' come from anyway? *is sad* people think I would make a good porn star"
Greendaisy. GO take your meds again! What a th..."
I don't wanna be a porn star. My BFF and her pervy cousin think that
Kai wrote: "I also agree with the second. Seems more natural to me. ;)"Thank you, Kai. That's what I'm thinking, too.
GreenDaisy BlackStem wrote: "I don't wanna be a porn star. My BFF and her pervy cousin think that"
Oh my, again. I'm never sure what to say to you. ;o) Pervy cousins of friends should be avoided like the plague. Always.
lol well I work with them for like 4 hours a day
Jaimey, you could think up triggers that would set her off, like finding a baby blanket, or receiveing a congratulations card from a well meaning friend who didn't know about the loss. Songs on the radio, seeing another woman with a baby, putting away maternity clothes.A million things remind you... and nothing makes it feel better except for time. and even then, I don't think that time heals the wound- it just broadens our capacity to cope with the pain. We can turn it down to a dull roar instead of hearing it full blast all the time.
Oh ad Jaimy. 95% of the time my friends ae hyper so they giggle. This morning the perverted cousin asked the manager (my BFFs mother) how she delt with us and she goes "I just leave the room"we were giggling like crazy
Excellent points, Wendy. Even in Regency England, within days of the loss, she would have major difficulty keeping her "mask" in place. Ok. I think I've played the scene out pretty accurately then. And great idea to bring in triggers. She is only a secondary character, actually, so I won't have to go too overboard with it. (The story is about her twin brother.)
Here's today's stats ( Day 6 - Longing, again):
Word count: 337
To date: 2762
Daisy: I remember the days of giggling like mad. Ah...memories. Wait, that was yesterday. No pervy cousins, though. ;o)
Day 7
Today I worked a tiny bit on Longing and Retribution.
Today's count: 216
To date: 2978
I won't be around for several days. We are heading up north for the Corvette Show and parade across the Mackinac Bridge. No computers allowed. :o) I will take a notebook, however...
Thanx! I'll take lots of pics and share them on facebook. Maybe I'll end up with a new, fun profile picture!! ;oP
(I shouldn't be on here. We are supposed to leave in about an hour...)
Got home from Mackinaw City last night. I'm still tired. I did manage a tiny bit of writing while I was gone and even reached my goal today. Today's count (Longing again): 282. If anyone's interested, I did a blog post about my weekend at the Corvette Show:
http://bit.ly/3KPEiT
There are some pics and a video. I love corvettes...
My bad, I wrote NOTHING yesterday. Gah!Meanwhile, I've lost my mind. With all the other WIPs I already have a big start on, I just started a new one.
My hubby looked over the fantasy-ish novel I've been working on and told me he hated the title and the beginning was boring. He was right. I told him I could give up on it but I was too attached to a few of my characters, whose life stories I'd practically already written. He asked for details so I told him. He loves my characters and thinks there is potential. I just need to work out my opening and title. Those two things have to sell the book before anything else. Cover art comes later.
Anyway, here's the opening line of my new WIP. Let me know if it sux. Thanx!
The moon rose above the treeline, splitting into two and then three.
As I read it over, I think it's horrible. Some constructive criticism would be so helpful. I have written 215 words on this new WIP tonight.
I added more to my new WIP, bringing the word count up to 504 for today.
Have someone watching the moon rising."What the hell?"
Jack's mouth gaped as he watched the moon rising above the treeline. Except it wasn't a moon anymore.
It was two moons.
Then three.
Good point, Paul, as usual. I will see what I can do...I think I have an idea...
Added another 222 words to the book I'm calling NewWIP for now. I'm too tired to write more. Hope everyone who happens to look at this post is having a lovely morning, afternoon or night, wherever you are! :o)
yay Jaimey! You know is it just me or do you think it's wrong that this morning i'm taking three pills so that I can go to school?
I guess it depends on the kind of pills, really...:o)
The ideas are flowing for my NewWIP (as it is currently named). I'm keeping several of the characters I'd developed for a previous fantasy novel. I added a dragon to this story and I really like how it's going.I love starting a new story. It's always so exciting. :o)
Words today: 693
Paige wrote: "Hi Jaimey!Happy September Writing to you!"
Thanx, Paige! It's going well so far. Happy September Writing to you, too!
:o)
So, what have I written today?Weeeellllll...I worked on my fantasy WIP for a bit. I also inadvertantly wrote a flash fiction piece. Oops. I'm not sure I like it. It was just a writing exercise anyway. :o)
Here are the counts:
NewWIP (still unnamed): 755
Flash Fiction piece called Stalker: 174
Total words today: 929
Excellent. :o)
Thank you, Paul. I plan to double that today. :o)Now, if only there was a way to distract the children long enough to do that...
Gags and ropes?What, you think I'm joking?
They would love that! They tie themselves up as it is and I end up having to rescue them. :oD...Crap. That would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it?
So, Paul, you interested in reading my latest piece of flash fiction crap?
I'd love to. I enjoyed the last one.BTW, I'm going to write a review of Spellbound and stick it in my blog,if that's OK with you. I do have an obligation to be scrupulously fair, and I would not expect to come across a book that earned 5 stars more than once or twice in a lifetime. (I don't over-use superlatives.) If you want, I'll send you the review first, so you can accept or reject it.
If your review is not a 2- or a 1-star and it doesn't attack me as an author or a human being, I don't see why there would be a problem with you posting it. (It didn't deserve a 2 or a 1, did it? I seriously didn't think it was that bad although I did get a 1-star on Amazon calling it "boring" and "done better elsewhere". Hmm. Can't please everyone...)Although, if you use it as an example of what NOT to do, that might hurt a little. Ok, a LOT.
I'll email Stalker to you and see what you think. It's less than 200 words. It's really not good but I'm still playing with the whole flash fiction style of writing.
No, I wouldn't attack you as a human being, Jaimey. I like you :)And it would be very unfair of me to use a book by anyone as an exampl eof what not to do. Somewhere today, I posted what I class as my star rating. If you wait there a sec, I'll try and find it.
Be right back...
Here's what I posted about reviews elsewhere:<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I don't think I would give 5-star reviews very often. I don't like the over-use of superlatives. 5 stars to me means 'a book I loved, couldn't put down, brilliant idea, fantastic dialogue, and one I want to read again and again for the rest of my life, a book that will stay in my memory long after the others are forgotten.'
You don't come across many of those books in a lifetime.
4 stars would mean very, very good.
3 stars - good. Very good in places.
2 stars - OK. Passes the time. A couple of good bits.
1 star - I'm sorry I had to finish this book. A few small bits were OK.
0 stars (can you do 0 stars?) - I'm sorry I started this book. A waste of time. It doesn't even make a decent door stop. The author should consider plumbing as an alternative career - no, maybe not. If they're as careless a plumber as they are a writer, it could be disastrous.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I'd give you 3 stars on that basis. Although not my genre etc. I've already mentioned the confusing bit about the nemesis - I won't put it here to avoid spoilers for anyone else reading. You can have an emailed copy when I do it, so you can comment if you think I'm being unfair before I post it.
Sheesh, Paul. A 3-star review from a man such as yourself is high praise indeed. Especially since I was able to mostly hold your interest with a book that wasn't your genre. And there were some "very good" parts, too? Really? I actually meant to ask you to leave a review on goodreads and maybe Amazon (if you can). I assumed the highest I'd get would be a 3. So I am super relieved to hear you confirm that it was not a 1 or 2. Whew.I emailed you my flash fiction. Be brutal. :o)
Ouch, on the 0-star rating, Paul. How many have you read that fall into that category?
0 stars - there have been a few over the years. They're amazingly bad. I won't mention names.I can leave the same review here and on Amazon as well as the blog. Be sometime middle of this coming week. No problem with that.
Paul wrote: "0 stars - there have been a few over the years. They're amazingly bad. I won't mention names.I can leave the same review here and on Amazon as well as the blog. Be sometime middle of this coming ..."
aawww you won't? That's saddening Paul. I will but only because I think the author of this book is dead by now. I hate Old Yeller, it is the evilest most slowest,most boring book ever!
Oh, Daisy. You're hating on a classic? :o) Well, I've never read it so I can't have an opinion. Speaking of boring classics, I think Ann Radcliffe's Romance of the Forest (1791) was rather boring and poorly written but not worth a 0-star rating.
OK, well Bram Stoker did one - The Lair of the White Worm- a stinker.Just to be iconoclastic, I'd add Ulysses by James Joyce. Yes I know,it's revered as a classic, ground breaking work. I think its absolute - well, OK I won't use the word that comes to mind.
Writer's Paradise
Books mentioned in this topic
Redemption (other topics)Conversations on Chemistry (other topics)
The Lair of the White Worm (other topics)
Spellbound (other topics)
Spellbound (other topics)
The second scenario was actually how I had first written a particular scene in Longing. Then, after thinking about it, I wondered if this character would really react that way. I attempted to write the scene the other way and it just felt...wrong. Something inside me would not allow the change. Losing a child, apparently, is the thing that makes her behave completely "out of character", so to speak.
And it all makes more sense this way, to me anyway. I like my characters to be realistic. Humans do not always act "in character" so why would the ones I portray in my fiction always do exactly what is expected of them?
Any other thoughts on the subject are welcome. :o)