Is it like acting? We don't ask actors to have the experiences of the people they're portraying. They just have to do the job. To see the humanity in their character, to understand motivation and to deliver authentic performances. That's good acting. It's also good writing.
So I'm feeling that the pressure is off. Well, the who are you pressure might be off. But the pressure to do it well is still there. That's appropriate if it keeps us honest, committed and effective.So here's to another day of work. Of feeling free to write whatever we're called to write, even if it's channeling someone or something completely different from who we are. Is the life of a writer great or what?
I completely agree with you. I think that's why I don my pen name when I write, it takes some of the pressure off of me psychologically. And I was such a naive and sheltered kid. I've always looked at writing as 'acting'. If I didn't I wouldn't be able to write. ;)
ReplyDeleteCharacters are really just models or templates of real life people. You may have never gotten into near as much trouble as your character, but you do base your character off something in your real life. In my novella, I have a character who absolutely cannot go a day without a drink, yet I abstain from such reckless behavior.
ReplyDeleteIt really is good to be able to channel these "actors." We should just take care to pull back from the channelling lest it runs our lives.
yes, I always give the same advice to writers who ask for it: always write like you are making a movie - act and imagine through your characters like you said above, paint and shoot your scenes and settings as if you were holding a camera in your hand, organize your plot and make it dynamic and flowing like the screenplay for a movie :)
ReplyDeleteAnsha – how cool that you were an advanced kid! And I hadn't thought of the safety of a pen name.
ReplyDeleteJeffrey – lets toast to templates. Bless 'em.
ReplyDeleteDezmond – Excellent advice. I also like to remember the three act structure of a film.
ReplyDeleteI'm really doubting myself today. Your post made me feel better. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnita :)
ReplyDeleteI've been here three times, but can never thin of anything to say. I really like this post and it whets my appetite for figuring out what I should be doing.
ReplyDeleteJon - a whet appetite is always good. I'm not a big fan of "should". Good luck on what you WANT to be doing.
ReplyDeleteRobert, I love that this book is easier for you! It gives me hope for future books, because the one I am working on is killing me!!
ReplyDeleteTina - thanks & good luck. When one project is killing me, I switch off to another. I've put projects down for over a year until they behave or (in my case) I've let go of what I was trying to force. Oh, the complicated relationship with our work...
ReplyDeleteHannah - thank you for joining! The Palindrom looks like a good place, a prolific place.
ReplyDeleteBeing a writer is a fantastic! I love learning about a characters passion for life, what they enjoy vs what I enjoy. It's neat to put my feet in their shoes and walk around for a novel, it's what makes great writing.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Happy Saturday!