Strange and Fascinating
Wowza, what a summer.
Kids went back to school today. Thank. God.
Of course school brings a whole different set of challenges to the table, but I'm ready for the change.
I'm also ready for a change in my writing. The new manuscript I'm working on is third person for hero, heroine and secondary characters, but first person for the villain.
Weird, huh?
When I'm trying to get into my character's head I often go through a little dialogue. Here's an example:
I’m Cruz. I’ve just failed an important mission. I’ve had a woman I wanted walk out on me and can’t stop thinking about her and don’t know where to find her. I just found out my father has been murdered. I come home to find the place in disrepair and needing a ton of work I don’t have time for which will keep me from my mission—possibly make me lose my mission. The vineyard brings back memories of my mother and watching her die, my father and watching him go crazy without her.
I do this whenever I get stuck on where my character will go next or what he will do next. Pretty ordinary, right?
Well, when I went into my villain's head, I was in a very different place. The psychosis was there, coloring the words, the outlook, the thoughts.
Weird. Very weird. But also riveting. Rather fascinating.
And that's when I decided...to do this strange thing with the POVs. Which is a great example of knowing the rules so you can break them. :-) Of course, I may start off that way and change it all back to third person, but it will be a fun experiment.
What strange but wonderful things have you done with your manuscripts, present or past?
Kids went back to school today. Thank. God.
Of course school brings a whole different set of challenges to the table, but I'm ready for the change.
I'm also ready for a change in my writing. The new manuscript I'm working on is third person for hero, heroine and secondary characters, but first person for the villain.
Weird, huh?
When I'm trying to get into my character's head I often go through a little dialogue. Here's an example:
I’m Cruz. I’ve just failed an important mission. I’ve had a woman I wanted walk out on me and can’t stop thinking about her and don’t know where to find her. I just found out my father has been murdered. I come home to find the place in disrepair and needing a ton of work I don’t have time for which will keep me from my mission—possibly make me lose my mission. The vineyard brings back memories of my mother and watching her die, my father and watching him go crazy without her.
I do this whenever I get stuck on where my character will go next or what he will do next. Pretty ordinary, right?
Well, when I went into my villain's head, I was in a very different place. The psychosis was there, coloring the words, the outlook, the thoughts.
Weird. Very weird. But also riveting. Rather fascinating.
And that's when I decided...to do this strange thing with the POVs. Which is a great example of knowing the rules so you can break them. :-) Of course, I may start off that way and change it all back to third person, but it will be a fun experiment.
What strange but wonderful things have you done with your manuscripts, present or past?
3 comments:
Oh yes!!! For some odd reason, if you write in first person, then switch it to third person, I get a deeper and better third. If I write in third, then switch it to first, then I get a first that isn't too "I"-y.
Weird, huh?
Sounds intriguing, J. I can't wait to see the end result. :)
Spy, I totally get it. Makes sense too -- at least to us writers. :-)
E, I hope you get to see the finished product before I turn it all third person. :-)
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