Life has been too, too crazy, complicated, and sad lately. (The fact that it's taken me over two weeks to return to this post is proof. I really didn't think it had been that long.) So much so that it has my brain scrambled. I just now realized I outed myself about yelling at my main character the other day. I then promised that I would tell you how that worked for me. (I feel like Dr. Phil..."How's that working for you?"...you know what that answer usually is.)It's just hard to stay on course with anything at the moment. Today I drove past the street I needed to turn on not once, but twice. I mean...come on!
But I'm getting back on course with this post (Obviously, I was severely knocked back off! At least I had a positive attitude.) and I will tell you how the yelling worked. Or maybe I won't, because I'm not sure I have an answer. I did end up getting some answers, but I wound up taking a new approach. I guess it felt a little like parenting. You know, when you realize you've snapped at your kid and it wasn't their fault, so you excuse yourself to get a grip. I think I posted about the yelling in order to get a grip--a sort of writerly time out.
And, I did. Get it together, that is.
Okay, now you're going to think I'm nutty (although, maybe you do the same things and we can share in the nuttiness).
I kept the dialogue (yelling included) open on my working doc. I apologized (yes, I did) and started the conversation over, this time without the YELLING. And wouldn't you know it, I got some answers.
I may not have gotten a lot, but I got something. I guess there's something to be learned about asking politely.
4 comments:
At least you had your conversation on paper. When I argue with characters, it's an out-loud, verbal battle with lots of pacing and sometimes angry toe-stubbing involved.
Um. Did I just admit that on the internet?
.Nevets.
I'm chuckling - not because I've tried this with characters, but definitely with 3 y/o. Yelling isn't quite as effective as asking politely, which is what I keep trying to teach her! Great idea, to apply this to characters...wonder what they'd say...
You did admit that, Nevets! My guess is that you don't write in a coffee shop like me. Although that could be quite entertaining.
Holly, you'll have to tell me if they do say anything...so nice to be seeing you here again (or I should say, seeing me here again)and to be back in the game. :)
Yeah, while I do work with coffee at hand, I don't often work in a coffee shop. Next time I feel a row with one of my chars coming on, however, I may just go to a coffee shop just to see how it plays out!
.Nevets.
Post a Comment