Friday, January 18, 2008
My Third Grade Theory
All of my life I have written stories to cope with insecurities and disappointments. In school, I was never the most popular, the most athletic, or the girl who always got the guy. However, in my mind, or on paper I could be. In the third grade, I stood in front of the class and told a story that included all of my classmates. I remember it well, because in the story, I was pretty, athletic, and I got the guy in the end. When I was done with my dissertation, my teacher, with a Cheshire grin on her face said, “You have some imagination.”
Imagination is a writer’s best friend. With a vivid imagination and the ability to put ideas into words a WIP can become a dream fulfilled. In the past week, I’ve doubted my ability to write a soup can label, let alone an original story. I’m chalking it up to a bad week, and mimicking the Scarlett O’Hara attitude- "I’ll think about that tomorrow."
When I started writing fan fiction, it was a lot like my experience in the third grade. I didn’t like how the Janet Evanovich series was progressing so I wrote it my way. When reading Evanovich or other authors I admire, I challenge myself to plot an even better story. More often times than not, I create characters who overcome something that I’ve always struggled with emotionally or physically.
I’ve been overweight the majority of my life; you would think that when I envision my heroine in my WIP she would be thin with curves in all the right places.
Wrong.
My heroine is at least 20 pounds overweight. I figure if I have to struggle with this so should she. It’s what I know, and believe me, I can write it realistically. Over 50% of America’s population is obese; I surmise that my readers can relate to an overweight heroine. You might ask how realistic is it to believe a dead sexy hero would choose an overweight counterpart? Maybe not often, but back to my third grade theory-I can make my hero fall in love with anyone I choose. Besides, my real life hero loves me for who I am, and I believe that all true heroes should feel the same way.
I can also build a plot around any scenario I want as long as it’s believable. This brings me to my current demise. I’ve been struggling the past week to begin my first WIP. I had my mind set on writing an inspirational romance. I researched the guidelines put forth by some popular Christian publishers. They set many restrictive limits, some I agree with and some I don’t. It was difficult for me to edit scenes and dialog that I’ve had in my mind for so long, to fit a certain set of standards. In light of this revelation, I have decided I need to write what I know, and that is romantic suspense or contemporary romance. Maybe I’ll struggle like a fish out of water for a while, but eventually I’ll find my stride. For the first time in my life, I don’t want to use my third grade theory. I don’t want to write a book about a girl who is published. I want to write a book that gets the girl published.
Do you have a third grade theory? How did you decide what type of romance you wanted to write, or are you not limiting yourself to one specific genre? Did you struggle when you started your first WIP?
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49 comments:
I struggled with what I wanted to write and how I wanted to write it. My first line of thought was inspirational, but like you after looking at their guidelines there was no way I could uphold their purity, even if I believe in some of their rules. What it came down to for me is that I love historicals. And history wasn't always kind to women or love. I couldn't write realistic characters and plots within the inspirational guidelines. I felt there was very little room for character growth. I wasn't born with my beliefs and I think some of the strongest testimonials are from those who have come out of the pit of despair. If the Bible had to fit in the inspirational guidelines it wouldn't have been published in their genre either.
One of these days I'll write that contemporary novel that breaks all the inspirational rules but will be one of the most inspirational stories sought. For now, I'll write my historicals with h and h's that lie and manipulate, have premarital relations, and do whatever it takes to survive their lives.
Good luck with your ms. It's an experience and one of the best adventures I have ever dared.
Renee
I thought I should clarify something. I don't mean to come down on inspirational lines, not at all. There's a wealth of fabulous stories. It's just not for me at this time in my life.
I never struggled to START my 'first' WIP....but finally FINISHING one was a pretty big deal!!
Renee, I think you made a good point.
Hey, you guys, this blog rocks! And how come the best part (grin) is at the very end of it all?
I love rules about rum....
I knew what I wanted to write. I love historical reads and I love werewolves. I had to find a right time period to place it in...but I know that is one constant... I'll always write werewolf stories. ;)
And the best book and one of my favourites for overweight heroines... Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon... and mr. hottypants werewolf cannot get enough of her femininity much to her surprise!
Renee - I think that you and I are similiar in what we love about historicals. Something about stretching what I know about the constraints on women in times gone by is what attracts me to them as well. I gotta root for the underdog and women in history were the underdogs. I love writing about fiesty women in a time when fiestiness was frowned upon.
Gillian - We're glad you like the blog! And you're welcome to some rum. There's plenty to go around!
Tiff - I love the idea of historical werewolves. I haven't read the SK novel you mention, but I just started reading her so I'm going to pick that one up.
Lisa - I'm with those who say they couldn't write within those strict guidelines. But, there are plenty of subgenres to fit yourself into.
And I love when the girl who doesn't feel beautiful is made to feel beautiful by the hero. I think every girl has had those moments where she just doubts her beauty. (At least I have). So, when the hero loves her for her, I love him all the more.
I didn't so much have a hard time starting but only because I had no idea what I was doing. I just started writing and after almost a year it turned out the first 30 pages or so got cut right off. So I didn't really start in the right place for the book but it was the right place for me and the characters.
That's where I got to know them and that work is what made it possible to figure out where the dang thing should start.
There are full blown workshops on knowing where to start your story. I hear published authors still complaining they don't always know. So this isn't necessarily a newbie thing - much to my relief - but just a writing thing.
You've got real talent and good stories inside of you, Lis. I know you'll figure it out. I love that the heroine is a real woman. By today's statistics, I'm the average woman. Which for me means nearly 40lbs overweight. LOL!
Welcome, Gillian. Glad you decided to come aboard. *g*
Renee!
What interesting points you have made. I especially like the one about the Bible not fitting inspirational guidelines. It's so true! I've been reading some inspirational stories to get a good feel for the genre, and I've found more Mary Sues than I've ever encountered. I also feel that the character growth is limited only to spiritual growth, which is restrictive in itself.
I love historicals too, I like the fairytale quality about them. I don't know that I could ever write one, but I'd sure like to try someday.
Thanks for stopping by Renee, and for your insight:)
Gillian welcome aboard! Thanks for stopping by. Our Cap'n can't make rules without mentioning rum!
Tiff
I'll have to check out Sherrilynn she comes highly recommended. I've never enjoyed paranormals, but maybe it's time for me to step out of the box and see what I'm missing.
Marnee I'm with you. I love feisty heroines in historical romance. I think being a woman of modern day and writing about women in historicals or regency romance brings an edge to the heroine, and to me that makes all the difference in the world to the character.
And you're right as Terri pointed out to me recently I can always fit my work into a women's fiction category. I'll find a way or place for what I end up writing.
When I was in 3rd grade, I thought I was a horse. And even then, I'm pretty sure I didn't finish any story I started writing--but I had plenty of interesting beginnings. Most of stories, by the way, involved horses--me getting one, riding one, running away from home on one.
In 4th grade I fell in love with JJ Spry and it was over for me.
How did I decide to write the stories I do now? I'm not sure. The first-first story I ever wrote (and no one knows this) was about a guy named Prince Caspian (who is pretending he's not a prince but a knight) and a princess who is remarkably like me--though perhaps a touch more emotional and dramatic. The princess is in love with one of her father's knights--but that guy loves her maid of honor--and in a fit of devastation, the princess rides off, runs into PC, yells at him, then goes to her Godmother's Cottage for milk and cookies. (Seriously this sort of plotting and effort belongs to a 10 year old--but unfortunately, this is my 17 year old effort)...
There is more drama, some kissing...then PC is kidnapped, and the princess rescues him instead. The end. A LOT OF DRAMA for a 70 page handwritten notebook.
*LOL* Don't worry, Renee--I agree with you. The guidelines don't exactly work within the scope of most people's experiences and "natural selves". Most of us aren't that nice or well-adjusted, and need more of an arc to overcome everything.
Personally it's far more interesting to save a sinner than a saint, in my book.
People are a lot more compliant about the rules after a few jiggers of rum.
Plus rum helps with the love scenes.
Gillian, my hard drive is littered with good beginnings...and only two of them have THE END on them. I feel your pain--but you can do it.
Except when you get to the end, you kinda go: "This is it? But it's not exactly the big finish I was expecting..."
Which oddly reminds me of several other things I thought would be a bigger finish than they are.
lisa... even if you only read that one book. I started the series on that back! It was so dang good.
Hellion~ Milk and cookies are more important than any Prince, but as usual you out did the norm and allowed the heroine to enjoy milk and cookies AND rescue the Prince...I'm sure on a horse no doubt:)
Tiff I'm going to my local paperback exchange today I'll be sure and look for it. If I don't part with some books soon I'm not going to have a place to sleep.
The princess DOES have a great metabolism and enjoys the milk and cookies. *LOL* And rescuing her prince. *LOL*
Terri, I've thought about doing a beginning writers workshop. It certainly couldn't hurt:) I think my biggest problem is getting a grip on my characters and plot. It also doesn't help to have constant flight of ideas about what kind of genre to write under. I think I need to just write and worry about specifics later.
I know it sounds odd but it's almost easier to *start* writing in lovely ignorance. I never got as hung up as I did when I started actually learning these so called *rules* everyone talks about.
There's plenty of time to apply the details later but I think trying to stick to the rules in the beginning takes the joy out of it.
Hellion, "The saints are just the sinners who fall down and get up." :) The problem I have with the inspirational guidelines is that there doesn't seem to be much room for the falling down part. I do think that inspirational fiction, like all kinds of fiction, consists of some excellence, some garbage, and lots of mediocrity.
I never expected to be writing romance fiction, although I have been a devoted reader of it since I was a child. I thought I would be a poet, and I thought I might write the next Great American Novel in my spare time. Ah, the arrogance of youth!
As for subgenres, sometimes I wonder if my WIP fits into a subgenre; I am sure, however, that whatever it is, it is what I want to be writing at this point. Now if I can just finish it . . .
Janga, that's a great line! And your genre is whatever genre Marsha Moyer is in. Women's fiction--classy, real, and heartbreaking. And that's the thing about youth. I knew so much more at 20 than I do now, and I was a lot more sure about what I did know.
Terri, *hear, hear*! Ignorance is BLISS, man. Just follow your bliss and worry about the details later.
Ignorance is the way to go, no doubt about that. The 'rules' will spin you out of control faster than Kansas Twister.
In third grade I was Renee. She wore a cloak that protected her from being the 'new kid'. Renee was confident, wild, and carefree, much like she is today as long as her alter ego doesn't shove her back in her turtle shell.
Marnee- Feisty heroines are my thing. I love them.
As Gillian said this blog rocks.
Thanks, Renee.
I forgot to mention - in third grade I was the bully. I had yet to turn on my internal editor and I said and did whatever came to mind. I don't like that girl very much though she never *intentionally* hurt people, she hurt them none the less.
I started really writing in 7th grade and I fell in love with it immediately. Mrs Barnabie was my English teacher and I remember one time she had that same gleam in her eye smile in reaction to one of my stories. I loved the way that made me feel - like she *got* it.
Lis, as you know I could never limit myself writing when it comes to sexual matters. I like to free flow my writing and I know with how well you write emotion and convey it between your characters, that I can see your conflict.
I write three different genres so I get everything out. When I started my first WIP I struggled, a lot. I didn't know where I was going. What I was doing (and I still don't. LOL) but you just have to settle in and take time to take a breath. You're putting too much pressure on yourself. Chill.
Gillian! Welcome to the ship! You're welcome to the rum if you can wrestle it from the capt'n, and when you do that Capt'n Jack likes to watch. We just put up with him, but you can smack him around if you want!
Welcome aboard!
When I was in third grade I was in love with this boy named Rob and I didn't know that one day he'd grow up to be hotter than a Greek God and still play in a rock band.
I curse the Gods for letting me break up with him. Argh.
You dated a musician in 3rd grade? Youth is wasted on the young! What were you thinking?
Sin~ I think my issue is a moral one, but I have to write what I enjoy. Once I get past my personal issues and just sit down and write I think I'll be fine. And Rob in the third grade sounds like a guy I met in sixth grade, if I had only known then what I know now:)
Even I, the habitual musician marrier/dater, didn't date a musician in third grade. LOL!
But I bet he was way cooler than the other kids.
Dude. I was thinking he was cute and played house really well. He wasn't a musician until we got into high school. I wanted to run off with him but things didn't work out. He was great. First love and all that jazz. We still talk (he recently divorced his psycho wife) but I wouldn't trade in Matty.
If I could have them both... :)
Then can I have Rob? Hook a Captain up, you greedy wench!
*blinking*
Hook you up with Rob.
I will tell him about you the next time I see him.
*grin*
Oh, a younger man for the Captain to play with. This could get interesting. Though I don't think Jack is going to like it very much...
Lis, I can see the moral issue. And you're right. You have to enjoy what you're writing because undertaking a WIP takes a lot of work and love. I know you have it in you to write something that will just blow us away (in a good way) but you have to be confident in what you're writing.
Ask Rob if he wants to be a Pirate Ship Mascot. Official Swab Boy. Does he look like a pirate?
Lis,
I went through this exact thing months ago. I fought and fought with it. I am a writer it is a part of me. I couldn't see how my fate was to be a writer but my faith kept me from it. Then I read Song of Solomon, there are many different versions and many more verses, but I loved this.
Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth for I desire your love more than the finest of jewels.
Your spicy scent pleases me.
Your name is like honey on my lips.
No wonder the ladies flock to your side eager for your attention.
How soon my love before you ask for my hand?
I am anxious to be your bride.
I used this as an exercise and had my guests rewrite it in there own words.
What it comes down too is that you can write exquisite romance without the 'sex' if that is what bothers you. It's the emotional tension that pulls on the heartstrings of your readers. Now, I've never read anything you've written but according to your support group if any one can pull this off you can.
The great thing about writing your first ms is that you learn and grow not only as a writer but within yourself.
Let those words flow, write those scenes without caution. When you're done and you've written The End, set it aside. Pray, meditate, or whatever it is you need to do. Go back to your ms and revise, change the scenes you're uncomfortable with and make them what you feel they need to be.
Just thought you'd like to know I come from a very pentecostal background. And yes there have been times when I've prayed before I wrote, which by the way were my most productive times, and not only were the words half way decent, but they were filled with all that mushy gushy stuff.
I hoped I helped and if you need someone who totally understands where you are coming from email me. Because I think I get it. I promise not to drag into the fiery depths. :)
Renee what a beautiful example from The Song of Soloman. You totally get where I'm coming from, and you don't know what a comfort it is to me. I am a Nazarene, moral issues are black and white in the religion I practice, very much like your's. There are no gray areas, no room for sex outside of marriage. I've struggled long and hard about the right choices to make when writing. I've prayed also before writing, and yes there is a difference in the product on the page. Thank you for sharing and for the advice. I need to just write and worry about my moral issues when the time comes. *hugs*
I absolutely love historicals. Probably for the same reason you do, Marnee... women seemed to have it rough and there just seems to be a whole lot of material to work with there. I don't think I've got what it takes to do an historical justice, though. I'd be one of those authors they'd flay alive on all the blogs for her historical inaccuracies.
It's just much easier for me to write in a contemporary voice. And I'm finding that, as I write, things aren't all that easier nowadays for women. We just have different issues to deal with.
My third grade self was probably as close to wallpaper or woodwork as you could get. I blended in nicely whenever I could manage. I steered clear of kids like Terri and envied kids like Lis and Hellion who could let their imaginations run wild. I wouldn't go back for all the tea in China, as my blessed ma would say!
You know, I almost fanned myself with that SOS quote--beautiful, but HAWT. And definitely never shared in any church sermon I ever attended. All the preachers I've been privvy veer from that book like it's invisible.
I'm glad it was included into the canon though.
I think if the sex is between two consenting, mature adults who approach it as a sort of compact--in a romance, it's that step that's taken to cement the relationship, to say "I want to be with you forever", even if the formal vows haven't been exchanged yet.
This is not to say that if I saw Johnny Depp in the street and he said, "How you doin'?", I wouldn't spider-monkey his ass and lay him 6 ways from Sunday. Every girl should get a Sex Sin Freebie, I say, and that one is definitely going to be mine.
I assure you, Irish, no one envied me in 3rd grade. I was the poor kid with bad clothes, bad teeth, and WEIRD and quiet. I swear I was marking all the boxes to become a sociopath, you know: "Oh, but she was so quiet and nice." I spent a lot of time pretending to be invisible...except when I was being a horse.
And by the way, you are so right, sister about women having a new set of issues to contend with! We may be emancipated, but we're not necessarily free.
A sin free sex/get out of purgatory free card. Sounds like a nice idea. Though I'd rather just think of sex as a natural part of life and get over the sin part.
Irish - I wasn't all that bad. And I was really only mean to boys now that I think about it. Third grade was about the time my fairy-tale childhood ended and I think I might have been *striking out*. LOL!
Okay, Ter, if it was only boys you were mean to, then I probably would have been hiding behind your skirts! LOL
Hellion, I think there is a plethora of issues to still explore even though we are so-called emancipated! At least for me there were! I think no matter what time period you're in, relationships are hard! Everyone has baggage and that baggage is what gives us our storylines.
Yeah, and if they were reading from the Song of Solomon when I went to church on Sunday you can bet I would have paid a little closer attention and not complained as much as I did!
Janga, thank you for the suggestion of Teresa Medeiros's blog. I have to agree wholeheartedly with her. God meant a man and woman to show love for one another, it's our creative decision as how to portray that act of love in our writing.
Irish, I was a fly on the wall too in third grade the only time I got brave enough to stand up and speak was on story day, then I pretended to be someone other than the chubby, curly headed, girl. LOL
I love Teresa. She rocks!
Irish - you are so funny. I just know we would have been BFFs. I would have protected you. That's what I do. *g*
And I forgot, third grade was the first time I got to be one of the narrators for the school Christmas pageant. There were three of us and I was picked because my voice carries (yes, I was told this throughout my childhood) and because I had no problem standing or talking in front of a crowd.
And thus a life on the microphone was born....LOL!
Thanks Janga. Teresa Medeiros Rocks!
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