"How's the writing going? When are you going to be done with that story so I can read it? Let me know when that book is done!" These have been the words of
He's a bad guy. You're supposed to hate him. I want the reader to hate him. But I identify with my main character enough (all of that visualizing you know) that now when I have him tagging along with her in a portion of her adventure after having escaped his clutches for so long...I can't stand to go back to the story and keep writing! I just hate him so much! I feel like I'm being forced into a tiny little box with him and it makes me seriously uncomfortable.
I have decided first of all I need to change his name because his name alone equates with someone in my past whose actions are offensive to my sensibilities. So a name change is a must. Maybe a little distance from that "too close to home" feeling will make it better.
Then I considered making this guy a little more like-able - like Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold in Once Upon A Time but that won't work either. I LOVE watching episodes with Mr. Gold because he's just so fascinating. (And also Robert is a fantastic actor!) But my "bad guy" really can't be very like-able. He really is just going to be an intelligent, power hungry jerk. Still, perhaps he needs to be better understood.
So I'm still working on it, but it IS coming together nicely and I should be done soon if I can just get the last two chapters down. Then I'll be enjoying the re-writing and editing stage that I actually love more than anything. Maybe I should be an editor. *sigh*
How's YOUR writing going?
I can visualize very well, believe me. I understand, and unfortunately we need to deal with those bad guys. Hopefully they will get their comeuppance in the end, and since we choreograph their every move, lol, it's just a matter of time.
ReplyDeleteIf you use the "find and replace" program to change that bad guy's name, be careful. I used it to change one of my character's name from Grace, to Mackenzie to Sam, and everything that had "mac" in it got switched to "sam". The word machine turned into samhine, and this is just an example. There were other words, too, that were messed up by that "find and replace" shortcut. I didn't find this out until after I had submitted the manuscript to a publisher, too. I was so embarrassed. I had to write to her and explain my amateur mistake and (basically) beg for her to accept my corrected manuscript. The editor graciously said she'd read the corrected version. Sadly, I still haven't heard anything from her since then. Sigh . . .
I do have another manuscript ready for submission. I only need a synopsis and a good cover letter.
I know what you mean the bad guys have to feel they are the center of the story and share their motives and feelings as well as their actions. But you have to share all that evil while showing the reader that evil is evil and good will prevail. I have faith you will be done soon.
ReplyDeleteMr.Gold/Rumpelstiltskin is probably the most fascinating and complex character ever. I love that show.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Kami. Glad to hear your writing is going so well! My writing is on hold for now...sigh.