I'm concerned. Naturally, my characters are starting to mimic real people. I can't decide how I feel about this. On the one hand, I have some very dynamic people in my life, and I think that's a good thing, from a "real experiences make for real stories" kind of way. But on the other hand, I know these dynamic people will one day read my book. Will they be offended that I usurped their character traits? Undoubtedly, this will depend on the situation. When Erika does something endearing that makes the reader love her, the girl friend of mine on whom Erika is based in that moment will likely recognize herself (or will she?) in the scene and (hopefully) be flattered. However, when Erika's best friend Annabelle is pointing out some serious areas in Erika's life that require some growth, will THAT friend recognize herself and be offended or embarrassed? I am currently treading lightly because I don't want my book to come off as judgments of real people's character. Of course, there is a lot of me in the book, and I anticipate there will be even more as relationships develop. I have no doubt people will read the book and see me in a lot of it... as they should - I'm writing it. But how does it work when friends read the book?
I'm not even going to get into how to handle R-rated scenes... knowing my parents (and grandparents!), and other people's parents and grandparents, are going to read my book...
I'm certainly open to any advice on this one...
Cheers!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
check baby check baby one two...
I love this article by Jennifer Weiner: http://www.jenniferweiner.com/forwriters.htm
I have to admit, I actually love this article more than I loved Jennifer's debut novel, Good In Bed (Sorry Jennifer...). Anyway, in her article, Jennifer balances what I perceive to be the realism of writing a book with its euphoria. I'm encouraged that she seems to say the euphoria endures despite the frustrating realism.
I walked through those things that Jennifer believes make someone a good novelist. I'm left with mixed emotions.
1. The Unhappy Childhood
Certainly no check mark here. I had a happy childhood in Suburbia, Wisconsin, save for a couple humiliating elementary school experiences... such as, puking during the Christmas pageant, while wearing a sheep's costume (complete with fuzzy sheep's head) or nicknaming myself (yes you read that correctly) "Nicole Bowl" in the second grade because I couldn't think of anything better that rhymed with "Nicole."
2. The Miserable Love Life
The extra large check mark that belongs here makes up for the lack of check mark under number 1. Think Ross and Rachel ("WE WERE ON A BREAK!!") meets Brad Pitt/Jennifer Aniston/Angelina Jolie.
Yes, I am blatantly comparing myself to Jennifer Aniston. So?
3. Major in Liberal Arts (not necessarily creative writing)
Hmm... I think International Studies counts here, right? Jennifer mentioned poli sci, and I took a bunch of poli sci, so I'm saying it counts. Check. Mark.
4. Get a Job (not an MFA)
Is it a problem that I don't know what MFA stands for? I suppose if I don't know whether I have an "MFA" job, then I probably don't. Although some days, my job can certainly be described as M-F-A, and A does not stand for "Awesome."
5. Write to Please Yourself
...as opposed to pleasing my boss? my professor? the court? Pretty sure I can handle this one. In writing for myself, there is no such thing as citations. In fact, using someone else's ideas is generally frowned upon, while "making it up as you go along" is highly encouraged. Thank you, God.
6. Get a Dog
Check. After a particularly excruciating breakup (see number 2 above), I got a puppy. It was certainly a transparent and somewhat pathetic gesture, and I will spare you that "I had been planning on getting one WAYYYY before I got dumped at that Mexican restaurant and left with the tab." Seriously.
So, yes Jennifer, I have heartbreak and a dog. And actually I have a dog because of the heartbreak, so it comes full circle. Now I can write a novel. Fantastic.
7. Get Published
At this point, I would be putting the cart before the horse if I gave myself a check mark on this one. Although, I have had an article published... but it was a legal article, so I'll take a half check here.
8. Find an Agent
I picture this one going very much like Jerry Macguire, where I am, of course, Rod Tidwell.
9. Be a Smart Consumer
Hmm... If there were negative check marks, I would get one.
10. Read
This is an interesting one for me. I think Jennifer is absolutely right on here. The more I'm reading, the harder it is for me to shut down the characters that constantly jump in my mind. When I'm reading, I find myself almost narrating my own life (and no, not like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swJmB-AqhOI).
In sum, I would say it's about 50-50 check marks to no check marks. I'm pretty much relying on those huge check marks for doggy-discipline, heartbreak, and having a job that gives me some decent fodder. And let's be honest, if my lack of check marks outweighs my awarded check marks, I didn't really like Jennifer's books anyway ;)
Stay tuned.
I have to admit, I actually love this article more than I loved Jennifer's debut novel, Good In Bed (Sorry Jennifer...). Anyway, in her article, Jennifer balances what I perceive to be the realism of writing a book with its euphoria. I'm encouraged that she seems to say the euphoria endures despite the frustrating realism.
I walked through those things that Jennifer believes make someone a good novelist. I'm left with mixed emotions.
1. The Unhappy Childhood
Certainly no check mark here. I had a happy childhood in Suburbia, Wisconsin, save for a couple humiliating elementary school experiences... such as, puking during the Christmas pageant, while wearing a sheep's costume (complete with fuzzy sheep's head) or nicknaming myself (yes you read that correctly) "Nicole Bowl" in the second grade because I couldn't think of anything better that rhymed with "Nicole."
2. The Miserable Love Life
The extra large check mark that belongs here makes up for the lack of check mark under number 1. Think Ross and Rachel ("WE WERE ON A BREAK!!") meets Brad Pitt/Jennifer Aniston/Angelina Jolie.
Yes, I am blatantly comparing myself to Jennifer Aniston. So?
3. Major in Liberal Arts (not necessarily creative writing)
Hmm... I think International Studies counts here, right? Jennifer mentioned poli sci, and I took a bunch of poli sci, so I'm saying it counts. Check. Mark.
4. Get a Job (not an MFA)
Is it a problem that I don't know what MFA stands for? I suppose if I don't know whether I have an "MFA" job, then I probably don't. Although some days, my job can certainly be described as M-F-A, and A does not stand for "Awesome."
5. Write to Please Yourself
...as opposed to pleasing my boss? my professor? the court? Pretty sure I can handle this one. In writing for myself, there is no such thing as citations. In fact, using someone else's ideas is generally frowned upon, while "making it up as you go along" is highly encouraged. Thank you, God.
6. Get a Dog
Check. After a particularly excruciating breakup (see number 2 above), I got a puppy. It was certainly a transparent and somewhat pathetic gesture, and I will spare you that "I had been planning on getting one WAYYYY before I got dumped at that Mexican restaurant and left with the tab." Seriously.
So, yes Jennifer, I have heartbreak and a dog. And actually I have a dog because of the heartbreak, so it comes full circle. Now I can write a novel. Fantastic.
7. Get Published
At this point, I would be putting the cart before the horse if I gave myself a check mark on this one. Although, I have had an article published... but it was a legal article, so I'll take a half check here.
8. Find an Agent
I picture this one going very much like Jerry Macguire, where I am, of course, Rod Tidwell.
9. Be a Smart Consumer
Hmm... If there were negative check marks, I would get one.
10. Read
This is an interesting one for me. I think Jennifer is absolutely right on here. The more I'm reading, the harder it is for me to shut down the characters that constantly jump in my mind. When I'm reading, I find myself almost narrating my own life (and no, not like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swJmB-AqhOI).
In sum, I would say it's about 50-50 check marks to no check marks. I'm pretty much relying on those huge check marks for doggy-discipline, heartbreak, and having a job that gives me some decent fodder. And let's be honest, if my lack of check marks outweighs my awarded check marks, I didn't really like Jennifer's books anyway ;)
Stay tuned.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
In the few short hours since my announcement, I have received a tremendous outpouring of support (you are all so awesome. Thank you). Included in this outpouring were a couple of links to articles, which surprisingly were both published within the last week or so. Both are, in their own ways, extremely on-point:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/06/opinion/06Grisham.html?_r=1
http://www.theonion.com/articles/law-schools-now-require-applicants-to-honestly-sta,18089/
Enjoy!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/06/opinion/06Grisham.html?_r=1
http://www.theonion.com/articles/law-schools-now-require-applicants-to-honestly-sta,18089/
Enjoy!
step one: admitting the problem.
Since graduation from law school and my abrupt realization that, not only was the party over, but the time had come to pay the piper, I began to resent my career.
This resentment manifested itself in a number of ways, all of which made me feel like a nasty, terrible human being. The recurring manifestation, and the one that ultimately led me to this step one, was how much I found myself hating those more fortunate than me. It wasn't that I resented my rich friends, or even the friends with zero law school debt. It went deeper than that. I am not proud of what I'm about to share, but I believe it was (is?) a necessary part of what brought me to where I am.
The people I resented the most were those people - my friends, my clients, my yoga instructor, and even complete strangers - who were doing what they loved, and making a career out of it, because money wasn't an issue. When a good friend broke his hip in two places and was relinquished to 8 weeks of bed rest, I found myself jealous (JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!!!) and wishing I had two months worth of excuses not to go to work or the gym or happy hour... or anything at all. Everybody else talked about "how boring" it would be and how they would go stir crazy. I, on the other hand, knew immediately what I would do with such an unplanned vacation: I would write a book.
It took the rest of the summer for me to realize that despite my debt and general disenchantment with being a lawyer, I was really lucky. What I wanted to do with my life didn't actually require having a lot of money. It didn't require renting studio space, making a downpayment or investing loads of money upfront.
So, with a rough plot outline and initial thoughts on character development, this is me taking the first step to recovery: I don't want to be a lawyer for the rest of my life. I don't want to wait until retirement to sit down and write my first book. I don't want to hate what I do. I don't want to resent people who love what they do.
I am going to write a book.
This resentment manifested itself in a number of ways, all of which made me feel like a nasty, terrible human being. The recurring manifestation, and the one that ultimately led me to this step one, was how much I found myself hating those more fortunate than me. It wasn't that I resented my rich friends, or even the friends with zero law school debt. It went deeper than that. I am not proud of what I'm about to share, but I believe it was (is?) a necessary part of what brought me to where I am.
The people I resented the most were those people - my friends, my clients, my yoga instructor, and even complete strangers - who were doing what they loved, and making a career out of it, because money wasn't an issue. When a good friend broke his hip in two places and was relinquished to 8 weeks of bed rest, I found myself jealous (JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!!!) and wishing I had two months worth of excuses not to go to work or the gym or happy hour... or anything at all. Everybody else talked about "how boring" it would be and how they would go stir crazy. I, on the other hand, knew immediately what I would do with such an unplanned vacation: I would write a book.
It took the rest of the summer for me to realize that despite my debt and general disenchantment with being a lawyer, I was really lucky. What I wanted to do with my life didn't actually require having a lot of money. It didn't require renting studio space, making a downpayment or investing loads of money upfront.
So, with a rough plot outline and initial thoughts on character development, this is me taking the first step to recovery: I don't want to be a lawyer for the rest of my life. I don't want to wait until retirement to sit down and write my first book. I don't want to hate what I do. I don't want to resent people who love what they do.
I am going to write a book.
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