Friday, March 11, 2011

Pretty Words

Two things happened in my writing life recently that were kind of interesting and kind of related. First—I finished a novella. I think I’m going to title it Just Perfect despite the fact that it’s one of my darker stories but we’ll see. It’s in a revision stage, after which I’ll submit it to a publisher, so keep your fingers crossed. The second is that I’m currently working on another story and I finished writing a sex scene that I started in…2009, I think. Yeah, I got stalled pretty badly there. It might have been a good stall though because when I look at the plotline it doesn’t seem believable to me anymore, and I think I’ve got a better direction now for the book. Silver lining and all that.

The thing that kind of relates these two stories is language. When I was writing Just Perfect, I was afraid I’d lost the sense of lyricism I was so proud of in books like Lone and Paul’s Dream. Some might say I’m a little too in love with that sort of writing, but I’m really attached to pretty words, sentences that flow. The language in Just Perfect is hard, straightforward, and to the point. It wasn’t until I’d finished the story and read it all the way through for the first time that I realized this was Draven’s (the main character’s) voice, and that it fit. He’s an assassin, after all. And one who likes his job.

The story I’m working on now has more of the pretty words I thought I’d lost, which makes sense. Both characters in this one are nicer, gentler, a lot more innocent. They think differently so they express themselves differently.

I forget, sometimes, that it’s the characters who set the tone for a story, and that as long as you stay true to them, the words may not always be “pretty,” but they’ll always flow. And just because I’m stretching my writing muscles from time to time, doesn’t mean I’ve lost my touch.

It might even mean I’ve gotten better. (This is me, trying to be more optimistic as per my New Year’s resolution.)

;)

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I love lyrical writing. Sentences crafted so a word can be used just so. The odd thing about your post about pretty words is I have been arguing with people about word usage all weekend. If being late for work is what you call a disater then what do you say when a real disaster strikes (Japan).

I am glad you feel you are growing stronger as a writer and haven't lost your touch. We readers will be rewarded in the end. (Kudos on the New Year's resolution, mine for three years has been to commit to veganism... still failing).

Rowan McBride said...

If anything *appropriate* words are harder to pin down than pretty words, and that is something I stumble over--sigh--often. But it's good to think about those sorts of things frequently, yeah?

Thanks, and good luck with the veganism!

LLDeMay said...

Yeah! I'm so excited you're finding your muse again! I can't wait and have no doubts that I'll love what you're writing. Your characters are always the heart of your stories and it seems appropriate that the tenor would be different to match them.

Jane said...

I'm excited that you're finding your muse again as well! I absolutely adore your stories and I've been checking your website regularly to see when you might be releasing a new work. Your books are like chocolate to me--a delicious confection that I like to partake in again and again. I look forward to more updates like this one!

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