Discussion NSWFF Writer's Support Group - April's Topic: Writing Dialogue

Yep, as Lazy said, all crossovers involving SW go on the SW side.

That is something that I completely understand. To make matters worse, I like to tackle angst ridden anti-heroes more often than not when I write, or characters with serious flaws and complicated backstories – so it would be OOC for me to write them 'perfect', even when I really, really want to. Multidimensional is always that trick with a well written character – and one I think we will all be wrestling with until we write our final words.

And it has certainty worked out well for you! I would never have guessed that you struggled with a female character – you do well with the strong lady types. Audrey is one of the OCs I thoroughly enjoy – and I see the contribution of the characters you have mentioned in her personality.

I don't think that that could have been said better, and I agree with you one hundred percent!

I am the same way when I write. There are some fantastic authors who can make some really interesting OCs, but fandoms are already so rich with characters that my interest is already being pulled this way and that without having to resort to making characters of my own – unless they are added into the plot dealing with an already established character.

And I can't wait to see that HP oneshot you mentioned. I'm chipping away at your long story, so I would love to have something like that to read in the meantime.

It's the eternal battle not to turn canon characters into Mary Sues. I know that's a term more often used for OCs, but I think it can apply. A canon character who is too perfect and gets everything too easily--and defeats a bad guy with no depth other than as a person to be defeated--can become a Mary Sue, IMO.


And, related to last month's discussion, I'm slowly but surely turning that writer's block around! I don't know whether it's the new start for a new year, my resolutions, or some awesome ongoing challenges (50 Sentences and Dear Diary), but I sat down and wrote about 3,000 words in the last day!

My goal is 120,000 for the year. It's a lot easier for me to have a specific goal, instead of just "write more." It gives me something quantifiable to achieve (and forcing myself to keep track makes me more motivated to write ... and gives me something fun to look back on at the end of the year. I made it to my 2012 goal of 100k, but my 120k last year fell really short. I'm really enjoying this "motivated to write" feeling

Oh how awesome!

That is a really, really good idea with the word count goal for the year. The goal 'write more' is such a flimsy idea, but that has substance behind it, and I can't wait to see it met. There's nothing better than that broke-through-writer's-block feeling.

It's definitely pretty good Even when my motivation to write is based on avoiding something else ...

I sat down and cracked open some of my favorite characters from a cartoon, a fantasy book, a sitcom, and dramedy, and another fantasy book, respectively. I noticed that I used the term "loyal" for all five; apparently, I have a type These aren't necessarily my favorite characters or my favorite fandoms; they're characters I've recently written about, so I've gotten various level of "used to mucking about in their lives"



Aang (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Aang is funny and sweet and kind. He has moments of wisdom born of being the Avatar and having grown up with the monks, but he is still 12 and often acts like it. He is both too young and too old for his age. He is loyal and patient. He always strives to do the right thing, even if it goes against everyone else’s advice. He has moments of maturity and immaturity, and bounces between the two often enough to give his friends whiplash. He is strong, not just physically but emotionally. He is friendly, and he is courageous

Harry Potter (Harry Potter)

Harry is brave. He is loved, which defines so much of what happens to him, but he also loves, and that’s what really defines him, even in the moments he is so angry he shouts at those who love him most. He is intelligent, though not particularly book-smart. He is incredibly resourceful. He can get angry, but he can also be kind. He is awkward with girls, and he good at sports. He never gives up, even when it would be easier. He is loyal to his friends, even when they fight. He learns along the way how to forgive.

Lorelei Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

Lorelei is resourceful. He is something of a cloudcookoolander at times, but she has her head on her shoulders when it counts. She loves her daughter. She wants to be successful in her own right and on her own terms. She is strong enough to hold herself and Rory up. She is willing to take any challenge, humiliating or not, to meet her goals. She’s loyal to her friends. She always does her best. She makes the best of situations. She is a strong leader. She is welcoming, but she can also be a mama bear. She’s a coffee addict.

Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother)

Barney is a ladies’ man with a very hidden heart of gold. He is loyal to his friends at all costs, even if he sometimes needs a little nudging, and he is willing to do anything for them. He loves a good scotch and cigar. He is willing to take on absolutely any challenge in the world. He loves, even though he has a hard time admitting it. He has a tie obsession. He grows, and he is eventually willing to accept that he’s changed and fight for the future he wants. He never gives up. He’s a bit mysterious.

Rand al’Thor (Wheel of Time)

Rand wants a taste of adventure, but even though he finds it not to his liking and tries to give up and run away, he stands and faces his destiny and his enemies when he has no other choice. He is a fiercely loyal friend. His wants love (romantic and familial). He is easily confused by women. He fights for the right to make up his own mind and run his life and his battles the way he wants. He cares, even when he’s too insane for most people to see it. He goes willingly to the mouth of hell.

Lazy, I've heard that, too!

I prefer the "show, don't tell" method of characterization. I don't see to say "Samantha had a coffee addiction," I just have her running to Starbucks a lot. Or instead of describing her outfit, I make a note when she rips her jeans.

I think if it doesn't give us insight into the character that will help us understand her actions better, it's not necessary. I think the going by your gut (and practising a lot--and better yet, reading a lot) is the best way to see what's right for your characters.

I think that that is the best way to put it. And the 'show, not tell' talent definitely comes over time with patience and repetition. Like you said, Lazy- the writing a little bit every day is the perfect way to flex more than one writing muscle. That's a great goal to have.

And then, Nat! Your character drabbles:

Aang: I think the best part of that was him being 'both too young and too old at the same time', there is really no better way to say that.
Harry: I like how you thought to include 'he is loved' to that drabble. It really is at the core of who he is and the events that have come to define him. The 'learning to forgive' is another great character insight. It's the character's growth and metamorphosis that makes them so adored in the end.
Lorelai: I think you could have summed her up at coffee addict. How I adore that woman. The rest - you have her down pat, as well.
Barney: That was just legend-ary. Spot on.
Rand: Is a character I have not had the pleasure to read about, but sounds awesome.

I think Harry being loved is really the only reason he's alive to star in a series--Lily's love saved him (on several occasions ).

And Barney is legen ... wait for it ... dary. I totally should have included that

Rand is very interesting and very complicated.

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

He's a reborn savior of the world, and because the men's half of the magic was tainted when he past life closed the Dark One away from the world, he goes insane.

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

He gets better

The last book in the Wheel of Time series was just released, and I'm trying to re-read the others and get to that one (#14 ).

I think my intense writing enthusiasm has slowed down a little The bunnies are still biting, but I'm trying to not push it and get burned out.

I really like this!! And I totally agree. I have this feeling sometimes, too. And I'll have to check that fic out! PM me a link? (Also, it's Nat )

I think my new-years high has just kinda worn off as I get back to real life--which means working and watching kiddos and going out with my friends ... and by the time I have a day off, I'm too lazy to move And part of it is that I'm trying to motivate myself to post for most of my stories at least once a week, which is quite the project--and maybe a little too intense

I understand about getting burned out on ideas - that's my biggest problem with writing, as a whole, actially. I get an idea, I obsess over it, devote all of my time and energy to writing a couple thousand words, and then completely loose interest when something new and shinny comes by. I have so many ideas in my head that deciding what to write seriously tugs on my muse - It is awful when writing becomes an obligation so that you can move on to the 'next big thing' in your mind. I have to be well into writing a story before I post chaptered fics now, just to be fair to my readers and not have them suffer with my muse's fickleness.

Aaaaand I have been remiss in not updating this thread this month. Expect a brand new discussion and exercise starting in March. If anyone has an aspect of writing you would like to see tackled in the next few months, feel free to drop me a line and let me know.

Exactly! Sometimes the need to post another chapter keeps me going and excited; other times, stories are best left abandoned on my hard drive after I run out of excitement for them

Yeah, as soon as work ot crazy for a few weeks, I basically stopped writing I have trouble just opening a story with the intention to just write for a few minutes. Either I have the energy to sit down and write for a while or I don't; there's no in between.

Going off what Nat was just saying (and a snazzy topic suggestion from @Rew – thank-you ), we have for March . . .

---

March's Topic: Finding the Time To Write

“The future is something everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.” ~ C.S. Lewis

The Discussion

So, you have your ideas. Your mind is bursting with characters, places and ideas. You just . . . can't seem to find a moment to sit down and get all of those thoughts out into words. What do you do to find time in your schedule to write? How do you maintain your focus when you do find that precious time? What are the things that really get your muse going when writing – a certain type of music, a beverage of choice? What are the secrets to your craft? Tell all and listen to others tell theirs!

The Exercise

There is no exercise for this month. Just pay attention to your writing habits over the next few weeks, and feel free to share if you notice any interesting quirks or trends.

That's an awesome quote

If I'm really buzzing with an idea, I make time, haha. Otherwise, as the mood strikes--and it tends to not strike when I'm stressed.

I don't usually drink and write I used to listen to music when I wrote--fanfic, term paper, whatever--but in the last few years, that slowly went away.

The quote just jumped! I tried looking past that, but I kept on coming back to that one. It's too true!

And I agree with the making time when an idea is hot! There have been instances of four in the morning writing when I wake up and can't get back to sleep for the urge to write. I tend to write the best early - when my mind is fresh and there is coffee to be consume. Lots of coffee. Coffee feeds my muse like absinthe fed Hemingway's. Music also is constantly playing when I write - often there is a direct correlation between phrases an 'feelings' in my music and my finished pieces. I have more playlists for writing than anything else.

Do you like different music for different fandoms of genres?

My music is so eclectic that it gets hard to break it down what I like for where , but there are definitely some fandom specific bands for my muse . . . For instance, when writing Star Trek I love to listen to a lot of Philip Glass and Yann Tierson . . . for Avengers (and Natasha fics in particular) I live on Florence Welsh, Regina Spektor, and Vitas (even though, for some reason, every single Mumford and Sons song screams Loki to my muse ), while for LoTR/Thor I have a collection of Celtic tunes, Germanic and Norse folklore, and Viking metal bands to tide my muse along. I am a soundtrack addict - so those can be applied to the corresponding fandom as well. Hans ZImmer and Howard Shore are beautiful, beautiful men, and their work never fails to spark the urge to write.

Yay, Rew! I love your insights into the characters

Mira--quick eclectic! But it all sounds v=fun (particularly the Celtic music ).

Do you guys ever have the problem of trying to write for one story but being completely motivated to write for another? Right now, I'm like, "Well, this is nice, but I really needed to write for another story." But I'm having too much fun to try to switch