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Thoughts I Had While Writing My Novel

What is wrong with you characters?!

Apr 08, 2020

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*Dramatic Movie Music* It's finally here. The article you've been waiting for....

Anyway, I've been working on my novel for independent study, and thankfully, I've been making progress, even with the COVID madness and a jumping mad new kitten. Still, even though I pretty much know these characters from the back of my hand, rereading still surprises me sometimes.

1. Wow, my character talks a lot about X

It could be anything, really. One of my characters talks about hands a lot, particularly another main characters (No, I'm not a harlequin author, I suck in that department... Even if it would apparently make good money), and I'd only noticed that after reading that. I'd also noticed that any breaks from reality are indicated by ellipses, and another character is only pretending to be naive.

2. Wow... That came out of my head

I do end up waxing poetic a lot in this, although it's not exactly a cheesy romantic novel, but sometimes I blow my own mind with how tender my two main characters are with one another, even though they're simultaneously in conflict with one another.

3. COOPERATE!

My novel has two different narrators, and one of them is just a pain to work with. You'd think a character who writes himself is easy to write, but it's the opposite with this dude. Don't get me wrong, he's great, but he's the Dustin Hoffman of my characters, cooperation-wise (Though, all jokes aside, I could never see Hoffman playing him. Even young Hoffman.) What makes it worse is that half of the chapters are his POV... And taking either narrator would ruin the point of the book.

4. Worldbuilding is hard...

Being that I started out with fanfics, worldbuilding was at the back of my mind because there was already a world to work with. Even when I went original with this, I've been told that setting isn't exactly my strong suit. It's fine... All writers have a weakness, but, here, the setting is somewhat important to the plot. Oh well... Back to the drawing board.

5. I hope the ending is okay...

I don't mean too abrupt, or whatever. I finally have somewhat of an idea for an ending that makes sense, but is the shift in emotion itself too abrupt? Is it enough? Does it not tie everything up... I'm going for a book with a prequel, not a sequel? Well? I don't know... You can't please everyone, right?

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Thoughts I Had While Writing My Novel

What is wrong with you characters?!

1. Wow, my character talks a lot about X

2. Wow... That came out of my head

3. COOPERATE!

4. Worldbuilding is hard...

5. I hope the ending is okay...

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

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There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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