Arranged Marriages part 1

Yes, all you writers group people - my brain is still on the topic of marriage.
There are typically 2 - count them - two ways arranged marriages work in stories.
1. The person getting married finds his/her true love in the person s/he been arranged to marry.
2. S/he ends up running away from the arranged marriage with his/her true love.
(We touched on a much less popular option a couple meetings ago - two people living together. One working very hard during the day and then spending his nights a late night bar that he owns and the other working very hard as well, and living with her nose in a book/writing.)
The 2nd "official" option seems to be more popular, probably because it adds "conflict" (and usually angst, but that's a different post.).

I read a book for school recently that included arranged marriages. Homeless Bird, by Gloria Whelan. Granted, the main character's didn't go terribly well, but her stepsister got married and seemed to do quite well in her life. We needs more of that, arranged marriages that work, but aren't necessarily "Troo wuv".
Think about culture, and the character his/herself. Is she really going to throw tantrums because she doesn't want to marry a man she's heard is kind and gentle?

And I can't help but wonder about the divorce rate in fictional works, particularly fantasy/SF. I guess that would depend on the culture you've created.

See these rants for more information. Arranged Marriages . . . Oh, and Duty-Bound Protagonists
. . .
I need to stop watching Doctor Who so close to bedtime. . . it sends my mind into overdrive.

Quote of the day

"Every first draft is perfect, because all a first draft has to do is exist."
- Jane Smiley

When the ideas refuse to come

Some people will tell you to set a schedule and stick to it. I can't do that, so this is my piece of advice: Try mixing up your routine. It doesn't have to be major, little things work. In example, I'm currently sitting on the floor as I type. (I brought the key board down with me.)
Maybe try new music, write while standing on your head, sitting upside down in an armchair (which I've tried), or whatever else your mind can think up.
Or you can say that I'm slightly crazy and completely ignore me.
Your choice.

Love thy characters. . .

. . . or at least care what happens to them. If you don't care, why the heck should your reader care? Just be careful not to care so much about them that you make sure that nothing bad ever happens to them. I once started reading a story online and nothing bad ever happened to the main character - you can bet how fast I put that thing down.
Make your characters work, make them suffer for their goals, don't be afraid to kill them if the story requires it.

Oh, and don't forget to laugh today.

Quote

"A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”
-Thomas Mann

A story and a point

Writing - you give it everything you have. Sometimes that's enough, sometimes it isn't.

When I was 11, I started on this story, it was my first attempt at writing, and it was the best thing i ever wrote - so I thought.

I look through it now, and there are a couple sections that I want to burn. The voice is awkward throughout most of it, characters make ridiculous mistakes and do things that don't really make sense - all for honor. As you get to the end, though, you begin to see it change. The voice becomes a little smoother, plot holes begin to mend, and it gets better.

And then I stopped writing it. I stopped writing.

Then I found inspiration, I began writing again. This time, the story was better. And it went on for a few months, then I dropped it. I had become very interested in one of the secondary characters, I began writing about her.

So many versions poured out of that decision, and not all of then were very good.

That characters name was Sorrow Fleetfoot, I am currently on my . . . umpteenth version, and enjoying every minute.

The point to this story? (Yes, there actually is a point to this story.)

Writing gets better the more experience you have, and the more you do it.

Well. . .

"Hello, hello, hello. I'm roguewriter's (overworked and underappreciated) assistant, and I will be filling in for her today as she is pouring over a couple of "key" points of her novel and arguing with her muse and isn't in a terribly helpful mood. So you're stuck with me, lucky you, eh? Well, you needn't look like that, she's been telling you about me, hasn't she? It's not my fault she bets with me too much! Er, but - but, you're getting me off subject!" The elf rose, large black wings unfurling. "I've got the feeling I'll be maning the station for a good week or two, so let me outline what the plan looks like: we'll have several quick words on several subjects. First on the list is in relation to Soundtracks, part 1.
rock4ever95,you said "I use real music as my soundtrack. For example, right now I am listening to Dear Mr. President by P!nk and that makes me feel sort of inspired and elegant. But if I were listening to, say, You Don't Know What Love Is by the White Stripes I would feel more, angry and up-tempo. The music I listen to affects my writing style." You are quite right, the music a writer listens to usually affects one's style. Take for example, my writer, she has ben listening to the same two albums over and over again for the past couple of weeks. Dragon Archer, you said "Me, I'll hear songs on the radio and think "Hmm. . .this song would fit Azalea," or "This song would be perfect for Kairan and Kylise as a couple," but I don't really compose music in my head for scenes. At least, not consciously.
It's not unheard of for me to do things like that on a subconscious level." Also very true, as long as it works for you. I think it's a matter of what and how you choose to write. In both your responses I see bits of the writer I'm forced to work with, but in the end, I think it's the way the writer thinks.

Soundtracks, part 1

5...4...3...2...1.. lights come on, and we're set.


The girl paces the floor, scowling. "So, I hit a new low, well, actually, I've been this way since the last plot idea failed.
"But I'm not here to talk about that, no, I'm here about soundtracks. Come on, I can't be the only person who "composes" music in their heads to go along with scenes. . . am I? I mean, that's the problem in life, unlike movies, there is no danger music. If there was, life would be quite a bit simpler." She pauses, looking around. "And that's really all I have to say on Soundtracks, part 1."

Quote

"A writer is working when he's staring out of the window."
Burton Rascoe


What do you think?

Plots

Plots, I spend night after sleepless night working on one, get to perfection, and start writing - only to have it fall apart. So I mope for a few days/months, throw things at my personal assistant (see About Me for details) , try to work on the story without a plot, and give up in disgust. After spending a fairly sleepless week or two working, I come up with a "better" plot, start working - three weeks/a couple months later, I have to scrap it, because it makes no sense, I've lost interest or it stinks. I mope, I become miserable, I start working again.

And the cycle continues for months. . .

Sounding familiar yet?