When in doubt, feed them

[pjthompson]

A good session with Caius and friends yesterday. Or rather, Caius and enemies, in this scene. I got over myself and worked through the fight scene that just didn't want to get written last week. But today was a slog. I had to prepare my characters for a big battle scene (and actually hoped to write the battle), but they resisted. It was like trying to push them up a steep hill and they'd gonr all slack-limbed on me—pure dead weight. I don't know why they are being so nasty, but nasty they are. Could it be because of prose like this:

Cliché du jour: At last I had proof of his villainy!

Oh. My. God. It's so horrifically bad I'm tempted to leave it in just for the shock and awe value. Then again, maybe not.

And I dreamed last night that every corner I turned in my apartment had another bookshelf I'd forgotten about and books that needed to be packed. And not your normal nicey-nicey books, but those big honking things with the crusty covers like you find in the stacks of research libraries. And the thing is, there just aren't that many corners in my apartment, so I don't know why I kept turning so many of them—but turn them I did.

My friend is coming over to help me pack on Sunday, despite her early fears that she might have to have unexpected major surgery that weekend. Another is coming over the following week, despite her fears of unexpected major surgery. I'm glad that the fear of back operations and kidney transplants didn't pan out. I am bribing them with food, so perhaps that improved their health.

Comments

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

A part of me really likes the cliche du jour. I think you're right. It's the shock and awe.

[pjthompson]

I'm shocked and awed that I was apparently channeling Dudley Doright.

[handworn.livejournal.com]

It's definitely a moustache-twirling moment. Leave it in, at least pro tempore. If artists have fun while they do their thing, it truly comes through in the final product. A Fish Called Wanda is Exhibit #1.

[pjthompson]

I've left it alone for the moment, but I doubt it'll survive to the point of actually letting someone else look at it.

[handworn.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm not saying it should. As you say, it is a cliche. But it's undeniably fun. I guess I'm saying people shouldn't dwell on these things out of self-doubt to the point of not having the story be fun anymore.

[pjthompson]

No worries there. I use cliches as placeholders all the time until I can swing back through in the rewrites and zap them. And I make room for humorous stuff even in the darkest story--because that's part of life, too.

[frigg.livejournal.com]

I don't know why they are being so nasty, but nasty they are.

Erhmmm perhaps they're not too keen on going to battle? I know I'd be dragging my feet as well. :)

[pjthompson]

Or perhaps the author has turned chicken when it comes to do bad stuff to her characters. Sometimes I have trouble doing that, then jump in with great glee.