Walter Mitty Reimagined...

Does productivity count?

2010-01-05T21:48:38Z

Yes! Because although I didn't get some stuff done yet, I did make much more headway than I thought I would on others - and that's a big feeling of accomplishment :D

ostarella @ 2010-01-04T16:11:00

2010-01-04T22:11:29Z

okay on this live messenger thing - but don't know if messages going through or not - and damn! they have enough cookies, don't they?

I keep entering a reply and hitting enter and nothing happens, so if anyone's trying to talk to me - argh!

Today's Good Thing

2010-01-04T22:04:19Z

I discovered the old door to the back entry up in the store room. Why is this good? It means I don't have to build the frame for a new door, but can just reinstall this old one (with a few minor repairs). Result - less work for more heat savings! (And Fang can now have access to the kitchen and bathroom without getting into the basement - so added good thing - his litter box can get out of the corner hallway and into the bathroom.)

Lots of good things today - from one little discovery :D

I've now got the new LiveJournal Messenger.

2010-01-04T21:52:37Z

I've now got the new LiveJournal Messenger. My Windows Live ID is ostarella@livejournal.com. Sign up now and we can chat!

Joy/Happiness/Just "nice"

2010-01-03T18:40:40Z

In harmony with yesterday's post about backing away, I've decided that each day I will find at least one thing to be happy about and post it here. And I invite anyone else to do the same. Doesn't have to be earth-shattering (although "The sun came up" might get a little repetitious :D) but any thing that you saw, heard, experienced that was good. And it might be a good idea (ha! see - there's one already ;-)) to stay away from things that have a tendency toward negative - like politics. Make it personal, for you.

So - my nice thing for today.

Fang, laying on my lap, curled into a little ball, with Petey and Muffy sleeping soundly on the couch. They feel safe, secure and loved. And it's nice that I can do that for them.

Backing away

2010-01-02T16:20:25Z

I'm seriously considering dropping off the net for a while. At least, not paying as much attention to various sites and blogs as I have been. I'm finding that there are altogether too many truly negative people. People who have a certain mindset and won't even listen, let alone change; people who complain about their lives and then unapologetically do more of the same things that caused their troubles; people who just can't find anything good to talk about. Even if I don't engage in conversation with them, that negativity seeps into my thinking. So I'm not going to pay attention to most of the blogs I've been watching, and I'll check the various groups to see if there's something I *need* to do (which does not include commenting on anything I'm not directly responsible for), but otherwise I'm going back to my normal state of non-involvement with anything other than my close friends and my own life's interests. Insular, perhaps, but definitely much happier and more productive.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-27T11:45:54Z

Just some random pix - Fang was quite leery of John when he first arrived - then he found out it was another person to rub his chin so they became good buddies LOL

It's Over

2009-12-27T11:14:56Z

My son left about 20 minutes ago. My brother's driving him up to the airport. We had a lot of fun the last week, watching Lost episodes until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning, rearranging the dining room so we could put up the tree and decorate. My brother came down Wednesday night so we had the whole family together for three full days - playing Hero Quest for hours on end and every few minutes chasing Fang out of the Christmas tree. To him, it was cat heaven with all the tempting bright things hanging from the branches. And we ended up not going to my niece's house, just because the weather was so unpredictable.

But now, of course, comes the hard part. It always seems like life is just on "temporary mode" when John's not here and only gets into gear when he's home. But I'm thinking about my New Year's resolutions more seriously - and realistically. I've gotten pictures of RVs posted above my desk - to remind me of why I need to do the stuff on my To Do List. It's just too easy to get bogged down in the day to day crapola or overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things to do - so having those pictures up will remind me to step back, think about that goal - and then work on the next thing on my list and the hell with the rest of it until its turn.

But, for today, I'm going to wallow in a bit of Self Pity and Lonesome, watch my new Wizard of Oz dvds and try to forget that my son won't be back for another six months...

BSG Fanfic Contest update

2009-12-16T15:43:37Z

re: ostarella.livejournal.com/103406.html the contest deadline has been postponed to February 6, 2010, due to the holidays. :D

Not so productive today

2009-12-12T21:10:54Z

Just got back in from more shoveling. It warmed up and the snow got a little heavier, so only got from the back door out to the barn done, and part of the driveway. I put it off, because I wasn't feeling that great anyway, but I'll go out tomorrow morning and finish it off.

Did a quick edit of the next chapter of Tess and got that posted to beta_team . The next chapter is where I have to start in on the heavy editing again (where the original version started going off into WTF Land), so it may take some time to get that one ready. And then I worked some more on Chapter 66 of Covenant - I had a minor brainstorm for it last night, so hopefully I can keep all the myriad of ideas straight in my head and get it "on paper". But I'm going to try and get one chapter a week out so I can finally get that finished. But that should be better once I get through this chapter - then the really fun stuff starts again (moving more towards the show) :D

And then I've got to start the major housecleaning - cannot believe my son will be home next weekend!!!! YAY!!!!

Productive day today - finally!

2009-12-11T19:00:31Z

Went out and did some shoveling - it wasn't as bad as I expected. The snow was dry, versus the wet kind, so it was very easy to shovel, even in the areas where I couldn't use my electric shovel. Even the "hard pack" from the plows wasn't too bad. I was out for not quite 2 hours, got the path shoveled from the front door to the road, and around to the back door (including an area for the dogs, which is a relief to them LOL). Then I walked down to the store and got my smokes - and after all that, only a few little thumps from the heart, so... I'm feeling GOOD! :D

Tomorrow and Sunday are supposed to be even warmer (almost hitting the freezing mark on Sunday) so I'm going to try and get the rest of the sidewalk out front done (about 100 feet) and get my truck dug out so I can make a trip up to the city and lay in some more provisions for the next big storm, whenever that comes.

So now I have the rest of the day to either continue my productivity or just be lazy. But considering all I have left to do in the house, and job hunting, and writing stuff - probably going for more productivity.

After a slow cigar and a hot cup of coffee... :D

Minnesota winters suck

2009-12-10T19:25:03Z

I've been debating all morning whether to try shoveling out today or wait until tomorrow. High today is only supposed to be 5 degrees F, tomorrow up to a whopping 15. I don't really need to go anywhere - well, unless I get so stressed out trying to decide if I should shovel that I smoke extra heavy. But I've already missed today's mail delivery (if I even had any mail to be delivered) and I have food enough in the house, sooo...

I'm not being lazy, honest! But we got about a foot of snow, which blew into drifts, and then the snowplows came through, so I've got a 10 foot long section of sidewalk that's packed snow... and it's only 5 degrees. I was having some heart problems when I was working outside at 25 degrees, so yeah... not leaping toward that possible adventure. And I never thaw out, either. I won't warm up now until sometime in May...

And so yeah... in a very bitchy mood today.

I hate winter.

Togetherness

2009-12-07T02:21:50Z

First time the three of them have actually slept together without me "cushioning" them :D

Thoughts on winter...

2009-11-30T05:55:58Z

I spent more time out in the yard this weekend, taking advantage of a few last, unexpected days of relative warmth to finish preparing the yard and outbuildings for the oncoming winter. As the last remnants of leaves are cleaned up and the summer's equipment cleaned and stored away, the yard is looking neat and tidy - and barren. I look around now and see all that lay hidden in the summer flowers - the gardens that need defining, the stumps that need removing, shrubs whose branches need trimming. Items added to the winter To-Do list, more added to next year's spring and summer chores. It gives me a sense of satisfaction to see the yard tidy, though. At the same time, I'm starting to look forward to the snow. Bleak and boring as the flat Midwestern landscape is during the winter, there is nothing worse than that same landscape sans snow. It doesn't seem natural. Even more barren, if that's possible. And then we face the dichotomy of hopeless fantasy that spring is not so far off and the dire expectation of waking to the Mother of All Blizzards. So I hope for snow soon, so the fantasy is laid to rest, and I can move into the cocoon of a normal Minnesota winter. At least then I can trek outside to clear the walks and drive and feed the birds and squirrels, proud of that hearty Norwegian heritage that allows me to feel invigorated through the freezing cold.

And hope, yet again, that next year I'll be parking this Norwegian ass on the beaches of the Gulf...

New Article from Manuscript Rx - Writer's Retreat at Home

2009-11-24T15:16:49Z

www.ManuscriptRx.com

What you can learn from a writer's retreat, whether you can attend one or not.

Maybe this will be the holiday season you request a gift from family and friends that you really want...a weekend away at a writing retreat, for example. However, if you're like most people juggling work and family and everything in between, a trip to Mars is just as likely as a weekend devoted to your writing.

But don't let the reality of your current situation get you down: there are things you can learn from a writer's retreat, whether you can manage to get to a bona fide retreat or not. And most importantly, you can apply these things to your writing habit today and in the process help yourself grow as a writer.

~Set aside a space for writing.

This might sound like a 'duh' statement, but you'd be surprised at how many writers out there have not claimed the teensiest space for themselves to take part in the physical act of writing, yet they want other people to know they're serious about the pursuit and respect them in the process. Of course, the physical space in which you write isn't the most important element of your writing habit by any stretch of the imagination (it's probably not even among the top three), but having a location you feel comfortable in, and one you and the family knows is yours, will create a psychological space for you that will help you feel like a Real Writer, and an industrious one at that.

Even if it's only a tiny, slightly lopsided garage-sale desk that you manage to squeeze into a corner of your bedroom, as long as it's not covered in bills most of the time, or little Tommy's hamster Habitrail, then you've got your space. When you look at it, your creative wheels will start turning, and by the time you sit down to write, your gears will already be primed.

Think of that desk as the writing retreat island in the midst of an ocean of busyness.

~Set aside time for writing.

Another 'duh' statement, right? Not really, according to surveys everywhere. Far too many writers who think of themselves as writers don't sit down on a regular basis to actually write. I'm not trying to minimize the problem, since I know the mortgage is yelling to be paid, and the kids are asking to be carted somewhere (yet again), and the car you're carting them with is demanding to be tuned up. But after a while, if we really want to write, those things are just excuses. Reality, yes, but excuses in the end. Even if it means you have to give up a half hour of TV each night (or all of your TV each night, if you're truly brave), and even if that half hour of TV includes "Dancing with the Stars" or "CSI: Miami," you can indeed shoehorn writing time into your already over-full life.

Think of that dedicated writing time as the writing retreat's Scheduled Inspiration in the midst of an ever-growing to-do list.

~Let your family/friends know you're serious about writing.

Dr. Patrick Proctor has a name for well-meaning loved ones who (intentionally or otherwise) pull us down: the crabs of "The Crab Syndrome." If you've ever been crabbing, you know that if you have one crab in the bucket, you need to put a lid on that bucket or the crab will climb out. But once you have two or more crabs in your pail, you can toss the lid aside. Why? Once one crab starts to climb out, the other(s) will pull that would-be escapee back down into the bucket. Watch out for this syndrome in your own life.

It might not be that your loved ones don't want you to be happy or successful, but people who don't write rarely understand people who do. So it's likely that you'll have people telling you to put down the pen and forget about that "little hobby that makes you pull your hair out." You need to assert and remind them that you'll spend your leisure time as you see fit.

Point to your dedicated writing time and writing space as proof of your commitment. If you stand firm, your family and friends will eventually internalize the message you desire.

~Lower your expectations for first-draft writing.

Too many writers, when they finally sit down to write in their own space, on their own timetable, with their family/friends safely in the distance (or at least on the other side of the door), only sit down to find frustration. Why? They're trying to come up with the perfect idea or sentence or paragraph. First drafts are no place for perfection...they're the places where you can really explore your creative self and make a mess in the process. Take advantage of your dedicated time, whether it's at a retreat or in that corner of your bedroom, by getting the words on the page...even when the words add up to hackneyed sentences. The more words you write, the more ideas you'll churn. So focus on quantity, not quality in your first drafts.

~Think of that first-draft process as little brainstorming sessions of your own writer's retreat...smaller sessions that add up to whopping big ones after a year's time.

~Find like-minded people.

You've heard the adage: Writers need other writers. It's true. Not during the writing process, of course, when we have to be alone at our desks, but later. We need people in our lives who understand the joys and frustrations unique to this creative pursuit (and often it's the case that only other writers really get it). Sharing pieces of your writing life will make you feel less alone (and, if your family misunderstands you, less misunderstood). This validation of your struggles will encourage you to continue.

~Swap work with aforementioned like-minded people.

You don't need a retreat to make connections, though. Seek out a critique group (the Internet is the best place to start, even if you're looking for a local group). If you can't find one, consider starting your own. (For added information on what to look for in a critique partner, follow the link to read the past newsletter that discusses that.)

~Try to shut the outside world out, even for short periods of time.

The fact is, even from your writing space, you'll be able to hear the kids fighting in the next room. Or the ringing phone that so rudely pulls you out of the masterful scene you're weaving. This is where learning how to shut out the outside world, even in small doses, will come in handy. Of course retreats have an advantage there since they pick you up out of your daily life and whisk you off to somewhere where your real life isn't, but you can train your brain to do it anywhere. (For some pointers on how a meditative practice, even a very rudimentary one, can help your brain stay on track while you write, follow the link to read the newsletter that deals with that topic.)

~Legitimize your pursuit.

Yes, you can legitimize your work as a writer all on your own; you don't need editors or agents or others from the publishing industry to make your writing "real" (publication is a worthy goal, and I don't mean to imply it isn't...but don't wait until you're published to feel like a Real Writer...you can give yourself that gift today).

When we attend talks and retreats and conferences, it's much easier to feel like a bona fide writer. But remember that the true definition of the writer is "the one who stays at the desk." Only your solitary act of writing (and your corresponding belief in yourself) can really earn you the status of writer. Don't postpone that psychological gift to yourself and don't give that power away to anyone else.

Another anniversary

2009-11-10T16:03:28Z

BSG Fanfic Contest!!

2009-11-07T00:24:23Z

Come one come all to the Battlestar Galactica Club. Why? Glad you asked. We are proud to announce a Fan Fiction writing contest.

With the possibility of a new Classic Battlestar Galactica movie coming out, we here at the BSGC, thought it appropriate to let YOU, the Classic BSG fan, write the opening scene for the new movie as you would imagine it.

Here are the rules:

1. It must be in the Classic (TOS) BSG format. NO GINO (The Ron D. Moore/Sci-Fi Channel series) IS ALLOWED.

2. The submitter must be familiar with the Classic BSG universe (The 1978-79 series)

3. The submission must be 2000ish words.

4. All submissions must be made by board members. This means you need to join the BSGC to enter the contest. No outside submissions will be accepted. To join simply head to http://bsgc.proboards.com and sign up. Account validation will usually be within 8-24 hours.

5. With the exception of Hawke (who’s putting on the contest), everyone in the BSGC membership (including staff members) is eligible.

6. It must be an UNPUBLISHED work. This means that it cannot exist anywhere else.

7. Submissions must be made in the Contest Fan Fiction Submissions sub-board off of the Fan fiction & crossovers board.

That’s it. We will accept submissions for 2 months, and the entire board membership will vote by a poll on which submission is best. At the end of the 2 months the winner will be announced.

Now, it wouldn’t be much of a contest without prizes, would it? Here they are:

1st Prize: CHANGED: Autographed picture of Richard Hatch

2nd Prize: A brand new, never been opened ,Classic Battlestar Galactica “The Complete Epic Series” DVD set along with a complete set of David Kiern’s Classic BSG fan edits on burned DVDs. These edits can be watched/previewed in the theater at the BSGC. The edits consist of the Classic BSG episodes Saga Of A Star World, The Tombs Of Kobol (Episode - Lost Planet Of The Gods), Gun On Ice Planet Zero, Living Legend, War Of The Gods, and Judgement Day (Episode – The Return Of Starbuck). This prize is being provided by Hawke.

3rd Prize: A brand new never opened, still in the box 12 inch Gold Cylon Commander figure. This prize is being provided by Hawke.

*DISCLAIMER* Prizes are subject to change/be added to.
Well, that’s it. The deadline for the contest Is Midnight Central Standard time on January 6, 2010

Good luck everybody.

Winnipeg Weekend :D

2009-11-04T00:20:55Z

Well, this may be a bit convoluted as I'm still hazy from the trip, so bear with me

Plans were to leave early Thursday morning, but that got a bit sidetracked when I discovered my dryer had conked out (AGAIN!) so instead of just packing up the last of my clothes and leaving, I had to make a run to the laundromat. Then my brother wanted to meet me for breakfast up in the Twin Cities as I went through - and the directions got a bit mixed up. So more delay - but a nice breakfast Onward and upward... had started raining in town just before I left, and it didn't stop the entire trip. So driving through heavy rain and heavy traffic - not fun.

Then I got up to Fergus Falls and stopped for gas. Went to start the truck and - NADA. Not a click, not a whir - and definitely not an engine turning over. So, figuring either my starter or alternator had given up the ghost, I called the nearest repair shop and prepared myself for the trip home. Turns out the battery posts were so corroded and the cables so worn, they just weren't making the connection. Luckily it wasn't a hugely expensive repair - but it cost time. So now I'm running almost 2-1/2 hours behind schedule.

Get to the border - the only single passenger vehicle in a sea of semis - and I was lucky enough to be that "random" person the immigration people decided to call in for further questioning. There was already a guy in there ahead of me - now, I ask you. Who drives to the border to put in the paperwork for permanent residency at 7 o'clock at night? Well, this guy did. So I'm waiting and waiting and wondering why they pulled me over... my first thought, of course, was that my name was on some kind of list because of the various sites I've visited during the research for my stories - snipers, bomb-making, how to disappear, how to follow someone, hitmen - oh lord. LOL It wasn't until they were all done that they told me they did this on a random basis... So anyway, tons of questions about why I was going to Canada, where I'd be staying, how much money I had, was I working, how did I know Tracy, was she an adult ... good grief. At any rate, they finally let me go... And then I drove into Canada on one of the worst roads - dodging potholes during heavy rain and total night - and of course, immediately confused by "Maximum 100" for the speed limit. Took me a few panicked moments to remember they were talking kilometers. But it was difficult getting used to the signs up there - so different from the States. Especially because they're bilingual - barely figured out which part to try and read and the sign was past LOL

Anyway, I was supposed to meet Tracy at the restaurant - I had planned to be there between six and seven, have supper, and then follow her home when she got off work. Instead, it was sometime after 9 when I arrived, so I called her to get directions - and of course, my phone battery was dying so it was two cut-off convos to get me in the right direction. But I finally got there, and met her for the first time in person! What a treat, too. She's just as lovely (and a bit nuttier) in person as she is online - and her family is so cool Her son reminds me a lot of my own - same type personality.

So anyway, we sat up and talked for a long time, then got up the next morning, went out for breakfast and headed down to Winnipeg. Stayed at a very nice hotel - and lo and behold! discovered it was the "official" hotel for the convention so the guests (ie - DIRK!!!) were staying there as well. The convention center itself was only a block away, so we didn't have to drive anywhere. That was really nice.

We spent some time at the convention Friday night - I found a jigsaw puzzle with "Starbuck" which I hadn't seen before, so I had to grab that! (That's one of my hobbies - collecting Dirk memorabilia ) and wandered around checking out the artists and dealers. Some of those artists are just totally awesome! And the dealers for the most part had stuff that was neither too "new" nor garage sale quality, so that was cool. It wasn't the greatest con I've ever been to, but it wasn't the worst, either.

So after the con that night (and Tracy and I getting separated - what an experience that was!), Dirk had invited Tracy and me to the "meet and greet" as his guests - which was really nice because otherwise it was $100 to get in! It was very nice - wine and snacks (although I stuck with cranberry juice as I'd already had a couple brandys before that ) and we got to listen to the stories and jokes - I could sit and listen to him for hours. He can be funny then serious and back to funny in a matter of seconds LOL

Saturday we went over to the con fairly early. Tracy and I went around to the dealers (I'm an incurable collector so I had to check out the dealers that hadn't been there Friday night ) and we found both an A-Team and a Battlestar Galactica game. The A-Team was in a little better shape, and I almost bought that when Tracy discovered another BSG game in nearly unused condition - so of course I bought that instead. And the Dirk signed them both for me - he said, "Not often I get to sign one 'star' to another!" We also had to stop him from taking the whole game out and playing with it LOL

More chatting with him for a while, and then his line was building up again so we wandered the con for a bit more before heading back to the hotel. Went out for lunch and just relaxed that afternoon. Then we went down to the lounge and had a few drinks - quite a few, actually LOL I'm pretty sure I wasn't drunk, but Tracy says I was... It was a lot of fun, I know that

Sunday we probably spent more time with Dirk than the rest of the weekend combined. I was taking pictures right and left for DBC, and chatting with Dirk and other con-goers. Had a lovely chat with Jim Smith, who does models. A very nice man who does marvelously detailed work. He'd made a model of a Colonial Viper for Dirk which was just fantastic!

Dirk gave his talk Sunday - a bit more political than usual, but OMG he had everyone laughing so hard! At one point toward the end, some people started leaving from the back rows, and he threatened to undress to get them back - unbuckled his belt... oh lord! He's spontaneous with a capital "S"! I started to tape the talk, but - techno troglodyte that I am - didn't realize how much memory tapes take up on a digital camera, so only got the first 23 minutes. Oh well - better than none and next time I'll know better

After the talk, his line was even longer - and then when they announced he would only be there for another ten minutes, everyone started swarming around! We got to ride back to the hotel (a whole block! ) with him and then it was time to wrap things up and head back to Tracy's. We stayed up a little too late talking more and then... I hit the road again 6:30 Monday morning. It was a much better trip back - no rain, sunny most of the way, no engine trouble or problems at the border. The only problem was when I got home (about 6:00 PM) and discovered that my phone was totally dead - I think the battery that's not wanted to hold a charge long for quite some time has finally died. So I need to get that fixed.

Home wise, the animals were fine - happy to see me again but letting me know I had transgressed the rules by leaving them Woke up this morning and all was forgiven - Muffy nestled in by my knees, Petey snuggled by my side, and Fang blissfully sleeping on my chest...

Family...

New article from ManuscriptRx - Character versus Characterization

2009-10-20T14:59:05Z

from www.ManuscriptRx.com

This was supposed to be under an lj-cut but that doesn't seem to want to work this morning, so the hell with it :p

This month's newsletter is inspired by Story by Robert McKee (the book's full title: Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting). Namely, chapter five, "Structure and Character." (Note: this book is relevant to any writer working on crafting a compelling story, not just screenwriters.)

There are so many vital pieces of a winning story, but perhaps none more important than building character. Let's look at the difference between characterization (what we all do when we start to imagine our characters and decide on things like age, height, weight, food allergies) and character, the art that is much harder to achieve and can only be done within the story itself.

You've done all the background work for your main characters. You know which side of the bed they sleep on, which breakfast cereal they can't live without, how long it's been since their last dental cleaning. You've got character down pat, right? Maybe, maybe not. The myriad details of what makes your characters who they are falls under the umbrella of characterization. Characterizing your fictional people is the necessary first step, but because it's just a collection of traits, it alone cannot provoke empathy in your readers. You must build character.

Let's look at some brief examples (keeping in mind these are kept super-short [and exaggerated, I might add] to fit comfortably into the newsletter...you of course will weave your magic and make it as long and as subtle or as dramatic as it needs to be):

         Jack slid his briefcase under his desk and booted up his computer. He yawned. Monday again, he thought. Well, only five days until the weekend. And the chance for another great week. Jack always liked to look on the bright side.
         Mr. Taskmaster stopped by Jack's cubicle on the way back from the coffee machine. "Nice job on the Meyers report last week, Jack."
         "Thanks, Mr. T," Jack said. "I'm glad you liked it."
         The boss nodded. "Sure did. You have good attention to detail. You're careful. I like that. That'll be sure to come up at your next evaluation."
         Jack swelled with pride and anticipation. Maybe he could afford that new car next quarter after all. He loved to drive with the windows down and the stereo loud, singing along or humming when he didn't know the words. But the CD player in his old car had just broken; because he couldn't eject the CD that was in there, he had to listen to ABBA's greatest hits over and over and over, an endless loop. Although "Dancing Queen" certainly was catchy, it was on the repetitive side, he finally decided.
         Mr. Taskmaster patted Jack on the back, nodded with admiration toward Jack's neat cubicle and the dust-free photo of Jack's mother, and ambled down the hall to his office. Jack pulled a paperclip away from the magnetized heap and fastened some loose papers with it. Everything in its place, he thought with satisfaction. That's an orderly world.

Now let's shake up the snow globe we've placed Jack in and peek in at him again:

         Jack tried to wipe his briefcase off with a piece of rough brown paper towel he nabbed from the restroom (the last piece), but the glob of unidentified goo he must have picked up on subway puddled on his shoe instead. Monday, he thought. Only Monday. I'm frazzled already. Of course, the fact that Lola kept him up all night wringing her hands, pacing the floor, accusing him of being totally different from the fiancé who wooed her didn't help. He got maybe ten minutes of shut-eye, only one eye shut at a time.
          Jack cringed as he felt the vibrations of footsteps and heard the slurp of coffee outside his cubicle. Mr. Taskmaster leaned against the cubicle wall, seemingly oblivious to the fact that it wasn't a real wall and therefore alarmingly creaked and swayed under his weight. "I never saw such a mucked up project, you know." He waved a batch of papers at Jack's face. "The Meyers report. You're officially on probation, Jack. This whole thing needs a redo." Mr. T. took another noisy slurp.
          Jack wanted to knock the coffee out of his boss's hands more than anything just then, but he knew he couldn't afford to lose another job. The mortgage company was talking foreclosure, the bank had already towed away his dream car last month, and Lola had managed to charge five grand at Macy's on the for-emergencies-only card. "I know," Jack said, gulping back his pride and glancing at the still-fluttering report sheepishly. "I'll fix it."
          "You think I'm trusting you with it again?" Mr. T. roared. "HAH! I wouldn't trust you to sort my paperclips."
          Jack swiveled his chair away from his boss and clenched his fists.
          "And another thing." Taskmaster leaned in close, his coffee breath daggers up Jack's nose. "I don't like the rumors I'm hearing about you and my niece."
          "Niece? I never even met your niece!"
          "Well, it sure looked like you met her, when you were sitting on her desk last week, feeding her gingersnaps."
          Jack gasped and tried to cover it with fake laugh. Shoot, she's his niece? The friendly new person at the reception desk? He groaned inwardly. This week was too long already.

Aside from the obvious, in what way do these examples differ?

In the first example, we get a compilation of character traits (Jack is good with detail, needs a new car, is very neat, is liked by his boss). But those character traits don't add up to making Jack feel like a fully-realized character. In other words, those details can only characterize Jack; they can't make him become a true character.

But isn't getting to know a character just a matter of detail? Yes and no. It's true that the more specifics we have about a character, the more clearly we can imagine that character, the more easily the fictional person can become real in our heads. However, if the details don't amount to more than a string of benign specifics, then the reader won't be motivated to care about the character, which means the reader will either shut the book or mentally check out of the story before real character development ever takes place. The key to getting your reader to feel invested in your character is trouble.

In the second example above, Jack is loaded down with trouble: financial trouble, future-wife trouble, job trouble. Not only do we as readers identify with trouble (we've all faced it and are sure to face it again), but authentically difficult situations make for compelling reading and, furthermore, they serve as a means of testing characters, letting them show us what they're made of. All the finely wrought details in the world, if they're just there for the sake of information and don't push your character up against the proverbial wall, can't develop a player in your story like well-chosen trouble spots will.

The reason for the emphasis on well-chosen? The predicaments the characters face must feel big enough that they trigger lots of strong emotions (like fear, despair, anger, confusion, sorrow), but not so big that they are absolutely unsolvable. For instance, if your main character's goals are to single-handedly halt global warming and world hunger (and bring about world peace while he's at it), your reader will lose interest because it's clear those problems are too big for the character to truly resolve. When there's no question in the reader's mind about how things might turn out (in this case, the reader will know the character can't possibly fix things), then eventually there's no reader. Your reader will give up and flick on the TV, even if it's to be assaulted by more Jon and Kate nonsense.

And then, once you establish a real dilemma for your character (a story-worthy problem that won't go away on its own), you need to have your character make choices within that sticky situation.

As McKee says: "TRUE CHARACTER is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure--the greater the pressure, the deeper the revelation, the truer the choice to the character's essential nature" (101).

And it's the "essential nature" the best fiction probes. Character is so much more than tidy lists: it is an exploration of what your character will do under stress. That's the point where your readers and your characters connect. (To read more about the importance of testing your characters, revisit my December newsletter on that topic: December 2008 Write Through It: How will your characters deal with disaster?)

Let's listen to McKee again: "Pressure is essential. Choices made when nothing is at risk mean little. If a character chooses to tell the truth in a situation where telling a lie would gain him nothing, the choice is trivial, the moment expresses nothing. But if the same character insists on telling the truth when a lie would save his life, then we sense that honesty is at the core of his nature" (101).

To revisit Jack #1, he might choose to get his own cup of coffee next, or start to work on the next assignment, or dust the picture frame yet again. Who cares? Although we have to make thousands of little inconsequential choices like those during the course of our days, that aspect of real life doesn't make for riveting fiction.

But Jack #2's choices are meatier, more unpredictable, and more interesting. Does he break it off with his fiancée? Does he stay away from the sultry niece? Does he look for another job or try to earn Mr. Taskmaster's respect? Because his choices will have some consequence in an already pressured environment, we are more apt to care about them and, by association, the character making the choices. And getting readers to care about your characters is much more than half the battle.

Fang pictures

2009-10-19T04:36:36Z

Frustrations

2009-10-18T21:21:17Z

Well, things have gone from okay to oh-shit in a hurry...

Fang is looking for a new home again, due to circumstances beyond anyone's control. So I have contacted Paws and Claws and hopefully they'll either have a home or space available for him at the shelter soon. In the meantime, he's continuing to use Petey as his Big Toy, the tail being the favorite plaything, but simply walking by Fang's little "playhouse" is enough reason for a blitzkrieg attack. (Petey has developed a nervous little tick... lol)

Not sure if I'll be going to the convention in Winnipeg now, either. Every website I visited (including the official one) kept saying it only took 3 weeks to get a passport card versus the 4-6 weeks to get a passport book. So, due to the financial timing, I opted for the card. Now, of course, they'd suddenly changed their tune. Both take 4-6 weeks to get. So, I called and asked if I could change from the "normal" processing to expedited. Well, if I had applied for the passport book, I could have. Because I applied for the passport card - you know, because of the shorter processing time? - I can't. So if the damn thing gets here in time, I'll be going to the convention. If not... I absolutely hate bureaucracies. I don't understand how it takes that long for a passport anyway. My God, in this day and age they can't check on things sooner than that?

Oh DOH - it's the government...

Then there was a used transit bus on eBay that would've been just perfect for converting, but it got bid up past my current affordability, so that was a little added icing to the cake...

So... add in over a month of rarely seeing the sun, temperatures 10-20 degrees below normal, and either rain or drizzle nearly every day, and I'm feeling like I should really just say fuck it all and take my truck and a tent and go flop on the beach for the next twenty years. I can live off the fish, right?

Yeah. It's been one of those times...

Walter Mitty ReImagined

2009-10-12T23:17:34Z

Okay - since when do we get snow when the leaves are still on the trees and shrubs? When you live in Minnesota...

Walter Mitty Reimagined

2009-10-12T02:53:06Z

He's a little harder to get pictures of - he's either playing too fast, hiding, or sleeping on my lap.

And other things...

2009-10-06T14:59:58Z

Well, Fang is setting in to the house. He's totally moved inside now. Petey is without doubt his "big toy" - poor guy is getting paranoid about walking around, as Fang chooses any and all moments to rush up, bat at *something* and race off again. They're sooooo totally jealous of each other - if I'm paying any attention to one, the other comes pushing in for their share. Muffy is doing the Jekyll and Hyde bit now - sometimes she recognizes Fang and is okay with him; other times she just sees this "thing" and of course MUST KILL! So Fang is a little leery of her.

Not sure where Fang slept last night - hoping it was in his carrier (where I put some of the clothes he'd been sleeping on in the porch), but it could've been any number of places. I know he kept us all up late, tearing around after plastic bags, catnip mice and any other thing that looked interesting :p Right now the dogs are sleeping on the couch and he's sleeping on my lap so relative peace reigns.

My brother is doing okay with the cat in the house - other than coughing like a maniac and not being able to breathe very well by the second day. But - only 24 days left...

In other news, my weekend pass for the Winnipeg con came in the mail yesterday!!! EXCITEMENT GROWING! :D Now I have to start going through my clothes to decide what to take - and get the "in storage" smell washed out of them. ;-) I have one suitcase - everything has to fit into that or it doesn't go. That includes clothes, cosmetics, "personal care items", shoes - everything for the 4-5 days I'll be gone. Then another small purse-sized bag for the road - snacks, maps, phone, etc.

And yesterday my computer shut down again. Bought a small fan to keep it cool as that seems to be the problem - it occasionally overheats. I really need to get a new one but have decided I need a laptop and that's not feasible in the near future. But when I do get a new one, it will be a laptop. Much easier for traveling ;-)

Just musing...

2009-10-04T05:54:44Z

I started working in 1970, part-time in a grocery store in the little town I grew up in. I worked Friday nights (the only night of the week any stores were open past 5PM) and all day Saturday. Friday nights were also "Drawing Night", where the town sponsored a cash drawing. Everybody came to town on Drawing Night. I can't remember what my wages were - but it was something to have a job like that instead of working at the A&W during the summer.

My first full-time, self-supporting job came in 1975 - $1.65/hour. I not only bought a brand new sports car (for a whopping $3000) but I was able to afford my own two-bedroom apartment ($190/month).

Now, federal minimum wage is $7.75. You can't look at a two-bedroom apartment for less than $800/month and the cheapest new cars (not sports cars) are over $10,000.

I think I liked things better at $1.65/hour...