That last line kills me. What is it with me and declarations of love these days? I must be getting broody or something. I’m in the midst of writing something romantic and now I’m just searching for other romantic declarations. Between this one and the one on Bones, I’m turning into a total sap.
These are the things we won’t do. We won’t be together so long that we forget how we got together in the first place; and it doesn’t matter to us or to anybody else. We won’t go to bed in the afternoon on the strength of a smile across a room. We won’t exchange our life stories and feel pangs of jealousy when we talk about old lovers. We won’t get enough memories of our own to see us through the bad times. We won’t read something in the paper and want to ring each other up just to talk about it. And we’ll never go dancing and embarrass everybody but ourselves. We won’t ever argue. We won’t ever make up. We won’t ever get to know each other so well that we take each other for granted.D.I. Peter Carlisle in Blackpool (played by David Tennant)
In a later life, he would stroke the hair from her face and speak of family, of a house and children and dogs (of all strange things). His voice was wistful and soft, and she could pretend enough to believe that she wanted those things too. Perhaps she did. Perhaps he was the only man in whose eyes she could see her future. She wanted to want them. She wanted to want them because HE wanted them, and because she wanted HIM. But it wasn’t enough. She wanted to want him badly enough to be a better woman than she was, to live up to the hope he cherished in his heart. But in the end she was nothing more than a coward and those heartbroken eyes would haunt her for the rest of her life.From a bit of backstory on a character in my novel, except this backstory is turning into a back-novella
Sometimes it’s good to write things for yourself that you know will never get published.
Why Should I Care?
Emma Watson is conveniently making the face I am right now.
Recently I’ve been having difficulty finishing books. Of course, when you read as much as I do, there’s no point in finishing books you don’t like (because there are so many more I should be reading), but in this instance, I don’t think it’s because I don’t like the book–it’s because I can’t muster up the energy to care.
It’s a curious thing: there are plenty of books and stories I’ve picked up because the premise intrigues me, but more and more I feel like I’ve just indulged on a whole bunch of junk food instead of something delicious and nutritious. I feel hollow and unsatisfied. Why? Because there’s nothing that’s making me emotionally invested in the story or the characters–especially the characters–to want to see their story through to the end.
Your Mileage May Vary
Here’s an unpopular opinion: I really, really, really dislike it when writers tell me how attractive romantic leads are, and the specific ways in which they are attractive. I am, of course, talking about when writers linger on the physical merits of a character. Oh writers, if/when you are writing a book with a hot romantic interest, please refrain from describing said romantic interest’s looks in minute detail. I am begging you.
You see, I don’t believe that “attractiveness” is universal. Of course, there is the science of beauty, which I am not disputing a scientific standard of “beauty”. I’m disputing the notion that tall, broad-shouldered, and muscular men are attractive to every single hotblooded straight female or gay male, and that long-legged, slim-waisted, bosom-y girls are attractive to every single hotbooded straight male or gay female. Because whenever I start to read a description of a male romantic lead with broad-shoulders, narrow hips, and noticeable muscles, I groan. Not that I don’t appreciate a masculine physique, but I’m not too fond of men who are too male, too macho, or too alpha.
There was a nakedness in rudeness, and she felt the edges of embarrassment flutter close to cloak her in shame. But she brushed the feeling away with effort, willing herself to believe in the dignity of being impolite.Short story in progress
Am writing. Or attempting to. The past few weeks I have been so overwhelmed with work that I have no energy to do anything except come home and obsess over Doctor Who and/or Harry Potter (or both at the same time). Anyway, here’s another darling that will probably be axed at some point in the future.
Here lies Kelly Riley: She was afraid of moleskines.Wicked Cool Riley
I think I need to make Wicked Cool Riley’s Gchat bon-mots a regular feature on my blog.
Who Gives A Fuck About The Oxford Comma?
I BLOODY WELL GIVE A FUCK ABOUT THE OXFORD COMMA.
I’m sorry, but there’s a world of difference between:
I’d like to thank my parents, Harry Potter, and Jesus.
and
I’d like to thank my parents, Harry Potter and Jesus.
CLARITY. IT IS IMPORTANT.
Resist The Urge To Google
- JJ: I wish I could write stuff that didn’t require 10 hours of research for two sentences. This is probably why it takes me so long to write anything.
- JJ: Why can’t I write something simple, fluffy, and contemporary?
- Wicked Cool Riley: Because even then you’d find something strange to research. Your protagonist would be a speed Rubix Cube solver or something, and you’d have to research exactly how to do that in minute detail. Researching is in your blood.
Ain’t that the truth.
Actually, two of my very good friends in high school once raced to solve the Rubix Cube onstage for a talent show. I have the best and nerdiest friends in the world. I figured out how to solve one face of the Rubix Cube, plus a row around said face, but never tried to solve it beyond that.
I’m a big fan of a lot of initial, world and context establishing research and then the “need to know” basis kind of research. I like worlds (fantastical, historical, futuristic, or contemporary) to have weight and significance, and I really do think in order to bring that to the page, a lot of research is necessary.
You know, except when it’s really a measure of procrastinating from writing the next bit of your book.
What about you? Do you writers research for your projects, historical, contemporary, or otherwise? Are you like me, where you use research as a method of procrastination? (I really did do about two hours of research for one tiny little throwaway joke line.)
Wicked Cool Riley Is The Best
- JJ: I am 700 words into this article and I still haven’t made my point. Also, why can’t I write fiction this quickly????
- WICKED COOL RILEY: Because non-fiction has been drilled into you because of all the papers you had to write in your academic career. Even narrative nonfiction has a clear structure. Fiction is like the knot in Maniac Magee.
- WICKED COOL RILEY: You have to tease it and coax it and then it clamps even tighter and you start all over and you take a nap and have a snack before you have to face finishing.
And this is why she is the best writing partner EVER, folks.
Lessons From The Other Side of 21: The F Word
Today I want to talk about the “F word”. No, not that one. That one. Yes, THAT one. You know what the word is. Oh yes. No, not feminist. Feminist is not a dirty word, you know that. But you know what’s also not a dirty word? Feminine.
New column is up! I’m rather proud of this one, although it’s a bit long.
Show Me Some Love
