Role Models

My writing is not as good as I thought it was. But that doesn't bother me. In fact, it just makes me want to write more. Let me explain....

Everyone has role models. I am no exception. For me, there is nothing more inspiring than a good writer - Someone who can create entire worlds and histories and religions from the blank page and the musings in their minds. There are two authors that I absolutely want to be like: Alison Croggon (I read her Pellinor Series)  and Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn Trilogy, Warbreaker, The Way of Kings, and some others). Many of you might not know their names, but I highly recommended their work.

It's all in the details. These two fantastic authors describe landscapes, people, and histories in a way that is filled with detail, but not at all boring. I want to be able to write with the ease and creative mastery that they possess. I find myself absorbed in their world, wholly invested into the characters and the places they create. They can actually show the reader what they want us to see, instead of telling us about it. I can't do that...yet. However, I fully intend on figuring it out. 

I think I already have an idea for how they do it. 

Lots and lots of practice. I just need more of it. All of my writing skills have come from me reading books and trying to emulate their styles and their techniques on my own. Yet...I feel as if the standard level "Creative Writing 101" course would bore me. I'm not interested in writing poetry or short stories (though I probably should be to start out). I want to write my novel, and I want to write it in a way that will have people racing through the pages, on the edge of their seats, just waiting to find out what happens next. 

Another thing I need to remember when writing is that this is my first draft of my first novel. It is not going to be perfect. In fact, it's probably gonna suck. A lot. But that's what first drafts are for. They are to get the ideas down on paper, and then there are the rewrites.nOne of the major themes of NaNoWriMo is "Edit in December." Although I honestly hope to have my novel finished before then, the essence of the mantra is what's important. I just need to get it all out now, and then I can look at the whole thing and see what needs improved from there. 

One thing I might try (that I picked up on from Mr. Sanderson) is to change up my narrator. I prefer writing in 3rd person, but it's okay to peek into the minds of other characters. For so long, I've had the idea in my head that my narrator needs to follow around one character (FMC --> female main character), and use only her actions and thoughts to propel the story. I'm starting to see that, maybe, that's not the best way to do it. I haven't given a real voice to my other characters. Yes, they speak and have personalities, but I haven't allowed myself to really get inside their heads, because I've been too busy trying to figure out my FMC. 

I have a feeling they are going to have a lot to say. It's alright if I sound crazy. How characters work is a whole other story, that I know makes me sound insane. But, it makes sense to me. Maybe I'll tell you about it sometime. =) 

xoxo

"Write your first draft with your heart. Re-write with your head." - From the movie Finding Forrester