Secondary Characters

I just read a really interesting article in this month’s Writer’s Digest about the importance of developing secondary characters. Was it anything new? Not really. Is it good to hear it and have some reinforcement of my writing and my own character development? You bet.

Who are the secondary characters in Sunset Perfect? I have several actually. (As an aside, all of these are subject to change). 

Trying Again

I know it's been awhile since I posted . . . but I guess I needed a break after my dissertation. So, I took a break, . . . I re-organized a bit,  . . . and now I'm trying again. 

I think it's interesting that the day I decide to come back is basically a day of seeing "Don't" foreign policy fail. That was the last post I made. I think I said it was a stupid way of dealing with foreign policy. Didn't work with Russia. Doesn't seem to have worked with Iran!

Epiphanies

I love when inspiration strikes. 

One of the most memorable moments of inspiration for me was one day while I worked with that contractor organization and I was on a jog trying to figure out how I was going to design the craft certification training that Brad and Rick wanted to be completed. Now, I don't remember exactly what hit me, but I remember how it hit me and where. BOOM! I had been chewing on the problem, and it just hit me. It was almost like a dog worrying on a bone, and then POOF the problem was fixed when I least expected it. It was a great feeling. And the idea was a great one.

Well, it happened again. This time with my writing. 

Perspective and Tense in Writing

I recently read a post in the writing community that I am a part of that was about the fact that first person present tense perspective is not well regarded and he argued that it is just as valid as others.  He got a lot of flack from others for saying that. I completely agree with his post. I love reading first person present and enjoy writing that style too. I’m partial to all first person pov’s and I don’t understand why it gets such short shrift.

I remember a writing group/class I was a part of for a long while and the leader/teacher was constantly trying to get me to stop writing in first person and shift to third. 

Perspective and Tense in Writing

I recently read a post in the writing community that I am a part of that was about the fact that first person present tense perspective is not well regarded and he argued that it is just as valid as others.  He got a lot of flack from others for saying that. I completely agree with his post. I love reading first person present and enjoy writing that style too. I’m partial to all first person pov’s and I don’t understand why it gets such short shrift.

I remember a writing group/class I was a part of for a long while and the leader/teacher was constantly trying to get me to stop writing in first person and shift to third. 

I tried and at that time it felt quite unnatural. Now, having written a couple of novel drafts in third, it’s not as unnatural, but I certainly prefer first person. I wrote a series of short stories, many of which are third, and I think they’re fine as they are. The novel draft I wrote last year, was it called Western Perspectives? Or Rocky Perspectives? It was in third person. 

70K words in third person makes something seem less unnatural I suppose. Regardless, I don’t know why so many people have a hang up about first person perspective, whether or not it’s in the present tense. Personally, I’m a fan of writing whatever the heck you want, and let the chips fall where they may. There are probably many cats out there who love that tense and are yearning for more. 

I am writing my novel Sunset Perfect in first person. All of my novels have been in first person. The authors I most enjoy reading are first person writers. Dick Francis, Janet Evanovich, even the Travis McGee novel I’m reading now is first person. Then there is Lawrence Sanders, my all time fave, and when I go back and re-read some of his older novels, there are some in first person, others in third. I love them both but I search out those that are in first person. 

It’s like burgers and hotdogs, right? Some folks like burgers, others like hotdogs. No rationale behind it, just a preference. Do it well, have a fresh idea and characters, no matter the POV or tense, and you’ll have a book people want to read.

More on Sunset Perfect

As you all know, I am a fan of this loose series of mysteries and thrillers. Vapor Trail, On the Edge, Toe the Line all have working out and athletics as a theme (see HERE). 

As a part of Sunset Perfect there is a theme of culture and trust, there's also a murder that brings up a theme of family and simmering betrayal, but all of this takes place around and among a football team that is going through some drastic turbulence and challenges. 

Friendship and Proximity

I have been thinking a-lot about friendship lately. The older I get the more I'm sure that friendship are only successful if they include proximity and intersectionality. 

When I was working with a contractor for many years, one close friend of mine was Greg. When I left Greg and I texted a few times back and forth, but then eventually we wander off our own ways. Here was someone who I chatted with daily for over ten years, yet as soon as the job was over and we were no longer in neighboring offices, the friendship was kaput.