Thursday, April 12, 2012

k is for kit


poor kit, she was the heroine in my last attempt at a book---it is on my blog several posts back in a story called “autumn of the heart”

as i sometimes do, i started writing it as an exercise—where i just sit and start writing, not being particularly inspired about anything—which is how i usually write---but just going where the keys take me---i think i wrote about four chapters, when i lost all interest in completing the story--

i wrote a kinda kiss off blog about not continuing the story and that kit meant nothing to me and that it was not my “autumn of the heart”---

i have felt bad about how callously i treated poor kit---sure, she wasn't like me and maybe a little dull---but she was real to me at one time----she couldn't help how she was, after all, I had created her and so if she was boring, then who but myself was to blame--

now I believe she was not a very vibrant person---i guess that sounds sorta strange, to want to make your mc---a wall-flower, but it's just how I saw her, and still do---can I help it how they appear to me in my head and heart---although again she wasn't in my heart all that much, that is until I got rid of her in such a heartless way

so who knows, i may go back and revive her, maybe even spice her up a little---or maybe just make the others around her quirkier ---after all it worked for mary tyler moore----i'm sorry kit-----

58 comments:

  1. I'm glad that my post at the main A-Z blog made you feel part of the community. What a nice compliment! Building community is our number one goal through this challenge. It's a huge community out there, and we are a smallish part of it, but we are getting noticed! That feeling of, "Wow, I feel the same way, too" can be so comforting.
    I haven't finished my novel yet (I have five chapters) but my mc is a mess. I think it's OK that the mc has flaws, as long as you make us care about her. That what makes or breaks a novel, in my opinion. If I don't care...then the writer is in trouble. It sounds like you'd like her to come back, so go for it. She can still be a wallflower! But does she have goals? I recommend the book, "Goals, Motivation, and Conflict". It really taught me a lot.
    Tina @ Life is Good
    Co-Host of the April A to Z Challenge
    Twitter: @AprilA2Z #atozchallenge

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  2. thanks so much tina---i will probably go back to kit at some point---i would love to read your book when you finish--thanks again!

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  3. I often work exactly the same way--just type and let the words carry me--and I've also abandoned stories and characters, only to second-guess myself later. It's a writer's life, I guess...

    Just wanted you to know you're not alone. :)

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  4. thanks dana---i was feeling sort of guilty about her--so maybe she does have a story to tell and i will help her find her voice one day!

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  5. If Kit is too perfect at the start of your story, she will have nowhere to 'go' or 'grow' as your story progresses. Don't give up on her just because you haven't worked out what her lesson are. Sit back and 'ask' her where she is going, how and when and why?
    She may surprise you yet :-)

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  6. i may, i guess i could talk to her---isn't all of this--the way writer think about stuff--kind of amusing---thanks so much sherry for your encouragement!

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  7. Too cute about Kit, but I have to say I give you credit for trying to write about her at least. I have several books/stories in my head but have never sat down to actually see what would happen if I started to write them. Same with blog posts, LOL. I have brillant ones floating in my head usually in the middle of the night, but by morning they are gone :)

    I hope the day is a good one!

    betty

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  8. thanks corgi---she wasn't even in my head until i sat down to write---it's great you have them in your head so much---you should get up and write them down--but you would probably never get any sleep huh----i hope you have a great day also :)

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  9. I usually talk to my characters,sort of a one to one theraupy session, and I'm good at annoying them with my persistent questions--LOL--'cause they suddenly snap at me, then I'm like, 'Oh, so you are not that perfect, eh?' give her some quirks and she might suprise you. :) Look forward to read abut Kit story. :)

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    1. haha i love it, that is such a neat way to do it!!

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  10. I say you go back and see if she's doing something you didn't expect. Maybe you underestimated her?

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    1. what a thought----thanks for the insight, suze :)

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  11. You could always give her a dark secret or a dark past, which accounts for her reticence (being a wallflower).

    (e.g., Lost love, fiance killed before wedding, etc.)

    Wasn't S. King's 'Carrie' a wallflower of sorts?

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    1. oh she has the secrets---haha yeah she sure was wasn't she----thanks so much for the great ideas!

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  12. Sometimes the wallflower is a deep well like D.G. suggests. I think if Kit is still on your mind this may be the case. If not, it is ok for you to let her go. Maybe she will return when she has some interesting life experiences.

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  13. Poor Kit - sounds like something out of Dickens. If you're going to resurrect her, give her a couple of quirks, something memorable. Make her feisty, a tomboy or a real girly girl all pinks and ruffles and petunias on her shoes!

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  14. Nice posting and it sounds like your character Kit is calling out to you to bring her back into the light.

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    1. yeah i was kinda afraid of that---thanks so much!

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  15. She may have been a wallflower, but not one forgotten. I'm with Suze. Check to see where she is today, and you may be surprised. :)

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  16. Sometimes wallflowers can turn out to be really interesting characters!

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  17. ...that's funny-perhaps give her a little make-over? Perhaps that will revive her enough...

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  18. I love your honesty. I have a characters like that too. But there's something to be said for wallflowers as long as their endearing. Check out Moody Writing's blog post here http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/2012/04/knockout-storytelling.html

    See if that helps give you some ideas to keep kit alive! :)

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    1. yes they can be endearing and as i look back at kit, she is becoming a little more interesting---thanks so much mina :)

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  19. I think it was better that you shelved the book rather than letting her suffer being disliked by the writer. ;-)

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  20. Aw poor Kit! Has someone else controlling her destiny and nothing she can do about it!

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  21. Does this mean Kit will be tossing her beret up in the air? I think she's "gonna make it after all!" Julie

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  22. That's funny -- I have a manuscript, a whole first draft, with a wimpy heroine. I consider it a practice novel, so I have no plans to rescue that poor woman. Yet...I haven't deleted the file nor have I shredded the hard copy. You never know.

    Patricia Stoltey

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    1. haha that's good patricia---no i still have kit too!

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  23. Hi Lynn, I'm the same way in that I go with the flow most of the time, writing whatever comes out, but sometimes I've picked things back up after years so maybe there's still a chance for Kit to overcome her shyness, sounds like a good storyline.

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  24. This is a pretty great post. I really enjoy your writing, and I felt as if this post really spoke to me. Don't feel discouraged.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  25. I think it's normal to get attached to our characters, even if we have to write them off our story. It's not unheard of for a character to come back from the dead, so if you want to compose a "but Kit was really in a witness protection program this whole time" plot twist, by all means, go ahead. =)

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    1. haha--it's okay, i didn't really write her off in the story, just in a blog, to let my readers, if any, know what i was thinking--thanks cynthia!

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  26. LOL Maybe kit has changed a little?


    Sonia Lal, A to Z challenge

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    1. i would hope so---haha, this is pretty funny really--thanks!

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  27. If you feel guilty about her, maybe there is something more there to write about. Maybe she has a secret or two left to reveal.

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  28. you may be right---i could be talking to her again--thanks ;)

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  29. If you don't like the character, maybe you can change her up a bit. You know, give her purple hair!! Just kidding!

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    1. oh she would never have purple hair, not even streaked---haha thanks :)

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  30. Lynn, I write in a similar way to you. I like to buy a hard cover exercise book, and start at the beginning using pen to paper and let if flow. When it is time to type it up, is when I add important pieces which connect further down in the story to make it more engaging. I think you should give Kit another go!

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    1. thanks for the encouragement--that's cool how you get the hard cover book :)

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  31. You should definitely try again with her. Obviously she is still hanging around in your mind for a reason.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    Christine
    Coffee in the Garden

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    1. yes there must be a reason, other than she fit the "k" day---thanks!!

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  32. I got excited because I thought you were talking about something like a model kit or a tool kit--I love kits. But I think that backing off can happen in some cases. I've had it happen in real life relationships where at first it seems like an exciting friendship is blossoming and then after awhile the spark is gone and we go off in separate ways. At least as a writer you can control things if you really want to badly enough.


    Lee
    Places I Remember
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog

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    1. haha well it would have to be fiction--as i know almost nothing about tool kits----you are right about the spark thing---i do think it will come back, if like you say i want it badly enough---or if i become inspired----thanks for the thoughtful comments :)

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  33. Maybe Kit still has a place in the literary world. If you put her blandish personality into a strange situation or up against challenges she likely wouldn't face--well, I think that would be pretty exciting!

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    1. she may still get the chance---thanks susan :)

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  34. I'm working on a kids' mystery series and the main character is called Kitty - and my struggle with this WIP was that she turned out too boring! Editing again now and toughening her up a bit. She's becoming more of a tomboy. Hoping your Kit finds that secret ingredient they need.
    Wagging Tales

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