Voice theory – Emotion. Part 3

AKA Why love triangles slay me….

What I'm reading: Lay That Trumpet in our Hands by Susan Carol McCarthy AND Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. (Our book club discussion of Poison Study is next Sunday, 2/10. I’m really enjoying it.)

What I'm working on: I’m back to the fight scene – the big one between Tara and a demon god. And then I’m off to read the 305 pages I printed. No, I won’t read it all tonight, but it needs to be read so I know what's still missing.

New words today: 505

If you recall, I’ve been posting a little series on voice. Today, I’m resuming it with part 3.
The big key to swept-away titles for me – be it books or movies – is a truly emotional story, a story where I feel deeply. I want that bone-deep, overpowering, soul-clutching emotional ride.

I frequently find that ride in stories with well-developed love triangles. Let me just list a few.

Bridges of Madison County
Sugar Daddy
The X-Men Movies
The Anita Blake series – okay, yes, there might be more than a triangle going on now
The Twilight Series

I realize some of these titles don’t have traditional love triangles, but there are triangles.

You see, the deal with love triangles is they require someone (the hero or heroine) to choose. Often the best choice is clear to a reader or watcher, but just as often it’s not any clearer to us than it is to the main character.

The best love triangles involve giving up something you really want regardless of the choice you make. They involve the deep understanding that you can’t have everything no matter how bad you want it all.

Let me give you some examples.
WARNING: THERE ARE SOME SPOILERS BELOW. If you don’t want to be spoiled stop reading when you see the title of a story you haven’t read.

First, let’s look at BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. I loved the movie and the book, but to keep us all straight, let’s talk movie here. The love triangle is between Francesca, Robert, and Francesca’s husband. Immediately, one might think the choice should be obvious, but it’s not. And what’s more, at the end of the movie, you’re heart-broken when she makes the moral choice. Notice – I didn’t say right. There is no right choice. She loses a chunk of her soul and heart regardless of who she chooses. No matter how many times I watch the movie, I cry when the shot cuts to her hand on the door. The indecision is a heart-breaking, emotional ride.

In SUGAR DADDY by Lisa Kleypas, Liberty is just falling in love again when the man she’s always been in love with shows up. I won’t tell you want happens, but I love to watch how both men react – doing whatever it takes to keep her. Very dramatic stuff.

In the X-MEN trilogy (movies), Wolverine is in love, but he can’t have the object of his affection. She’s married to someone else – someone that doesn’t understand her troubled soul. In the end, the husband is out of the picture, but the conflict is still there. It becomes a love triangle between choosing her and choosing what’s right (saving the world). He can’t have both.

In the ANITA BLAKE series by Laurell K. Hamilton, I love the love triangle between Richard, Jean Claude, and Anita. The books with high tension between the three of them were my favorites in the series.

Finally, the series that got me thinking about love triangles: THE TWILIGHT SERIES by Stephanie Meyer.

I recently lay on the bed reading the last book so far in the series – ECLIPSE. Marcus lay next to me watching a sitcom. Suddenly I slammed the book and swung my legs over the edge of the bed to stand up. I dropped the book onto my pillow as if it burned my hands.

“What’s wrong?” Marcus asked, pulling his eyes away from the TV.

“Bella is so screwed.” I say clenching my teeth in anxiety over recent events in the book. “I can’t read anymore right now.”

I stare down at the book. Marcus returns to watching the sitcom.

I plop back down on the bed and pry the book open again, resuming my read.

“I thought you couldn’t read anymore of it right now.” He raises his eyebrows in amusement. He’s seen this side of me before.

“I can’t, but I can’t stop. She is so, so screwed. This will never turn out okay. No matter what happens.”

Bella has a choice to make. If she chooses Edward, there is a huge cost. If she chooses Jake, there is a huge cost. I hurt for her. If it was me, I'd want to stay in limbo -- or perhaps live in a vacuum where I didn't have to choose.

Angsty, emotional, riveting stuff. There’s just something about the emotional journey in a good love triangle, especially when to win, you also have to lose.

I want to write books like these.
(So, I guess it’s good that I have a couple of ideas for love triangles, eh?)

Macy

Hmm... A question: What good love triangles in books or movies can you think of?

Voice theory – Emotion. Part 2

What I'm reading: Lay That Trumpet in our Hands by Susan Carol McCarthy AND Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder.

What I'm working on: A scene in the middle of Slayer, and I’m beginning to stress about a finding a dark, paranormal junkie who’s willing to be a beta reader. Are you out there?

New words today: 0 (Big F&$#ing 0. Did I mention that I worked from 8 to 9:30 today? That's 8am to 9:30pm. My head just bounced off the keyboard.)

Continuing with the emotion theme…..

It’s much easier for me to come up with swept away books than it is movies. I read more books than I watch movies or TV, so by default I just find it easier.

However, I can’t decide whether it’s easier to be swept away in a book or movie. Really, it probably depends on the writing in both.

I’ve already said that I need raw-edged, real, heart-dropping, soul-soaring emotion in order to be swept away.

I got all that and more in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth book in J.K. Rowling’s mind-blowing series.

I fell in love with Harry and his friends when I read the first book. I wanted to be a wizard, not a muggle, and I became fully involved in a willing suspension of disbelief as I read the first three books.

However, it was the fourth one that I added to my swept away list. Those before and after were good, no, GREAT. But the fourth wove into my soul.

The fourth book is a demarcation between the innocence of childhood and the reality of adulthood. Don’t get me wrong, the monsters, evil and problems faced in the first three were real and terrible. I won’t deny that. But Rowling kicked it up with Goblet.

Not only is Harry thrust into a contest for which he is technically far too young, he’s also thrust fully into a world where the darkest threats of nightmares become real.

I think one of those demarcations of truly reaching adulthood – regardless of the age at which you do it – is coming to terms with the fragility of life. In Goblet, Harry witnesses Cedric’s cold-blooded death at the hands of Voldemort.

When I read the passage, the space around me became a vacuum and all the breathable air was suddenly gone. I remember lying on my bed one moment and springing to my knees the next with the book clutched tightly in my hands. I re-read. Surely, I had something wrong. You can’t just kill off the innocent.

But Rowling did. And that moment sealed the book as a swept away book for me. I’ve read that chapter again and again and each time the blow to my chest is just as hard.

Emotion. Rawness. Grief.

After the initial shock, I rocked myself on the bed as I cried. Not Cedric. Not evil like that – the real kind. The kind you can’t come back from.

It’s no secret that in addition to Rowling, I’m also a huge fan of J.R. Ward. (Yep, completely different genre.)

I liked her first books enough to eagerly purchase the sequels. But I liked the first ones from an intellectual standpoint – like I liked Ender’s Game. Great, unique premise. Masterful execution. Extraordinary imagination.

My favorite of Ward’s books, however, is Lover Awakened. It’s Bella and Zsadist’s story. In my opinion, Zsadist is the most tortured of her heroes. (That is compelling to me, too, on an emotional level. The dark, tortured hero will be my 4th or 5th installment of this series.)

While I loved Zsadist’s story (and it is Z’s story), the emotional grip for me had little to do with Zsadist and Bella. It was all about Wellsie. Such tragic, brutal loss. I won’t ruin it for you if you haven’t read, but I will say I re-read the scene about which I’m commenting four or five times. Surely, it would change on one of the passes. This really wasn’t what was happening.

But Ward’s stories, like Rowling’s, don’t shy away from the painful emotions of life. They throw the horrors our way as well as they throw the happily-ever-afters.

Emotion. Rawness. Grief.

I want to write stories like that.

Voice theory – Emotion. Part 1

What I'm reading: Lay That Trumpet in our Hands by Susan Carol McCarthy AND Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder.

What I'm working on: A scene in the middle of Slayer.

New words today: 409

Awhile back, Alyson posted a list of “swept away” movies. I’ve been trying to think about my swept away movies. I’m not sure I can come up with a list like Alyson’s (click here and here and here), at least nothing so lofty and artistic and intellectual and important as hers.

I’m not a “thinky” movie sort of girl. Technically, I’m not a “thinky” book sort of girl, either; although, I did love Ender’s Game for the sheer cleverness of it. It embodied extraordinary concept with flawless execution. I remember thinking I needed an OSC alter so I could bow down. However, it was the end I read and re-read. Ender’s empathy for the Buggers was the emotional thread that catapulted the book over the top for me.

And there is the key to the books and movies that captivate me: Emotion.

I want a ride. I want to laugh, red-faced, as I feel a character’s embarrassment. I want to smile and giggle at the sheer joy of a character’s triumph. I want to cry – uncontrollably – with tragedy and loss.

I want to feel. Deeply.

Several years ago, the students at my favorite middle school embarked on a cross-curricular study of the Olympics. They studied the early games in Latin. They competed in Olympic events and measured distances in math. The looked at controversies in history that surrounded the games. They….well, you get the idea.

As a culminating activity, 200 seventh graders took a mid-morning field trip to a private showing of Miracle, the movie story of the 1980’s Gold Medal hockey team, a team consisting of unknown college players who felled the big dragon -- the ultimate professional team from the U.S.S.R.

It’s the story of a coach that bucked the system and a group of rival twenty-something, high-testosterone males. It’s the story of the underdog, good guys verses the fire-breathing, evil communists.

When the US hockey team scored the winning goal against the Russians, the entire packed-to-the-brim theater erupted into cheers and a standing ovation. I’d already seen the movie once, but I erupted with them, tears streaming down my face.

Pure, raw, elation. A truly emotional story.

I want to feel a gamut of human emotion. I think almost all of my swept away movies are brimming over with emotionally charged scenes.

Other movies that made me feel deeply:
Bridges of Madison County
The Notebook
The X-Men trilogy (Don’t laugh. I’ll explain)
The Bucket List
Titanic

I’m sure there are others, but we’ll leave those for part dos.

Tune in for part 2 tomorrow, where I’ll explain why Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (the book) falls under the category of swept away emotional reads.

Part 3 will be the emotional draw of the love triangle (at least its draw for me.)

Part 4, well, I’ll get to that later. (And, yes, yes, I’ll explain Saturday’s vampire thing, too – maybe as a part 4 or 5.)

For now, I’m too tired to continue. Tune in tomorrow. I promise – this really is going somewhere.

Macy

Voice theory -- a vague intro

What I'm reading: Lay That Trumpet in our Hands by Susan Carol McCarthy; and Seduced by the Wealthy Playboy by Sara Orwig.

What I'm working on: A scene in the middle of Slayer.

New words 1/24: 0 (worked until nearly 10 pm)
New words 1/25: 0 (Is being exhausted a good excuse?)
New words today: 1013

I browsed through the young adult section of B&N tonight. I read the back of alot of books. Funny how that simple process triggered a couple of theories about my writing voice. (I just love those little discoveries.)

I'll post my theories next week sometime. I have two. One about emotion and one about the tortured hero/heroine.

In a loosely related way, the following quiz is interesting. (Looooosely related......)
There are alot of vampire books out there in YA and romance. I am really only drawn to a handful. Funny, but I think I figured out why. Again, that's a next week post.

In the meantime, could you be a vampire?

You Could Not Be a Vampire

Sorry, but you're not just cut out for flesh eating, turning into a bat, and living forever.But that's okay. The sight of blood turns your stomach... without even thinking of drinking it.And while you definitely would never be a vampire, you're exactly the type of frail prey Dracula wannabe's crave.Maybe it's time to arm yourself with a cross and some nasty garlic breath!What you would like best about being a vampire: The raw power (though you wouldn't admit it to anyone)What you would like least about being a vampire: The whole killing thing.

Could you be a vampire?

New Look

Like Alyson, I decided I needed a new look to go with my new voice revelations. I've played with this layout for a couple of days now. It isn't perfect. Someday, I'll pay someone to design exactly what I want, but in the meantime, I like this.

I love the red.

I used to like red less, but lately red is a color for which I have great affinity. Perhaps it has to do with my new boldness as a writer. I took a silly little color test online. Of course I picked red first as the color I was currently most attracted to. This is what the test said about me: You are likely an emotional person who experiences strong feelings. The fact that you chose Red first also indicates that others probably see you as a passionate and vibrant person.

I like that. I have decided that I have an emotional voice. And color is important to me. And I really hope people experience strong feelings when they read my work (about which I'm very passionate).

(Of course, I didn't post the other color test results that said I was over-stressed, trying to do too many things, and was experiencing some serious procrastination as a result. I mean... that's not me. I would NEVER procrastinate with silly little online tests or anything like that.....)

Macy

Voice...again

We had to write a statement that described our voice for the final week of voice class. I wrote a "real" one that talked about writer sorts of things, but I like this one better. It illustrates my "just so" thing, along with my intense love of color and nature. I guess it's a writer sort of statement, too.

My voice is crimson and burgundy and just-before-a-storm-blue muted with fog and twilight and lit with candles on stone pillars that threaten to go out in the gusts of the impending storm.

Macy

What do I write?

I write allegorical women's fiction with paranormal elements about quests of self discovery and freedom and discovering one's inherent power.

(I'm trying that on for size. It actual feels pretty amazing against my skin.)

As you know, I'm in an online voice class taught by Barbara Samuels. I don't recommend taking it unless you REALLY what to know what you should write and unless you are REALLY willing to make that leap.

I'm ready. I think -- in between minor panic attacks since I so didn't have it all figured out up front.

I had little pieces, but not the whole picture. Now, I'm trying to wrap my head around something much bigger.

Thank you Barbara and voice class buddies.

However, I think my very astute friend Alyson hit the nail on the head for me. This is what she said about my voice:
(Thanks, Al.)

...allegorical women's fiction with paranormal elements about quests of self discovery and freedom and discovering one's inherent power

Update from my voice class

My good friend, Julie, pointed out that since my last post -- the haircut post -- my hair has probably grown out.

So, that's what's wrong with it.....

I have a great excuse for not being up-to-date. I'm taking the amazing Barbara Samuel's voice class online with most of my writing group. The exercises and the epiphanies and the comments and the commenting are all taking alot of time. It's time I don't really have but which I gladly give anyway. I'm learning so much about myself and my friends. My writing will benefit greatly from it.

I only wrote 11 pages last week. This week -- zero. But what are Saturday and Sunday for?

It isn't just the voice class. The day job has been busy, busy, busy. I hope it will slow down soon.

However, I want to share an excerpt of something I wrote and something Barbara said about it.

It's about one of my favorite places. Here goes:

When it rains, I open all the French doors along the back of my house to let in the breeze off the rain, to let in the scent of its freshness. I stand on the porch and watch the dark clouds roll in with ominous majesty. I see lightening dance and hear thunder roll and watch as the wave of falling water moves toward me across the lake. Big, hard drops roar across the lake bouncing like a thousand marbles off the glassy water, each making their own little splash. The dragon flies sweep up out of the grasses to find a tall stalk of weed to alight upon and spread their wings – dozens of them, holding on for dear life in the wind. The Annihingas swoop and dive into the water as it boils with the relentless pounding of the rain. The opposite side of the lake becomes obscure as the wall of water impedes the view of it. The grass and trees and lily pads seem to assume a Technicolor appearance, their greens accentuated against the gray-blue of the sky.

Here's what Barbara said about it:

The whole thing has a feeling of really good women's fiction, the connection point between emotion and nature and a woman. Lyric detail.

I'm still reeling over the visual of those dragonflies. That's what happens when you tap into things you madly, madly love--the writing is fantastic and natural.

Ok, um, Barbara -- that Barbara with the beautiful lyrical voice -- said I (me!) have lyric detail. Lyric detail!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And that it feels like really good women's fiction.

(Ok -- that part's scary. I hadn't really thought "women's fiction" before. But... well, I guess I had sort of. But I was saving it for when I became a really good writer. No time like the present, huh?)

Macy

Thinking about voice

I've been thinking about my voice and my brand lately. I haven't got any idea about my brand. I've come up with some completely hokey stuff that doesn't work at all, but nothing good yet.

As for my voice...

I got back my Touch of Magic Contest preliminary round results the other day. TOM is our local RWA contest. We had lots of entries this year -- so many that the coordinator had to look far and wide to other chapters to get enough judges. In each category, three people final. I was one of the finalist in my category. Cool. I have until the 29th to make changes based on the judges comments -- which contradicted each other, btw.

(I'm getting to the voice stuff.)

So, I emailed a writer friend --- my local goal partner. (We're both struggling with our goals lately.) I asked her to read my sub (and the final round sub to the Daphnes) and give me her opinion.

After about an hour on the phone last night and almost line-by-line crits (thanks Lorena!), I have lots of great info.

Anyhoo....the voice stuff.

One of my judges said, "Great voice!"

Yippee. That's was my favorite comment.

The pubbed author said, "This is terrific -- on the money submission for Intrigue. I love it! I loved the premise, the setting, the pacing and the potential for conflict and tension. Great job!"

I also got lots of things to correct -- even though I scored mostly 9's and 10's. Great feedback. Lots of work to do to get it out before the 29th.

However, I'll definitely enter TOM again just for the awesome feedback -- if I'm not pubbed, which I'd love to be instead.

Okay. Enough.

Hmm. In my voice exploration, I found this. I think it fits my voice. Take the quiz and see if your results fit yours.

Your Famous Movie Kiss is from Spiderman

"I have always been standing in your doorway. Isn't it about time somebody saved your life?"

What famous movie kiss are you?

Voice, edginess, and a brand

I just finished J.R. Ward’s Lover Revealed. I love her books. I love her voice. She nails her characters. She’s edgy and irreverent. She doesn’t just brush against the darker side of love. She nose dives right in.

Her heroes include a reluctant and blind (literally) king, a man with a temper that rages so badly he’s monstrous (also literal), a man who spent so many years as a sex and blood slave that he’s unable to feed himself properly or even sleep on a bed, and a man who doesn’t belong and had a drug addiction and has a savior complex.

Can anyone say wounded hero?

Then she goes and …. Ah, I shouldn’t tell you. Read the books. No spoilers here.

Not only do I love her books, but I admire her, too. Get this: She has a law degree and was Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. Now she follows her dreams of writing romances. She has a multi-multi book deal. She’s been nominated for a RITA. She’s one of many doctors, lawyers, research scientists, and academics who have retired their original career to pursue what they love. Writing. Romance. Novels.

I might just have to stalk her for an autograph at Nationals.

JK.

Really.

I like edgy writers. I have always. I think my writing is a little edgy. I’m still working on my voice, but it has to be a bit edgy. (I think.) I consumed Laurell K. Hamilton, Sherilyn Kenyon, J. K. Rowling, Michael Crichton, and James Patterson. Eclectic list. Yes. Edgy list. Oh yeah.

I’ve been reading about having a brand. I’ve got a few examples of brands to post.

CJ Lyons: No one is immune to danger. (Her books aren’t out yet, but I’ve taken one of her classes and this tag fits.)

Stella Cameron: Mystery that chills – Passion that thrills.

Jenna Mills: The heart of suspense.

I have no idea what mine might be. However, I’ve been told that you want to figure it out and then market yourself that way. Hmm.

Alyson’s might be “Sweet romance with a rough edge”. (Sweet is the wrong word, but it’s a start.) Maybe “Tender romance with a rough edge.” (Tender is wrong, too.) Perhaps, Head Over Heals Romance with a Rough Edge.

Katrina’s might be “Magic and romance. More to it than meets the eye.”

Yes, yes. I know these could be much better, but the point is that I thought those up in less than 5 minutes. I’ve been thinking about mine for several days and still have zilch.

Maybe you just need another pair of eyes to really see what you’re writing.

Hmm. Food for thought. Maybe thinking about all this extra stuff will give me some ideas for a brand.

Macy