"Dig until you hit rock. Then take out that jackhammer and go a little deeper."
-- Allison Brennan
This week I've been digging away, searching for the hard rock of my characters' emotional truths. I'm getting closer, but they're still not being totally honest with me. Some hard layers still stand in the way. I need that jackhammer, an effective tool, but one that shakes the operator to the core.
Yes. I'm going to dig deep. And it's going to take an emotional toll on me. Am I ready? Am I prepared to blast my way through my rawest emotions? I hope so.
Have you ever been revising a novel and realize you've only scratched the surface? How do you know when you've finally hit bedrock? Do your hands shake? Maybe your stomach sickens? Will you go deeper?
I'm thinking this exact thoughts this week. Did I go deep enough?
ReplyDeleteI guess when the arms are so tired, you can't hold the jackhammer a minute longer.
DeleteI get these weird chills and shock feeling. Hard to describe, er, even though I'm a writer. There is one novel I think on every now and then and when I do...oh boy. Maybe it's time to dig deep and stop pushing it away. Good luck as you carry on digging, Angela!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb. I know the feeling. Grateful each time that novel is out of my hands.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm still in the process in the MS I am revising now. I need to dig deeper and make it more personal and emotional. Let's hope I find that feeling soon.
ReplyDeleteGet out your jackhammer ^_^ The feeling will come.
DeleteI think some novels, and characters, require digging deeper than others. For me, getting to the depth of each character only comes with multiple revisions. When I'm on around the 10th revision, I can look back at the first and see how surface it was. But when you're in it, you can never see.
ReplyDeleteTrue. True.
DeleteI definitely fight through it and keep digging, but I never know when enough is enough when it comes to character. I guess when the character gets me tied up in knots or makes me cry, I've come close. I agree with Denise. It really depends...
ReplyDeleteYes. It's hard to know when we've hit the emotional mother lode.
DeleteHappy blasting!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, this is one of the most important things my editors do for me. I always think I've gotten down to rock bottom, and they point out the places where they're still not feelin' it--where a scene is evoking strong emotion only for me, because I'm the person whose head it came out of.
Editors with jackhammer instructions. What more could an author ask for?
DeleteI don't think I ever know until I get my betas and then if they get the character, I've done my job:) I wish it was like that "ah ha" moment that Oprah talks about, or something so easy, you just know it when you know it. Oh well...
ReplyDeleteWell crap, sorry if this is my second post. It said my first didn't take. Anyway, I said before that I don't think I know if I've done my character justice emotionally until I send it off to beta readers. If they get the character then I feel I've done a good job. If not, well I don't think I've dug deep enough.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your digging. Hopefully you won't need any therapy afterward:)
Betas are the best!
DeleteI enjoyed this post and the comments!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I don't realize how much more digging I have to do until a critique partner asks a key question I can't answer. Usually, though, it's like what Jennifer said.
(By the way, I hope this comment pops up in the right place. I've been having trouble getting the "add comment" box to appear at some blogs the last couple weeks. Why?!)
Comment is right where it belongs ^_^ Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteLoved this post, Angelina! I'm in the middle of revising my first YA novel. I'm currently chipping away the exterior of my mc, she's kind of a pill, not wanting to let me all the way in. I'll have to threaten with a jackhammer, I guess.
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