Thursday, June 9, 2011

Split-Century Personality

In an era of text lingo and cutesy acronyms, everything is shortened. We no longer write long letters with big words—or lengthy expositions to novels. We like short and sweet. We like texts. We like succinct emails. We like to get right to the point. And my point is…?

In April, I took a hiatus from writing fiction and devoted the month to poetry—I read it, I wrote it, I probably even dreamt about it. Then I spent May perusing the free classics on my Kindle. And now I’m reading my manuscript and shaking my head, using the delete button more often than the space bar. My edgy, basketball-playing narrator sounds like a late nineteenth century poetess—and she couldn’t talk smack to save her life. Now I have a character who is suffering from split-century personalities.

You see, I have been Writing Under the Influence of Classic Literature (W.U.I.C.L.), but unlike other under-the-influence crimes, it’s not against the law. You won’t even get a slap on the wrist. You might, however, get some swell feedback from your editor.

So…I have set my classics aside, said au revoir to poetic notions, and started reading a stack of YA fiction. And after devouring a few teen novels, I am brimming with sarcasm and using “like” much too often in the real world, but the good news is, I am ready to finish my “lovely” manuscript—sans the polysyllabic vernacular and seven-line sentences.

7 comments:

  1. OMG - ROTFLMAO! I think this is hilarious, especially since someone who read my last manuscript told me I sound like a 19th century British writer. Being very fond of 19th century British writers, I took that as a compliment but I don't think she meant it that way.
    Like, good luck with your manuscript!

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  2. Heee! This happens to me all the time. An early diet of Austin, Bronte and Wilde spoiled me forever. :)

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  3. Very amusing. Was writing on my blog several days ago about how what you've been reading influences your Voice. Sounds like you really immersed yourself. Good luck with bringing your character up to date.

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  4. Welcome back to the present. :) Looking forward to your next book.

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  5. You did exactly right. When I'm stumped and over-steeped in my own words I read. It's so refreshing to fill my head with other people's words and characters. I'm usually ready to go back to my WIP when I've had one of those mini-vacations!

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  6. Good luck with getting it finished. Hope your muse continues to sit on your shoulder.

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  7. I try to take a break from reading YA and read other books too. I find this helps balance me and also helps with my own writing. The only problem I've noticed with all the YAs I read is I have not as much patience to read an adult novel now. I skim through all the descriptions and backstory. For example I had a really hard time reading the latest Jean Auel book and I loved most of her other books. Now I need to add some more biographies and memoires to my TBR list. Though I've been reading tons of Audrey Hepburn biographies which helped me get into the mind of my character Jordan Lake.

    Kim Baccellia

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