I laughed out loud at the part about someone spilling coffee on the puzzle and having to discard something you created and thought was important. Same is true with memoir. Just because a "character" had a role in your life doesn't mean you need to include them to tell a particular story from your life. If something or someone doesn't move the story forward then yes, put them in the outtakes folder. I have several bad boyfriends whom I've exited to the virtual island of misfits. They'll probably misbehave there, too.
Loved this little peek inside a writer's brain! Also loved the puzzle analogy. Since I am a big fan of the old Rudolph movie, I can tell you that the doll is there because she has no nose. :)
Click on the link I put in the post for some theories. I went down a rabbit hole on her! Mental health issues, perhaps. Or one of many “invisible” diseases, like Type 1 Diabetes (which I have). Pretty interesting to think about, actually.
Didn’t finish above because I accidentally posted instead of hitting return! Most important part: great piece! We who do this for a living know that feeling. Sometimes the puzzle box cover is missing completely and the pieces go from hand cut gorgeous to sawdust in a blink. And yet, on we go!
Ron's cut characters are sent to the Sunnyvale Home for Unwanted Characters. You might send your folks there to hang out with his (that would be some party....J. Edgar Hoover and A. Mitchell Palmer have rooms among the fictional folks).
I always feel like my characters are caught in a kind of purgatory while I am working on a book, and they are frustrated with their stalled lives until I get the book out into the world. I think a story of the frozen characters expressing their frustration with their creator would be fun to write someday.
I laughed out loud at the part about someone spilling coffee on the puzzle and having to discard something you created and thought was important. Same is true with memoir. Just because a "character" had a role in your life doesn't mean you need to include them to tell a particular story from your life. If something or someone doesn't move the story forward then yes, put them in the outtakes folder. I have several bad boyfriends whom I've exited to the virtual island of misfits. They'll probably misbehave there, too.
Hah! My work here is done.
Loved this little peek inside a writer's brain! Also loved the puzzle analogy. Since I am a big fan of the old Rudolph movie, I can tell you that the doll is there because she has no nose. :)
Thanks, Cheryl. It’s been fascinating to see the different theories!
Not a writer but love hearing about the process! So looking forward to your next book!!
Thanks so much, Kim! You’re my kind of reader.
Love the puzzle analogy!! And I’ve got some former axed characters to nominate for sure. PS: why IS that doll on the island???
Click on the link I put in the post for some theories. I went down a rabbit hole on her! Mental health issues, perhaps. Or one of many “invisible” diseases, like Type 1 Diabetes (which I have). Pretty interesting to think about, actually.
Didn’t finish above because I accidentally posted instead of hitting return! Most important part: great piece! We who do this for a living know that feeling. Sometimes the puzzle box cover is missing completely and the pieces go from hand cut gorgeous to sawdust in a blink. And yet, on we go!
Sawdust! I’ve seen that too. LOL
A story filled with characters deleted from famous stories. Maybe shipwrecked together.
Ron's cut characters are sent to the Sunnyvale Home for Unwanted Characters. You might send your folks there to hang out with his (that would be some party....J. Edgar Hoover and A. Mitchell Palmer have rooms among the fictional folks).
Oooh. I love this!
What a fabulous post! Hilarious and right on the money. Can I share this on Facebook?
Thanks, sis. Please do! I posted it there too but you have way more followers than I do. 😎
I always feel like my characters are caught in a kind of purgatory while I am working on a book, and they are frustrated with their stalled lives until I get the book out into the world. I think a story of the frozen characters expressing their frustration with their creator would be fun to write someday.
Right! And I read a post the other day suggesting our characters’s lives continue after the book ends, which is oddly comforting.
This is a terrific description, Elisa! I'm not sure I would use the same images, but it speaks to me!
Thanks, Audrey. Those childhood TV shows live rent-free in my head. 😂
Love this!!
Thanks, Kathryn!
I love this metaphor! You nailed it!
Thanks, Emily. High praise, coming from you! 💜