Helga
@nrx__helga
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💻 Psychological Thriller / Crime Fiction Writer ✍🏼(WIP: 2.8M words) ; multi-book series
United States
Joined October 2013
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Is there such a thing as over-editing? Because this is a perfectly good sentence:
"I rub Germ-X on my hands and pop an Altoid in my mouth"
YET some would say, "Why specify /on hands/ or /in my mouth/ when that's the only place those can go?"
Does that really matter? Editors?🧐
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I'm officially in that point of drafting where you're no longer "discovering" the story, just making it stronger and better. I've literally NEVER been here before, so this is kind of incredible. 🥹🥹🥹
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@JennaSchmenna
And I love that you actually take the time to chat with people whose stories you love but aren't ideal.
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@ThedumbIdo
Good point.
Not to mention, if you remove each detail, the actions are so quick and slight, a reader can easily read over them without visualizing the action, but with the added detail, you allow the reader to stay in the sentence longer, and actually become immersed.
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I wish I could include a song in this book.
I have THE perfect song that I want the MC/LI to be dancing to that would parallel the subplot so perfectly.
Does anyone know if you can even MENTION a song title in a chapter?
Or is that against copyright / amazon TOS?
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I'm done! I'm done! I'm done! 🥳🥳🥳
I counted ALL the words. Compiled ALL the documents. Reformatted ALL the scenes. 😭😭😭
New word count on my profile. 🥹
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This character just verbally decimated my MC.
I'm like...what just happened?
I'm reeling. It was so brutal and so accurate. I'm like, is the MC even okay to go on with the rest of the book? 😂😭😅
#Drafting
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@Desirae_Writes
You can do it! I'd suggest:
- Start small. Choose ONE chapter & apply whatever you've learned from the craft books. Read more, then choose another chapter & keep that going. Don't worry about "perfect" just learn.
- Separate passes. One to enhance emotion. Another for setting.
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Of course, I lucked out with the first author I chose (at random from my unread books) and instantly fell in love with her writing style.
I am like: 😍😍😍
She creates a lot of unexpected visuals sprinkled in her text and I really appreciate it as a reader.
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Writing a multiple POV series when you're obsessed with each of the POV characters is like:
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It is 100% true that you won't be for everyone - some people may hate you immediately or find you annoying - but the people who stay when you're being yourself, those are your people. So, it's actually a good thing to be yourself and let those who don't jive with you walk away.
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Whoever said to never throw away "ideas" is 100% right.
Repurposing books/ideas that didn't work for one project into something else is definitely possible.
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Just started reading horror anthologies today and let me tell you - HOLY HELL! While some short stories may be a bit bland and don't quite hit the mark, I've read some that include THE most interesting/clever/crazy plots I've read in a very long time.
Like, I'm impressed! 🤯
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Be careful who you exercise with. One invitation turned into a group of people. It was fun but immediately after our 2 hour walk, the group's energy turned into, "Lets get burgers! Fries! Ice cream!" I was like, "Uh, you kind of missed the point of working out to get healthy." 😅
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Yesterday was a really difficult day for me. I haven't had such a low day in a long time. But I'm feeling better today.
Little by little, right?
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@cklapp2
It's from a published book so brand use can be alright depending on context, but another writer brought up the fact that readers outside the US may not understand these brands, so great point about swapping them. Of course, this writer may have wanted that stylized American vibe!
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Drafted 5k+ words in less than an hour.
I share because yesterday I was like, "This is so overwhelming. Can I even do it?"
Then today I'm drafting and it's so effortless (and enjoyable).
Yeah, I can do it. 🤓
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Welp. This scene ended up being 2.5k+ words and it's only dialogue. 🙃
I'm thinking of dividing it into three separate scenes, interspersed with some action beats that are happening concurrently in another part of the story. 🤔
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Just got a really cool new WIP idea that allows me to pay homage to one of my favorite movies.
I love going for walks because I always come back with my mind buzzing.
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Help.
I created two female supporting characters who both get killed off that I've fallen in love with, but I have no space in the narrative for them after their respective books.
It's not fair. Past me messed up by doing this to me. 😭😭😭
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I'm getting really good at weaving in past timelines, mainly because I have so many rich supporting characters and every now and then there is a book that gives me the space to reveal more about who they are and how they got to where they are now.
Anyway, it's a lot of fun. 😀
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@JessicaKFoster
Thank you, Jessica. I'll be looking for those preservative free eye drops.
I'm not really a fish person, but I'll give Salmon a try!
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I've been reading so many thriller novels with multiple POVs (3-4) and keep thinking, "Gosh, I really love multiple-POV!!!" 😍😍😍
When am I going to tell myself that MY ENTIRE series is multiple POVs (3-4) and I've been ignoring the issue to not overwhelm myself??
WHEN??? 😅😂
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Started with just ONE storyline alongside a second storyline hidden from the MC but known to the reader.
Now I'm weaving in an a THIRD storyline hidden from both the MC *and* the reader. 😅
Do I know how to do this? Nope!
Am I going to try my darnest to pull it off? Yup!
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I just drafted a scene where the LI realizes his love isnt enough to save the MC from himself. The MC has chosen to exit stage left time & time again, & the LI has finally realized how powerless he is against mental health. "I'm never going to be enough for you."
I'm sad. 😭😭😭
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✨If anyone needs a boost for
#QuestPit
, just reply to this and link directly to the tweet you want me to RT, and I'll be happy to retweet. ✨
(Hope it's not too late. Just caught wint of the event, but entries look amazing thus far. Good luck to everyone!)
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@Dasgoot1
@TalkScaredPod
And not outlining can get you lost in the weeds.
Good writing requires both being "lost in the weeds" AND having a sky-high birds eye view.
Why settle for one vantage point in a novel when you can look at it from different angles?
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Please remind me that when things are going REALLY well, I have to actually keep working and not just start doing a happy dance and spending my entire day smiling.
Because that cannot be productive but --
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It took me 1200 words (of failed attempts) to end up with a 48-word pitch.
Sounds about right! 😂
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(3/3) I'm in not "as skilled as I need to be" to write this series, but, I do have the most passion I'll ever have for it and I'm willing to learn the skills I'm lacking along the way. And I think that's a good lesson to learn, too, that with passion, you can accomplish anything.
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I think my favorite definition of "good writing" is simply writing that surprises you. It's not ONLY about getting the character from point A to B, but doing it in a way that I don't expect. When you do that enough times, you blow my little mind, and I love that feeling.
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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I think the one-sentence pitch for Book 1 is done.
I just use the read aloud feature to create some distance between what I've typed and I got chills.
Chills is good right??? 😍😍😍
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I wouldn't be me if I didn't spend at least 15 minutes every single day in existential crisis worrying that I'm not doing enough, can never do enough, and will never be enough.
Today's 15 minutes just passed. Let's get back to work. 🙃
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I just realized this subplot makes the most sense in reverse-chronology. It's a past timeline...and it fits better with the main timeline in reverse.
Am I intimidated by the thought of adding more complexity to an already complex narrative? Yes.😬
Am I still gonna do it? Yeah.
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me, gets ready to draft.
Types one word.
Then, shit, I need an alias name for this character.
(I'm terrible at names)
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It's interesting to hear a seasoned writer talk about how their greatest regrets weren't books they drafted & never published but books they never wrote at all because they didn't feel ready. Only to return to these WIPs years later (more skilled) but w/ their passion gone. (1/3)
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Why is it when I'm sleep deprived I start solving "impossible" story problems I've had for years?
#4am
#stillnotasleep
#2ndepiphanyofthenight
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@ceager4life
This is why most writers have day jobs AND those who want to quit their day jobs work on creating a backlist or writing series vs. standalone novels. At least in the indie world. With trad, it's always been writer by night, XYZ by day because making a living is difficult.
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Damn. This is the third time I cry. Three separate times. Three separate scenes. All in Act 3.
The MC keeps punching me in the feels. Over and over.
I'm ACHING here.
(They're really happy, profoundly felt tears of things that needed to be said for such a long time.)
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At the same time, my timeline is literally full of people getting agented every single day, so there's hope!
I have 2,000ish queries. I am planning to take on around 10-12 fiction clients THIS YEAR. Simply brutal numbers. 🥲
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THIS.
The constant negativity around tiktok readers is so exhausting. Let those kids read their trope-filled books. Let them read their viral hits. Let them read without eviscerating them on twitter because they aren't reading the books *YOU* want them to read.
I mean, this is just engagement bait now. But people are reading books. People then seek out more books. Genuinely amazing books DO show up on tiktok! My books have been on tiktok (this is not me saying mine are genuinely amazing, but anyway...)
This complaint is just tired now.
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And I only need separate docs because subplots per book is easy to organize; subplots per season is a bit tedious; but PER series?
Whoa. If you think you can do everything in ONE doc and then you're scrolling through pages and pages and...just no.
My ADHD mind likes simplicity!
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@Zoey_Granitz
The irony is her wanting you to do what SHE wants you to do. 🙃
I'm sorry this happened to you, Zoey. It always sucks when people randomly get into your face and ask like an asshole.
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Now I've decided to weave her into the series as a major character *equal* to the MC/LI/AA. 😵💫
And it makes sense too. She solves so many issues:
* Season 2 feels dull but now featuring a new villain? 😍
* So many minors characters exist without an axis. She is THAT axis!
(2/4)
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Book 2 pitch is done!
Thought it would be easier, because it's always easy to just plop down words, but then then I had to do the same fine-tuning, word by word, until the pitch felt ready, which was more difficult!
This one only took 700 words to get 36 words.
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@ManaMightWrite
,
@NinjaMouseChu
,
@RefractCreative
,
@merijmauro
,
@AuthorKOrtiz
:
I just wanted to say hello 👋 & thank you for the follow! Excited to follow more writers! 🤍
@GothElleWoods98
(horror is one of my favorite genres, btw),
@Laura_A_Bryant
(thanks for the RTs).
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How the hell did this book *just* become EVERYTHING I wanted it to become from the very beginning?
I've been circling around this "failed" book for years. And today it just transforms into something incredible.
I-I don't even understand. To the brain cell that figured this out:
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Still studying prose! Today I'm taking a different approach. I have a set of thrillers (12) and I'm going to be reading the first 5 chapters of each and doing a style sheet on them, like an editor would do, to see what I learn about their writing style. It's pretty fun.
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You know you nailed a pitch when you use the read aloud feature and your immediate reaction is:
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@Nickyshearsby22
Male and I don't know why exactly.
Maybe because I don't have the pressure of over identifying with them. They seem more detached from me so more like characters I can mold into something else. 🤔
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And, FYI, pansters do plot.
There are many times when ONE scene comes to you out of thin air, so you draft THAT; and by doing so, another scene comes to you, & another, & another. THAT entire causal chain is part of the plot.
But do we have THE entire plot figured out? Heck no!
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Today's the day where I complete my full series-WIP word count! 😭😭😭
I have about 2 hours left of work.
Let's do this!
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I did not know that organizing my drafting documents would kill me. 😭😭😭
It's so much work. I-I think I'm done? But then I thought I was done four hours ago and was wrong. I don't even want to check. 😆
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I literally sat down to solve a major problem in one of my books, and within 10 seconds, it was solved.
I opened a folder of ideas and the first file randomly opened had the solution.
Is that kismet or what? 😁
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Anyone else jot down random marketing ideas?
I keep getting really fun ones.
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@bratrod64
To clarify, this is from a published book, and the complaint was among readers!
I wanted to know from actual editors if these rules (such as not adding redudant details to sentences) are hard and fast rules among most editors or more stylistic choices.
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Drafting and laughing...
because the villain is trying to turn the LI against the MC, while the MC spends the entire book looking like this:
(somehow I don't think the villain will succeed; just a wild guess... 😂)
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This FINALLY answers the question for this character that has been present since Book 1: Will he or won't he?
If you asked me on any day, prior tonight, how it would end, I would be like: "I don't know. I haven't the slightest clue."
I couldn't even guess. Now I know! 😮🫨🤯
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Ironically, I injured my hand yesterday.
Was it from typing millions of words these past 4 years?
No, surprisingly, it was from trying to carrying too many grocery bags at once last night (for someone else, I was being kind, and this was my reward). 😭😭😭
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@Drealaj_author
,
@LeiaTalon
,
@cklapp2
:
I just wanted to say hello 👋 & thank you for the follow! Excited to follow more writers! 🤍
@Zoey_Granitz
(hi again!),
@thom_galvin
(optioned AND turned into a TV series 😮 - congrats!),
@DiezFabian
,
@sablehawk
,
@Official_Abieks
.
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And now I'm in chapter 5 and don't want to stop.
My "plan" for studying prose may have a flaw in it. 😅
#thisbookissogood
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@bratrod64
Because they often get talked about as though this is how books have to be written, and I think that happens because writers get their editorial feedback and suggestions become "rules" for EVERY sentence when it maybe only made sense in that ONE sentence for multiple reasons.
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I have to remember there is a hierarchy of twists/turns/reveals, and it's okay for the reader to have SOME.
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That kind of film whose twist ending has you going, "WTF?????????????" (in a good way) and then has you jumping on Wikipedia/IMDB to read everything you can about the writer.
I just want to know how your brain works, sir.
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We've all heard: "The king died and then the queen" is a story. "The king died and then the queen died of grief" is a plot.
I didn't realize that my out of sequence drafting was me creating THE story. Phase 2 of Draft 1 is now me organizing the story, aka figuring out the plot.
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Not at all! That's pretty manageable. It's more about your personal comfort level. For some five isn't nearly enough. For others, its five too many. 😅
Am I a fool for working on 5 books at once? I feel quite the fool.
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💡
Does anyone know a term for a character who begins the series as the antagonist but then shifts? I know there is the trickster archetype, but that's more from ally to villain. Would it be shapeshifter? That sounds like I'm writing a paranormal story. 😂
#WritingCommunity
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(2/3) It's often suggested to shelf challenging projects until you're more skilled. I think about that sometimes because I chose to write series for my first writing project. However, what that conversation leaves out is the risk of losing your initial passion which is your fuel.
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@APoetForThePyre
Simply put:
Genre fiction is more plot-driven, aimed at appealing to a wider audience, often using popular conventions.
Literary fiction is more character-driven driven, emphasizing artistic expresion more, and offering the opportunity to expore less conventional structures.
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I need every character in this series in therapy. STAT!
I mean, they seriously need it and I just love writing the scenes. 😂☺️
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I kept listening to Book 3's pitch and constantly losing focus halfway through, which was a red flag as it's only 1 sentence long!
Ended up revising it a couple of times more and I am now so focused reading it.
Who knew a short attention span could help troubleshooot pitches!
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I had planned on returning to drafting, but I'm actually organizing my nonfiction space the way I did with my WIP-series.
Because that has 100% transformed how I work.
Just knowing where everything is when you have so many docs? Life changing.
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Do readers really do this? 🤨
Here’s the funny thing. I wrote a book on a whim. For fun. Now people threatening to review my book and say their triggers, like it’ll harm my sales or me… I already sold more than I ever thought I would. I’m not a psychologist. Sanctimony and threats are for shitheads.
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I just figured out WHICH book is my favorite in the ENTIRE series.
Whichever book...I'm currently...working on. 😆🥴
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"Pick four characters that have the same energy as your mc"
(Realizing it's a good sign when your 4 picks are among your favorite fictional characters 🥰🥰🥰)
"Pick four characters that have the same energy as your mc"
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When I tweet about my WIP-series, I use the "archetype" the character represents as their name.
Key
MC = Main Character
LI = Love Interest
AA = Antagonist Ally
SA = Series ~Finale~ Antagonist
Prequel Antag = Main villain in prequel
Main Series Antag = Main villain in main series
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As much as people try to drag me to the dark side (ahem, pantsing), I just can't fully commit. I discovery draft all the time, but I always immediately bounce right into plotter-mode and analyze, structure, and try to find meaning to what I just pulled out of thin air.
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I'm mainly going to focus on the LI and AA's individual arcs. One's getting darker; the other is getting more...um, interesting.
These edits have been on my mind all week, but I finally feel ready to execute them. *rolls up sleeves*
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Yes. 🥺
Have you ever read a book and thought, "I want to write like that?"
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Side-eyeing the pineapple, but when in Rome!
Just adding ketchup it is! 😋
Are you removing anything from this bacon avocado pineapple onion ring cheeseburger, or just adding ketchup?
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I'm creating an archive of "minor characters" for my current series. Basically going through my "idea archive" and scavenging for minor characters. So far it's going really well!
This also reminded how many future projects I have that I'm super excited to write. 😍😍😍
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Plus, what else could I call him?
Reformed antagonist?
The character formely known as the antagonist.
Yeah, I got nothing.
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What's fun about writing a simple book pitch is that you have to strip everything down. It's taking me down memory lane.
Like Book 7 started out simply because of my intense desire to have a massive FBI manhunt in the desert & a heroic!LI rescue via helicopter. Check & check! 😅
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I'm getting VERY excited about some of these minor characters. And I am so relieved.
When you realize EVERY character is an integral part of the story, no matter how small, and you realize you've spent almost no time developing them, you panic.
By "you," I mean "me". 😆
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From hardcore horror fan. 🔪
To mystery-thriller writer. 🕵️♂️
To romance reader. 💘
How far I have fallen from my dark roots! 😂
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I like nothing more than psychoanalyzing my characters.
And none more than the AA. 🥹🥹🥹
The layers, and layers, and layers, and layers that make him up are so interesting.
#Book3
#psychologicalthriller
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Every time I return to Book 3, the AA's arc becomes bigger (which I love), but it's really dwarfing the MC's importance.
Not sure how to handle that. 🤔🧐
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I'm determined to get a lot of things done today - because I want to spend the weekend with a relative who is having issues and needs the company - but I'm so exhausted. I don't know why all week I sleep well but then wake up like I haven't slept at all. It's very strange.
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@Nickyshearsby22
I won't take a break until I'm done with my WIP-series. Took too many breaks and gave up on too many projects in my life to do it again.
But you've accomplished so much, publishing wise, that you 100% deserve that break!
What will you do with your free time away? 🙂
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Is it too early to be a dork AND a nerd?
I'm gonna go with no and keep doing it.
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Drafting again.
Crying again.
Guess which character continues to break my heart every single time?
(It's AA. It's always AA. 😭😭😭)
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What I'm learning is that so many questions you can't answer until you write!
I can say, "No, that would NEVER work" and draft ONE single scene and then go, "WHOA. I totally get how it can work now." 🤯
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