Letters to my muses
For today's prompt, crack that fourth wall and write us a letter to your character.
To the gang,
Alright, we're already about to start Chapter 5 of the rewrite. So far, so good---it's becoming a more cohesive draft and everyone is getting introduced pretty quickly. However let's get some things clear before we proceed with the rest of the story.
To Marce: I know that at this point you're the youngest of my POV characters, which admittedly gives you some leeway to act up and act out as you wish. You're the busiest of the entire lot, and sometimes it's hard to figure out where you are next. Please help me out here and give me a cohesive account of your day. Also I'm trying to figure out your connection with your grandmother/namesake. How do I work that in? I know she was important to you. Help?
To Emil: At this point you're probably the biggest (literally and figuratively speaking) jerk in the story. You antagonized nearly everyone in a cafe, had strong words with Yvette before her disappearance, chewed out Marce on the phone instead of sympathizing with her, and did not even commiserate with your grieving friends. Nice work, buddy, in three out of five chapters. Now please, I've already reserved Chapter 7 for you to redeem yourself somewhat. You *have* to show that Elise isn't wrong about you, that Marce's judgment is just clouded, that you're good for something, that Farrah and Carlos are really just two people you should get away from. You'll still be a jerk at that point, but with some redeeming qualities. It's crucial, or no one is going to believe that you can turn around.
To Ida: You're my character of focus this week in the Loft, since Chapter 6 is necessarily your chapter and I want to flesh your mind out before we write that chapter. You're going to experience your first serious betrayal at that point. Please don't kill Ethan; I can't clean up bits of him off the wall. Feel free to cry, do whatever, just don't go into insane mode. And you will remember that boy who will tease you for nearly breaking the intercom. Trust me, you will.
To Mark: Yes, you're finally in the story. Actually you were in the elevator with Ida earlier, but that was a bit part. Chapter 5 is your POV, how do you like that? So we get to introduce the rest of your team at this point: Tato, Anna, Anton, etc. Your take on them is crucial, since I'll be using much of it for the rest of the story. Now don't complain that I'm not using you in the Loft this week; I got in your head for an entire summer for a national writing contest and a scriptwriting workshop. At this point, I'm giving you license to be a bit mean, but within limits. You may not match Emil in terms of meanness.
To Darren: You're coming back in Chapter 7. I know, you're too good to resist, but at this point I can't connect you yet to the rest of the world. Please help me along and get your drama guild to take some action in Chapter 7 about current events. I want to write a scene with you, Wena, and Emil at some point, but so far you've been eluding me here. You can't hang out with Maan and Vic forever; I have to push your boundaries too. Also, may we establish that you are *not* wrong about Emil in some way? Can we do it without being creepy?
To Lize: You're up in Chapters 5 and 6. Am I correct in presuming at this point that you're still with Cedric, and you're with the university dance troupe? You're not getting a POV chapter in this novel, but you're an important side character all the same. Please show me a bit more of your life, maybe even the past you share with Marce and Ida.
This is going to be one long ride of a novel, I know. You may wonder who the main character is. It's easy to say it's the four of you (Marce, Emil, Ida, and Mark) but arguably it's Emil who goes through the largest change. Not that the rest of you have static story arcs; there's more coming in the timeline.
Anyway let's get writing.
Your author
To the gang,
Alright, we're already about to start Chapter 5 of the rewrite. So far, so good---it's becoming a more cohesive draft and everyone is getting introduced pretty quickly. However let's get some things clear before we proceed with the rest of the story.
To Marce: I know that at this point you're the youngest of my POV characters, which admittedly gives you some leeway to act up and act out as you wish. You're the busiest of the entire lot, and sometimes it's hard to figure out where you are next. Please help me out here and give me a cohesive account of your day. Also I'm trying to figure out your connection with your grandmother/namesake. How do I work that in? I know she was important to you. Help?
To Emil: At this point you're probably the biggest (literally and figuratively speaking) jerk in the story. You antagonized nearly everyone in a cafe, had strong words with Yvette before her disappearance, chewed out Marce on the phone instead of sympathizing with her, and did not even commiserate with your grieving friends. Nice work, buddy, in three out of five chapters. Now please, I've already reserved Chapter 7 for you to redeem yourself somewhat. You *have* to show that Elise isn't wrong about you, that Marce's judgment is just clouded, that you're good for something, that Farrah and Carlos are really just two people you should get away from. You'll still be a jerk at that point, but with some redeeming qualities. It's crucial, or no one is going to believe that you can turn around.
To Ida: You're my character of focus this week in the Loft, since Chapter 6 is necessarily your chapter and I want to flesh your mind out before we write that chapter. You're going to experience your first serious betrayal at that point. Please don't kill Ethan; I can't clean up bits of him off the wall. Feel free to cry, do whatever, just don't go into insane mode. And you will remember that boy who will tease you for nearly breaking the intercom. Trust me, you will.
To Mark: Yes, you're finally in the story. Actually you were in the elevator with Ida earlier, but that was a bit part. Chapter 5 is your POV, how do you like that? So we get to introduce the rest of your team at this point: Tato, Anna, Anton, etc. Your take on them is crucial, since I'll be using much of it for the rest of the story. Now don't complain that I'm not using you in the Loft this week; I got in your head for an entire summer for a national writing contest and a scriptwriting workshop. At this point, I'm giving you license to be a bit mean, but within limits. You may not match Emil in terms of meanness.
To Darren: You're coming back in Chapter 7. I know, you're too good to resist, but at this point I can't connect you yet to the rest of the world. Please help me along and get your drama guild to take some action in Chapter 7 about current events. I want to write a scene with you, Wena, and Emil at some point, but so far you've been eluding me here. You can't hang out with Maan and Vic forever; I have to push your boundaries too. Also, may we establish that you are *not* wrong about Emil in some way? Can we do it without being creepy?
To Lize: You're up in Chapters 5 and 6. Am I correct in presuming at this point that you're still with Cedric, and you're with the university dance troupe? You're not getting a POV chapter in this novel, but you're an important side character all the same. Please show me a bit more of your life, maybe even the past you share with Marce and Ida.
This is going to be one long ride of a novel, I know. You may wonder who the main character is. It's easy to say it's the four of you (Marce, Emil, Ida, and Mark) but arguably it's Emil who goes through the largest change. Not that the rest of you have static story arcs; there's more coming in the timeline.
Anyway let's get writing.
Your author