Feel

When writing, there's a certain element of "feel" that has to go into it. A lot, when I'm reading other unpublished writers, I see a lack of feel or that they've put too much of themselves into the work they're doing. I look at what I'm writing--I can see where I have used elements of myself in my characters, but I'm at a point where if you think you can get to know me through my writing or by examining my characters, you'd be very, very wrong. Some, I am nothing like.

But I do use elements of what I see going on around me every day. I am constantly people watching, paying attention to things, noticing things. I also have begun paying attention to how I feel in certain situations. A good example is how to write about what it feels like to be strongly attracted to someone. I know someone who makes my heart stop. I've seen this before, but it's rare and doesn't come around often, but basically it's this: when I look into her eyes, the world falls away, and all that's left is eternity. Her pupils get huge and she chews her lip. She often stares at me when she thinks I'm not looking. If I catch her, she tries to play it cool and usually fails, but it's ok. I like goofy, happy-go-lucky types who are imperfect. I don't know what any of it means, and in my situation--to be honest--it scares the shit out of me because I don't think I'm ready for that. I'm pretty sour on relationships right now.

But either she or I keep forcing run-ins. I'm easy to enough to avoid, so I know she follows me into the break room on purpose, since I have to walk by her desk to get there. Half the time we just sneaks stares at each other, and try to pretend we're not doing that. I wonder if she feels the same things when she looks at me. She is gorgeous, but it's kind of a moot point--we work in the same office and I have rules about that. I would say whatever's between us is powerful enough that, even though we're both smooth operators with everyone else, we get clumsy and awkward in each other's presence one-on-one. It's really funny sometimes, she drops things, I drop things or stumble with my words. Games, I know, but whatever. I don't think she's available, though, and like I said I don't date women I work with...but I might make an exception for this one if we could get past three minutes of small talk and avoiding the elephant in the room and we're both single.

Being a romantic, and a writer, there are a lot of great things I can come up with to say on the fly. I can talk the talk, man, even if I've never met a woman who appreciates it coming from me. But then I thought--why can't my characters do that? Why am I not using this? The entire situation is perfect for the chapter I'm working on right now. So I'm taking my feelings and channeling them into the work. Using the lines that I'd like to say and making them private thoughts for my character. We've all felt that way about someone at some time or another. It will help me connect to the reader, I think, and humanize a character who is not human.

So it's another cup of coffee and back to the grind. I get this right, the romantic aspect of the story, and I'm gold. Because without the romantic aspect, you won't sell. Take a look at the bestsellers, the ones they make into movies- action and romance heavy. I've decided to stretch out my book's romantic payoff. No longer does it happen in Chapter Three. I might withhold the outcome and make it on again off again until Book 3: The Underworld War.

But first things first. I made major changes to Book 1. Getting back to it. Happy writing y'all.