Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Love It; Hate It; Can't Live Without It by Margo Hoornstra


 

Ah the writing life. For me, it fits right in with our theme for this month – Love and Hate.
 
LOVE the initial blank page of a new work in progress. All the endless possibilities for characters, and settings and plot lines.
 
HATE all that darned white space staring back, mocking even, when those pesky characters and settings and plot lines fail to materialize.
 
LOVE when the ideas finally start to flow. When all of those marvelous goals, motivations and conflicts begin to gel.
 
HATE when the goal waivers, the motivation stalls and the conflict isn’t.
 
LOVE when characters figure out what they really want and decide they will do anything and everything to succeed.
 
HATE when story arcs that held such promise turn out to be trite and implausible. When characters refuse to cooperate and reveal who they are.
 
LOVE when an air tight and believable storyline emerges, when characters and their individual traits and mannerisms come together in a realistic way complete with snappy dialogue that moves the story forward.
 
HATE when it turns out the characters, with all of their traits, mannerisms and snappy dialogue move the story all right. In the wrong direction.
 
LOVE when characters come into their own, when the storyline, with all of its plot twists and turns, heads in a rush of author inspiration toward the satisfying conclusion.
 
HATE saying good-bye to characters who have been around so long they are now old friends, putting THE END to the settings and story that gave them life.
 
LOVE the initial blank page of a new work in progress. All the endless possibilities for characters, and settings and plot lines.

Speaking of loving the beginnings of new works then hating the saying good-bye to old ones, tomorrow, I say hello again to my latest release from The Wild Rose Press entitled Only If You Dare

 
 

All of the pleasures and none of the pain, that's what Cynthia Buckingham wants in a relationship these days. Multi-decorated veteran turned judge Jonah Colt has other plans for her.

My days to blog here at the Roses of Prose are the 11th and 23rd

Please visit my website at: www.margohoornstra.com

17 comments:

Barbara Edwards said...

You nailed it. Every day brings a swing in either direction. No wonder my husband thinks I'm a flake.
Congrats on the new release. It sounds great.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Barbara. Your husband too? Glad I'm in such goog company. Thanks for the atta girl.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Good company. I meant good company.

Diane Burton said...

I know exactly what you mean, Margo. We love what we do, hate it, and still keep at it.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Exactly, Diane. See Barbara's comment above. We are what we are, right?

Brenda Gayle said...

Perfectly stated, Margo. There's nothing like the euphoria of being in the zone and the despair when you're not. Best of luck with your new release.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Brenda. Exactly right. Thanks for the words of support.

Jannine Gallant said...

I love the beginning (all those fresh ideas) and the end (rushing toward the conclusion). But that dreaded sagging middle... Sigh. I'm not a big fan of the middle. It's like plodding through quicksand. Maybe that's why I enjoy writing novellas so much. By the time you get through the beginning, you're on your way to the end with no middle to bog you down! Go you with your worldwide release--happy sales!

Margo Hoornstra said...

Good point, Jannine. Lately I've been going the novella route too. Somewhere I read it's a preferred length for readers as well. Sagging middles seem to come with the writing territory I'm afraid. Thanks for the happy sales. Here's hoping!

Wild Women Authors said...

you go, woman!
great post
Kat and Veronica from Wild Women Authors

Margo Hoornstra said...

Kat and Veronica - Good to hear from you! Onward, right?

Melissa Keir said...

I think we all have found out that mood swings are caused by writing and that we are crazy to love doing it! Hubby just doesn't understand!

Margo Hoornstra said...

Right on, Melissa! Mine no longer tries to understand. He just nods and smiles!

Leah St. James said...

Right there with you, Margo! Hubby is always asking how productive I've been, especially on the weekends (after I've just finished an exhausting 40-plus-hour week at the day job). I usually tell him everything's great! But a good chunk of that time is struggling to get back in the zone. I once an interview of Eloisa James where she said a good portion of her writing time is spent thinking. So true!

Alicia Dean said...

Beautiful! Very well said. Only a writer could relate, but BOY, can we relate!

Margo Hoornstra said...

Leah. Everything you say is so true. Been there, done that! Here's hoping you have some time on the day job for thinking. The guys do try to be supportive. You have to give them that.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Alicia. Writing really is a love AND hate proposition, isn't it?