Still NaNoing

[jaebility]

SQ
Working on: Walking along the boardwalk as Mari comes to terms with her little death and Simonsant and Nine flirt/fight.
Word for this chapter: 89

Chugging along in NaNo. I've fallen a bit behind, but I'll be able to catch up this weekend. It's almost halfway done!

I'm not as happy with SQ as I was with TTBtM last year. My writing's just so bare bones; all my sentences are the same and my vocabulary so limited. I have a hard time writing descriptions. Reading Catherynne M. Valente makes me desperate to come up with metaphors and similes like hers, but I don't have her lyrical ability. One of the folks in my writers group said he didn't like my metaphors/similes - Too forced and awkward. Gahhhhhhh I have these images in my brain but somehow they get muddled up and crappy when I translate them into writing.

Blarggggggggggglepants.

Comments

[baggyeyes]

Hey, I like your bare bones style. You have your own voice. It's fine to love another writer's style, but your voice comes naturally, organically. Don't fight it.

[verdictlesslife.livejournal.com]

(Ridiculously belated reply, but) Thanks! I think you're right - I'm developing a writing style and as painful as it is to admit it, I'm not Valente and can't write like her. Gotta stick to my own style.

[spielcheck.livejournal.com]

If you find yourself with metaphor/simile envy, I recommend reading Cassandra Claire's Mortal Instruments trilogy. Because your envy will be squashed like a bug that's been stepped on by a rampaging skyscraper - or somethingorother that sounds dramatic but makes no sense. Actually, it made me appreciate that sometimes the language itself does not need to be dramatic, it just needs to do its job and then get out of the way so the impact of the scene can be felt. Using metaphors & similes can be like taking a Bedazzler to your prose.

Anyway, your natural, direct writing style is great.

[kashiichan.livejournal.com]

Go you! I'm so behind thanks to work. :/