Liane Gentry Skye for Writers Gone WildIt's summer time, and if you're a mom who writes, you understand what I mean without my having to wax poetic. When it comes to my time, kids win, hands down, every time. What's a writer to do? Give up sleep apparently.
My lack of sleep is showing in my mirror, too. Sometimes it's hard to write about nubile heroines chasing muscle bound lovers when all I want to do is put a paper bag over my own head and hide from the bad hair and woefully neglected complexion. Worse, my house runneth over with my daughter's friends who are all around eighteen, and by virtue of their age, effortlessly beautiful. Think cow patty in a field of violets. Yeah, the cow patty is me! :)
Maybe my urge to crawl deeper into said paper sack explaines the fact that my newest heroine in my work in progress feels anything but attractive. My heroine is an ex ballerina. Disfigured in an accident and barely able to tolerate human touch, she works nights as a wardrobe mistress for the Bolshoi Ballet. Firmly ensconced in a glittering world that once embraced her as a star, she now lurks about the shadows, invisible and forgotten. But the ex-ballerina in her still longs for the dance, so at night, when everyone else has left the building, my poor Desya takes to the empty stage to recall the lover who dances with her only in her memories. Little does she know someone is watching until one day, she finds a note on her sewing table. Dance for me again...
I know I'm taking a lot of risks with this book, the foremost being that my heroine is far from beautiful. I certainly don't intend to give her some miracle surgery to help her conform with the physical expectations of her world. In a lot of ways, Desya is a projection of how I'm feeling about my own appearance and ability to claim my own dreams right now.
Do your emotions impact the heroines you long to write or read about? And when those desires take you into the territory of a disfigured heroine, are you ever tempted to put the book down? This writer gone wild wants to know!
7 comments:
Okay, A - you are beautiful, inside and out. And 2 - I can't wait for this story! The character may not be beautiful, but I have no doubt the story will be. Besides, not every hero or heroine has to be drop dead gorgeous. Think of Phantom of the Opera. I wanted to beat Raoul with a frying pan. Team Phantom all the way!
awww, what a sweet post, Lillie. Thanks for making me smile. I am excited about this story, so yeah, team Phantom for me. Oddly, this story's working title is Le Petit Fantom. :)
I love the unattractive heroines, so much easier for me to relate to!
And you, mermaid are a luscious dish coated with awesomesauce and don't you forget it!
What Jenna said.
I absolutely love that your heroine isn't perfect. She's so scarred inside and out, my favorite kind of character.
Hurry up and write this one coz damn, I sooo want to read it! I don't think I've ever been tempted to put a book that featured a disfigured heroine down. For me, it just makes her reaching her HEA or HFN all the more sweeter.
Hi,
This is the first time that I have read your blog because I found you on WANA. Your blog concerning your new book and the risk you are taking pleases me tremendously. I have just finished writing my first book and am waiting on the results from the publisher and the book is not the typical world standard. After finding my own voice, I stepped out there also.
Congratulations on your risktaking and I hope it pays off for you with lots of recognition.
Ciao,
Patricia
Pat, thanks so much for stopping by. I'm glad you found something useful in my post. Sometimes I feel like I'm just babbling :)
Also, thanks for forcing me to rediscover WANA.
Have a great day and don't be a stranger.
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