I remember you
Mar. 15th, 2007 03:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pbrayAs previously mentioned, the revisions for TSC are adding a layer of darkness to the book--things that had been only hinted at are now being spelled out.
It's tough to get into the mental place needed to write those scenes. It's a difficult process, but once they're done I can comfortably describe the process to fellow writers, and explain the reasons why those scenes are necessary to fantasy readers.
But what I can't do is have an intelligent discussion about those scenes with my siblings. People who know me as Patricia first and an author second, tend to balk when I describe how I get into the mindset to commit (literary) violence. I felt incredibly awkward last night as I tried to describe what I was doing to my sister, and from her reaction I know I startled her. Not that she wasn't supportive of what I'm doing--just surprised. What I write is significantly beyond the limits of what she feels comfortable reading.
I had the same reaction a few years back when my brother (ex-Special Forces) read one of my books that featured an extended torture scene. He thought it was a good scene, but kept wondering how his little sister could have written such a thing.
Though my blood thirsty tendencies shouldn't come as a surprise. As children we made a home movie called "The Bopper" which featured a killer who went around killing people with a hammer, and the bodies were then hauled off in a Red Flyer wagon. Thank god that was long ago, before digital videos and YouTube. If a copy exists anywhere it's on Super8 film, unable to be resurrected to embarrass us.
It's tough to get into the mental place needed to write those scenes. It's a difficult process, but once they're done I can comfortably describe the process to fellow writers, and explain the reasons why those scenes are necessary to fantasy readers.
But what I can't do is have an intelligent discussion about those scenes with my siblings. People who know me as Patricia first and an author second, tend to balk when I describe how I get into the mindset to commit (literary) violence. I felt incredibly awkward last night as I tried to describe what I was doing to my sister, and from her reaction I know I startled her. Not that she wasn't supportive of what I'm doing--just surprised. What I write is significantly beyond the limits of what she feels comfortable reading.
I had the same reaction a few years back when my brother (ex-Special Forces) read one of my books that featured an extended torture scene. He thought it was a good scene, but kept wondering how his little sister could have written such a thing.
Though my blood thirsty tendencies shouldn't come as a surprise. As children we made a home movie called "The Bopper" which featured a killer who went around killing people with a hammer, and the bodies were then hauled off in a Red Flyer wagon. Thank god that was long ago, before digital videos and YouTube. If a copy exists anywhere it's on Super8 film, unable to be resurrected to embarrass us.
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Date: 2007-03-15 07:58 pm (UTC)I'm still working on getting into the necessary headspace to write nasty things believably. (I would be very interested to hear about your process, if you don't consider that a stalkery and intrusive question.) I am very bad at fight scenes, too. Practising, practising, practising...
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-16 12:51 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-16 01:16 am (UTC)