I grew up surrounded by woods and learned early on how to spot where the wild things stalked, climbed, scampered, flew, perched and hid - in the trees, upon the ground, or within the dark murkiness of hole and crevice.
Writing offers up all sorts of wild things, too: unexpected characters, odd plot twists, strange sidetracks ... But these wild things are far more cunning than any living creature. Sometimes you need to follow them. Sometimes you need to let them be. And sometimes, the only way to KNOW if a wild thing should be captured iis to follow them first, watch what happens when they live in your story, and then decide.
A two-nosed villain showed up in my recent novel. She turned out to be a most interesting and vital wild thing. Even though I was sure Revenue Cognescenti had no business in my story, I followed her and let her show me where she lived, and how and why. I ended up loving her best of all.
Don't be afraid of your wild things. Always be ready and willing for a rumpus.
* * *
Christopher Walken reads "Where the Wild Things Are."
http://www.openculture.com/2014/09/christopher-walken-reads-where-the-wild-things-are.html
This is a painting by my aunt, Edie Abnet. She loves wild things, too.
Writing offers up all sorts of wild things, too: unexpected characters, odd plot twists, strange sidetracks ... But these wild things are far more cunning than any living creature. Sometimes you need to follow them. Sometimes you need to let them be. And sometimes, the only way to KNOW if a wild thing should be captured iis to follow them first, watch what happens when they live in your story, and then decide.
A two-nosed villain showed up in my recent novel. She turned out to be a most interesting and vital wild thing. Even though I was sure Revenue Cognescenti had no business in my story, I followed her and let her show me where she lived, and how and why. I ended up loving her best of all.
Don't be afraid of your wild things. Always be ready and willing for a rumpus.
* * *
Christopher Walken reads "Where the Wild Things Are."
http://www.openculture.com/2014/09/christopher-walken-reads-where-the-wild-things-are.html
This is a painting by my aunt, Edie Abnet. She loves wild things, too.
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