Are cliche's getting a bad rap?

So you're stuck.  You need to create a character and you got nothing.  Zip.  Nada.  Nyetski.  The muse is on hiatus and the deadline approaches.  What do you do?  What do you do?

This is where a tried and true character may be a gift to you.  Especially if you use it as a jumping off point with the very simple question - "why?"

Okay, follow:

Let's say you are playing a cheerleader and nothing fresh comes to mind.  All you can think of is a vacuous brainless bubble.  "But everybody does cheerleaders that way!" 

Maybe.  But they don't have that magical question do they?  They don't know to ask themselves, "Why?"  But you do!  Ha!

"Why is she a bubble?"  She's exhausted and hepped up on caffiene.  Why is she exhausted?  She slays vampires?  (wait already been done - but do you see how just a few simple "why's" can spin you into a new direction).  She can also be exhausted cause she's really a klutz and she has to practice 24/7.  Why is she a cheerleader then?  Cause she has one artifical leg and she's trying to overcompensate. 

Or she's exhausted cause her parents are fighting all the time and its put her on the verge of tears.  Why are her parents fighting? They are spies from another planet.

I know, I know, you want to ground this in reality.  But don't fight the cliches.  Especially if you're stuck.  They can be a great place to begin. 

This works in writing too.  And life.  How many times do we judge someone based on what they look like or do?  And if we were to take it one step farther, ask why are they that way, maybe we could have more compassion.  Hmmmm.  Or at least laugh at ourselves....

Why buy the cow when you can have the milk for free?

My grandmother use to say the whole free milk thing about sex, hoping to discourage my libido.  Not sure it worked there, but it totally applies to writing.  And acting.  And actually making friends.     

I find myself giving away everything in the first few chapters - so eager to be loved am I - that I hinder the joy for the reader who wants to go along for the ride.  When I think about it, if I'm reading a great  book, I don't want it to end. I want the story teller to keep me on the edge of my seat.  I regret that there are so few pages left - THE MISTS OF AVALON - I actually put myself on a diet of 50 pages a day so the book could last longer.  Oh and THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - yet another book that I needed a page diet.

So here is Cindy's epiphany number 4, 568, 902 - B.  At least when it comes to the first few chapters, only give what you must absolutely give - trust that you have a story worth reading.

With acting - isn't less more?

Now if I could only apply this to me.  If I don't jump in hands, feet and head, would people still want to hang in and want to get to know me?

Writing Games

Go to the library and check out five cd's.  Make sure it's music or sound or something you would not usually listen to.  For me it might be: opera, classical music, heavy metal, religious music and a comedy cd (this is weird cause I love to laugh).

Okay now here's the hardest part - take a half hour out of your schedule and listen to one cut from each cd.  Listen like you are from another planet and you've never heard this before.  Note how fidgety you might feel.  Let your mind wander.  It's okay.  Sometimes, it's really hard to just sit and listen. 

So, how did that feel?  Did you like some but not all?  Were you surprised at what moved you or annoyed you?  Do you think you might like to listen to more? 

Last - set a timer for five minutes - no more - and write about it. 

How do I make my hero rootable?

Aaach!  I have a great setting. And a wonderful situation, but I can't seem to make my heroine pop.  I'm so frustrated.  I think the reason that YA has so few adult characters is because it then forces our young heroes to be active.  Pull the adults from the situation and POW! you got something.  Look at DEATHLY HALLOWS or any of JK's books. 

My problem is my heroine's dad is very much alive.  In fact, her whole inner purpose is to come to terms with dad.  I can't get rid of him. And I don't want to.  It's the reason I'm writing this book in the first place...can you spell cathartic?  (Maybe if my heroine can come to terms with her clay feeted dad, I can too?)  Cause really, isn't that reason we create art?  It's like creative therapy.  We get a chance to exercise our own inner crap and make it come out okay.