tirsdag den 25. januar 2011

C should be for Crime, not Cleaning or Cooking

I am still circling around in Yorkshire, trying to add a bit of suspense to my Halloween mystery. I quite like my set of quirky villagers, but if they have secrets, they guard them far too well.

The funny thing is that last year I told a writer that she had painted her protagonist into a corner, meaning that she had created a setting that didn´t give the poor woman room, and now I have done exactly the same for Rhapsody. I have sent her off to a new cottage in order to clean and paint it - and the sweet, young woman does exactly what she has been told (some of the time, at least). Is it fun to cook or clean a dirty cottage? No. Is it fun to read about it? No. 

So changes will have to happen, but so far I have sent her off to the local pub - again. If she develops an alcohol problem or something, it´s all my fault.

And here a citation


Wisteria Featherstone wore a flowing silk dress in several blue and turquoise shades. Opposite her sat a slim, young man in a leather jacket who looked good in a slightly feminine way, but there was an angry set to his shoulders, and his lower lip protruded ominously.
 Two-Sentence Tuesday is hosted by Women of Mystery.  

 [And this was a C post - of sorts - for Kerrie´s alphabet meme]

11 kommentarer:

Anonym sagde ...

Dorte - Oh, thank you for sharing those sentences. I really am eager to read this novel. And you make a very good point. Giving a protagonist some room to move about is essential, and I'm sure you'll figure out how to do it. In the meantime, if you want, you can always send Rhapsody to my home to clean! ;-)

Elizabeth Spann Craig sagde ...

Great point about not penning in a main character! Hmm. I know it's popular now to think in terms of talents and hobbies for cozy protags--giving them gifts that specially equips them to solve different crimes and puzzles. Maybe instead of a setting to put her in or a chore to give her, she can have an interest, hobby, or special talent that can give her insight?

Dorte H sagde ...

Margot: I hope my sentences show I am working on it. I am, but it will take time to get this work in shape.

Elizabeth: constructive advice as always! But I hope that when I have finished writing about her first week in Aldburgh, it will be more natural for her to move about, finding friends etc. And then I will have to scrap some of my early, very boring scenes.

Kelly sagde ...

I guess cleaning could be exciting if you ran across a dead body in the process!
;)

Dorte H sagde ...

Kelly: now THAT´S an idea! Why aren´t you the crime writer? :D

Care sagde ...

Yes! send her to the pub! Pour the girl a beer!

Clare2e sagde ...

When I read too laborious a fictional description of usual housework, I wonder why I thought I was escaping : )

But sometimes, I find I have to write the action in order, even if it becomes a sentence later. Until the character's done the first necessary thing, sometimes they won't move, stubborn creations!

Kerrie sagde ...

What about a sticky bloodstain? Thanks for this quirky contribution to the CFA Dorte

Dorte H sagde ...

Care: Wow! Aren´t you an American? Rhapsody is not even thirty yet ;D

Clare: good point. I know that in principle I could just move on to the next week, but it *won´t* work for me this time - I have to go through all the chores, and clean it up later.

Kerrie: quirky is indeed what my work is right now - and I´m afraid it isn´t even positive this time.

Natasha sagde ...

That is fantastic advice, and a really creative take on the letter C.

Dorte H sagde ...

Thank you, Rayna :D