Writing continues apace...

[agilebrit]

Just broke 4600 words. Not as much as I wanted to get done today, but better than nothing, ne?

My protagonist... wait a minute, I wasn't calling him that. When did he turn into that? Well, I guess he is. I've succeeded, I think, in giving him layers. He's more complex than he started out to be. This is a good thing. Of course, this also means that I may have to go back to the beginning and let the readers know that there's more to the guy than what we see in the opening scene, but there's something to be said for opening him like a flower and letting folks gradually see what's inside as he lives his life.

Anyway, my protagonist is wondering if he's going insane. Which, of course, he is. I need one more body, and I haven't decided who that is yet. Someone who would enrage an honest cop, whom he couldn't get at through the legal system. I need to sleep on this one.

In other news, I have people in this story that would not hesitate to drop f-bombs, including my main human character. It's been a real struggle for me for them not to do it, and I'm wondering if I'm being true to them to stop them. At the same time, language like that might limit my market, and the market for a story like this is probably limited enough as it is. *sigh* Decisions, decisions.

Comments

[bullet4fob.livejournal.com]

At the same time, language like that might limit my market

this surprises me. i guess because i am used to this word being included in every sentence, as a general rule.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

Really? What in the world are you reading?

I generally use that word maybe twice a year, under extreme stress, and it's really hard for me to type it out.

[justmalea.livejournal.com]

Lol that's actually something I was going to ask but didn't want to offend you. Was it really a concern for limiting the market or was it that you are vastly uncomfortable writing it? Just something to investigate regarding your motivations. :)

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

You can ask me anything anytime, hon, and I won't be offended. :)

It's a combination of the two, probably skewed more to me being vastly uncomfortable writing it. I haven't really looked much into the horror market, so my fears of editors looking at an f-bomb or two and going "Well, let's see, she's got death and dismemberment and cat torture in this, but we're not going to buy it because the character says 'fuck' a couple of times" is probably rather silly. *rolls eyes at self*

[bullet4fob.livejournal.com]

oh! ha ha. i meant amongst the people i know. we all cuss constantly. all the time. it never stops.

and Stephen King books taught me all of the cuss words i know. i guess those books cuss every paragraph but maybe not every sentence.

[justmalea.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, well, seeing as I don't really know the story, this is a (likely) totally off base opinion, but hey, what else are blogs for! Hehehhee

Here's the thing... If your character wants to say it or SHOULD be saying it, they should say it! I mean, you've got a killer, (a la Dexter? a la Hannibal?) and plenty of bodies (I've gathered from your comments) that is likely pretty graphically depicted, is an f-bomb really going to put that much of a limitation on audience? It's not as if you're writing this for young teen or anything (I assume! Lol!).

So, in short (too late!) be true to the characters and the story and the audience will be there. There's always an audience for a well written story. :) (or at least that's my naive opinion. ;) )

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I know I should. It's just a struggle. And this guy's head? Not the most pleasant of places.

At this point, my body count is at two. I wanted another one before I did the final killing, but I'm having a tough time coming up with the next victim, so I may just skip that one and gallop to a conclusion. If I could finish this today or tomorrow, so I could have it for my Writing Buddy, that would be shiny.