September 24th, 2009
Top Secret
Top secret- these words alone can perk up eyebrows. They conjure up all things unseen and unheard. Loosen the grasp on your chair because there shall be no secrets unearthed here. And if I gave you one, I swear you’d hit the snooze button on the ole alarm clock and get back to me. No doubt, though, everyone, including me, has at least one family or personal secret that’s a tad spicy or horrifying, or just plain odd. Odd, I say. But whatever they are, secrets have power over people who keep them. Decisions and behaviors tiptoe around them. They are weeds in the hearts soil.
No eyebrow hiking, please. Even though I thought of a juicy one, I’m still not sharing. Oh, you have Starbucks Breakfast Blend? Gosh, that’s my favorite. But no, I can’t, shouldn’t. Okay then, let’s chat… wink, wink.
Now, unless you live in a cave, which some people do- I saw one for sale on the internet, but it far exceeded my price range- then you can’t miss what happens on the news. Secrets are shared on a daily basis, some exposed, others revealed. Heck, if we’ve lived long enough, we’ve heard our share from friends and kin, which revealed just how boring we really are. Ah, what a blessing it is to be dull.
As such, let’s relate them to fictional novels we writers tell and hope to sell. Yes, we are back to fiction now, which is sometimes less weird than real life.
Our main character/character’s should have secrets. At least one. And you’re going to love this because you get to know what they are! As a matter of fact, you’d better know. Sometimes their secrets are at the heart of the story and other times they serve as a guideline to understand why your characters act the kooky ways they do. Readers don’t necessarily have to know, but we might want to clue them in if it serves the story and explains their odd or crazy behavior.
Is there a reason our protagonist hates being alone? Does he/she avoid certain family members at all costs? Why, why, why? Do they steal, cheat or lie? When each day begins do they pop pills or swig scotch on the rocks? Does your character have premonitions about future events but is too afraid to own up to her gift? Are they plucked away nightly and whisked off to Mars?
Wow, please bring them to my next party!
Seriously though, don’t hold your characters at arms length. Let them come into the light. See them for who they are. Ask the questions, welcome the answers and, wha-la, a secret or two will appear. They just might be the treasure in your story.
Now back to that party.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:38 am
“Top secret- these words alone can perk up eyebrows. They conjure up all things unseen and unheard.”
No kidding Dorraine! Being a snow-hater, that picture immediately made me think of murder, of horror stories, of all things hidden under the murk. Someone who loves the snow might see it and think of an all out ski weekend. It’s amazing how differently our minds work. Thanks goodness we have super storytellers like you out there who bring these secrets to pass in an edge-of-the-seat kinda way. I wish I could write fiction….feel the envy?
Yes, I’ve many secrets beneath my soul, not all my own. Maybe one day I’ll learn how to weave them into a story.
At least you didn’t post a picture of food this time!
September 25th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Thanks, Deanna. That picture hit me the same way, and also in relation to how our secrets hide just below the surface, or sometimes buried, like ground beneath snow.
I’m not sure you can’t write fiction,D. You keep telling yourself this, but I have a suspicion you not only want to but can. Have you given short stories a try? I’d love to see a piece you put together. I dare you to post one on your blog! There, I gave you a challenge and if you’re as stubborn as I think you are-being a stubborn type myself, I recognize it in others-you might just want to give it a shot.
And no food pictures for awhile. Promise. I was getting chubby just looking at them.:)
September 25th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I too like the photo…secrets, secrets, secrets, three times should be enough. I have written poems on the topic and am currently working on…oh never mind.
It was nothing, really.
I like the photo :-p
September 25th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Paige, so, you’re going to leave us hanging on a secret, are you? Oh, well, guess curiosity killed the cat. I’ve still got those nasty cliche’s in my head.
September 26th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Dang it Dorraine, you know me too well. I do have a few shorts tucked away somewhere, but if I were to even think about posting one it would need a lot of work first. All right, give me a little while…you know I’ll be cursing you the whole time.
September 26th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Curse me all you want,D., as long as we get the story. Can’t wait!
September 26th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Great advice Dorraine. You know, I’ve never actually thought about that before. A Character having secrets. It’s as plain as a nose on a face (there’s one o’ them thar Clee-Shays) that characters should have secrets. Thanks for the jab of inspiration.
Elizabeth
September 27th, 2009 at 11:11 am
You’re welcome, E. It was another great thing I learned recently, but until then I hadn’t thought much about it either. But it makes perfect sense that behaviors would be formed around secrets. That decisions would be made based on them. So, why shouldn’t we bring that to our fictional characters and expect our readers to be drawn in? Now, let’s figure out what they are.
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Okay, Drain, some little snot-nosed tweenager is using my fingers to tell her story….we’ll see what she does.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Oh my gosh Dorraine, it turned out to be horror. I don’t write horror. I’m horrified!!
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Oh, now this should be interesting! See, you never know who will want to tell the story or what it will entail. Horror. Well, it is getting close to Halloween. Can’t wait to read that!
I’ve not posted this week. Lame, I know, but I’ve really been working hard on rewriting that dang book-fifty double spaced pages this week-so I’m not goofing off. Really. I’ll post something on Monday, most likely. Keep those fingers typing, D!
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:05 am
I figured you were working hard on your book. I know you’ve been determined since returning from the retreat.
I’m now regretting that I told you the story turned out to be horror. That knowledge is going to take the element of surprise out of it for you, so you won’t be able to tell me if it’s any good or not. Of course all I have right now is that raw material. I hope to have time to work on it this weekend and will think about posting it next week. I’m kinda scared…