I just had a meeting with my writing partner. We’re working on a great project together writing alternating chapters in a book. It’s a really neat process, and we totally feed off of each other’s creative energy. Writing with a partner is like cannibalism that benefits both of us…not the selfish flesh eating kind.
During our latest meeting we had the following conversation, and I thought I would share…because its funny, and I’m funny and everyone should know that. Or perhaps because I don’t think there is enough proof in the world that I’m quirky (the polite way to say super strange).
Please note I have not named my writing partner so that there is decreased risk of “outing” him as my friend. No one should have to live with that stigma hanging over their heads.
Me – I have to go and make dinner for my husband now.
Writing Partner (WP) – Don’t feed him Pearl (my cat fyi, my WP is quirky too.).
Me – Great, now you ruined my plan. And the only other thing I have to feed him is bacon.
WP – So?
Me – …and it’s Friday.
WP – He can’t eat bacon on Fridays?
Me – Or any meat; he’s catholic. I’m pretty sure bacon counts as meat, so it’s basically your fault now if he goes to hell.
WP – What?
Me – For eating meat on a Friday.
WP – He can’t eat meat, but he can eat cat?
Me – Stop trying to wiggle out of this with thought and logic. I’m totally on to those tricks, and this is still your fault.
Your welcome. And I’m sorry, all at the same time. I’m complicated that way. Wish me luck on a long weekend of writing ahead.
Writing Exercise:
Choosing a point of view for a story can be difficult, especially if you want to write in the first person. You need to think long and hard about who the best person is to tell the story to your readers, and then consider your own capacity to write in that voice. A great way to decide which point of view might work best for your story is to choose a pivitol point in the story (something really juicy) and then write it from a few different points of view. For example the scene you choose could be a child leaving home for college for the first time. You could write the scene from the perspective of the son, or one of his parents, or his dog. Each of these characters would have a different story to tell and may inform how you want to proceed with your writing.
Note: Choose a small scene or this could be a very long an daunting task. Aim to spend ten minutes writing the scene from each point of view.
Happy Writing.
