Steps of a Dancewriter - Boundaries

"Take a look at what you create from the core of where it comes -- you -- and consider guiding your characters and their situations from birth..."

Definitely something worth thinking about, K. I believe our writing and our characters ARE the progeny of our souls.

Reminds me (in a roundabout way) of child actors who are not even allowed to see the movies they star in.

I admit, I write edgy. And I find myself bored with books that don't have a certain "edge" to it--as opposed to movies that are more character driven, rather than ones that depend on a fast-paced, in-your-face plot. But I think that's because it's easier to put down a book if I lose interest.

When I think of many of the books I read as a kid, I know for a fact I'd never pick them up today.

"But some of it is definitely related to being dulled by what we've been exposed to."

Totally true!

You know, I think you're spot on with that one Katherine. Books can be interesting and well written, without pushing those boundaries.

Good point, but I struggle with a desire to make my writing as realistic as possible without being base or tacky. Most of my characters are good people, but books full of good people ARE boring. Our antagonists have to have a somewhat evil streak.

I received feedback on the three inspirational stories I've written saying "you can't do/say that in an inspirational." For instance, in one story about a Christian family the husband strays. The whole point of the story is how do people who believe in God deal with betrayal in their marriage and how do they reconcile. Forgiveness is the central theme and pastoral counseling is involved, but I was told I can't do THAT even though it happens in the church every day!

As a result, I've given up on writing inspirationals. It's too frustrating.


Chicki
www.freewebs.com/chicki663

The story is written and it's out there in publishingland somwhere. No takers yet...

Yeah, what we write comes from the soul. When I started writing, I wanted to write nice happily after stories because I've been married a very long time and I felt such joy inside. After joining Online crit groups and meeting some real devils in angel apparel, my soul is not the same. I'm more cynical, angry, hurt, distrusting, disillusioned than I ever thought I could be. My Christian heart is broken and I think my writing will now reflect this because I'm willing to go places I never thought I would. It's sort of cathartic. I hope my pseudonyms becomes famous...if only for revenge.

Merc

Superheroes are always in disguise with pseudonyms. It's a higher level of revenge when your enemies are ignorant of your success. If Knowledge is power then what is ignorance?
Even God sent His Son in the disguise of a human man to revenge the devil by saving us. High level revenge example: the devil wasn't sure Christ was God's son and he tried to tempt Christ into proving it. And then after he was crucified, his body disappeared. Ulitimate revenge, I'd say.

Today, the devil's disciples are still trying to convince the masses that Christ was not divine and was just an ordinary man. But those of us, who know the truth and believe in Christ just by hearing of his work, have power. We will live again without the torture of the devil.
My point is, those who love and respect you will know it's you no matter what form or name you go by. That's because they love and respect you and your work without jealousy, envy and all those negatives that made your enemies want to crucify you on the basis of fear that they may be insignificant in comparision to you. No need to increase their fear by rubbing it in their faces if you become great. Better to let them wonder when they read something reminiscent of you.
Doesn't Clark kent's and Peter Parker's bosses look like idiots to us because we know a secret they're too stupid to figure out? Ultimate revenge foe Clark and peter, wouldn't you say?
It's vindication enough to know you're famous even though it's by a pseudonym or alterego.
Maybe revenge is the wrong word because the idea is not to hurt your enemy but to redeem your soul.