Today I have to write a tough scene. It's a tough scene because it could look cliche, but the character who is orchestrating the scene is actually a sociopath. And because sociopaths don't have real feelings, they can't empathize, they only emulate. So, the cliche should work because this guy would only know to act out something that he's already seen.
Have I spun you in circles? Okay. Here's a good example of what I mean. Remember Scott Peterson, who killed his wife, Laci? When Diane Sawyer interviewed him and he cried and plead to get Laci back, Diane asked him what Laci meant to him. He replied, "She completes me."
Sound familiar? Well, of course, he heard it from Jerry Maguire. Because Scott Peterson was a sociopath and wasn't capable of his own real feelings, he would never understand what it truly meant to love someone. Therefore, he could only project what he thought he should say.
In light of the tough project, I'm going for a walk. Walking helps me to see a scene. By the time I come back down the hill, I'm usually ready to write it. Sooo...I'm going for a jaunt so I can spend some time inside my sociopath's head.
What do you do when you've got a tough project to work on?
xoxo,
Suzanne
About Me
- Suzanne Casamento
- Author of Fingerprints, Choosing Tally, and All the Moments in Between. Tweet me @suzannecasamento
Avoid for awhile until I get up the nerve to tackle it. Sometimes deadlines help, even if they're self-imposed. Good luck! Sounds like you've done your research and have insight into the character's motivations and psyche. That's a huge start!
ReplyDeleteProcrastinate, because all the while procrastinating I'm actually processing & planning in the background. Then when nearing deadline, I take all that background processing and bang out a ton of the project in one sitting which in turn motivates me to keep working and finish it out. Speaking of... I better get back to work! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen the work gets tough, the tough get to work - No offense to Kristen, I get her point, but procrastination is a killer to me. Timing like a clock when I rock the hip hop - never been a better time than right now!
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting, Suzanne. I need deadlines otherwise I procrastinate.
ReplyDeleteThe same thing ... exercise always helps me!
ReplyDeleteI learned this at Emerson- Part of the creative processes in incubation. So, I when I get stuck on something, I walk away and do something else. I let the back of my mind work on it a little bit, and sure enough inspiration hits when least expected.
ReplyDeleteI'll admit it; I'm a big procrastinator. But, I agree that a lot of that 'procrastinating;--anything BUT actually getting down to the project at hand--can be a very effective way of brainstorming and mentally processing/organizing before actually getting down to business. Either that, or it's just a really fine way to justify procrastination. It's how I roll....
ReplyDeleteI usually just jump right in and then get angry at myself for not doing what you do. (taking a walk) In the end I have to take a break and walk to cool down anyway. I never learn.
ReplyDeleteUgh! Right now at this very moment, I am blogging the world instead of writing...I need a solution, too. My project though is a dissertation and I intend to finish this summer...yesterday I read and went for a walk...the day before I read and organized and went for a walk...today??? I must write something...argh...though they were beautiful walks...one by the lagoon and one by the river (sigh). I need this advice...as I said...I'm going back to read your comments...and look for inspiration <3
ReplyDeleteCongrats on POTD Contender!
ReplyDeleteRain helps.
When it's a problem to work out, a walk helps for me, too.
ReplyDeleteI usually need to break a project up into small parts, and work on whatever part I'm excited about at the moment.
I dig sushi, we have a sushi place with a great happy hour where everthing is half off. I usually go for the philly roll and the crunchy sushi but im open to just about everything. Just a word of warning, don't eat too much of it like that pansy Jeremy Piven or you might have to take some time off work or even quit.
ReplyDeleteWhen I feel too much pressure, I would take a short break as well. A walk, a song, a great meal... whatever suits the heart.
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