I'm still here

Hey, ya'll. It's been awhile since I've posted on here so I thought I'd write one.

I'm still breathing and plugging away at Belle and the Beast which has been re-named Isabelle and the Beast.

Besides changing the main characters' names, I've made a few changes to my work, and am hoping it's all for the better.

School is also going well (knock on wood), but I have my midterms coming up. I'm really worried about my Europe-Under-Hitler's-Shadow class/exam, but hopefully I've studied enough and will get an A.

Anyway, that's all for now.

I hope everyone else has met with success in their writing-adventures.

Rewrites Galore

So I wrote a query letter to see if I had any major plot holes in Belle and the Beast.

SURPRISE! I do! So now I have to change several things, and am currently editing/rewriting the entire manuscript. I've made some progress, but I still have A LONG way to go before I submit to publishers.

Among the changes I've made is changing Belle's name to Isabelle and Jesse to Tristan. I also think I'm going to have one of Isabelle's cousins be nice and try to help out Isabelle in the end. Speaking of the end, I have to completely rework that. I've written the ending scene several times, and I still have some major work to do on the opening.



Yet I know I can somehow manage.

So what's your advice on rewriting/editing/dealing with huge plot holes? How do you defeat those moments of despair?

A Change in Me

While I was at Disney World -- aka the Happiest Place on Earth -- I came across this humorous blog on the controversial book, 50 Shades of Grey (the gifs are hilarious). http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/340987215


Now I know that Christian Grey and my Tristan Sinclair--aka the Beast--are polar opposites, but this woman's comments on change got me thinking.


(A dangerous pass-time, I know)



I agree with her statement that you cannot change a person. If you are romantically involved with a "tragic soul" you cannot make him become a Prince Charming by "giving him love." You should also not get involved with someone who is emotionally, physically, or verbally abusive. You cannot make these people "see the light."

However, I do think people can change for the better, it just has to come from within them. They have to see they were wrong, and they have to go about making amends. That's why in Belle and the Beast, I did the point of view of both main characters. Tristan is a complete jerk at the beginning, but after meeting Belle, he is inspired to change. He realizes his errors, and Belle doesn't go about trying to change him. Even at the end of the story, Tristan still has a bit of a temper. He's nicer, but by no means perfect.


I brought this point up in my "Draco Malfoy in Leather Pants" post. It seems that there is a trend of having the bad—and slightly abusive—guy become the love interest. You could argue that I fall into this category as well, but I like to think the Beast is different. After he is transformed into a monster--even in the original fairytale--he is kind to Belle.


So what are your thoughts? Can people change for the better?

 

Marmees or lack thereof

As I submerge myself in YA fiction--and even in a lot of adult fiction as well--I can't help but notice there is a lack of parental focus. Either the parent has died, absent from the YA's life in some way, or is a complete jerk. I know not everyone is blessed with the same fabulous parents and sister I have, but it makes me sad to see such underdeveloped characters in YA, and like I said sometimes in even regular fiction. Even though I'm traveling the road of adulthood and live two hours away, (or I will again this fall) my parents still play a such role in my life.

I get texts from my dad every week, and whenever I start to panic, I immediatly call my mom. Their advice is important to me along with their respect. While they don't govern me, their opinion still does matter. However, I'm noticing a lot of YA MCs just don't care about their parents.

 I've always loved the character Marmee in Little Women. While she is somewhat of a saintly figure, she is always giving the girls advice and helps guide them through their journeys. Sadly, I haven't seen a lot of characters like her in popular fiction aside from Mrs. Weasley in the Harry Potter series. She was also more spunky then Mrs. March, but I still loved her.

Dads are also another character--and important figure in their daughter's lives--who are often overlooked. Even the good ones--like Bella's dad in the Twilight--come across as "bad" because they are being over-protective. Frankly, I wouldn't want my daughter to marry a 100+ year old vampire or have his child which could fatally harm her, but I digress.

I would like to see more strong relationships between MCs and their parents. The mom or dad don't have to be perfect, but just real. They can offer their advice, give their opinion, and even show general concern for their child without being "typical, jerk dad/mom."

Why do you think we don't see alot of good parental figures in YA any more?

Draco Malfoy in Leather Pants

So I can't even remember how I came across this phrase, but apparently it refers to a bad boy gone good. Fangirls take a normally sadistic villian--like Mr. Malfoy--and twist him into a good guy.

I don't read any fanfiction, but as most of you know, my story that I'm working on is a retelling of the classic, Beauty and the Beast. In that story, as you all know, there is a spoiled prince who gets what is coming to him and is turned into the monster. The only way he can be freed is to be loved by another.

Draco Malfoy, as they saw in A Very Potter Musical, is a little shit.

However, he's not the worst of the Harry Potter Villians. Personally, if I had a chance to take one out, it would be Umbridge, but I digress. I feel like at the end of the Harry Potter series that Draco has changed. He's seen the error of the ways and maybe even feels terrible for joining in with the Death Eaters. He was taught from an early age to hate and fear muggles and mudbloods and sadly had a crappy father that he looked up to.

I see a lot of similarities between my Beast--another spoiled rich kid--and Draco. Both grow up in societies where racism is tolerated, even expected, yet they come out on the other side. However, can people really change? Food for thought.

I'm a firm believer that people can change for the better, but it has to come from within. I was very careful in showing that Jesse/Beast changed on his own. He saw the error of his ways and what he needed to do to fix his situation. Perhaps Draco did as well.

Anyways, I'm just afraid people will think I took this terrible guy and made him into Prince Charming.

Harry Potter/Gone with the Wind reference for your viewing pleasure.

 

Where do I go from here?

So I know I have to do tons and tons of editing on Belle and the Beast so that should keep me occupied for awhile. However, I also want to work on another story. I just don't know which one?

I have an idea on a retelling of The Little Mermaid that's fully fleshed out. I just don't get excited about it like I was about Belle and the Beast. I've heard the time period I want to sell it in--Civil War/Victorian--isn't selling well which makes me really sad. (I would have thought that would be selling like hot cakes because it's the 150 anniversary). Anywho, I also have an idea on a retelling of the famous Legend of Sleepy Hollow. But it's just a faint sketch.

*Sigh* I'm rather unsure of what to do next. I really wanted to take advantage of the week I have off in July and write at the beach.

Any thoughts or helpful advice?

Up on AW

Okay, so I posted the first scene up on AW under Young Adult SYW. Maybe someone will take a look at it. :D Happy writing to all.