Thoughts for the day: #1, On inconstancy.

[randomness]

Just because what she said then she now contradicts completely doesn't mean she was any less sincere then, or believes in what she says or does now any less.

Sometimes, that's hard. But it isn't any less true.

Comments

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

You know, this is one of the things that makes writing realistic characters so damned hard.

It is! I mean, I never thought of it in that context, but it must be a raging pain.

Also, because people expect standards of consistency from others--real or fictional--that they'd never themselves be able to match, it's a hard lesson to learn. I see a lot of finger pointing and anger, both in myself and others, because it's easier to get upset than to realize that reality isn't particularly neat or orderly.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

It is! I mean, I never thought of it in that context, but it must be a raging pain.

It is! 'cause people will run hot and cold at a moment's notice in real life, and sometimes you do have to explain your change in behavior, but you pretty much *always* have to explain it in fiction (see above!) And writing in a dramatic change of behavior or opinion that's based in emotion rather than intellect can be awkward, because you don't want to interrupt the flow of the story, but you're also largely obliged to be sure the reader understands what's really going on there. It's not one of my strengths as a writer (motivation? who needs motivation? it happens because I SAID SO!), but I'm learning.

Also, because people expect standards of consistency from others--real or fictional--that they'd never themselves be able to match, it's a hard lesson to learn. I see a lot of finger pointing and anger, both in myself and others, because it's easier to get upset than to realize that reality isn't particularly neat or orderly.

Yeah. That's actually one of my big beefs with many, many romance novels: at *least* 50% and frequently 90% of the problems in many romances could be cleared up if the two main characters would actually *talk* to one another. And then you'd have a short story instead of a novel, but that's a different problem. :)

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

And then you'd have a short story instead of a novel, but that's a different problem.

Or, they might have the conversation, but the talk would spawn different, more subtle misunderstandings or frustrations, and then you'd have a different novel, probably sending you right out of the romance genre, into...um...there's probably a genre known for this but I can't name it offhand. :)

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

"Fiction". :)

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

*snicker*

[bloodstones.livejournal.com]

I don't think fewer romance novels in the world is a problem. I have to admit the frustration with characters for creating problems that could easily be solved if they would just talk to each other and tell the truth is what makes me unable to like greek trajedy. I just want to sit them all in a room and make them say what's really going on. Strangely, that's why my father caN't stand the play Noises Off (which I like a lot) because he just wants to open all the doors. (which only makes sense if you know the play, but it's really funny if you do)

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

*laugh*! I do know the play, and I never thought of it that way. *laugh*! I'm with you, though, not your father. *laugh*!

[nafe.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I'm going here, but whatever. Buffy actually had a lot of this going on, and the non-communication device drove a great deal of the story. Giles witholding from Buffy, Willow to scared to tell Xander something, Buffy bottling up everything she possibly could cause she likes to sulk, etc etc ad inifinitum.

I nearly cheered in the last season when Faith, having just finished her creepy encounter with the First in the guise of The Mayor, was asked by bald-principal guy if something was up, and she started to do the standard "no everything is fine, i'm just gonna let this encounter fester and eat at me" thing, but stopped, and actually talked about it w/bald prinicipal guy. Thus averting some crazy disaster. It was a small moment, but so telling about how thoroughly the show had relied on it's characters being so distant from one another most of the time. (And it confirmed my love for Faith as my favorite character.)

Ok, sorry about that, I'm done now.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

That's one of the things that drove me nuts about Buffy. Not necessarily the fact that they didn't talk to each other, because okay, people are dumb, they do that all the time. But that the NEVER LEARNED FROM IT. The final season in particular annoyed me with that aspect. :)