by Sin | September 8th, 2010
“In Fate’s Hands” The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (Don’t You Fake This, 2006)
I never really put much thought into what goes into making it through a day. I spent a lot of mornings in a mindless routine maintained to get me through the motions until I’m awake. This does include driving to work. For a person who lives on two hours of sleep a night, my mindless routine is what gets me going and keeps one foot in front of another until I wake up enough to bite someone’s head off at work. But routine doesn’t write in for disasters or little nuisances that pop up unexpectedly. The blown out tire on a two lane road with no shoulders. The down phone lines. The Internet connection that is no longer functioning. The brand new sparkly computer systems that can’t seem to operate with the damned network you built. The Admin password that doesn’t seem to work. The patient who feels they can be 30 minutes late and are still entitled to take another patient’s spot because it’s not their fault. A clearinghouse that can’t seem to make your format work. The DR who sees it’s sunny out and wants to play golf at lunch but needs to do his charts. None of these little disasters are built into a routine, yet as it springs up you take care of it. This is built into your character. You’re programmed to head off disaster as it raises it’s ugly head.
Now, not all characters are built to handle multitasking situations that arise out of routine. Some characters abhor routine. Each day is a different day filled with something that’s not on a list, that’s not a usual task to be taken care of and is stimulating to the character. These characters find themselves in more trouble than they can handle because they weren’t looking for it. It’s just the opposite. Trouble was out looking for them. These characters can look at this misfortune in two different ways. The character can either behave lackadaisical and pretend it’s not happening. Or the character might think bad stuff always happens to them and Karma is out to get them. Either way, coping with the disaster is merely another adventure they absorb themselves in. It doesn’t really get solved. The disaster somehow becomes a part of their daily life.
Then you have the characters who believe their shit don’t stink. There is nothing they can’t control. Nothing bad could ever happen to them. And why would it? Obviously, life is exactly what they’ve made it. When disaster strikes (what am I saying, disaster NEVER strikes these sort of characters! <snicker snort>) the disaster is quickly assessed and dealt with by pawning it off on someone else. But if you never deal with your own disasters as they come up and you let them stock pile in the corner, what do you think will happen? Exactly. The damned pile falls over on top of you and all hell breaks loose.
While I may not think about the never ending pile of stuff that ends up on top of me, I sure as hell give it thought when writing up my story. If only one bad thing is happening to your main character, they are getting off too easy. I can’t remember the last time only one situation cropped up on me during the day. Try fifty. In one day. Why should my characters get off easier than me? No way. Don’t think while my character is being blackmailed by one bad guy, she’s not going to get blackmailed by the hero. And not to mention she’s got a stalker and an “accidental” sister who shows up at her office 8 months pregnant and no where to live. And this all happens in one day. Can you imagine waking up to that day? Hell no. But that’s why I’m writing it and not waking up to it.
The point is to make your characters live to their breaking point and push them one step past it. If you can’t feel the character’s frustration and disbelief at the day they are having, then maybe you need to have their roof collapse in on top of them. Or if you’re Janet Evanovich, bring a monkey into it. Whatever suits your fancy. I’m an equal opportunity chaos distributor.
Now, what chaos do you like to distribute onto your characters? What pushes you past your breaking point? Have you read any books lately where the disasters seemed to get the best of the character?
AWWWHHHH! Marn! Happy birthday you wonderful awesome woman! I hope the hubs did something freaking fantastical for you. Like watched the kiddos so you could take a nice long wonderful soak in the tub and a crying free nap.
Ah, Marn! Sorry to hear about the mall crisis. They can do that to a lot of people… I take Last Chance into malls only in the early morning and we slip into the stores we want and then slip out. Or she’ll do the panic thing.
And congrats on the b-day! Hope the trip to the mall wasn’t the birthday treat!
Oohhh Happy birthday, Marn!
Happy Birthday, Marn.
I always advocate celebrating a Birthday Month, because one day isn’t enough. (It will be when my birthday becomes a national holiday. LOL)
There was a Pirate Birthday and we didn’t throw a party? WTF is up with that? You know what this means, right? More rum and cake, damnit! All around!
Happy Birthday, Marn!!!
And cake soaked in rum.
Oh no. I had flaming babaloo once. Horrible! But I will take one of those drinks that comes with a Twinkee.
But I will take one of those drinks that comes with a Twinkee.
Never heard of that. What do they call it … a Drwinkee?
Sounds like something that would be served in a sippeee-cup. Perfect for a stressed out mom!
Might as well deep fry it too. That seems to be all the rage. LOL I saw a deep-fried Margarita listed somewhere and can’t figure out you’re supposed to eat and/or drink it!
Deep fried margarita? Does that mean it includes the worm?
Julie! Did you miss the double stuffed flaming twinkie bar snack? It goes with the Captain’s Cocoa Puff…or whatever you want it to go with.
I’ll get a plate out right away!
A deep fried margarita stymies me, I admit.
Ewwww. No worms.
I saw a “deep fried beer” one too. You’d think they’d run out of things to deepfry, but they don’t. True inspiration to writers right there. *LOL*
LOL, never give up no matter if you run out of things to deep fry?
But what part do they deep fry? I mean, I’m no cook or anything, but I can’t figure out how you deep fry a liquid! Do you deep fry it in the glass? LOL
Awh, thanks guys!
Extra rum and cake for everyone!
It was, in fact, a lovely day. The whole house is invested with some random late summer cold (WTF) so I spent the day patting and walking the youngest, wiping the oldest’s nose, and generally trying to sanitize everything everyone touched.
We vetoed a dinner out in favor of Chipolte (YUMMMMMM) and they sang me happy birthday over my favorite cake. The oldest blew out the candles, further infecting us all, but looked pretty darn pleased that he got them out in one huff.
I felt very blessed.
I’m going to make the hubby take me out for sushi this weekend.
Oh… the flaming twinkee drink. That sounds awesome right now.
Thanks , chance!
And here’s a toast to Inspiration.
Speaking of inspiration, HEY SIN tell me …
Jules is gonna make the best hired twit of all time. *wg*
Isn’t …
Chipotle…drool.
All this talk of twinkies has made me hungry…off to eat!
Jules, don’t worry. We’ll both make profit.
Love Chipotle!!
And my spell check kept telling me that Chipotle should be Chippendale.
LOL!
I’m with Donna, how the hell do you fry a liquid? Though I’ve never understood fried ice cream either. I think the people at Chi-Chi’s were on crack.
Chippendale. LOL!
Awh, Bo’sun, the fried ice cream…. YUMMM…. Man, I’m starving. I need to go eat something.
I just went to Chipotle the other day — LOVE it — plus there’s always leftovers so I can have it again. LOL
Although I wouldn’t mind if Chipotle had Chippendales too. . .
Okay, so I’ll order a deep-fried Margarita, BUT, hold the deep-fry. LOL
People at Chi-Chi’s were hitting the bong a little too hard in the research lab.
I want a margarita. Hold the mix, gimme the tequila bottle.
How about Taco Bell? It seems like they take whatever their last special item was, rewrap it in another tortilla, deep fry it, and then call it something else, like El Grande Gordita Chalupa Burrito. LOL
I want a margarita. Hold the mix, gimme the tequila bottle.
*squirts lime juice at Sin*
You don’t want to get scurvy, do you?
Donna. Always thinking of others!
Dear DRD,
You don’t want glass in your hair do you?
Sincerely,
Evil Twin
Less fillers. More meat.
El Grande Chippendale Horndogita Chalupa BoyToyurrito SupremeOh.
Dear Evil Twin,
You don’t want my foot in your. . .glass, do you?
Most sincerely yours,
DRD
Can I AlternaTwit & Name food?
LOL, Julie. I hope I can just order that with something like “I’ll have Hottie Meal #3 please”.
CuuuCuuuCat Fight! So sweet how those two dote upon each other.
I want what Julie said. Hold the lemon juice.
I see Taco bell stock rising … or something at TB rising . Hmm …
Note to self: Add stock annalist to resume.
Dear DRD,
*wg*
Sincerely,
Evil Twin
El Grande Chippendale Horndogita Chalupa BoyToyurrito. SupremeOhMyGuadalupe QuesoHeSoHot!
*squirts lime juice in Sin’s eyes to get rid of that wg she’s flashing around*
Julie, those are some awesome Happy Hottie Meals!
That’s okay. I put something real nice in your hammock for later.
I do hope the happy hottie meals come with their own hottie to play with.
Sin, you have a choice of a life-sized “action figure” or a smex toy.
I’m not choosing anything from you. You’ll try to trick me.
Of course-o they come with a QuesoHeSoHot!
Jules you are a genius.
Jules you are a genius.
Ooooh I’m somethin’, SIN. At least that’s what the DH says.
“Julie, you are really somethin’ …”
LOL
That’s when you pat him on the top of his head and say, “Yes. Yes I am.”
But gosh, Sin, its soooo Hard to pat him on the head when he is shaking it so vigorously in utter disbelief!
I’m surprised that he would ever be in disbelief. He knows you, right?
The Shell Shock wears off now & then.
Where’s my Happy Hottie Meal? I’ve been waiting for like an hour!
“Wait tuuhh minute here … Vigorous shaking ? Utter disbelief? Hard to pat? Holy Mole` do you guys just realize what happened?
I gave an example of what chaos do you like to distribute onto your characters . It feels so empowering to be Focused. Pertinent. Full of … of … myself! I wanna gold star & a Donna Dude Doll & my own Reality Show & a-uuuhhhh …”
*splash*
“…. uuhh a rope. And not the one with the noose on the end of it!”
“Where’s my Happy Hottie Meal? I’ve been waiting for like an hour!”
SIN took off with him. Its part of her “how do you like to distribute chaos onto your characters” distribution stategy.
I have a hunch that tossing me over board was part of her “how do you like to distribute chaos onto your characters” distribution stategy too.
*sigh*
HEY, See IF I’m ever Pertinent again!
Pirates … they’ll probable keep my gold star!
Maybe it’s because everyone likes when you are IMpertinent.
Donna, I think that you might be right.
And I suspect that they like it when I go Over Board too!
*note to self
1. more shamwows
2. dump the deep fat fryer
3. next hottie month, look for muy smexicans
Good Idea, Chance. I Like It.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9_n8jakvWU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9_n8jakvWU&ob=av2n
Ack! Try this one!
That Enrique. I like that.
Now both https work? WhatTheHeck! They didn’t before.
I blame CAPTCHA!