Ah, September. Kids are back to school. Life is crazy (in a different way). We finished the Summer with the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Friday night (RIP Tim Curry), my daughter's end-of-season soccer team party on Saturday, and the Ottawa Pride Parade on Sunday. It was a lot of fun but exhausting.
Apparently it's the 15th Anniversary of the Insecure Writer's Support Group! Congratulations to Alex and everyone who made this happen and kept it going over the years. I've been a member for 12 years, so for most of its existence, and it has given me a great base from my online writing community. I've met author friends, discovered some great books, and always appreciated the cheering section. Not to mention I've been featured in three of their anthologies!
So congratulations again, and here's to the next fifteen years!
September Question - Do you have a favorite character archetype you tend to gravitate toward in your writing?
I love hapless, awkward losers and oddballs who don't want to be heroes, and would just as likely run from danger as not. And even if they are "brave," their courage stems from some hopelessly misplaced delusion, rather than some sort of skill or ability. Rincewind from the Discworld books is a perfect archetype of this. The kids from IT. Shaggy and Scooby Doo.
Most of the main characters in Hell Comes to Hogtown and the Gale Harbour books fit into this mold. So does Gussy Saint, from a couple of stories I've published (including Gussy Saint and the "Case of the Missing Co-Ed" from the IWSG anthology, TICK TOCK: A Stitch in Crime). Actually I've been meaning to write another Gussy Saint story for awhile. would way rather read about a clumsy doofus stumbling to victory (or not) than a boring, skilled hero overcoming adversity.
Side Note: Gale Harbour Book 1: Psycho Hose Beast From Outer Space, is available FREE today on Amazon. If you somehow still haven't picked it up in one of the many promotions, check it out now!
Hope your end of summer is going well!
Hugs & Kisses,
-CDGK
The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Writers post their thoughts on their blogs, talking about their doubts and the fears they have conquered. It's a chance for writers to commiserate and offer a word of encouragement to each other. Check out the group at http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com
I love The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It sounds like you had a busy end of summer. I loved your pictures.
ReplyDeleteI love odd-ball protagonists. =)
ReplyDeleteYou know, as homeschoolers, I don't quite feel like celebrating this season the way you do. Strangely enough. LOL!
That is always an interesting archetype. We want to be a hero when we're a kid but then we realize sometime in life that we're just an 'Awkward Loser'.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, these are the characters and stories that you don't forget.
It might take me a bit to think about how long IWSG has been going because I've only been writing a little longer than that so that's about how long I've been going!
ReplyDeleteThe pride parade looks fun. I would probably need a nap after. Social events wear me out. LOL
The oddball characters are the best. They make for great characters most of us can relate to. You've had a busy summer!
ReplyDeleteI’m finally here! Using Safari as my browser.
ReplyDeleteYou get extra points for listing Shaggy and Scooby.
Oh, darn it! I totally forgot about the 15th anniversary. Should have mentioned that. Twelve years is a big accomplishment too.
ReplyDeleteWe're definitely likeminded when it comes to our archetypes. Give me a Scooby over a Fred any day.
There was a special showing of Rocky Horror near me, to honor Tim Curry. My schedule didn't work out, but I really wanted to go.
ReplyDeleteThose oddball characters are super fun. They're more relatable, too. In a way, we're all oddballs clumsily stumbling our way to victory (or not).
I totally understand the time crunch that comes with this season! It seems like there's always something coming up with school that needs attending. It gets exhausting!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great set of ways to see summer out! I was in our local Pride parade this year, and it was amazing (representing 50501). Hapless heroes are always fun.
ReplyDeleteYour end-of-summer weekend would about kill me! But I've had a glorious end of summer in the mountains.
ReplyDelete