Subscribe to JennSays
Pouring a rum and coke or two - or three. Lying back in bed, reminiscing about loves lost with a combination of sappy love songs and those empowering female anthems playing in the background while you occasionally belt out the tunes at the top of your lungs. Sounds depressing, right? Or perhaps more pathetic? That’s how I would summarize my last few evenings.
No. I didn’t recently go through a breakup. I’d need a new boyfriend first for that. Instead, I’m working.
I’ve been repeatedly forcing myself into my past - past boyfriends and the corresponding breakups, all for the good of a novel I’m working on.
The working title of the book isThree Weeks. Ironically, it’s a comedy.
The book deals with a character not terribly unlike myself - nearing 30, and progressively more tormented by the thought of dealing with that all-too-common stigma on single women over 30 (I don’t care what those “40 is the new 30″ folks are saying just to make themselves feel younger - it does still exist).
The novel is actually broken down into a series of 15 shorter stories (after the outlining, I’m expecting to drop a few - maybe 10 in the end), each detailing a past failed relationship. We’re not talking about long-term, serious beaus and we’re not talking about one-night stands. No. Jillian (the lead) is looking back on those more fleeting romances - realizing that most “went sour” in a revealing three-week period.
Whether the relationship ended after three weeks, or the three week mark was simply the point of no return, she realizes that’s her “magic number” - apparently all the staying power she has.
While progressing through the book she works to come to terms with her singledom while evaluating what she’s learned from those past relationships - what each of those three week periods (at least should have) taught her.
The structure of the book itself involves an introduction, and then a chapter for each relationship, broken down into five segments / scenes - how she met the guy, week one, week two, week three, and how the relationship ultimately ended. And of course we’ll have a closing section for the novel as a whole.
I’m currently outlining the novel (and I’m expecting to complete that by the end of this coming weekend - about a two-week outlining process). While I’m coming up with these relationship scenarios, I’m forcing myself to become Jillian by re-living my own past relationships in my mind - trying to recall the emotions most people would prefer to forget.
So for the sake of humour, I have to delve into the more depressing side of my past. I look at it this way - perhaps my exes will finally be good for something.
(Note: None of the male characters in the book are actually based on specific exes of my own - that would make for a far more boring story)
And now I’m off to ponder past boyfriends, good booze, and the lighter side of having your heart broken.
4 Responses
All Book Writing » Blog Archive » Getting Into the Head of Your Characters
16|Jul|2008[...] Boyfriends, Booze, and Broken Hearts [...]
latoya
19|Jul|2008LOL. Sounds like a great read so far. Reminds me a little of Sex and the City, but from Carrie’s point of view only. You’ve got me curious. What is it about this three weeks that makes these relationships go sour? How does she change it? Does she have one final relationship that lasts more than three weeks, perhaps forever (or at least until the end of the book)?
Jenn
21|Jul|2008I don’t know that it would be anything quite like Sex and the City - at least I hope not (I’m not a fan).
The three week point itself isn’t necessarily significant. It’s just something she’s realized while looking back, that she never realized while it was happening - essentially showing her own lack of “staying power.” It’s actually the point in most of my own relationships where either A) things end or B) something happens that changes the relationship which ultimately contributes to the end, which is why I chose it (and I liked the way it sounded over nearby options). It’s kind of the point where the rose-colored glasses come off I suppose.
I don’t like giving away too much plot-wise, because I always may change it, but I guess you could say the ending is “happy,” but not fairy tale-esque. No prince charming to run off and marry to pursue their happily ever after.
One of the men from the story does resurface though. The “happy” angle isn’t so much about the guy, but about her realization that she doesn’t need to “settle” just to not be single over 30 - basically that yeah, this guy she’s crazy about is back in her life, she’s thrilled, and it may very well be that he’s her “Mr. Right.” Then again, it may very well be that it’s just going to be another great three weeks, and she’s finally OK with that. More internal “happy” than external.
» Getting Into the Head of Your Characters : All Freelance Writing
28|Mar|2009[...] Boyfriends, Booze, and Broken Hearts Spread the Love: [...]
Leave a reply
search
Categories
Recent Posts
Archives
More From Jenn
Jenn Recommends