writing thoughts

[theyellowhobbit]

I went to Pennumbra tonight, and we workshopped 2 really good stories. They said that I should write something. Of course, we only read sci-fi and fantasy, and my story clearly is neither of those. And I'm spending the month working on it. Steve said that I should turn my story into a sci-fi, but I couldn't do that without ruining it. It would offend Orthodox people if I wrote how G-d was really an alien satellite running the world, and I would annoy sci-fi readers with my over-religiousness. And it no longer would be a true story, or even a mostly true story. It's a much better idea to write 2 separate pieces.

So I thought I would put my BT story on the back-burner, but then I opened it up, and started writing more. I was actually in a good place, and now I'm up to over 2400 words. Granted, that includes the beginning of an epilogue [I came up with an idea that I really wanted to write down] and is still below quota, but I think I'm doing well. Though I might have arrived at one of those points-where-I-don't-want-to-write in the plot. It isn't writer's block, because I could easily skip it and write the next scene that's writeable. Since it's a true story, I don't have to worry about messing up the plot. But I also feel guilty when I do things like that. It would be one thing if I were jtersesk and had never experienced certain things [like a Saturday morning service]. But I've experienced everything in this story, for the most part.

Part of me wants to fictionalize it, to put in a romantic interest that ends up being my/fictional Rachel's bashert. But I think that would be selling out a bit. The point is to be real. G-d doesn't make things work out right away. If He did, I'd have nothing to write about. And I want people who don't have perfect faith to be able to relate to this. I personally don't always relate to the idea of prayer changing one's fate. G-d does whatever He wants, and He knows whether or not we will pray, and has already planned for it. There are people who become frum and don't have everything work out perfectly for them. I want to write for them, so they know they aren't the only ones who don't have what they want/need but still believe in Hashem.

Wow. I really do want to write this. But I need sleep. Or maybe I should eat because dinner consisted of a glass of water 5 hours ago and a cough drop 30 minutes ago.

Comments

[prezzey.livejournal.com]

I'm not doing Nanowrimo because I should be writing a research paper instead O.O;!! but I am writing a SF novelette which features an Orthodox Jewish character.

I'll post more about it in my journal, I think.

[sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com]

since when was work an excuse not to procrastinate? NaNoWriMo is in november because everyone has work then. They could have easily chosen june, which would be nice and convenient. But no, they chose november.

I still haven't started my Jewish studies midterm

[jtersesk.livejournal.com]

Wait. You're not jtersesk? :-p

[sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com]

am I? I'm having an identity crisis. help!

you know what's sad? no one has told me that they want to read my novel yet.

[jtersesk.livejournal.com]

Is that a hint?

I do wanna read it, when you've got something to show off. :)

[tobeginagain.livejournal.com]

Can nonfiction be considered a novel?

[sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com]

for NaNo or for Pennumbra?

NaNo doesn't specifically need to be a novel- I think it can be non-fiction as well. I'm also writing it like a novel, and since I'm changing some things, it actually could be called a novel. Like "black becomes rainbow" or any of those other ba'al teshuva stories.

Pennumbra only workshops science-fiction and fantasy. My story is neither.