A Snippet

           I don't have much today. I've been writing though today. A lot. I don't know why I say a lot, since I dislike using that word. A lot is used far too often and doesn't have much meaning in it. But anyhow, here's a bit of what I wrote. Edited, of course.

           He could see and hear everything. The flicker of the fire. The people's screams. The tree branches, the rain, and the wind slapped him in the face. But the screams and the crackle of fire were muffled. And the rain and wind; he didn't feel it. He just felt cold, like. . .

           Like he was stuck inside himself.

The Villain and the Girl and the Romance-Driven Good

           I'm sorry about yesterday's odd post. You see I had-

lost my mind. Ha. I lost my mind.
 You haven't seen it, have you?
 My missing piece,
my primary memory circuit?

 -BEN, Treasure Planet

           I'm sorry. It happens often unfortunately. I try not to let it show (yeah, right).

           But today I watched Megamind with my family. I love that show; it's hilarious!

      You certainly are a villain, but not a supervillain.

What's the difference?\

*cue the music*

Presentation!

-Megamind

           The evil overlord said something though. The bad guy never gets the girl. And now that I think about, he's right. I don't think I've come across a fictitious story where the bad guy gets the girl. Now if I dig deeper I might find some insignificant incident. But it's just not popular. Perhaps it's too much of a damper for a happy ending.

           I'm not sure why. Often times though, it seems that the girl is on the good side. Not necessary on the good guy's side exactly (or at least at first). But the girl always seems to applaud and encourage good in general. Like the girl stands for good in a way, like a symbol almost. (unless you're reading fantasy, then she can be either way: light and all good things or manipulating and perpetually wicked)

           With the girl always wanting good to win out, it helps drive the good guy to continue being good when things get tough. If she hadn't desired good in general to prevail, would the good guy remain good? Are there any stories that take a chance on that question? Perhaps. But I can't think of any at the moment.

           One day I want to write a story where the bad guy gets the girl. Or where the bad girl gets the guy, whatever. A story where good isn't romantically driven. 

Why do writers terroize their characters?

           Really, is it a good thing? To raise up  a character like he's your own kin and then, let major havoc loose in his life? And the only thing you do is think up ways to make his life even worse. It can't be healthy psychologically. Can it?

           But who cares about psychology, this is writing. This is stories. And-
                                                              Story is conflict.  
      

           Something must be at odds with something else. Whether it's your protagonist against outside forces (like another person/s or the elements) or your protagonist pitted against his inner self. Stories with both kinds of conflict? The best! 

           If everything is all fine and dandy- well, who wants to read about that? Readers will complain that nothing is happening in the book. Not saying that there can't be "perfect" moments in your story. A good writer will set up that scene where everything is bliss, and then take the protagonist spiraling down back to earth where we all have troubles.

           Yes, bad things happen to everyone. It's a realistic thing. So if you want to have a realistic story, then bad things must happen to your characters. Sorry to you characters out there.

           If your character's supposed to be heroic, a hero can't go without a few troubles  triumph, or else he doesn't seem very heroic, right? If he's supposed to be virtuous, his virtue must be tested.

           Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much listened to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway.

                                                                                         - The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien 

    

  

            So it's okay. Maybe we are a little weird. By other people's standards. But it's a necessary part of writing. So feel bad, yes. To stay human. But story trumps all. So tell Carlleta Lynn O'Casey that her troubles are all for the greater good of the story.