The Guys in the Attic…

For anyone who is curious, you can go to my other blog Murder She Writes and read my description of the guys in the attic of my mind. In short, they are a group of men who help me figure out characterization and plotting.

The problem with these guys is that they are MEN, which means that they don't always communicate as well as I'd like.

Here's our latest conversation about a project I'm working on.

Guys: "Hey, what's taking so long with those chapters you're working on?"

Me: "Well…umm…you know, it has to be good. Better than good."

Guys: Sighing, "Just do it."

Me. "It's not that easy!"

Guys: "Are the characters talking to you? You whined that they wouldn't talk to you, and we fixed that. Go write."

Me, grumbling; "Now the characters won't shut up!"

Guys, "Huh? Not you are bitc…uh…whining that they talk too much? What's up with that?" The guys all look at one another, shrug their big shoulders and say, "Women."

Me, squirming now. "It's just that, umm, they keep throwing things at me, I'm having trouble sorting it all out, organizing it to make the right impact. They are so real in my head, I have to get it down right on paper."

Guys, "Cut the crap. What's the real deal here?"

Me, knowing it's time to confess the truth. "I want the readers to love them as much as I do. Especially the hero. I want them to…"

Guys, rudely, "Not gonna happen."

Me, mouth hanging open. "But…"

Guys, "Your job is to make the characters real and tell their story. If you do it right, not everyone is going to love them. Don't be a coward. Got that?"

"Yes." I stomp off wondering if it's time to clean out the attic.