Writing myself into a corner

Disa · Aug 10, 2008

I'm working on a short story(approx 1,500 words) which is loosely based on a real life situation.

The beginning is a phone call where the main character essentially tells the caller(someone she knows) to get lost. This is all good and well except now that the MC is thoroughly pleased with writing off the caller(because she's oh so strong and independant)- there's no more story.

So, in order to remove myself from this picture and make the story continue, I guess I have to find redeeming qualities in the caller and a reason for the MC to let him back into her life? I guess he(the caller) needs to persist a little, even though she's essentially told him to buzz off?

Is this going no where? Maybe I should just scrap it? I was hoping that writing this all down would help me gain additional perspective, but I'm at a loss.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Disa

Maryn · Aug 10, 2008

Disa, this is a great illustration of why many writers like to have the whole idea thought out before we begin. Of course, some of us (me) learned it only after writing ourselves into numerous corners, wasting thousands and thousands of words and who knows how much time and effort.

Can your character, having kissed off the caller to her satisfaction, uncover new things about him, his reasons for past behaviors, and such in the course of what she does next? That, of course, is the biggie--what does she do next, and why?

Even if you can't find a way to make this become a short story, writing about your experiences can be really cathartic, and that's worth something.

Maryn, hoping this helped a little

alleycat · Aug 10, 2008

Well, you can have a complete story in the time frame of the call. You could have it so that the MC isn't sure until the end whether she wants the call to "get lost".

By the way, I certainly had a caller at lunchtime that I wanted to get lost. I couldn't tell her that though because she's the wife of a cousin. An inheritance dispute within the family. Oh, what fun.

Bufty · Aug 10, 2008

Just a thought -what if the caller had left a message but the MC didn't realise that or listen to the message till after she'd told the caller to PO and hung up?

emeraldcite · Aug 10, 2008

Ninjas.

When you write yourself into a corner, drop a few ninjas into the mix. The character will have to get themselves out somehow.

Then, go back and take out the ninja and put in something else. The ninja is just a metaphor for a change in direction.

Maybe the MC needs to call that person back. A sudden realization. Or a ninja jumps through the window, sword drawn, and death in his eyes...

andrewhollinger · Aug 10, 2008

And just because she is "Oh so strong!" during the call doesn't mean she's inhuman. She is allowed to doubt her actions the moment the phone clicks dead. Otherwise, there would be many fewer relationships in the world... ;-)

Disa · Aug 10, 2008

Hey thanks everyone! These are all great responses and suggestions! I think I can bring it to life..I think. I had to put it down, do an exercise tape, have a shower, etc then come back to it. I really appreciate all the help! Really!

Disa

Susan Lanigan · Aug 11, 2008

Didn't Raymond Carver have a similar experience, where he wrote a short story based on his experience of taking a call in the middle of the night from a black man (well he sounded black) asking for a Mr Nelson?

Phot's Moll · Aug 11, 2008

If the story ends when she's told him to get lost, then that's fine. You just need to start it before she's told him that and show why she said it and why that's a good result for her.

Layla Nahar · Aug 15, 2008

Does the person who hung up *have* any redeeming qualities? Why did she hang up? Is there something she's scared of, for example, deep down inside, that pushes her to be oh so strong and independent? Do people mock her for this quality? Are they put off by it?

& if the main character is you, you are going to have to love yourself (at least as long as you are writing the story!), or it will be hard to find the redeeming qualities.

bon laboro!

Disa · Aug 15, 2008

Thanks for the additional responses.

Most of the story is totally changed from what really occurred, it was just inspired by this particular phone call and there's a thread of truth running through the conversation. I did have a problem separating my feelings about what happened from the feelings of the character and letting her make different decisions than I would. Luckily, she's had an intervention and she may be able to give her caller another shot. I, on the other hand, will not

Thanks again!

Writing myself into a corner

Disa

Maryn

I Tried

alleycat

Still around

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

emeraldcite

Art is Resistance

andrewhollinger

practical experience, FTW

Disa

Susan Lanigan

Phot's Moll

Layla Nahar

Seashell Seller

Disa