On writing a novel

 Three Deadbeats

(On writing a novel)

My characters, three of them

Show no appreciation, they do nothing to advance the plot

They have no suggestions about setting

They contribute nothing to dialogue, tension or

The dramatic arc, in short they are apathetic,

They lack lustre,

They lack Initiative.

I am writing a novel and these three deadbeats:

Ernest Masters, an environmentalist and activist,

Tizzy (Elizabeth Tan) a corporate Lumber heiress

And

Mark Penner a naive Primatologist/Anthropologist

All living in Borneo, I got them there.  I introduced them.

But…

They just sit and wait apparently doing absolutely nothing

Not a single original thought in their heads until

I the author sit down at the keyboard and give them an ounce of

Inspiration, some direction, like a parent taking off the training wheels.

Why is it always up to me to  plan their day, shape their destiny, plot their course in life, its as if I the writer have created them and they wait on me for every single word, helpless to act or react, to speak or hold a point of view, to have a relationship, or pick a tense. They don’t even check my grammar and spelling, the computer does that!

There is 50 000 words to go.

Well this book isn’t going to write itself, not with these three characters I have created…

Okay Izzy, you evil ittle deadbeat, you’re up…