Progress
this guy’s named Hubert!
Another author on Romance Divas was having problems with her hero. Someone suggested calling him Hubert until he gave in and whispered his true name in her ear. Apparently the name didn’t get to him as much as giving him a hobby like woodworking. She finally learned his name was Ethan and he sailed.
Going through similar issues of my own, I adopted Hubert. (Stop giggling, Bria!) Anyway, perhaps to spite me, or maybe even Bria, 569 words later, Hubert he remains.
Oh, did you miss the important part there? 569 words! It has taken forever to start this story and I have a feeling it’s going to take forever to drag it out of me as well. That represents about 3 days worth of work on it.
I showed my basic plot outline to DH and told him what I really wanted out of his feedback was if he thought it was possible to do in my wordcount limit. Ok. So he laughed. Simplicity is obviously not how my brain works.
I’ve already used 7% of the allotted words on it already. I haven’t even finished the first scene yet. Eeek! I think part of why this one is so difficult is the known constraints on it. I should probably just ignore it and write it as it comes, but I find I’m being super picky about what I’m letting myself put down on the page.
I’m still shady on many of the details, but Hubert’s life is slowly unfolding. The real problem with the way I write is I like to have a good idea of where I’m going, but allow the characters to fill in a lot of the blanks and sort of find the journey as we go. Combine that with known restrictions and every word is like pulling teeth again.
Anyway, things will be quiet around here this weekend as we’re off to LA tomorrow so DH can give a speech at a convention and the kids and I are tagging along just to get out of town. We figured we could make better use of the pool and amenities than he would by himself. Dana Belfry and Sabrina Brayden are also going to come visit with me… yay!
We have no plans for Sunday yet, but we’ll play it by ear.
The thing is, you’re moving forward. Not everyone can move a story forward and continue to tighten as she goes!
Alright — Kaige asked for it — Hurbert (while not what I picture as a Hurbert) is not my type…. Leave him on the beach and throw a pair of loose-fit Levis on him -and maybe 😉
How about Grant?
As you saw today, I also realized another gap in my planning which means I’ll be doing a bit of drawing board study as I drive to LA this afternoon.
It’s all about knowing the what’s and the why’s sometimes. The first scene never felt like it was really going anywhere because I don’t know what the hero’s goal is in it. I know the father’s, but that’s not enough. Need more tension.
Yeah, the swim suit is a bit detracting, but yeah, Levis would be good, 501s right? 😉
uhm–so am I the only person who thought–Charles Atlas and , “what on earth is this guy doing in a speedo?” Hubert, lol…
LOLing at Hubert. Try Miles on for size. It’s a wussy name. I’m totally gonna use it for a butler or something. Heh.
You’re not too far off, Jodi. Apparently this guy was also on the cover of Health and Strength (a UK body building magazine) in 1951. The original picture was from a Welsh male choir’s archives.
I dunno, Winter, maybe his name is Miles Hubert? LOL Hey… they said they were looking for heroes with some insecurities too… *halo*
hey, I like Miles, but then I love the Vorkosigan series. For me, Miles brings up some hard-wired admiration. Maybe Hubert does the same for other people. Then again…I like the name Percival, so I might not be the best judge of names…although….Hubert? Bert. Huey. “H”, and “hubert”. You can have a lot of variations, and then again, you can have a real mean guy with attitude who says his name is, “Hubert. You got a problem with that?”
What happened to “My name is Hubert, but my friends call me Ambrose?” lol
Dang! Kaige! I forgot you guys were coming to LA last weekend. I’ve been so out of it lately…
Hubert? Hmmm. Well, as long as the character is beautiful inside (and outside, lol, that can’t hurt), a name can GROW on you quickly.