Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Feeling Fabulous?

During discussion of what makes a good thesis, a teacher once said, "You're thesis should make you think, 'Wow, that's interesting. I want to think more about that.' You don't have to think, 'Wow, that's possibly the best idea I've ever had,' -- though that'd be good -- but you should certainly think you've hit upon something great."

That made me think of the Chaucer in A Knight's Tale. During one of the scenes, he's introducing William (the MC) to a crowd and gives one of his characteristically amazing speeches, and when the crowd erupts in applause, he cries, "God, I'm good."

(About 4:10 to 4:42, if you want to watch. Had to put up the video. Paul Bettany is that good.)



I think we all know that writing is not like that all the time. We often enough look at the a hundred words (you, you know, ten thousand words) and say, "What in the name of ice cream was I thinking? This is ridiculous?" Then the delete key becomes your best friend.

But, every now and then, we write something and think, "Okay, that was fabulous."

A while ago, my friend read the line in The Thief Book,"Charlotte could smell him from where she stood several paces off. 'Would it kill him to bathe?' she wondered. Flavian, it seemed, thought it would," and she laughed aloud. That made my day. I got to think, "Yes, I'm good. That's what I do this for."

I think that's what we all do this for. We sweat and stress and cry over wording, characterization, story, and all the first. We work our hardest, all for that moment when everything comes together and it works. And, maybe, for once, we get to think, "God, I'm good."

How you thought that lately, in writing or in life? What elicited the emotion?

7 comments:

  1. I have a few "God, I'm good lines" in my latest WIP. So yay for that.

    I LOVED A Knights Tale.:)

    Happy writing.

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  2. I recently had a serial short story accepted for publication. It was a real 'God, I'm good' moment because I sent them my first draft (OK, very polished first draft) thinking they'd get back to me with changes, but instead they went with it as is!

    And the line from The Thief Book IS good!

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  3. First, Knights Tale is one of my all-time favorites. I could watch it every week. BTW...have you ever watched it all the way through the credits? There is a small scene at the end that is Hilarious!!

    Second, I find more enjoyment when people who read my work point out those great lines to me. It's usually the ones I don't give a second thought to.

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  4. A few weeks ago a reader of Uncut Diamonds said to me, "I loved it. I read it in two days."

    Another one said, "I can really identify with what Marcie & Shawn are going through. My husband's hours got cut to 20 hours, and I'm trying to be like Marcie. Do you have a recipe for those crackers Marcie makes?"

    Stuff like that is what keeps me going.

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  5. I have had a few of those 'God I'm good' recently. I found a beta reader, finally, who just loves what I'm doing and it's so nice to hear. I've also had many lovely compliments on the blogosphere about things I jsut thought were so so. It's nice to know I can be brilliant every once in awhile.

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  6. I love those moments, especially when working on the Final Draft. I find the moments increase exponentially as I move away from the first draft. Those are awful!

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  7. KAH -- Thanks. Happy writing to you too.

    Jenna -- Congratulations. That's fabulous. I'm happy for you. And thanks.

    DL -- Woah, I did not know there is a scene after the credits! I am totally going to have to check that out. Thanks for telling me.

    Karen -- That's great.

    Piedmont -- I'm glad you've found a beta you get along with. That's got to be helpful. Brilliant-feeling moments rock.

    Stephanie -- Oh, first drafts are never perfect. But getting better, feeling a little more brilliant as you progress, that's certainly awesome.

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