Melani Blazer

I was at work this morning and having a conversation about a scene in a TV show that really struck a chord with me. I’m a sucker for romance, and a man who acts unashamedly interested without being pushy is well, HOT. Just talking about the scene and how I reacted to it made me way too eager to get my hand on my keyboard and pound out a sensual scene.

I’m rarely motivated like that to write hot sex. Those scenes are usually more difficult, and I find myself infusing them with something fun or distracting. Write a paragraph, play a game of solitaire, write a paragraph, check email. But to write the sexual tension that leads up to the act grabs my full attention and make me wish it would never end.

Isn’t it sad the book I’m working on has little room for me to use this motivation? Hrmph.

I have, however, done a little reading (non romance) and the heroine is a kick-butt (literally), savvy characters–one that DOES motivate me with the story I’m working on. I’ve gotten rather excited when I see how other authors can give their heroines an edge, but don’t make them too….superheroesque. I don’t try to copy what they do, but I get a feel for traits in my character that can be shown to deliver that message.

I’m reminded by the advice given to me:

Don’t be nice. Be mean. Put your characters in the most horrid, evilest situation and make them dig deep within themselves to find a solution.

I’ve written and deleted the same 3-4 pages several times over the last few days in trying to find a scenerio that will do this, but also work with the plot. (I don’t need to add more characters or anything, so I’m really digging deep within MYself to find the target. Anyone ever say writing was easy? If so, they surely didn’t mean ALL the time. But I struggle, it makes me feel…heroic that I accomplished what I wanted. In itself, it’s also a motivational tool to make me press on rather than just saying, oh, this book is crap, let me work on another easier one.
(insert maniacal laughter here).

And speaking of motivation, I had a dream last night that gave me a little insight on a scene I’ll write in the future. Off to jot down notes!