Dear Protagonist... http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744 robini Dear Arlie, I'm a little bit lost about what happens to you after the canal incident. What happens in the world of Priscilla, Dane and Rex when Kelly is gone? How does it change you? And what do your parents do? Does it change family life at all? I just don't know what do when someone drowns unexpectedly. Maybe you can reveal to me from the future what effect it has on everyone... Will you tell me what's going on, Arlie? I'd be grateful if you did. Love to you, Robin Sat, 19 Nov 2011 20:15:29 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_772421 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_772421 ConfusedShipper123 (Do you want fellow commenters to respond to your "letter" or would you like us to contribute our own? I was just wondering. I'm sorry that things seem to be quite confusing for you right now. A good old roleplayer buddy of mine once said that you should take some time to just "sit down to tea" with your characters...) Sat, 19 Nov 2011 20:28:12 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_772579 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_772579 Fiona W Dear Main Character (aka Author), Please pull your head out of your ass and get on with your life, or your story is going to be all backstory and internal commentary, which I am finding tedious to the max. Let's have some action here! For example, you could visit that so-called best friend of yours, who stopped hanging out with you in a soul-cutting fashion but never explained why. Do a <strong>Patrick Bateman</strong> on him: he got rich and super-status-conscious in the 1980s, so he'll appreciate the humor of it—right before his head is cleaved in two by your shiny ax blade! Or visit your father's grave on a dark and stormy night, and drag his egotistical bones up to the surface. He is way too comfortable down there, don't you think? I would love a dimly illuminated scene where you pound his remains into splintered fragments with a sledgehammer, then suck on his powdery marrow and swallow some of it, and bellow up to the lightning-lit clouds your barbarous glee in the fact that you have outlived him, that he will no longer be a part of you, that he can no longer give you s--t over your every instantiation! Except if you've swallowed...oh, never mind...<strong>you</strong> work out the metaphorical details. The point is, get <strong>up</strong> from your goddamn leather armchair, get <strong>off</strong> of your goddamn futon, and DO SOMETHING! Your Very Putative Reader Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:03:09 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_773689 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_773689 Fiona W P.S. Stop using adverbs,You know, all those words that end in the sailing term, "lee." I don't want any more leeward commentary from you: I want to see some windward butchery already! Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:13:58 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_773791 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_773791 robini Ha! Beautiful! Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:18:17 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_773837 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_773837 robini Dear Arlie, Why can't you understand why your mother is always asking you about your bowel movements? It really doesn't have to that upsetting. She does it every day. You should be used to it by now. You might be overreacting about this little thing and we don't need to spend so much time on it. (I know. I KNOW. That's your point...) I'm sure you'll figure out how to get her to stop eventually. I have confidence in you. Love, Robin Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:32:18 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_776445 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_776445 unicornsong Dear Olivia, You're telling this story in a very disjointed manner and I'm not really sure if you're paying attention to what is the most important. I know that childhood is often a confusing time and you might not remember everything accurately, but I'm not sure anyone understands why you hate your mother so much or why you worship your father. Could you also please stop focusing on tiny little details like the color of your lemon marmalade and instead move the story along? You're only twelve and we have thirteen more years to get through. So in summary: Don't avoid the painful. No one cares about the Coronation of Emperor Napolean by David. Thanks. Love, Me Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:53:09 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_779644 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_779644 ConfusedShipper123 Dear Damir, I'm really sorry I made your life suck. But honestly, would you mind being a little less... depressing? And your constant jumping from flashback to flashback that don't seem to have a lot to do with each other is going to give me a lot of explaining to do... mind telling me WHY you're thinking of that sometimes? Oh. And you don't NEED the girlfriend. You really don't. In fact, you might just be heading a million miles an hour in the absolute wrong direction with her. Let the girl live her life, kid. You have more to accomplish with yours... I know you have a whole bunch of existential crises and all that, but I think it's about time we figured something out here. Also. I apologize in advance for the epiloge and last chapters coming up. If you change plans, I'm willing to go with it. Thanks, dude. I appreciate it. Sincerely, Writer. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:35:08 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_780008 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_780008 mrawrites Dear Johnny, Yes, you are a horrible, horrible person. You know it, and you know exactly how it happened. So stop going to random people like that little German newspaper boy or the man on the train and telling the life story of you good friend Billy, because everybody knows that you're just talking about yourself. You say that you recognize that you're a bad person and are trying to reconcile, but you're not. All you do is describe "Billy"- yourself- with really great complements and verify "his"- your- actions. Justifying being a terrible person is not redeeming yourself for being a terrible person. So how about you just stop complaining and do some real soul-searching, and come back into my story when you're all better, okay? Okay. Thanks, mrawrites. (In case you couldn't tell, my MC kind of pisses me off.) Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:54:06 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_784492 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_784492 robini Dear Arlie, WTF??? Is your perspective the only one that matters? How do you have any idea what anyone else is doing if you don't pay attention to what anyone else is doing or why they do it? You can't just wander around thinking no one makes sense if, in your anxiety and your sense of considering every possible perspective, you actually SKIP OVER the true POVs of those around you. Are you truly that disconnected from everyone, that you consider 15 POVs--none of which are close to your secondary and tertiary characters? How on earth can that be????? I love you, Arlie--but really... Robin Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:02:18 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_801715 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_801715 Inachis Dear Glenn and Clarice, Please stop comparing your lives to a game of chess. I'm getting sick of explaining how it works out over and over again. And specifically to Glenn, will you stop being such an alcoholic? And will you, Clarice, stop being so soft hearted and yet constantly trying to act tough? Yours desperately, Shermine Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:19:04 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_804475 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_804475 alexandravictorious Dear Zitkala, Your life is about to become hell. Again. Sorry about that. Love, the writer PS. Please stop describing the scenery so much. It's getting in the way of letting the plot happen. PPS. It's okay to get upset, really upset. Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:40:28 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_812321 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_812321 TheHorsemanshipQueen. Dear Cadence, You have been so very kind to me the last nine months, whispering the plot into my ear, showing me how it's going to unfold, then fixing everything up perfectly so that there were no plot holes, nothing was meaningless, and there was plenty to write about. Really, it was fantastic. You even changed the narrative style twice (admittedly both during NaNo) and it worked so much better. In the nine months that you've been whispering the plot in my ear, you've changed all the details, all the locations, all the characters. It was all for the better, and I'm grateful for it. But... yes, there's a but... But, in all of the times you changed the story, you insisted that the end would never change, that it would always be the same. So did you really have to change how it ended yesterday? After I'd written all of the ending scenes already? I will grudgingly admit that this ending is just as good, or possibly a little better than, the original ended. However, in the future, I would really appreciate a huge red flag the instant that you think something's going to change. I still love you, you're still fantastic, and I'll rewrite the ending for you. I'd just like to know now if there's anything else that you plan on changing. Love, TheHorsemanshipQueen Addi, You're a good person. I love you to death and so does Cadence. But for the love of God, please, please stop making excuses for everyone! Sometimes people just suck. Quit being so naive and pull your head out of the clouds! Love, TheHorsemanshipQueen Luke, You're a fun character to write. I get excited when it's time to work with you. In fact, you might be getting a slightly larger roll in the book, even though you weren't supposed to make your debut until the next book. Now please put your damn shirt back on! This isn't Twilight, you're not a werewolf, and you really do need to put on your shirt. Please? Love, TheHorsemanshipQueen Derek, You went from one little scene from an outsider's POV to having three scenes. That's a big deal! You connected with Cadence and allowed a little bit more of her personality and motivations to come through. And you talk like a girl. Not in the high-pitched sense, in the talking too much (even bordering on gossiping), oversharing, running the conversation way. You're in the military! Act like it! Love, TheHorsemanshipQueen Hahahaha, that felt great! I really needed to get some of that off my chest. My characters are pretty well behaved, but they all seem to find one little button of mine to push... and push... and push... Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:13:09 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_813623 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_813623 Neke Dear Aster, How can anyone like you? You're boring, self possessed, naive, misanthropic, and everything that nobody likes in a person. Stop thinking so highly of yourself. Then stop conflicting yourself. And don't be such a damned escapist. Also, don't act like you do. Everybody can tell you only think of yourself. Sincerely, Neke. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:04:54 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_816379 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_816379 ConfusedShipper123 CHESS. Indeed. Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:50:07 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_841174 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_841174 ConfusedShipper123 Dearest Damir, Okay. I recognize that you ARE angry. It is hard to express yourself, and I recognize that. But could you please, please, PLEASE!?! tell me how to express it for you? It's really easy to write sad. I've written tons of sad. And you're pretty sad most of the time. But it would be kind of impossible for you to be in your situation without getting angry sometimes... so... please make that clearer for me. Thanks, dude. Appreciate it. Sincerely, Writer who is bad at anger/MAN-ger. Dear everyone else in the story, Please quit being frustrating. Dear Dan, I like you. Please show up more often. You make the story much more bearable to write. Thanks. Dear Indie-ish film writers, I like you. I wish I could write like you. Dear John Green, Thank you for reminding me that not all life is horribly depressing, even in horribly depressing situations. Hopefully that can show up in this story now. Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:01:01 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_841259 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_841259 robini Dear Narrator, I know you are not the protagonist, but who the hell are you? Does it matter if you are not involved in the story, except that you observe it and seem to know a lot about Arlie's POV? And that you are trying to show where she is being dense or unaware or just plain too sheltered to know? (Is that your business anyway?) I'm pretty sure we're going to have to figure this out. Maybe you already know and you are hiding from me? Sneaky. robin Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:04:26 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_853031 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_853031 ConfusedShipper123 Dear Damir, I liked our chat this morning. I think I'm starting to finally understand you, and I think you're understanding _me_ a little bit, but that's really not your job. You've got the freedom to live your life... make your decisions... whether or not they have negative consequences. I'd really like it if you would stop, though. I'd hate for this story to have a... morbid... ending. Well. I'm sorry for making your life suck. If you want to take a plane out of this story and find a new "writer 'goddess'"... feel free. I would understand. Alison P.S. I'm enjoying our comic parody adventures. ;) Dear Amira, You're fun to draw as an anime-style Manic Pixie Dream Girl. I hope you get your original creator to tell me more things about you somehow so you can stop acting so terribly out of character... y'know... in the actual novel. I hope you find the parody more to your liking. -Alison Dear other characters, I like your brains. Talk to me more often. -Alison. Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:16:14 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_856470 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_856470 October Sea Breeze Dear, dear, dearest William, or Viscount Clyfford, or whatever I must call you Please work with me for once and stop changing your appearance. I only have to mention how you look like twice but that won't work if you keep changing. I am going to give you the final decision: or you have long blond hair, a beard and you look rather old for your age. Or you have short, dark hair and stubble with a slightly young appearance. If you wish I can give you midlong darkish hair and a little beard but we have to move on and it won't work if you won't talk to me about that, you blithering idiot! Thank you! Moreover, what are you trying to do? Contradicting yourself in every single chapter I write? Don't avoid the fight with Wyatt, it's important near the end and you know that! Stop falling in love with Mary, she's not the woman to love, you must have a crush on Rose and that's the only one! You mustn't even fall in love with Rose, because you love Mark! Since when do you have a deceased son and wife by the way? When did they show up and died of sweating sickness in 1529? Oi! That wasn't planned, it swings the whole story to another level if I make you bisexual because that means Cromwell can convict you of adultery! WHICH Isn't planned! You are convicted for sodomy, get it? thank you! Sincerely, Kath, the writer and your creator! Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:56:07 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_862781 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_862781 Lonaneomaflame Dear Anarsa, I really do get that you care about your grades and that you don't want them to go down just because your pregnant, but I really do NOT need to hear about it in every chapter a gazillion times! And why must you make such a big deal about everyone else's grades?! No one cares any more! you are sixteen and pregnant your grades WILL go down! GET OVER IT! Also, I know you hate Andrew's parents but please stop telling me this! I got it already! Try to form a relationship with Alissa's Parents please! You LIKE them! Sincerely, Cathrin Ps. Dougal will not get over the fact that Sarah aborted his daughter, ever. You will understand in the last chapter. Dear Dougal I really like that chapter where it was all about your past and I really am liking finally having your family in the book. You are my favorite character and in the next book you will have our own chapters! I'm sorry Anarsa doesn't understand how you feel about your daughter, and I'm extra sorry that you are going to lose your son too. I really am really sorry, Cathrin Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:43:18 -0500 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_872643 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_872643 skymessenger To: Main Character whose name I have yet to decide Come on kiddo! We've got work to do! Your arch enemy terrorized you for 2 miserable years, caused a 1 year war between you and, after leaving you alone, hurt the friends you both share. Now that you've joined The Conspiracy, you have to jump into the game! Get a little more involved! Now you can get the revenge you've wanted for years. I'm not saying you're not into this. But balance the planning stages with the action as well. Jump right in there and pull some strings. Your team mates are counting on you. They want payback and you're helping them deliver it to the nasty jerkface. Good luck buddy! I expect to see some epicness! - Sky Fri, 04 May 2012 22:41:56 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1343407 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1343407 AltoidStorm Dear James, Just because you relocate for a mediocre job and major in day-drinking, doesn't mean you can forget to wrap your junk. it also doesn't mean you can suddenly run fast either. Sorry about that brick to the head. All my love, Janice Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:17 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1373944 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1373944 reverse-paradox Dear my lovely, tiny, bubbly, yet oh-so-sad Katrina, I'm already very, very sorry. Next month as I lunge head-first into the amazing Camp Nano journey, you are going to start your harrowing, endless new life as your sister falls into a world of blinding hunger. I wish you good luck. You're so sweet and so precious. Also, why did you choose Katrina? I wanted to name you something cuter. Please? Love, Lia~ -- Dear the ever-so demanding River, You've taken over my head. You're telling me of everything you say in your story, all of the love you share with your sister, and you constantly repeat why your parents named you River. I appreciate you giving me all of these details, but could you save them for June 1st? Thanks. I know you're personality like the back of my hand. I expect our journey in yours and Katrina's story to be smooth sailing, but with a lot of tears and baited breath. Love, Lia~ Fri, 18 May 2012 23:18:25 -0400 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1380953 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/literary-fiction/threads/39744?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1380953