Rock Stars Again. Also, Progress.
27 Feb
I’ve expressed how vastly entertained I am by weird shit rock stars say. I get a lot of mileage out of some of them, but some bands make me want to stop reading music press altogether. (Who am I kidding? My best friend bought me a Q subscription for Xmas– which if you don’t know is rather pricey on this side of the Atlantic– and I’m so happy. I love many American bands, but Q covers them. Unlike American music press, which ignores the UK bands almost entirely. Had a subscription to Spin for years as a kid and it was irritating.)
Got another one in the last issue, with Tom (singer) from Kasabian:
Fan Question: Tom, what gets you the most sex? Long or short hair?
Tom: That’s a good question and when you think about it, it probably explains why the yeti could never have existed. Sex with long hair is shit. You cannot see what you are doing. Therefore the yeti would never have been able to reproduce in enough numbers because the sex is so crap. Long hair did for yeti sex, mate. Long hair is only good for feeling a bit ’80s and shaking it about a bit.
Serge (guitarist/songwriter) goes on to explain that he thinks Tom looks better with short hair because he likes to see his face when he talks. I’m vaguely concerned that I agree with him– when they start making sense to me I might have a problem. But what a fucking theory on the yeti, right? How can this glorious Rockstar Logic not inspire?
And my mother wonders why I write ridiculous crap all the time.
But in slightly more relevant things, I’ve been doing some character-solidifying exercises over the last few days. I like to make sure a character (especially a PoV character)’s past is informing their every decision, but sometimes I don’t really go into that past as thoroughly as I ought to before I start writing. Sometimes I fill out these huge character questionnaires, like you see in RPG books or writer worksheets. This time I’m halfway through the book already, so I’m writing out the important relationships between various characters, how they work based on pasts, and how they affect the plot. Of course now I’m in danger of the interpersonal shit eclipsing said plot, but that’s pretty much always where I stand, so why worry now?
Anyone else do this kind of thing?
Anyhow, I’ve decided on an overarching Theme Song for Plaguebringer. It’s Gold Lion by Yeah Yeah Yeahs for sure. The newer album works too, but it’s a little too slick. Gold Lion is loud and kind of sexy (or maybe that’s just Karen O? Er, probably), and doesn’t mean a goddamn thing. Either way, Yeah Yeah Yeahs are about the only band that works for any or all of my PoV writing gymnastics!
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Now playing: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Dull Life
via FoxyTunes
Looooooooove Yeah Yeah Yeahs! They came here this summer for 2 shows – and of course we had booked our camping site about 6 months prior for those days! I’m still pissed about it!
I am all about the worksheets (character, plot, setting) – maybe too much
But it does help me to solidify things, especially later if I get stuck in the story and need to go back to see if a character is acting consistently.
Interpersonal shit is the best. It’s like reading about real people getting torn apart by monsters!
Mary, they’re totally a HI5SQ kind of band. I haven’t seen them but maybe next time around!
I really liked the worksheets you linked in your article about plot-type stuff– those were awesome. It’s just nice to see it all laid out properly. Brings some order to the madness.
Nat, exactly! And really, what’s the difference?
They totally are! Oh man, how much fun would we have cruising around cranking Karen O! Have you seen the live show on HDNet from Central Park? She’s a freak!
Nice thoughts about the Yeti. I think that the Beatles were the first and the best at the bizarre rock star quotes.
Mary I haven’t seen it! Now I have to, though. We’d totally be cranking that shit all over the neighborhood.
Alan, too right. I just watched A Hard Days Night again after a few years away and laughed my ass off all lover again. I know, that’s scripted, but it’s also freakishly accurate…
I’m totally lacking in the character sheets/questionnaires. I have a few brief notes and not much more. Erm, feel like a bad writer now.
I’m with Cate. My characterization bone needs a boost.
Dynamic Characters by Nancy Kress has an extensive character worksheet!
Cate, you’re anything but a bad writer. It just comes more naturally to you– I gotta dig deep.
Aaron, oh no, I love your characters! I’m thinking I’m just super anal retentive, but hey, I also liked building my characters when I played D&D better than actually playing.
Ooooh, Mary, another good tip. <3
I can hook you up! I’ve made it into a Word doc
I envy those who can whip up characters without figuring out how their childhood sock puppet has effected their psyche
Unfortunately, I spend time thinking about those sorts of things. And naming them? That’s another obsession entirely!
Oh man, pretty please?! That is hardcore AWESOME! <3
And yeah. I mean… every time I try to do that the story is just missing something. It’s all hollow and ridiculous and someone has to smack me around a little.
But dude. I love naming characters. I should’ve known you’d be into that! We are so cool. (And by cool I mean HI5SQ cool. Which might not be that cool, really, but it is to us dammit!)
“Gold Lion” is one of my favorite songs OF ALL TIME. It has that great driving beat with a definite subtle sensuality to it. Rawr.
I also love Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Cheated Heart”. Sometimes I think that I’m bigger than the sound.
-M
Yeah that line always grabs me by the throat too! Good choice! Like I say, I do like the new album, but that one’s just a bit dirtier. Makes me happy.
I’m sure people think we are nuts with all the HI5SQ talk
I’m okay with that.