Of Ongoing Obscurity. April 28, 2007
Posted by Jen in : Journal, Novel , trackbackI have had a worrying thought. Success/notoriety/fame can be achieved by only a small percentage of people, right? Now, my problem is this: At school, I used to sit next to Graeme le Saux in Geography. What if he has selfishly taken my portion of celebrity and used it all up himself? We can’t all be rich and famous from one classroom, can we? Sigh. I am so doomed.
To compound my woes, I am still car-less. According to my bastardly insurance company, I must now register my non-existent car in the UK before they will process my claim. I am perhaps being typically dimwitted but WHAT?!?!? They have taken my car and heartlessly sold off its body parts, no doubt. And now I have to register it? Even though it doesn’t exist anymore? REALLY?? Gawd.
I don’t think I like insurance men. They wear cheap, shiny suits and anoraks. They think I can live in the middle o’ nowhere with only a pogo stick and a couple of carrier bags in which to transport my children. No, I don’t like them one little bit.
In writing news, I am re-writing. Sigh. I could throttle my characters - instead of doing as they’re told, they keep getting ideas above their station, pushing themselves forward with their chests puffed out. So, I’m abandoning their first-person narratives for a while and re-writing in third person. This, I am hoping, will be my metaphorical whip. The fact that I seem able only to crack the whip at people who don’t actually exist is a little pathetic, don’t you think?
Oh my. I am truly having A Bad Week.
Comments»
1st to 3rd - don’t envy you. It’s hard this writing stuff ain’t it! But it will focus your mind … or make you reach for the wine … or both.
As for Graeme. Was he your boyfriend? He’s rather fine.
enidd, predictably, thinks the third-person is just fine.
Sounds like you might need a hug or better yet large doses of chocolate……all will improve after and your character will magically do the right thing
Ooh, Caroline, he wasn’t my boyfriend. I thought he was a bit daft cos he played footie all the time!! I was hopelessly devoted to Tim the Trombone Player. Never did get anywhere with him either
Enidd is perfectly correct. All existence should, um, exist in third person.
Liz: Hey, glad I’m not the only one at my pc so early on a Sunday! Yes, I think it’s going to be a chocolate day today. At least I can blame my characters if I get fat
You were so lucky I think Graeme is rather lovely, now a long time ago I lived next door to Frank Bruno when he was just a little boy called Franklin. Does that mean no celebrity status for me either?
I always find a glass of wine loosens the tongue if you see what I mean.
Wow, Frank Bruno eh? That’s what I call a claim to fame! Shall we be doomed together?
Glass of wine… what a fine idea…
Hope next week improves! I hate insurance companies too, though I’ve been dealing with the health variety lately. Not fun at all.
I must be missing out, I don’t know anyone famous.
My writing is struggling too. My characters won’t do what I want either, but it’s not because they have a mind of their own, oh no, they’re faffing about lazily not wanting to participate in the story. Sheesh. Wine and chocolate all around!
Oh dear, Angie, our characters are a wilful lot, aren’t they? As Caroline says, this writing lark isn’t easy.
All insurance company people are horrid. I am SO going to kick arse today… grrrrr… let me at ‘em!
As for knowing some famous people… it just means that you’re keeping that percentage of fame for yourself - so get writing!!
I hope today marks the start of a Good Week. Bad Weeks are horrid and should be illegal.
HUGS!
I’ve always wondered the same about the possible finiteness of fame and fortune ~ unfortunately I know quite a lot of “famous” people (actors and musicians, mainly), not cos I’m some sort of super-duper luvvie, but because the fiance is a jobbing actor, which throws us into regular contact with household name types. Plus at least five people from my school have gone onto be pretty successful (and I went to a fairly small, and unimpressive school) so I reckon if there’s an allotted portion per square mile I’m utterly shafted!
Best wishes
Kate
Oooh, I could tell you my claim to fame story, but then I’d have to kill you as it’s got to be saved for a novel!
Sorry
Thanks for the hugs Kate… this week will be better. I’ve decided!
Kate K: Sounds as if you have a higher concentration of celeb status in your patch of planet. I think you’ll be ok
JJ: Meanie. I’ve looked in Derek Warwick’s mouth too. Flash or what?
XXX
I’m not famous I don’t know anybody famous and I’m not writing a book so you can have my quota on all three for your birthday
Aw, thanks Karen! Here, have a choccy truffle
No one from my school has ever become even vaguely famous. Not a single solitary one. Then again, it was a place that embraced mediocrity wholeheartedly, so it’s probably understandable!
Surely that leaves great swathes of success for you to plunder Sophie?