The Anti-Hero

In the current writing trends many bestsellers, particularly YA fiction, tout a very enviable protagonist. And while it may be a joy to read a flawless character that you may want to be like, the anti-hero can be so much more fun.

To quote a favorite author/vlogger of mine:

"I am happy to acknowledge that [the anti-hero] is not the guy you wanna be or the guy you wanna be with, he's not Edward Cullen. But he is the guy you secretly know yourself to be. Which I would argue is, in the end, much more interesting."

~John Green, 7/22/08

Now I agree with him wholeheartedly that while Edward is someone you can most definately like, but it is a long-distance relationship. The reader is more like a peeping tom, leaning on a far-end branch of the neighbor's dying cheery tree.

On the other hand, the Holden Caulfields and "Nadsat" Alexs of the literary world dwell in the minds of their audiences, giving the unshakable prickly feeling of familiarity. And it is this kind of emotion that makes great fiction, not a sexy vampire.

So try creating a character that you hate, one that comprises of all of your faults.

Besides, you can kill him off in the end.

~Kingsley

90s Music and GarageBand

So Today I discovered the magic of a computer application I had previously ignored: Garage Band.
Now, for those of you who don't have macs, Garage Band is an application that mixes together instrument sounds or that of previously created music.
And it rocks.
I must've spent an hour with my friend chopping up bits of music and smashing it all together. The result, my friends, is four minutes of 90s classic pop shoved into one spectacular symphony or ecstasy.
I know what your thinking: how can 90s crap music possibly sound good? Well, I'll fill you in on a secret. It doesn't. In fact, it reeks of bubbly beats and computerized singing. I'm pretty sure a robot can make the same sounds as Daphne and Celeste in their hit song U.G.L.Y (which I highly recommend for your next party).
But that's the point. It supposed to suck so bad that you find yourself longing to tap your foot to the infectious melodies that is 90s pop.

The whole point of my tirade today? Try something new--whether it be a crappy 90s band or an application you previously thought too confusing and pointless to waste your time on. Who know? It might just give you the inspiration you need to write a fabulous story.

Jude