Some Novel Tidbits

I've decided this blog will be dedicated to novel-related stuff as I work on the beast for university. In my Narrative: Advanced Practice subject we are being asked to do writing exercises related to our projects.

Here are some from last week. It was an exercise on exploring character through voice. We were told to give a brief overview, then a short passage written in the character's voice.

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Alan Davison

Alan Davison speaks in very cautious, pausing phrases. He’s not very verbose and tends to try to be poetic in his tone, although he can’t seem to execute this. He perceives the world much as the Yeats and Keats poems that he reads does, a place of lost chances, failed loves and punctuated by rays of sunshine. He tries to remain positive, but if anything his being seated next to the incredibly cold Jack Fernandez at work dampens his mood. He is forever in pursuit of love, and somehow, despite his warm and kind attitude, it is the manipulative co-worker that gets the girls.

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The simple thing is I love Kristy Bain. She’s the marshmallow to my stick, the exhaust to my car. If I were to die and go to heaven, I’d prefer it be Kristy’s bosom I fall onto instead of heaven’s gates. I don’t know how else to describe it. Every time she speaks it’s like angels crying out in ecstasy, even if it is indeed “Hi! How’s it going.” or “Who wants coffee? I’m buying.”

Some nights I lie awake playing Farmville on my phone and pondering how many people programmed it. In this bustling world of trucks and the global financial crisis, I find it hard to focus on the beauties of life, the little things, the raindrop going down the train window or the wispy hair of some homeless person. It’s too much to take in. There’s too many problems to dent the serene atmosphere.

I don’t know how Jack Fernandez does it. He seems so at ease, so downright cavalier in attitude. There’s a meanness that underlies his words, but I’m sure what underlies his heart is kindness.

The Hitman

The Hitman is a particularly egotistical contract killer, so egotistical that he prefers to go by his profession as a name for himself. He tries to intimidate his victims whenever he can, however this is done in a more awkward and embarrassing way, and when illogical verbal threats fail, he resorts to violence. Although a contract killer, he falls victim to being hurt both emotionally and physically quite easily. The Hitman perceives the world as a place where he is the best, much like Jack Fernandez, however he lacks the panache to pull off such an egotistical persona. Instead, he bickers with victims. Be this as it may, he prefers not having to interact with victims.

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I don’t know about you, but I really like Kanye West. He is boss. Kind of like how I am with a Glock in my hand, or a sniper rifle on my shoulder. I can shoot a guy from five hundred thousand metres away without breaking a sweat. Okay, I lie. But it’s almost that far. Do you know how many people I’ve killed? I don’t know either. I lost count after I’d notched the entirety of my belt.

People offer me a lot of money for my work. You could say I’m the Clive Palmer of the hitman business. Except he’s morbidly obese and I’m not. Speaking of fitness, I work out for five hours each day. I find it soothing, sweat gathering under the pits, the wafting manly smell of exertion. It’s what drives me.

In my line of work, you can’t have compassion. You can’t have those things that people regard as weak. You need to have a strong sense of yourself. A grounding. It’s why I do Yoga. In addition, it also builds my calf muscles.