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First of all, I love this idea! 😊
Second, I have never written anything like it before, so I don’t know how helpful my advice will be. But one thing that you seriously must do is research!!! Research is super important, especially when you’re writing about something that you haven’t experienced firsthand. Research as much as you can about the cancer or disease, because the worst thing you could do is portray it accurately. Not to like make you panic to where you’re stressing over whether every single detail or anything, I just know that research is really important. 😉
And read books like it. There are lots of books out there where the main characters are battling cancer. I haven’t read any, so you’ll have to look into those. I just know there are some. 🙂
That’s all I can really think of now. If I think of any more tips I’ll let you know. Good luck and keep on writing! 😊❤️
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
Thank you!!! Yeah, research will hopefully help! ☺️
And yeah, I was actually looking for some! I haven’t read any that I remember either, I know there’s the fault in our stars but umm…. Yeah, I don’t think I would be allowed to read that one 😂.
I was thinking maybe rereading Fawkes and the Running Dream would give ideas, if you haven’t read either of them they’re both amazing!! Fawkes is about a heist and the main character has the plague, which is slowly turning him into stone, and the Running Dream is about a girl who loves running, but loses her leg in an accident. The beginning and the character arc are pretty similar to what I was thinking for this story.
Thanks so much, girl!! ❤️❤️
"Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out." Eccl. 12:12
I’ve heard of Fawkes but not of Running Dream. I’ll have to check them out!!
You’re so welcome! Glad I could help! 😊
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
That sounds amazing! You totally should do it! I dont really know much about cancer, but I agree with @esther-c , research as much as you can.
"Would you kindly...?"
Thank you!!! ❤️❤️
"Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out." Eccl. 12:12
@mineralizedwritings @or-anyone
Hey! If you have a minute, I’m having trouble with this again 🤨 Mostly character interactions. I don’t really know how to write these, especially with the character’s family in the beginning. In the first scene, they’re at the hospital/doctor’s office, where they’ve just been told the character’s not doing well and probably won’t have much time left, buuut … I don’t know how to write it! 😅 If you have any tips, I would love to hear them 😅
"Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out." Eccl. 12:12
@freedomwriter76 @whalekeeper @livingwoodchronicles Any ideas?
"Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out." Eccl. 12:12
Oh ok…
I would think about the setting, because it might be more important than what is said. How does the family feel? Is it eerie, they know something is wrong immediately by the look on the doctors face, or were they expecting good news? Is it quiet or loud? I’d think the family (if they are worried) would be pretty quiet, because they all want to know how —- is doing. If you have any dialouge between them, have it be something that really is impactful, like a younger child asking if —- is going to die (y’know how kids don’t sugar coat questions like that, I think it adds impact to have it blunt) if you are describing the situation through the eyes of one of the family members, you can say a lot about how they are feeling by how they perceive the surroundings. Ex if I entered a mansion with the expectation of a creepy old place, I would feel creeped out immediately, same as entering a hospital when you know someone you love might die.
As far as character interactions, I think silence speaks for grief. They are likely in shock from learning she has cancer already. Also you might have a more impactful scene if you only bring in one or two characters, who are later responsible to relay the information at home. For instance dad comes with the oldest, learns the news and has to bring it home because mom was watching the littles or something. After learning it, I’d imagine they would all just be pretty quiet for awhile, everyone processes grief differently. Some might be angry by themselves, some might tell others and get some pity, others will pray about it alone and wait a few days before mentioning it again. There might be some distance between the family members while they each process it in there own way for the first few days. Like imagine if the character had died, it might be the start of grief already.
Hope that helps! (Feel free to ask more questions lol I like doing this)
"And so I left this world just as I had entered it. Confused."
Tysm girl!! I really appreciate you writing all that out!! ❤️
So, from where I already started writing, the beginning is just after they find out, and the main character is alone in the bathroom. So yeah, that was fine, I guess, but then I made her leave and go back to the waiting room, where her mom was, anddd 😬 I didn’t really know how she would react. I can post the scene if you want, it might help to get some feedback on it so far, but trust me it’s a first draft 😅😂 And it’s super short. I kind of got sidetracked researching leukemia and stuff like that, so I didn’t really write too much.
And that’s so funny, I was going to have her whole family at the office but decided to just have her mom be there with her little brother, but yeah I get that!! I was thinking that she’s had it for the last few years, so not necessarily a surprise for her family, but more like something they’ve gotten used to and of course been praying about it and trying to treat it, but they knew she was getting worse.
If you have any dialouge between them, have it be something that really is impactful, like a younger child asking if —- is going to die (y’know how kids don’t sugar coat questions like that, I think it adds impact to have it blunt)
Yeahh that makes sense!! I’ll definitely try that 😉 Probably make it so once her mom is telling the family about it, then her brother asks that or smthn. Anyway, thanks again!! It really helps to be able to talk to someone since I have no idea what I’m doing here 😅🤔
I don’t really know why I decided to do this, but I’ve had this idea for a while and I wasn’t really working on anything so I just decided to try it!! 😂🤣
Side note: this is kind of random, but I was wondering about something. I’m pretty sure they would treat late cancer at a hospital, but I wasn’t sure about it, do you have any idea??
"Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out." Eccl. 12:12
If you want to post the scene go ahead! I get it that first drafts aren’t the best XD
I think she would be in a cancer facility. If she was going to die there is a chance she might be at a nursing home (Like the make them comfortable while they die kinda place) but I think she’d be at a cancer center.
Ah ok, that makes sence that they’ve known about it for awhile. I’d imagine the family would be pretty exhausted at that point then.
Alone in the bathroom actually sets a really good mood for a scene. It’s more vulnerable and is definitely what most of us might do.
Most of the time with stories people like to set up a ‘normal’ before showing the inciting incident. This could be a flashback later if you don’t want to include it now, but it’s good to show what has been lost. For instance, in the green ember (idk if you’ve read that, a lot on kp have so I’m using it) they show picket and his sister playing games in a field together at the start of the book. It’s a pretty boring scene, but later you realize the significance of it was that they would no longer be able to play like that with the seriousness of a country at war. You can always do it as a flashback later if you want, but often times it’s put at the beginning. Do whatever you want though, plot structures don’t have to be like other peoples.
and Yw!! Np
"And so I left this world just as I had entered it. Confused."
Ok, here’s part of it
I head over to Mom and Evan. Mom tries to smile at me, but it comes out looking too forced. “Honey, you ready?”
“Yeah.” I try to sound normal, but my voice cracks a little. Ugh.
She gives me a quick hug from her chair and taps Evan on the shoulder. “Come on, buddy.”
Well there’s not much 😅 Basically the only interaction I have so far with her family.
Oh that makes sense, yeah. I don’t think a nursing home, unless someone was really on the edge of death. I think my goal for this story was more about her learning to cope with the fact that she probably doesn’t have much of her life left, and dealing with all the stuff that comes with that.
Yeah, yep!! I think I would probably try to leave, if I was feeling really sad and unstable about something, too.
Yeah I get that! Agh everyone keeps talking about Green ember, so I’ve got to read it but I haven’t yet 😅😉
Ohhh gotcha, yeah. Hmm, maybe I will do some kind of flashback, or maybe just hints of that as she’s hanging out with her family. My style is kind of just “jump in to the action” xD
"Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out." Eccl. 12:12
It’s this, lol sorry the link didn’t work in my profile
"Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out." Eccl. 12:12
@hybridlore
That’s all right, I was confused for a sec.
I really like the concept so far, and I’d love to see where this goes in the future!The measure of a man is how much bacon he eats.
Thanks!! We’ll see what happens 😅
Nice signature lol
"Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out." Eccl. 12:12
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Hey! I can’t remember if we’ve chatted on here before, I’m so sorry if we have and I don’t remember it . . . we’ll blame that on college brain 😅 Anyway, I was randomly scrolling thru the forums and saw this, and wanted to pop in and mention that I think it’s awesome you feel compelled to write about such a difficult topic. Also that I’m currently writing a character with cancer, too. It’s really hard to write about at times since he has a seven-year-old daughter and has to explain everything to her, as well as parent her as best he can while he’s constantly too sick to stand. I’m not sure if I’d be the specific kind of help you’re looking for since his cancer is not terminal and he ends up getting better, but if you ever wanted to chat about our characters, I’d love to! And let me know if there’s anything you think I might be able to help with 😊
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