More on character reveal. Imagine sitting in a lovely park, chillin’ to the chirping birds, rippling stream and smelly flowers turning to the sun’s warmth. Tart apple juice dribbles down your chin. A stranger sits on your bench (you’ve claimed it for a time). Maybe you engage in friendly conversation. Maybe you jot impressions in your notebook: flowing fuchsia dress, green hair clashing with purple drop earrings, toes peeking from cut-off striped leggings to accommodate flipflops.
The stranger leaves. She disappears into her car, or better yet, the woods. You imagine her acting badly or just being naughty. She’s not there physically but her essence lives on. This week a major character who (spoiler alert) dies in the first chapter of novel number two, revealed a bad habit that was so well hidden even I didn’t know about it. How will it play out? It may be cut in some ensuing draft, but what fun it is to imagine all the outrageous things she will say and do in my writing pages. My first draft is a wild teenager experimenting with all kinds of trouble. I’m not worried. There will be time for returning home to structure and sense. Besides, who wants to read a book where everyone behaves?
Quote of the Week…
“My heart is beating, and I’m breathing, and nothing anybody has ever done has changed that.” Rupi Kaur, 1992 –
Breathe…
We all do it. If we are lucky, it is automatic and pain-free. We don’t even think about it. Paying attention to breath is meditation 101, the most basic mindful awareness practice. I’ve used box breathing (four counts inhale, four counts hold, four counts exhale and four counts hold) during dentist visits. Six breaths per…
Quote of the Week…
“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” Pablo Picasso, 1881 – 1973
Patty Mayeux Blog 
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