Patty Mayeux Blog

I love when a character takes hold of the keyboard to reveal an action unknown to even me, their creator. It’s true. It happens. Practicing mindfulness in the flow, humility of the heart and playfulness of the spirit can invite a co-creator to your page. Dedication is of utmost importance, as is honoring the rhythm of rest and work. One must also pepper in new experiences, walks and ponders, all the while paying deep attention to the ever-changing world. How miraculous when you send your character down a merry path and they step off of their own accord to lead you, the writer, to a better scene. My main character in novel number two is a somewhat unreliable narrator, full of surprises. She led me to a shoe box at the top of her mom’s closet. When she lifted the lid, I was shocked by what she found. Now, as I prepare to dig in to draft number three, I realize how this discovery must inform the entire novel, from the very beginning. That shoe box has added a theme, a reason for bizarre behavior and a depth that had been missing. It will act as a signpost as I wander deeper into the tangling weeds of writing, ever ready for the next surprise.