From the back, Mary looks like a princess, with her slender shoulders, slim waist and long golden braid. From the front, Mary looks like hard times, with two missing lower teeth, a sloping chin and a face etched in experiences.
Coming towards us, carrying our dinner, Mary is a worn-out woman one footstep away from giving up. Walking away from us, she’s a tender maiden, who still believes in true love.
Like most of us, she is a surprising mixture.
I think of Mary as I work on a short story that is stuck in the literary mud. My main character is interesting (at least to me) but she is not surprising. She does not have the long golden braid that keeps me wondering.
What have you seen recently that surprises you? How can you translate those mysteries to your characters?
I have misinterrupted a need for perfectionism and pride.They surfaced and appeared as considerable anguish and moodiness, even anger. It is easy to misread the behavior of someone, even those you love. The ability to expend the energy and time to exercise perceptiveness is key. Openness to express oneself clearly is also monumental in building strong relationships.
As a blogger I have taken the privilege of posting nightly diary entries about myself. When I read each entry I am able to see the girl I was 50 years ago and am often surprised to see the content that made it into each entry the night I wrote it. Looking back at the girl I was gives me insight into the woman I have become. Therein lies my mystery.