One of the most important aspects of developing a work of fiction is making characters real. And by real, I mean flawed. We all have them, flaws. William Styron, a well-known 20th Century American novelist, wrote about alcoholism in an unforgettable way in his 1950's book, Lie Down in Darkness, when he was only 26. When I was 26, I didn't have anything that dramatic to say about life the way that he did.
The characters he portrayed in vivid detail were terribly flawed, especially the father and daughter. As the story progresses, the reader knows that it is all going to end badly. But you read on anyhow. Perhaps Mr. Styron knew of what he wrote. Many writers have deep-seeded flaws that revolve around alcohol, drugs, and loose living. I've always figured it is because writers tend to be more observant, sensitive folk that they tend to seek out escapes. Because of seeing and feeling the way they do, they experience hurt more fully than others. Because of this, they are often drawn to writing about it as yet another escape. I am honestly thankful that I don't drink or use drugs and my life is really pretty mundane.
My story, Anna's Story, is just so-so in terms of character development. The characters, such as Mrs. Licci, Anna herself, and John aren't three-dimensional enough. Not enough flaws, and I know this, but writing about flaws is hard for me. I don't like flaws in myself and I don't like them in others. While in real life, facing flaws is part of life and I do deal with them, I guess when it comes to putting thoughts down on paper, I don't have the stomach to delve deeply enough. I want there to be a John out there who is as good as John Peters is. And I want there to be an Anna, a selfless, caring person who walked down the wrong road for a long time and has chosen to turn around and go back, to re-examine everything so she can learn from it. I've known people in our own parish like Mrs. Licci. I know that she exists.
This morning, I am baking cookies. My niece remembered some cookies that were served at my sons' weddings in 2002 and she asked me to bake 200 of them and 200 lemon squares for her friend's wedding in Cleveland next weekend. Her friend is actually paying me for this, and the pressure is on. I'd rather be baking them for family alone. I'm baking and freezing them in order to make the timeframe work. So I thought that maybe instead of going right into the next part of Anna's Story, we'd talk about the behind the scenes.
Nicholas Sparks came to The University of Akron some years ago in September to talk about one of his books. I can't remember which one it is, but it was deemed a good choice for incoming freshmen students to read. Nicholas Sparks writes stories about people who make bad choices at times. He writes about what it is to get old and mentally feeble. He writes about getting second chances. But he always ends his books on a sad note. Take Message in a Bottle. We went to see the movie (a rare thing for us), and on the way out, I remember telling my husband, "I would never have gone to the movie if I knew it was going to end like this." I wanted Kevin Costner and the woman character to get that second chance. They didn't. Hence, my frustration with Nicholas Sparks. His books don't uplift me.
He writes books with sad endings. I don't like sad endings. There is enough sad in life without having to read a book with a sad ending.
Oh, I do go on, don't I? So I guess this day's posting is really about me apologizing to you for Anna's Story not being three-dimensional enough. Not enough about Anna's selfishness with her mother. Not enough about John's temper and language and his passive attitude towards his faith. I allude, but I don't go very deep.
Well, I'm off to the kitchen to start putting together butter, cream cheese, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, lemon zest, ground almonds, raspberry preserves and 10x powder.
Tuesday we will see what Anna and John are doing. They should have more flaws; I know that. You'll just have to imagine them for yourselves.
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