It's been really cold in my part of the world – and yes, I do understand that is a subjective statement. I went to school in Minnesota and lived through Boston winters, so I won't whine about actual temperatures or discuss the intricacies of wind chill factor. I want to talk about pockets.
My winter coat has a gazillion pockets, most of them zippered. Every year, when I move the coat from the back of the closet, I discover a new pocket. I enjoy that, because much of my clothing is sadly pocket-deficient. I don't think putting pockets in dresses is a political statement, but perhaps my education is lacking in some way.
One of the characters in The Captain and Chenille (which will be published real soon, I promise) also had a problem with a lack of pockets. Marsel – a shape-shifting alien from the beige clan of Schtatik – needed to move a small item in secret, but his people only wear scarves and hats. I spent a lot of time thinking about how he could manage, time that was essentially wasted. "Self," I said in a rather stern voice, "Marsel is a shape-shifter. He can make his own pockets."
Now, you might think that writers should understand all about their characters. This is not always the case. Even my writer friends who carefully plot their stories and create detailed backstories for all their characters have been surprised by something their heroine reveals to them. Even villains and plucky comic relief characters have been known to throw out some curve balls. This is a good thing. One day, you too might find yourself wondering how on earth you are going to get out of the corner you wrote yourself into. When that happens, I hope that you will remember pockets. Remember that pockets can hide themselves as well as other things. Dig around in whatever pocket you can find, and maybe you'll discover what you need to get on with the story.
Luck and wisdom!
No comments:
Post a Comment