Steph gives us a glimpse into the relationship she's developing with her main character, as well as a work-in-progress piece that's bound to raise a few hackles.
Oh, totally relate to Liv! Always so much easier to do things for myself than to ask for help, while at the same time anticipating the needs of others! WHY!? Def learned this behavior from my mom ... trying to break this cycle and teach my daughters differently. Also - I am curious how Liv ended up on crutches in the first place. Thanks for sharing, Steph!
Ooh I feel this. Partially because I’m a woman in a relationship with a man, but also because I’m a stage manager. Stage managers do all the things, with little help, usually getting things done before other folks realize they need to be done and therefore long before help is offered. *sigh*
I totally relate ….. It’s like so many scenarios I am or have been “LIV”ing….
My mom did everything when I was growing up, seemed to constantly anticipate and accommodate everyone’s needs.
I remember waking up in my thirties, my husband leaving for work and asking, what’s for dinner tonight and I was thinking, I would like to have someone answer that question for me.
Who decided that at 6 am each morning, I would psychically divine what everyone in the house wants to eat at 5:30 pm? Who made these rules?
It took me a few years to notice all the ways I was anticipating and accommodating everyone’s needs to my own detriment.
All the realization ended up fueling this volcanic rage that took another few years to peter out as I set new boundaries and redefined what it means for me to be me (just me outside all the other versions) and then me - a wife, a mom, a daughter and sister. Those around me got better at accommodating my needs, once I realized what they were and expressed them.
Can’t wait to see how Liv begins to define and set her own boundaries. I love that her inner wise-woman told her I’ll need less and the universe had placed her in crutches so physically she would be able to do less as a scene unfolds in which she is doing so much. 😊
Amy, thank you for seeing LIV. Thank you for reflecting on where she "LIV"es in your life in large and small ways. Having the character internally navigating needing less as she was literally doing MORE was so important to me. I honestly don't know a woman who isn't experienced in anticipating needs and accommodating others to their own detriment. I want that in my character and then I want to see her break on through to the other side. xoxoxo
Maia! I didn't even think about that in any strategic way - the crutches and having to figure out a new way forward. It never ceases to amaze me...the things that slip onto the pages without our intention or awareness that are already driving the story forward. Thank you for this reflection.
Sure! with great fear and trepidation as I sure don’t have any degree in literature etc. :D here’s the line that reminded me of your Liv! “ Maddie noted Edward's quizzical expression with chagrin when she explained two years before a month into their relationship, that she had been arguing with Pru and Szhona the other day. He had asked with polite interest who they were and after she had explained she was sure they were her alter egos, up went that dark slash of eyebrow - he reminded her of Spock at that moment. “You know”, Edward said matter-of-factly, as was his way, “People might question your grip on sanity”. She had joined him then with a shared chuckle as he reached for her and pulled her back down onto his very masculine burnt sugar leather couch. The oversized cream and white pillows she had bought him had long slid off.”
Oh Deb! This is SOOOOOO wonderful. I'm so glad you shared! And...if it helps, I have no degree in literature either. I barely know how to spell or use commas. It's all instinctual for me. But...back to your words. My favorite is the "up went a dark slash of eyebrow." I could 100% SEE it! Kep going!
I do more rewriting than writing I think. :D “Pru and Szhona”, Maddie answered Edward. It wasn’t two months into their two year old relationship that he had asked with polite interest who she had been talking to earlier. She had attempted to explain but found herself staring at his dark slash of an eyebrow when it shot upward. He reminded her of Spock at that moment. “You know”, Edward said just as matter-of-factly as Spock would, “People might question your grip on sanity.” His sentient eyebrow then softened to frame his chuckle when he pulled her back down onto his very masculine burnt sugar leather couch. She only half chuckled.
Oh, totally relate to Liv! Always so much easier to do things for myself than to ask for help, while at the same time anticipating the needs of others! WHY!? Def learned this behavior from my mom ... trying to break this cycle and teach my daughters differently. Also - I am curious how Liv ended up on crutches in the first place. Thanks for sharing, Steph!
Ooh I feel this. Partially because I’m a woman in a relationship with a man, but also because I’m a stage manager. Stage managers do all the things, with little help, usually getting things done before other folks realize they need to be done and therefore long before help is offered. *sigh*
Women, stage managers, pperations mangers, and Virgos! xoxo
That's what my husband says about his role as Operations Manager!
I totally relate ….. It’s like so many scenarios I am or have been “LIV”ing….
My mom did everything when I was growing up, seemed to constantly anticipate and accommodate everyone’s needs.
I remember waking up in my thirties, my husband leaving for work and asking, what’s for dinner tonight and I was thinking, I would like to have someone answer that question for me.
Who decided that at 6 am each morning, I would psychically divine what everyone in the house wants to eat at 5:30 pm? Who made these rules?
It took me a few years to notice all the ways I was anticipating and accommodating everyone’s needs to my own detriment.
All the realization ended up fueling this volcanic rage that took another few years to peter out as I set new boundaries and redefined what it means for me to be me (just me outside all the other versions) and then me - a wife, a mom, a daughter and sister. Those around me got better at accommodating my needs, once I realized what they were and expressed them.
Can’t wait to see how Liv begins to define and set her own boundaries. I love that her inner wise-woman told her I’ll need less and the universe had placed her in crutches so physically she would be able to do less as a scene unfolds in which she is doing so much. 😊
Amy, thank you for seeing LIV. Thank you for reflecting on where she "LIV"es in your life in large and small ways. Having the character internally navigating needing less as she was literally doing MORE was so important to me. I honestly don't know a woman who isn't experienced in anticipating needs and accommodating others to their own detriment. I want that in my character and then I want to see her break on through to the other side. xoxoxo
Haha-- LIVing! Love it.
Steph did such a brilliant job showing us a woman in transition... on crutches so having to figure out how to move forward in a new way. Really smart.
Maia! I didn't even think about that in any strategic way - the crutches and having to figure out a new way forward. It never ceases to amaze me...the things that slip onto the pages without our intention or awareness that are already driving the story forward. Thank you for this reflection.
Liv is all of us. We are all Liv. What do YOU crave Liv?
I crave freedom. I think Liv craves that too only she doesn't quite kow yet where she is not free.
very very similar to a narrative and style Ive been working on for the past year! I can very much relate to Liv!
Deb...I wonder if you might share a line or two of your work here. I'd LOVE nothing more than to read it! And...I too can relate to Liv!
Sure! with great fear and trepidation as I sure don’t have any degree in literature etc. :D here’s the line that reminded me of your Liv! “ Maddie noted Edward's quizzical expression with chagrin when she explained two years before a month into their relationship, that she had been arguing with Pru and Szhona the other day. He had asked with polite interest who they were and after she had explained she was sure they were her alter egos, up went that dark slash of eyebrow - he reminded her of Spock at that moment. “You know”, Edward said matter-of-factly, as was his way, “People might question your grip on sanity”. She had joined him then with a shared chuckle as he reached for her and pulled her back down onto his very masculine burnt sugar leather couch. The oversized cream and white pillows she had bought him had long slid off.”
LOVE that final detail about the pillows!
Oh Deb! This is SOOOOOO wonderful. I'm so glad you shared! And...if it helps, I have no degree in literature either. I barely know how to spell or use commas. It's all instinctual for me. But...back to your words. My favorite is the "up went a dark slash of eyebrow." I could 100% SEE it! Kep going!
I do more rewriting than writing I think. :D “Pru and Szhona”, Maddie answered Edward. It wasn’t two months into their two year old relationship that he had asked with polite interest who she had been talking to earlier. She had attempted to explain but found herself staring at his dark slash of an eyebrow when it shot upward. He reminded her of Spock at that moment. “You know”, Edward said just as matter-of-factly as Spock would, “People might question your grip on sanity.” His sentient eyebrow then softened to frame his chuckle when he pulled her back down onto his very masculine burnt sugar leather couch. She only half chuckled.