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Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Out of Character



By morning light it’s hard to imagine that darkness could come, once a day, to the glorious golden carnival my yard has become in just a matter of days. Catclaws and Dogweed, Fiddlenecks, Snakeweed and Cactus Apples (lovely names, aren’t they?) have all bloomed in pollen-bearing splendor. Casting a dubious eye on bright orange milkweed blossoms (they don’t typically bloom before late April), I can’t help but cringe. La Nina may be in rare form out west this year. 

And that brings me to my subject for this month’s post for the Insecure Writer’s SupportGroup. No, not early spring, or flowers—allergies! You see, I have a young character who sneezes, a lot.  The setting being such that many modern conveniences have not yet been introduced, Hanky (nicknamed that for obvious reasons) muddles through with all of the youthful resilience one might expect from a precocious eight-year old. Oh sure, the affliction has its fun points; like how she can’t play hide & seek without giving herself away, but how much is too much? I suppose I could phase out the fact that she sneezes, but wouldn’t that be out of (the original) character? Or perhaps I should change the setting to include available allergy shots. Your thoughts are most appreciated, dear fellow writers.

With that I shall continue to delight in the tiny Poorman’s weatherglass that are popping up in all new places and enjoy my beloved blooming creosote bushes; bent on dispersing those pesky fuzzy fairy things that float around like dust bunnies from beneath a guestroom bed. achoo! Wishing all a great week too :-)

Wednesday Witticisms


22 comments:

  1. Hi, dear Diedre!

    I'm not here to dispense advice about your writing, only to tell you that I love cacti and succulents and wish that I could get out to Arizona and witness the phenomena as the desert comes alive.

    I also appreciate the picture of the obedient canine. :)

    Have a great day, dear friend Diedre!

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    1. Hi Shady!
      Thanks for popping in! I hope you do have the opportunity one day to experience the Arizona Sonoran desert and all she has to offer;-)
      Happy Wednesday!

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  2. You're lucky to have all that blooming in your back yard. It's still white snow and ice here in Minnesota. I have to tell you, as you were describing your plants, I started thinking about allergies and sneezing. I do that, too! It's not debilitating. It comes and goes. But, it is annoying and I'm sure theater-goers don't care for the interruption. She wouldn't sneeze constantly, but it could add a certain nervousness to a quiet situation. She might make it all the way through a great conversation that she's eavesdropping on (not that I've ever done that!), and sneezes just as it's wrapping up and has to run off, or they discover her. Something like that. Keep creating and enjoying all that blooms!
    Mary at Play off the Page

    IWSG co-host

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    1. Hi Mary!
      I appreciate your comments on Hanky's allergies :-)
      As a life-long desert dweller, the thought of snow and ice positively makes me shiver, though I find it fascinating that there are folks who can take it in stride. I'm afraid this desert rat would hightail it back home!

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    2. Funny. I had a thought about allergies as I was doing the dishes. Local honey. A way to ease your plant allergies is to eat the local honey.

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    3. Oooh! I'll have to try that, there's a small stand down the road! Thanks :-)

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  3. The problems we writers have! I don't think it would hurt to show her sneezing a good bit in certain situations, then tapering it off for a while, and then bringing it back again when "needed" (of course, this will depend on the story). You could always let your betas be your sounding board if you're not sure. Good luck!

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    1. Hi Quanie!
      She does have one other "thing" she does regarding a hatbox, which drives her sisters crazy, so I could certainly showcase that more than the sneezing ;-) Thanks for your thoughts!

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  4. A young character who sneezes a lot is a cute idea. I agree with Quanie. Have your character sneeze during certain situations, especially when it can be funny and necessary. If your character sneezes all the time, it would be too much. Good luck! :D

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    1. Hi Chrys!
      I'm reminded of one of the best perks of being a writer, You can have an Einstein farm girl or a ballerina in a cowboy hat! Thanks for your thoughts :-)

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  5. A constantly sneezing character sounds interesting. So many humorous things can happen, as well as misunderstandings if she can't hear or observe things while sneezing.

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    1. Hi Medeia!
      I hadn't thought of that aspect - or the amusing mayhem that could arise from it! New ideas are forming already:-) Thank you so much!

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  6. How cute that she's sneezy! I think it would be overkill to mention it on each page...after a while people might understand that, yes, she sneezes a lot but it isn't mentioned every single time it happens in her life, if that makes sense. Just bring it back often enough to be consistent with the fact that it's a problem.

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    1. Hi Stephanie!
      Often,her sneezing is mentioned only in passing unless the chapter centers on it directly, so I think I'm instep with what you're saying :-) I appreciate your thoughts!

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  7. I suffer from allergies and can sneeze a dozen times a day. I'm sure no one would want to know every time I sneezed.

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    1. Hi Alex,
      A dozen times a say, is that all? Just kidding;-) Mi vida sneezes no less than a dozen times in a row, per episode! I used to panic; thinking his heart might stop altogether, but apparently, he's pretty tough:-) Thanks for coming by, Alex!

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  8. Lovely pictures of the desert (and the dog), but the desert in the spring is so amazing. I lived in Arizona during high school and yet remember my first walk out in the desert full of blooms. I have no advice to add for your writing dilemma, but it sounds like maybe she can sneeze a little less?

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    1. Hi Beth!
      Oh, no doubt the desert has it beauty, in a prickly sort of way - ha! But then I'm a bit partial...
      Just now, Hanky hasn't been sneezing so much since I've set her aside. It was my own sneezing these days that reminded me :-)
      Thanks for visiting, Beth!

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  9. I have a friend who has allergies and it knocks her out every time. Aside from your character's sneeziness you can bring it up through things like having her being afraid of needles, so unwilling to take the allergy shots. Or have a scene where her parents are complaining that they can no longer get the one allergy medicine that works best for her because their new employee insurance doesn't cover it. Or have them complaining about the out of pocket costs of allergy medicine.

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    1. Hi Lidy!
      Are you ever a fountain of terrific ideas! Actually, her parents do worry they might never find relief for her but the 'why' hasn't yet been broached. You've offered some great avenues I could take - thank you! :-)

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  10. I have allergies all year round, so I can relate. ;)

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    1. Hi Kelly!
      So do I. Oddly, I had no childhood allergies. Now, it seems even sunshine can make my nose twitch ;-)
      Here's to more sneeze-less days!

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Any thoughts? Join the conversation, comments welcome here!