Connecting The Past

Character development is difficult for even the most seasoned writers. Understanding how much to give, where to place the reveals, and how to adapt your character’s personalities throughout the plot process; are all problems that we face. As I work on Cherrywood Inn 2, figuring out how much background I want to give to the main protagonist has been challenging. My readers will recognize the love interest and the background has already been nicely laid. However my female lead needs background, she needs a hurt heart; she needs reasons for change.

I have been working to find the best mix of family dynamics, past relationships, and old ambitions. I would like to have the setting of the Inn and the town woven into her new emerging personality traits. However, I do not want to take away from the plot and the evolution that all characters should have throughout a story.

I’m confident that I’ll figure things out as I always have. I’ll leverage my resources and utilize online tools. With a top-notch editor and a fantastic writing coach, I know I have the support I need. There’s a wealth of free classes and research materials at my fingertips, and I’ve only just begun to explore them.

When all else fails, I would like Cherrywood Inn to guide and direct me. This story series is more than just restoration for some made-up young adults in a fictional North Carolina town. Cherrywood Inn is a breathing character of its own, that, as do many of my characters; talk back to me when writing. I can often feel the emotions of my character. These feelings take me where I need to go in the moment. I am hopeful that Cherrywood Inn 2 will lead me toward the damaged yet strong female protagonist I want to share with my readers.

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What Is A Memory

Mind is Heavy

Events, people, and things can hold us in places we do not always want to be. Sometimes, these memories can be like a lifeline, keeping us grounded.

Mind is HeavyOther times, they can be like a rope, following us around. Memories can keep us bound to places, things, or people we otherwise would move on from.

I remember when my first adult memory locked me in place. It was paralyzing and overwhelming. I remember the smell and what I was wearing. I remember the location. And of course, I remember the feeling. I will spare you the details since it was not a pleasant one. I will tell you this, that memory had a hell of a tether. It followed me around for decades as a reminder of all the things I wanted to forget and simultaneously needed to always remember.

I often wondered if it was the memory that held on to me or if I held on to the memory. I guess we will never truly know. About three years ago, that locked-in memory—the one that hurt the most, the one I rarely shared and even less often allowed myself to think about—finally loosened its grip on my heart. I was happy to be delivered from the pain.

Now that this freedom runs free in my mind, I can remember other associated things. I can recall the circumstances as learning lessons. I can remember the people, places, and things involved without strife. I have since learned that it wasn’t about letting go; it was about accepting that event as a part of my story.

Sometimes the best way to lose a memory is to welcome it as part of your story. Acknowledging its effect on your life, owning the pain, and placing it in the proper context within your life story. Good, bad, or otherwise, the things and people that touch us are forever a part of our narrative. Perhaps by letting go and welcoming the memory, you can feel better about your past and maybe even share it with others to help them.

Everyone loves a good book right, even if it is still being written.

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