When I am in the middle of writing a novel, I find it most helpful to tape picture of my characters around my desk. It makes them feel more real and it also makes it easier to remember their physical appearances in the beginning, before they become full-bore people in my life.
I come across these characters in magazines or I will attribute their looks to say a movie star and then kind of morph them from that. But Walter, Walter was in a magazine, in some ad I guess, because he's not a face I've ever seen before or since. But the moment I turned the page and saw him, I knew it was Walter.
Walter has been on my wall for quite a few years now. This particular book has been slower than others I have written (or am still in the process of writing) to flesh out and quite frankly, I have gotten to a certain point and had no idea where to go. So I stopped. But as of the past month or so, I have been going gangbusters with it, and once again Walter is a part of my daily life.
I love Walter -- he is a rich character and it has been challenging to write from a perspective of an older man. Walter spans in age in my story from about 40 to his late 60s, and the story also includes his wife who is 20 years his junior. It also includes another character who is 20 years the junior of his wife (I don't come up with this stuff, it wants to be what it wants to be!) I have struggled with the second story line because I am able to put myself in that position and the question would I want to be with someone 20 years younger than myself is a most resounding no! And then I wonder if it is believable. And of course that invites questions and then I question myself and wonder what the hell am I doing writing a book on this bizarre topic anyway?
But this book wants to be written. For one, it is the sweetest experience thus far in that it is not all-inclusive. I don't have to sit down and write and write and write and write and then write some more because I am worried I will forget. There is nothing frenetic about this particular process. It is a book that knows that it mellows with age (and I am not going to do a fine wine metaphor here because that is so B O R I N G.) I can sit down for a few hours and write. And it flows. And then I can get up and go do something else and when I sit back down again, be it a few hours later or even a few days later, it flows again, seamlessly. And while the characters are in my head, and they often talk to me, they only do so when beckoned. It's been a lovely experience. But that is not all.
The day I was seriously questioning raising the age of the young college student that my 40+ heroine was not only dating, but was like in love with, I was shopping at a local market and this young (college age) guy was all over me. At first I was wondering what is his problem was ... how many times was he going to accidently bump into me in the aisles? How many times was he going to ask me if I needed any help. How many times was he going to try to catch my eye? Then it hit me! This was just a message from the universe to let me know that all is possible. Now, I was not at all attracted to the kid, don't get me wrong, but the message was that he COULD be with me. That of course did not come at the time, but when he gave me this bizarre look when he handed me my bag and brushed my fingers with his, I walked out of there somewhat dumbfounded. But by the time I had climbed into my car I got it. And laughed out loud.
So I scurried home and let Cooper (I don't like the name either, but for some reason that is his name) stay his age. But then ANOTHER character jumped into the fray, and so help me god I was ready to quit. I stepped back and thought, what is this story about and why does it need to be told? It's ridiculous. It is complicated and hard to remember what is going on when and how and what and there is a brain tumor and if you think it sounds like a soap opera, well, you ought to have it in your head!
But then I went to a party. The hostess is in my book club and of course I knew her. But I had never met her husband. I did, however know, that her husband is 18 years older than her. No, the book has nothing to do with her, it was well under progress by the time I met her. But I thought it was interesting, just another one of those "coincidences" you run into ... all the time! So I had that on the back burner, where it has been simmering (I think I need to have a long chat with the both of them for perspective, and how nice of the universe to provide that, huh?) but I am not there yet ... I am still fleshing out the last major character and further plot lines and flashbacks and journals that are kicking my butt. When all of a sudden her husband came up to me and introduced himself and my mouth dropped open and ... HE WAS FUCKING WALTER. I am serious, almost the spitting image. I was beyond dumbfounded, I could hardly speak. I shook his hand and I swear to god, it was like meeting Walter in the flesh. He had the same .... he was Walter, plain and simple. He was who Walter would be if he was actually alive and well, at that moment in time it felt like that was the case.
I was a bit freaked. And then I felt like I was at Walter and Margie's house as a spectator. How many times had Margie talked about having had no friends other than Walter's? (Margie is the heroine in the book if you didn't pick that up.) The hostess of this party had invited the book club because she too had commented that she almost exclusively hangs out with her husband's friends.
It was a weird night. But don't worry universe, I totally got it. No need to give me further assistance. In fact, I am not sure I could take anything more!
So now I must go join Walter and the gang before another character comes to life!!!
P.S. I always listen to music when I write and there is always one artist that seems to put me in the right groove ... and I will essentially listen to the same album over and over and over. Once I have done this, that particular album can never be listened to again (for obvious reasons!) Such over-saturation needs to be applied to an artist that I am not madly in love with. I have been seeking that particular artist and for three days in a row, every time I got in the car a song by Lady Antebellum was playing. Same song. Sometimes it would play twice. No, seriously. So I have my new list of songs ... and they are of course, perfect. The universe is so helpful!!!
