Terrie

“the miscarriage story is a lie” – aha! I did think there was something over- … stilted? about the letter. A bit too well-composed for the trauma undergone.

@janeshuff – yes, Waltraut was trying to escape him. He wasn’t pulling the strings, she had simply tired of him.

@raine – glad you picked up on the unreliability. Waltraut ultimately got him out of her life by framing him for cheating in his exams, resulting in him getting thrown out of school and all manner of other ills. As for the second…[Read more]

What a fantastic voice!
“…who can take my own smiles and undo them, undo them until I forget how they were ever made” – wow. Just wow.

I’m very sorry that Abigail had the misfortune of loving someone like John, who, I suspect, may not even be capable of love.

Ooh, how interesting. And I like the idea of doing the exercise around a minor character to see what it may reveal about a major one. Even if it does result in the minor pushing in.

I remember Waltraut as being a well-established character of yours, even though I don’t remember reading anything about her. The writing, of what ought to be written, and the tearing up – is it weakness or selfishness? (my money goes on the latter).

Heartbreaking. Those inconsequentialities so poignant and the “plucking a sunripe fruit from a tree, pressing it against your cheek for the simple joy” such a vivid recollection of the good. Yet my impression is she got out – had the strength of character to get out – much earlier than many.
I’m wondering if she posted this, though?

Thanks Raine – son has been quite insistent about making space for himself! It’s his father who keeps eluding me, despite him having to be MC (apart from the usual duo of Luke and Baz)

Thanks Kaz – this inspired me to have a go at fleshing out a new character from an unexpected viewpoint, as well as bringing memories of my own then ending with an adult viewpoint. That endless circle, eh?

This is so clever, Kaz. And I didn’t expect it to go in that direction either. Wow. Excellent stuff.

Oh crikey. That took me back and then whizzed me forward. I haven’t tried this exercise, but I think I will try to find time for it now you’ve done it and shown us just how powerful the stuff that comes out can be.