Character details... an age discussion

After seeing a question posted by another author, I am forced to really think about how I approach a particular aspect of my own characters- their ages.

You see, the question that was posed to a group of readers was how they feel about the New Adult (NA) genre. The question was posed to gauge the reactions of readers if she were to incorporate a younger heroine in her WIP. The general consensus was that a character that fell within the 18-25 age range would not be mature enough to function believably within the story the author was creating. I was in the minority. But I got to thinking about my own experiences when I was that age and I realize that it was my own experiences that taint my view of just how mature people that age can be.

I met my husband when I was 16 years old and we started dating a year later. He proposed to me the night BEFORE my high school graduation. When we broke the news to our families a couple of weeks later, we were told that we needed to wait, that at 18 and 20, we were just too young. Of course, I didn't really buy into that theory.

Fast forward three years...

That couple that was just too young is still together. In fact we were married and had two small children by that time. My husband had finished his degree and commissioned as an officer in the US Army and went on active duty mid August of 2001. Three weeks into his Officer Basic Course, our nation was brought to its knees by the attacks of 9/11. It was at that point that I knew my husband, the father of my children, would be called upon to defend our country. Almost two years and one more child later, he did indeed deploy to Iraq. He was gone for an entire year.

I don't know if it was the way the world changed at that time or if it is just the way I always was. I know I never did go through a wild or rebellious faze. I was the one that my parents could depend on. I didn't cut class without permission, I didn't sneak out at night, and I almost always followed all of the rules. I did go out and party, but I never came home falling down drunk or missing clothing. I have never experienced a hangover (this really irks people sometimes), had a fling, or did anything that I should regret. I married young and had kids young- 4 by the age of 25, the oldest limit of the NA range. So, I guess I don't understand the typical angst that plagues the literature directed towards that age group or the  notion that people that age can't be emotionally stable, find enduring love, or make major decisions.

I guess that I write what I know. Myself and my circle of friends were always more mature than our peers and that is reflected in the characters I create. In one of my current WIP, the characters are young, 18 in the opening and 24 by the end, but I don't consider the story NA--it is just a story about a couple of people who happen to be young. They are still just as mature as some of my older characters and in a lot of ways, more prepared to handle what life is going to throw at them.

ADHD... A blessing and a curse

I don't know what is going on with me lately, but I swear, if my brain gets any more random, stringing together a coherent sentence is going to be as likely as hitting a lottery jackpot. Don't believe me? Just keep reading and you will see.

Some days I think my ADHD is a blessing. I don't easily get bored, because there is always a new distraction to entertain me. Lately, I've begun to feel like I'm cursed.

I can't manage to finish anything I've started. I have a manuscript that is almost 500 pages long and I am freaking out because the story isn't finished. I haven't gotten to the good stuff yet. So what do I do? I start editing the damn thing, thinking that if I start cutting out unnecessary stuff, I can get the story back under control. No problem, right? This has triggered rounds of edits, each product more frustrating than the last and I still haven't finished the book.

At least I figured that I could cut some stuff out and not damage the story. (One of the deleted scenes is going to be expanded to either a novella or its own book- just depends on how it works out.)

So instead of continuing the irritating cycle, I start working on something else with hopes that when I return to this story, I will be able to look at it with fresh eyes and fix the problems that plague me.

So I start on a completely different book and things are going pretty good but then I get sidetracked--creating playlists on Spotify and pinning pictures on Pinterest-- they go with the books, so it is for research and inspiration. Then I end up spending more time pissing my life away on social media than I should.

And then there's the family to care for, kids' homework to explain, clothes to wash, and food to cook. Then I lie awake half the night worrying about all I haven't accomplished. Sleep alludes me...


Yeah, it is just like that...

I need allergy medicine and sleep... hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to attempt to function. Of course there might be something else to distract me... Oh, look! Reruns...

Zzzzz....

Sleep is such a precious commodity these days.

 

I know I've shared some of the madness that is my life with you over the past month and as you might guess, I don't find a lot of time for things like sleep. Balancing my family and professional life takes up roughly 24.76 hours each day, leaving no time for anything else. But hopefully, things are about to change.

 

This is the last post of the month. I managed to make it through the A-Z challenge! I wish I could say that now this is over, I can get some extra sleep but honestly, thirty more minutes isn't really all that much. I'll take it though. I need all of the sanity restoring rest I can get.

 

Finishing the challenge does mean I can hit the hay a little earlier, but I'm going to miss doing this. I have enjoyed my first month of blogging. It has been a great experience and I would like to thank all of you that took the time to read my posts.

 

Soon, I am going to start focusing on posting info on my works in progress. It is the main reason I started this blog in the first place. I hope that by June, I will be able to focus fully on writing and letting folks know about my progress as I move toward publishing.

 

By the way, for those that are curious, I ended up abandoning my NaNo project for this month. I was just too overwhelmed. I'm going to give it another try when the next camp starts up in July but for now, I'm going to worry about making it through the rest of the school year.

 

I think I can! I think I *yawn* can. I think... I... Zzzzz......

 

Yes!

There is nothing better than freedom. So often, we spend an unfortunate amount of time wishing we could escape from certain experiences. When we finally get away from whatever it is, we shout for joy or do a little happy dance.

 

There is just something about finally getting a chance to escape. I love the feeling of euphoria when the torture is over. When you finally get to shed the shoes after a long day, or when you finally get to lose the bra (or any other constrictive clothing) and lounge about in pajamas.

 

Right now I am counting down the days...

 

It will be great to finally get a chance to sleep in. To spend my time the way I want. I really need time on the golf course, a relaxing beach vacation, and time to unwind. I want to stay up to late playing cards with friends. And most of all, I want to find a way to coax my muse out of hiding.

 

She is currently cowering in a corner, beaten into submission by the obligations of adult life. I'm hoping that I can manage to get the chance to lure her back into the light, maybe get her the therapy she needs and make her get her ass back to work.

X Marks the Spot

In the movies, there is always treasure map with an X that marks the spot where you can find the treasure. Unfortunately, real life doesn't work that way but sometimes we get lucky and find one of life's hidden treasures. This weekend provided such an opportunity.

 

We went to my cousin's wedding. It was an outdoor venue on the lake. The entire scene was lovely. Sunset over a peaceful lake, music playing in the background, it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

 

The bridal party stayed the weekend in cabins on the lake and after spending six hours soaking up the beauty of the area; my husband and I decided to make plans to go back for our own weekend getaway.

 

Of course, my hubby and I have very different ideas of how such a weekend should be spent. Being raised an outdoorsman, he wants to spend his time fishing. I, personally, don't see the appeal of spending countless hours dangling a bait in front of a fish. I'm more into things like swimming, sunbathing, and of course reading and writing.

 

I'm looking forward to taking a little break from life and enjoying the serenity of nature. I have a feeling that it is just what my tired muse needs.

Weddings

My family has been growing in leaps and bounds here lately. Over the past couple of years, several of my family members have gotten engaged so we have been hearing wedding talk for a long time. The great thing is that soon the madness will be over but it has been a wild wedding year for us. 

 

In October, it was one of my cousins. Rain attempted to make that one difficult. It was originally supposed to be an outdoor service but the weather had other ideas so we crammed my huge family into a little building to watch the lovebirds say their vows. It was absolutely beautiful and I couldn't be happier for the pair.

 

In February, it was my sister. Now this one was stressful. I had the honor of being the matron of honor, my oldest daughter was a bridesmaid and my youngest was one of the flower girls. Our family tends to do our own catering, my mother doing a lot of the work. Two weeks before the wedding—when we still had a ton of cooking to do—my mother broke her shoulder. Somehow, we managed and now we can relax and just attend the next few.

 

Today, another of my cousin's ties the knot. He is the first of the younger guys in the family to get married. It gives me hope for my brothers (maybe). I have another cousin getting married in June and as far as I know, that’s it. We will have a break for a while. There are still six of the younger ones unmarried in my generation but it won't be long until my older cousin's children are old enough to start hearing wedding bells.

 

At this rate, I end up related to half the country...

 

Vampires

I may have mentioned that I have a slight reading problem... You know the kind of compulsive behavior that drives me to read 100+ books a year.

 

So far this year has been more writing than reading but I am back on track with my reading. I recently picked up an Amazon freebie; a six book set of vampire stories. I can’t help but feel that this is part of a cycle. Mainly because it seems that every time I fall off the reading wagon, it seems to be vampires that draw me back in.

 

When I was a kid, it was a book on vampire mythos and their origins that turned me into a book addict. I started reading anything and everything I could, and then half way through junior high, I lost interest. I went over a year without reading a single book, not even the required reading for class.

 

When I was fifteen, I just had to see Interview with a Vampire, mainly because it had some of the hottest actors in Hollywood. I absolutely loved the movie; I completely fell in love with the story and I had to read the book. It only took a couple of days for me to read the book cover to cover and I by then I was completely hooked. I read the entire series as fast as possible and then found more to read from there. That one book started a reading binge that has lasted over fifteen years. I slip occasionally but there are plenty of vampire books out there to keep reeling me back in.

 

Now I need to go fight with my eight year old, she wants to watch a show about vampires...