Characters in Quandaries
My recent novel, Lost and Found, has given me an opportunity to explore many thematic character quandaries. Listed below are a handful…
A character [cannot name him without spoilers] has a life/death/fate of the world question to address. If the character chooses self-preservation and chooses to save another’s life, it may cost the future. His reasoning is just a moment more with his love is worth the ruination of the future.
Kenny is a character who’s led a mundane and responsible life, and now in his 50’s he’s experiencing wanderlust. He has an opportunity to drop his dishrag on the bartop and join a wild, old friend on a big mission. He doubts himself, however, for he’s older now, out of shape, and none-too-sure of his role or his old friends’ motives.
A character [again not revealing names here for the story’s integrity], has to trust someone who he previously only gave lip service toward trusting. Now he has to truly and fully trust her, which forces hard lessons on him. I’ve also had situations like that, where I had to force myself to trust after being burned. I wish I could write more about it (here and in the book) for I feel it’s underplayed in my writing but very real, IRL.
A father with traditional roots, Stu is jarred by his offspring’s gender identity. In my own home, one of my kids presented me with this same issue, first as a theoretical, now as a daily dialogue. Unlike the character in my book, I ask lots of questions and strive to understand. I’m not quite hip enough to just shrug it off, but at least I do better than Stu.
This same man is struggling with his identity and purpose in a rapid and ever-changing world. He resists taking the yoke of leadership. He’s constantly trying to explain himself to his wife. The guy’s about as real as they get.
Another man, Lark, has lived with a chip on his shoulder his whole adult life. So many opportunities ebbed right by him because he just could not let go of a moment of his past. He has been utterly jaded by regret. Through the story, he may/not find redemption, and if he even rubs elbows with it, there shall be humor ensuing.
The Warrior is a character who’s fighting programming, shadows and guilt—he struggles and clings to life so that he might live to see another day and be drawn closer to someone he’s just sure was in his life.
Another character, Rory, is coming out of a horrifying behavioral modification program that brainwashed him for five years. He committed heinous acts in those years, horrors no one could own and survive the guilt. This guy, however, is powered first by love and loyalty, with guilt and PTSD haunting around the edges of his heart. Helping him deal with these problems has proven cathartic for me.
And there are a dozen more character issues in that tome.
Need an anchor? a doorstop? something solid and substantial?
If so, you might want to buy Lost & Found from your favorite retailer.
