CHARACTER
ALERT...FINDING CHARACTERS IN EVERY DAY LIFE by Jennifer Probst
Thanks
so much to Olivia for hosting me on her blog today. I’ve been thinking these
past weeks on the lure of characters, and how real life can inspire our
creativity in our work. I wrote this post many months back, and thought it
would be perfect to share again with everyone. I hope you enjoy!
I
brought my kids to McDonalds last week to play. It was a rainy day, we had been
vacationing like crazy, and I just wanted to sip my coffee in peace and read my
Kindle while they trashed another place other than my house.
So,
I sat in my booth with my feet propped up on the other end and dived into my
reading. There was only one other girl there playing with my boys, and her
grandfather sat in the opposite booth, watching her. I remember smiling at him,
touched at the loving way he glanced at her, then went back to my book.
As
a mom, sometimes I crave conversation in social areas when my children play.
Sometimes I want to be left alone. That day, I wanted no words, no forced
niceties, and a lot of silence other than my children’s screams. Screams of
good, not bad.
But
Fate had other plans for me.
The
gentleman eased his way toward my booth, and commented casually on my boys and
how nice they all played together. This forced me to be polite, and before I
knew it, we were having a conversation. He confirmed he was the girl’s
grandfather and had nine grandchildren. Curious, I gazed at his scruffy gray
beard, beaten up ballcap, and denim overalls. He looked as if he belonged on a
farm and had hard times. His manner was pleasant, his words well spoken, and I
began to enjoy his easy talk and sense of humor. Before I realized what had
happened, I was asking him general questions and to my amazement, found myself
face to face with Forrest Gump.
Yes.
Forrest Gump.
With
an off the cuff manner, he related he’d been married for 50 years and his wife
had been on the game show Jeopardy. Fascinated, I learned his wife was
quite shy but brilliant with trivia. He arranged for her to go on the game show
and she was a three time champion. His wife was in a convent when he met her,
yet he knew immediately she was his true love. They eloped secretly so she
wouldn’t be kicked out of the convent before she finished her studies, and they
had six children together. He told me she was pretty much the best thing in his
life.
Forrest
worked at a blue collar company to support his family, and worked two other
jobs on the side. He decided he had a great plan to institute courses at the
company to help employees go further in their career with social skills and
social psychology. He developed a business plan, approached the top guy, and
began teaching. The program is now worldwide.
Now,
as he began sharing the most amazing stories, my children would run over to me.
I’d pretty much ignore them, kick them back to the playground, and ask Gump
more questions. His life fascinated me because he took what he got and he made
it great.
Isn’t
that the best sort of character in life and in books?
We
spent an hour chatting and I believe I was changed for the better after meeting
this stranger. I hope I will run into him again.
The
morale of the story? Characters are everywhere, ready to be used for our
creative journey and to teach us every day lessons. They are unexpected and
much more than what we see on the surface. Make sure the character you are
working on in your book surprises your reader. Make sure in your daily activity
to take some time to be surprised by people. Dig a bit deeper – it’s usually
worth it. Even when I run into a grumpy person, I’m amazed at how an
understanding smile and a listening ear can evoke the true reason for the
behavior. Life is definitely not easy. But it can be extraordinary if we are
looking in the right way.
Take
some time to listen and the entire world may crack open to reveal its pearl.
Thank
you, Forrest Gump. This one’s for you.
Have
you ever encountered people in life that would make great characters? Stop by
and share!
And
don’t forget to look for my newest erotic release from Decadent 1Night Stand
series, Play Me!
Here’s
the blurb:
Professional gambler Sloane Keller is
tired of dating weak willed men and longs to meet a man who challenges her
dominant personality and forces her to submit. As the Queen of Cards, she’s
used to making her own rules and craves the excitement of Vegas. But her inner
heart cries out for someone who can be her match, both inside the casino and in
the bedroom.
As the new dealer in town, Roman Steele is burnt out on women looking for a
quick penny and a man to follow. He craves a woman with fire in her soul and a
keen intellect who can challenge him. When his brother recruits Madame Eve to
help, Rome is amazed at the complicated woman he gets to spend the night with.
But when the evening is over, will she be gutsy enough to offer him forever?
Stalking is always encouraged. For real.
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