Scribbles & Munch

      The hours counting down to the Big Turkey Consumption are well within the double digits.  Some people celebrate at home by themselves, but most people get together in groups with friends, family, or both.  For many, this will the first time they've seen some of these folks in months, or even years--or maybe ever!  And there's often alcohol!  This creates an unique social crucible that brings out sides of people that you may never see under any other circumstances.*  And if you're a fiction writer, chances are you want to do that exact thing to your characters.
      Consider Elizabeth Bennett.  Would she have ever learned so much about herself (and Mr. Darcy) if not for the family drama inflicted by Lydia's thoughtlessness?

And you can obviously see my Pride & Prejudice preference!

      Or Captain Ahab?  Were it not for the bizarre and mutilating encounter with the White Whale, he certainly never would have gained his famous obsession.

Today, we call this "Extreme Sports."

      And what about the iconic Ebenezer Scrooge?**  Talk about unique circumstances that inspire amazing behavior!

"There is more of the gravy than the grave about you!"

      Your Thanksgiving dinner probably won't include murderous sea life or altruistic ghosts (if it does, PLEASE invite me next year), but it will involve interesting interactions that may help you develop your characters.  "Huh...how would my main character handle a question like that?"  "What would the hero think of being asked to make the gravy?"  "If that conversation were happening between my protagonist and a relative, how would it go?"  Even if you never use that information directly, these situations add to your understandting, and you never know when you might pull out a memory to inspire future scenes.  This may include the good, the bad, and the ugly; you may want to hide your notes.  I recommend a small notepad that fits in your pocket, to be updated during bathroom breaks.
      Also, if your family is like mine, holidays mean hearing snippets of family history and lore.  Some of them (Ok, most of them) you've heard before.  But some might be new--if not to you, then others in the room.  How did the storyteller do?  How did the audience react?  If you see something you like, what about it can you emulate in YOUR storytelling?  And don't forget to write down the stories themselves so they won't be lost to future generations.
      At the end of the day, stories are about people and the things they do, whether individually or en masse.  In many ways, people don't truly know themselves until they face adversity.  Or Thanksgiving dinner with the in-laws.  It's kind of a toss-up.



*Sometimes this results in the police being called.  If that's the kind of holiday you have to look forward to, I am sorry.  I hope the food is worth it.

**By the way, Shadows on the Sound is reviewing Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" for our December book club pick!  You've seen the move (and the other movie...and the other movie...and the other movie); don't you think it's time you read the book?