I recall a day a couple of years ago, when I was in the seclusion of my bedroom doing some research for my English paper. I was all too aware that the living room television was loudly delivering the local evening news, when Maggee cam barreling trough my door, without knocking of course. There she stood in her favorite flowered dress that she had clearly outgrown from two summers ago exclaiming, "Julie - guess what I just heard about tomorrow?" As in typical Maggee fashion, I was not allotted enough time to respond. "The sun is going to shine! Aren't you excited?..God is going to give us sunshine tomorrow!!"
The following day was one filled with the typical amount of high school mundanity and academic annoyances, topped with an added dose of humiliation. My grade point average had dropped to a 3.90, my research partner for my 200 point science paper had the flu, and my boyfriend broke up with me announcing that he would be taking my 'best friend' to the dance. I had not even thought about what existed outside of the school walls, until the bell rang at 3:05. As I was riding home I was contemplating what it would take to pull off that much needed A in my AP History class, and how long I would have to be up tonight doing my partners part for my paper. I was also wishing for a highly contagious rash to overtake my former boyfriend's body, and a bad hair day that would go down in school history for my traitor of a best friend. As I pulled down my sun visor annoyed that I had to squint to see if the red light had changed yet, I was reminded of Maggee's words from the night before. "Aren't you excited...God is giving us sunshine tomorrow". I was anything but excited, didn't care if it was sunny, rainy or snowy, I just wanted this day to be done.
My character, Julie, is a high school graduate with a younger sister, Maggee, who has Down syndrome. She is an accomplished student with a typical 'me focused' teenage life. Through her sister she learns lessons that she didn't realize she needed.
My original thoughts were to have the story be the delivery of her Salutatorian's Address to her graduating class. It would be a 'typical speech' about an inspiring leader that represents perseverance, hope and strength. However the person she would be speaking on would be her less than typical sister Maggee. Threaded throughout her speech would be Maggee stories that at the time they occurred, Julie did not know she was learning from.
My challenges are many I am sure, but one that I am most aware of is the fact that I tend to not bring in a 'down side' or a protagonist when telling a story. I am having Julie be her own protagonist, and hoping that this brings some balance.
Suggestions please!!!!
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Your assignments do seem to be on the more positive side, but I am thinking you started to work on the elements of a "down side" with this character. You could be working on how much pressure she puts on herself. In addition, she has negative thoughts about her boyfriend and "traitor" best friend. So, it can be something like how she demands perfection from herself and others. Though a normal person would, I assume, feel the same way about her boyfriend, I think that fits with "making your hero flawed." In a longer story these could be expanded on, without making your protaganist unlikeable.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your story idea. It was very interesting and kept my attention the whole way through. If you choose to expand on this idea and use it for your final story i'll be excited to read about it.
ReplyDeleteNice! My number one tip (something I'll pick on because I struggle with it in my own writing): get out of her head. This is tough with first-person characters -- as you work with this week's exercises, think about how you might reveal more of this through interaction, either with other characters or her environment.
ReplyDeleteWow, Anita!! I know this is a little late but I love your beginning to your story! It sounds like it will be very inspiring and I think through your story you will be able to show the downside of your main character. Good Job!
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