Re: How do you age your characters?

<TrickyPatricky@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I'd choose a prop, an object in the children's lives, (i.e. the
swingset in the backyard, the growth marks on a door jamb, a tree
planted to mark a special occasion, ect...) and have the mother
reflect upon the changes in that object to show the passage of time.
It can be done with humor, if that's your "objective," the style of
your novel. This may not the correct POV, and you'd use names, but
here's an example:

"I've always wondered if Coca Cola really removed rust," she thought,
as she stared out the kitchen window at the boys' aging, neglected
swingset. "Hey Bobby" she yelled, "come in here," her hands busy
washing lasagna crust from her favorite cassorole dish. "Hold on, I'm
winning," her thirteen year old Nintendo addict replied. Oh well, she
thought, at least he didn't ignore her. Her fantastic idea for his
science project would have to wait - so would she, and that poor,
pitiful swingset. She signed, lifted a soapy hand from her dishpan,
picked up her Coke and took a swig.

That's a good way of putting it. Why can't I see those possibilities?

Externalisation. Grr.


Catja



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writing blog @ http://beyond-elechan.livejournal.com
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