Characters: Like A Deck of Cards

Sometimes life hands us an unexpected card in our deck. The same holds true for our characters. We dream, think, imagine them: their faces, preferences, and attitudes.

Not sure about you, but I have a few real-life cards myself. A few are battered and stained, and a few are strong and bold. Yeah, I have a few embarrassing ones, too. All of these make me who I am. The same is true when we develop our fictional characters.


Their life experiences--the infamous back story--plays an intricate part in your plot line and probably your subplots. They mold, highlight, and set boundaries encompassing your book. 


So similar to real life. However, there are always those cards in the deck that are different. Look at your characters. What cards would they covet and cherish? What's important to them? What makes them deeper than the next paperweight?

Using myself as an example, my other cards would  be the ones that represent my titles in life, what defines me: one being - motherhood.

My eleven-year-old daughter, Kate, is having major surgery this morning. No panicking. She'll be fine.

About a year ago, she started complaining about foot pain. Being ten years old at the time, we figured it was growing pains. Remember those? 


I was told that when I was ten and my legs wouldn't stop aching, and then at age thirteen when I kept passing-out...'It's that time in a young girl's life' was what my parents were told. (Great MG character flaw. Just sayin'.)

Kate's a very active girl. Can you blame her? She has THREE brothers. Have mercy. You want to talk about survival of the fittest; live in her world for one day. Point being: she's one tough cookie. But finally, her pain couldn't be brushed off as the natural stretching of limbs or the onset of the numerous tween body mortifications. And when I noticed bunions forming on the knuckles of her big toes, I knew something was up. 

(Bunions - what a nasty word, and I love words.)

After waiting three months to finally get into the specialist, we discovered that her bunions were a result of a more serious issue. Katelynn has what are called Kidner Feet.

Here's the medical diagnosis that will bore you to pieces: Kidner procedure includes surgical removal of an accessory navicular bone and then re-attachment of the attentuated ("loosened")posterior tibial tendon, by drilling a hole through the navicular bone and re-routing the posterior tibial tendon through the hole and then "plugging" the hole with a piece of bone. This will now keep the tightened tendon in place and help support the arch. (as written by Dr. David S. Wander, 10/27/06 on an online forum.) 

Sounds gut-wrenchingly painful and disgusting, doesn't it?? 

So basically, she has an extra bone on the inside of each foot which inhibits the tendon that runs along her shin to the top of each foot. This tendon supports a proper arch, but because it can't do it's job properly her feet are flattening out and her knuckles are separating = bunions.


She also has to have another procedure performed, and I won't bore you with the technical term. ('K, so I couldn't figure out how to spell it. Sue me.) Anyway, during this procedure a 'donor piece of bone' will be inserted into her foot structure.


You heard me correctly: a DONOR bone...yup, from a previously deceased soul.


Now remember, she lives with guys. Not much grosses her out. Well this did. Her face was priceless when the surgeon told her. She's now had time to digest this fact. 

The doctor will perform all three procedures and sling her up in a cast, which she'll be a prisoner to for approximately eight weeks. This should be fun. Hah. Haha. She'll miss at least TWO weeks of school, so just imagine the work we'll she'll have to make up. Oh, and she has to have the other foot done, too!! 


Lucky us. 


The left foot will be done within the next year. The two procedures need to be done at least six months apart to give the first foot time to heal properly. She'll need that foot fully recovered to support her body weight while the second foot heals.

Now back to those cards of life or your characters lives I mentioned earlier. 


The scenario describe above or a similar one could apply to any fictional character. One of your characters could stumble onto or be hit with such an obstacle that their deck of cards jumbles, becomes unrecognizable to them or changes them dramatically.

Have you ever given any of your characters a physical or psychological handicap that challenged your writing? 


Challenged you to think outside yourself? Any famous characters you can think of? 


I immediately thought of RAINMAN. How brilliant was that?

Major BTW: I've also reviewed Eight Grade Bites, by Author Heather Brewer  over on Oasis for YA, today.

Sheri Splatter: Although I will continue to post next week, I may not get the chance to surf the blogosphere and visit you. I apologize. I have no idea what condition she'll be in after surgery. Know you are in my thoughts, and for gosh sakes would someone keep track of the things I miss. I hate missing your posts!! 

Tapping Feet & Fingers...<3