This month's Insecure Writer Support Group's (optional) question is:
Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?
For me, the answer is yes - I have included traditions/customs in my stories. And it's funny, too, because I never planned that out.
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In my YA novel Marked Beauty, my protagonist is plagued with doubts about life and its meanings for a bunch of reasons that I won't get into here. One way I decided to nudge her into facing her doubts was to have her butt heads with her grandmother, who is a devote Catholic. I did that in a subtle way by having Mem, as she was called, carry her Rosary beads everywhere with her and to have my MC find her praying with them a few times.
This was such a thorn in my MC's side. But the annoyance and eventual anger it produced made her question her doubts and then explore them. This action was pivotal in her inner growth so she would decide to forge into the climax and do the right thing.
What about you? Have you ever used a personal or family tradition or custom in your writing? How did it affect you when you noticed this in a book you were reading for pleasure?
I'd like to thank this month's amazing co-hosts: Jacqui Murray, Lisa Buie-Collard, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence! Make sure to stop by and visit them, too!
Sheri~
Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
I use references to family traditions casually, usually in passing.
ReplyDeleteMost today couldn't think of anything, so good to hear you had something specific.
ReplyDeleteAlways room for a little personal experience in writing, tends to make the prose grounded and feels real, at least for me. :)
ReplyDeleteI like that subtle approach. Very clever.
ReplyDeleteI like that you added a personal experience in your book. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's such a great example!
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd thought of DWD when I wrote my post, but I was working on fiction that day so that's where my mind went!! :)
Ooh, you're working on a fiction tale! Any sneaky-peeks?
DeleteNot so much, but I've been tossing an idea around for a while that might go there. One day... :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Cool that you have traditions to incorporate. I haven't in any of my stories.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I don't think I did it on purpose. But once I used it, I realized how much my MC's reaction to it could tell the reader about her.
DeleteThat's awesome that adding this tradition helped the MC develop so much!
ReplyDeleteMost kidlit shies away from including religion in any form and yet when we're in a crisis, we naturally think about God. Sounds like a very organic way to include your family traditions in your book.
ReplyDeleteI like that some of your faith made it into your story. That's so rare. And refreshing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for your character and your story. You are so creative.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you used it as a tool for your MC's growth.
ReplyDeleteDitto what Lynda says. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteactually, our traditions here in the Philippines are so boring. lol.
ReplyDeleteanyway, I like your blog, wanna follow each other? please let me know. thanks :)
JULIE ANN LOZADA BLOG
INSTAGRAM: @julieann_lozada
It's not surprising that there's a bit of us in every piece we write. Anne Rice was going through dark times during her vampire venture until she found God then she abandoned the dark writing and turned to light. Isn't that fascinating? <3
ReplyDelete♥.•*¨Elizabeth Mueller, Author¨*•.♥
Oh, wow! I didn't know that. Very interesting! I need to look up some articles about that.
Deletemost people i’ve visited this month haven’t used the question — but you did so beautifully! cool link!
ReplyDeleteand thanks for always having a positive word for me and for stopping by my Beast World campaign at Alex’s
Tara Tyler Talks
That's cool that you were able to use a tradition in your story. I have never done that. Maybe my family is boring. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way of revealing character!
ReplyDelete