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| Morgan Mandel Too Many Years Ago |
When I was growing up, I used to live next to a park. It seemed like an ideal location, because I could play on the monkey bars and making pretend cakes in the sand. Now, I'm glad the park in our neighborhood is a few blocks away, so I don't have to worry about the noise, or the older kids who hang around there at night.
Then there's the matter of age. Wow, 30 used to be awfully old, and 70 was ancient. Now I'm twice 30, so 70 is getting closer and not as old as before.
When it's winter and I'm freezing, 60 degrees seems warm. During summer, 60 degrees feels cool.
I used to work in Downtown Chicago, and thought nothing of joining the herds of commuters who got on the train, then off to march down the street to offices and other places of employment.
Now I'm retired, and going Downtown seems a big deal. Not only that, I wonder how I could have put up with all those people all over the place, getting in my way.
There are countless other examples I could give, but you get the picture. When crafting your characters, take into consideration such factors as age, physical characteristics, background, environment, and family.The more layers you can add to round out your characters, the more their perspectives will make sense to the reader.
For Excerpts and Buy Links to Morgan's 4 books, available on all electronic medica, go to http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com/
9 comments:
It is interesting how things chance as our perspective changes. I remember a place near my grandmother's house in West Virginia that had a small canyon. Of course, when I was a kid, I thought it was the Grand Canyon. Went back as an adult and it was hardly bigger than an arroyo. LOL
Very good advice, Morgan. We tend to put our own viewpoint onto characters.
Such a cute pic.
I love writing characters unlike me. It is telling when an editor or reader assumes I am the character in a story.
I guess being a journalist was great practice, in that regard. No one assumed I was a convicted murderer just because I interviewed one.
Telling stories is just that!
Excellent post, Morgan. I didn't use to mind driving in the snow when I was younger, but now, if I can, I stay home when the flakes are falling.
Yes, age does change our perspective quite a bit!
Morgan Mandel
Leslea,
Glad you like my pic. I freelanced for the Daily Herald newspaper in our area for about 2 years, which was totally different than fiction, since I had to be objective. That was at least 7 years ago. Since then, I've noticed journalism likes objectivity.
Morgan Mandel
http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com
Man, now I feel old. But what an excellent post. Lots of grist for the mill. Never ceases to amaze me how age so slowly saps the vigors of youth, but equally replaces that loss with gains in experience which leads to wisdom.
I would like to think I've gained some wisdom over the years!
Morgan Mandel
http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com
I'm always amazed at how years affects my perspective. As a kid, I used to gaze up at the stained glass window over the altar in my church. The image was so high I thought sure it was the heavens. Nowadays, I know I could touch it - with a ladder!
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