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Life of a Writer Mom Column
Getting Outside Myself by Carla CharterAs writers, we all have days when we are determined to get the word in a line perfect or the paragraph, or the chapter. We become focused on that one line that just won't work and can think of nothing else. We write, we erase, we write again, only to erase again. The problem sentence, especially if you're a writing mom, taunts you not only when you're writing but when you've given it up for the day to attend to more pressing matters such as laundry, dishes, and the needs of your children. Still, in all of this, the phrase sits in the back of your mind, and you work it and rework it over and over. I was having just that kind of battle with the words the other day, when I happened to tune in to my daughter in her bedroom, laughing and chuckling. Curious, I put down the towel I was folding and went to check on her. If she was reading something funny, I wanted to be next in line for the book. I turned the corner of her bedroom, only to realize she had one of my manuscripts in her hand. Casually, I asked "what are you laughing at?" "It's your character King! He's just so different from the others and he sort of doesn't fit, but the story wouldn't be half as good without him," she said. I thanked her for the compliment and went back to the living room. I plopped down on the couch, and pulled out one of my completed manuscripts and started to read it. Soon I was lost in the world of King Phillip's War with Samuel, Abbie, Jenny and several other characters. As I finished the last page I smiled, wondering how many words and phrases I had struggled over in that book, phrases that I could no longer recall. Right or wrong, they just seemed to be part of the tale, they fit and like King the story wouldn't be the same without them. So that phrase I was struggling with? I left it alone and the next morning I kept on writing. I may change it later, then again, I may not. Either way it will become part of a larger whole. A story to be enjoyed over and over again. Carla Charter is mom to Samantha, Halden, and Mathew. In addition to being a mom, Carla is a freelance writer specializing in newspaper and magazine journalism. Among her publication credits are Woman's World, American Indian Report and New England Business Journal. Online she has been published in Scubasource.com and Military.com. She teaches creative writing courses at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Ma. Recently her novel Across Lots has been serialized at http://www.newenglandwow.com. She may be reached at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net. |
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