Our BetterMost Community > Creative Writer's Corner
New Greenlea Tale: The Grey Girls
mariez:
Good luck, Louise!
Yes - thank you for the "comfortable pause." I think all the folks in Tourmaline and Prescott need a bit of a cooling off period, too. LOL! There's an awful lot of pain to work through all the way around, but hopefully things will start to improve bit by bit.
Thanks,
Marie
frantic65:
--- Quote from: louise van hine on April 30, 2008, 10:58:20 am ---Well gang, here it is, my last day at my job in California, and I am going to be packing up and getting ready to go when I arrive home. My cable modem is packed in a box ready to go back to Comcast and I have to go pick up a prescription as I head out of town, so I won't be writing anymore before I go.
I hope things have got to a comfortable "pause" in the story so you can wait a few days, because I have to go off and drive all day for the next four days!
thanks for your patience and as always, for the wonderful comments!
--- End quote ---
Safe trip...four driving days...yuk!! But you are always worth waiting for and I agree with Marie, the fine upstanding citizens of Tourmaline need to chill...maybe have a few shots of Glenfiddle...get fancy...the important things in life!
**ponders which Greenlea Tale to re-read first while patiently waiting**
louisev:
I am on a rest break from packing up - things are pretty much all done with the exception of the final vacuuming, putting together my lunch bag and bringing my luggage down to the car. The printer is in the trunk, as is the bread machine and flour and supplies, and my food dry goods. So I'll throw a little commentary out there.
My goal in writing this story is to paint in the backdrop of a relatively 'normal' dysfunctional lower class family in rural America. I suppose what has given fuel to my writing has been relating the knowledge of growing up in a lower class family with severe money problems, limited opportunity and limited education in a rural setting. I never saw a city of any true size until I was 14 years old, and spent my first 20 years of life in a rural setting and at least part of it on a farm. My goal was not to make Laura a caricature but rather a relatively typical woman of limited education, background and means, dealing with situations that are far beyond her ability to comprehend or appreciate, with a big chip on her shoulder about men, based upon her poor relationships with both husbands, one of whom cheated on her with a man in secret, the second of whom is cheating on her with a woman - something of a step up. And her only real 'milieu' is her children, from whom she gets most of her social strength. As such, her resentment and lack of understanding of someone as sophisticated as Ellery, particularly considering his wealth and education, makes her resentful and insecure. But I don't consider her unusual in any respect. She could be one of my aunts from Vermont, who thought it perfecty acceptable to take a broom to a daughter to teach her a lesson about wearing her skirt too short. There are a lot of people who are like this, and I think they represent a relatively 'normal', using the statistical meaning of the term, rural mindset.
mariez:
--- Quote from: louise van hine on April 30, 2008, 11:42:54 pm --- My goal was not to make Laura a caricature but rather a relatively typical woman of limited education, background and means, dealing with situations that are far beyond her ability to comprehend or appreciate, with a big chip on her shoulder about men, based upon her poor relationships with both husbands, one of whom cheated on her with a man in secret, the second of whom is cheating on her with a woman - something of a step up. And her only real 'milieu' is her children, from whom she gets most of her social strength. As such, her resentment and lack of understanding of someone as sophisticated as Ellery, particularly considering his wealth and education, makes her resentful and insecure. But I don't consider her unusual in any respect. She could be one of my aunts from Vermont, who thought it perfecty acceptable to take a broom to a daughter to teach her a lesson about wearing her skirt too short. There are a lot of people who are like this, and I think they represent a relatively 'normal', using the statistical meaning of the term, rural mindset.
--- End quote ---
Louise, thank you so much - I love hearing your commentaries!
I think you've pretty much achieved your goal. I do see Laura this way, and that's why I can't help but have sympathy for her. She's not evil and she's not heartless. She is, as we all are to a certain extent, a product of her time, experience and environment. And let's face it - life has thrown her some pretty hard breaks. I don't say that as an excuse or denial of her behavior - but, rather, as a statement of fact. And, yes, one thing that's been particulary heartbreaking is that it's very clear that she has no support system or social life at all outside of her daughters.
I can appreciate how much thought must go into each chapter you write, Louise!
Thanks again,
Marie
louisev:
when I pulled back a little and thought about it, I realized I was putting a lot more into the characters of people I actually know, with similar problems and limitations!
Always good to get a context!
Go over to my blog if you want to know what I'm up to today, I am unwinding a bit after my first 500 mile push, now I'm 25% or so of the way to Chicago!
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