Theme for April - Transformation

Introduction

I love spring. It fills me with hope, despite everything else going on “out there”. Increased light levels help too.

Metaphorically Christians see Easter as light overcoming darkness as they focus on Jesus’s crucifixion and His resurrection. New life, new beginning, as a result of having gone through something undeniably life-changing.

That led me to think about this month’s challenge with its underlying theme of going through something momentous and coming out the other side. Your character is the same but different because of this experience. They needed it to change them.

Think of a character. Put them in a situation which must change them. Compare what they are like at the story start and at the end. Readers should be able to do that too. They go through the situation with your character.

What could be considered life changing has plenty of scope. For some characters, this would be something major. For others, it will seem minor but won’t be for them.

It would be useful to outline your character first. Then think about what might be life changing for them.

If you have a character who is blunt, meeting someone else who is worse for that might make them realise how others see them. What is plain speaking for your character is rudeness to someone else. Your character hasn’t seen that until….

There’s their life changing moment. You can decide whether they continue to be blunt but are more so (almost being defiant but this is still a change, albeit a negative one) or they learn to be tactful. The latter is a positive change but you can take this either way.

Once I’ve got my character lined up, I think of situations which will make them react (and not necessarily well) so I get the conflict set up which I then need my character to resolve.

Character: Librarian

Situation: They meet someone who loathes reading.

This would be horrific for someone so immersed in books. For the other character, they would think the librarian needs to get out more, there is life beyond books etc.

Here I can decide whether I get the librarian or the other character to change their stance but something has to happen to make them do this. Given my love of stories, you can guess which way I’d go here! (Some of the lines for my story made me wince as I wrote them!).

But there has to be a transformation so what could that be here? Hope you enjoy finding out in my story below.

I look forward, as ever, to seeing what you come up with. Usual 300 words maximum, please.

No problem.’

Suzanne frowned. Mark was failing to face the fact he did have a problem. She wasn’t giving up books for anyone, no matter how charming they were in other ways. They must have something in common if they were to continue dating. Had she known about this earlier, she wouldn’t have met him, despite his agreeable online profile. How could anyone not like books? It was like claiming you hated oxygen.

‘Look, Suzanne, I didn’t mean to upset you. I have no problem with you liking books. I just don’t get them myself. Never have done. I would like to keep seeing you.’

‘Have you tried audio books? Listen to stories instead?’

‘Hadn’t thought of that. I do listen to podcasts. Look, as it’s for you, I’ll try one and let you know how I get on. What would you recommend?’

‘Go for something funny, I think. Try the P.G. Wodehouse Jeeves and Wooster stories. See what you think. See you next Friday?’

Suzanne didn’t mind one bit when Mark turned up ten minutes late for their date on Friday night. She minded even less when he asked her to name more Wodehouse stories for him to download.

She had the feeling from now on their relationship would go well.

Beginnings and Endings

‘You can’t loathe books, Mark. You must have a favourite.’

‘Wrong, Suzanne. I’ve not read books since I was at school. Have no intention of doing so, even for you.’

‘But…’

‘Keep your stuffy books, Suzanne. I’m not wasting my life being bored.’

‘Do you find reading difficult, Mark?’

‘No. Cut the patronising act. I dislike books. That’s it. I like you though.’

‘I love books…’

‘As a librarian you have to, I can live with that.