tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804843777020491995.post3780043103704624303..comments2023-09-04T01:02:55.869-07:00Comments on Creaky Door: If You’re Writing About Trauma, Read This BookCreaky door writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06400268332581266488noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804843777020491995.post-35719015023046733612013-05-07T06:17:53.384-07:002013-05-07T06:17:53.384-07:00Thanks for that! Yes I think writers do have an ic...Thanks for that! Yes I think writers do have an icy aspect - but it's tempered with compassion for humanity. A reader advised that a character who dies in my novel was not fully realised enough, making her obviously expendable. I turned her into a well rounded, believable character with children, cares and concerns and a desire to make a difference in the world. In the end I liked her so much that I couldn't bear to kill her!Creaky door writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06400268332581266488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804843777020491995.post-58331128732073992232013-05-06T14:09:27.430-07:002013-05-06T14:09:27.430-07:00Years ago a small child in a car park slammed a ca...Years ago a small child in a car park slammed a car door directly next to me and let out the most blood-curdling scream. Her poor mother actually turned away, bent over and covered her face as her instinct was that she could not bear to look and see what had happened. Luckily I saw very quickly that nothing at all had happened - the child I guess had scared herself with the car door bang – and I was able to reassure both child and mother and 'reunite' them. The whole incident played out in just a matter of seconds but I’ve gone over it in my mind many times since in a sort of slow motion replay, fascinated by the mother’s reaction – her gut instinct was that she could not turn and face the knowledge of what she thought she was going to see even though her heart must have been torn by the child’s very audible distress. The mother’s genuine pain and terror was palpable but I also imagine she endlessly beat herself up afterwards for turning away from her daughter at what could have been the first crucial moment when that child most needed her mum. As I’m sure you know, Sophie, someone once said (Graham Greene I believe) that writers have a ‘sliver of ice’ in their hearts – even at the scene of the most appalling tragedy they are mentally taking notes in case they ever want to use it for a scene in a book… Rachel Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08773651457721195072noreply@blogger.com