Arlene did an excellent post yesterday regarding Hunger Games. She mentioned Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I've got a friend who is a military wife and she also has an outreach program for returning soldiers dealing with PTSD. I talked with her at our school's 9/11 commemoration about some of the struggles these soldiers face. I was totally blown away.
I had no idea the emotions these men and women have to deal with, and all that their families have to endure. I was amazed at her forgiving and understanding attitude. I thought I was forgiving, but she takes the cake.
What does this have to do with writing? I'm not sure. But its interesting to think about in regards to character studies. The strength that some people have to endure, or to return. The craziness that is going on in someone's head--in real life we don't see the nightmares, we only see the actions. Maybe we can all dig a little deeper and bring a little more depth to our characters.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Good thoughts DJ. It is so important to remember it is not just those who serve, but their loved ones, who suffer and sacrifice much.
ReplyDeleteI knew a dear man that had served in Vietnam. When he came back from the war, he couldn't face reality and ran away. He left his wife and friends to become a nomad, living in the wilderness, and surviving on nature. When he finally decided he was ready for life again, he came home to find his wife had died from cancer.
ReplyDeleteBy the end of his life, he had come to accept the difficulties and decisions he had made. But he lost so much in the process.
Agreed, DJ. There's nothing like a conflicted character to make us care about what we're reading. If there is one reason that I read, it's to have an opportunity to put myself in someone else's shoes for a moment and wonder what I'd do in their situation. It's a much better experience when I can feel in my bones the connection between fiction and reality.
ReplyDelete