April showers bring May flowers…or something like that

It’s April. Yay. The wind is currently howling outside my building, and I’m desperately wishing it was 75 out instead of 43. Springtime in Iowa is similar to a teenage girl. The mood changes as quickly as the weather. That’s Iowa, though. Hate it or love it. We all live here still for some odd reason. It must be the cheap real estate.

Do you ever lose yourself to a character in a book? As in, you become the character you’re reading about. For me, if a book doesn’t do that, then I stop reading it. This happens more often than not. An author needs to be able to pull me entirely into the book so that when I come up for air, I think I’m that character. It may seem weird, but it’s the way I am. I’m sure I’m not alone either. As a writer, that is what I want for my readers. The ability to create characters and a story that pulls you into their lives so thoroughly that you look up and have no clue what life you’re living.

Losing yourself to a story is the beauty of reading. I can escape from droll Iowa and spend time in sunny California for a while. At the moment, I am doing exactly that. I’ve been working on my DDD sequel lately, and I keep second-guessing myself. What if this one isn’t up to par with the first? What if no one likes it? Blah, blah, blah. I have to keep reminding myself that this story isn’t the first one. The characters are different. The scenarios and story line are polar opposites, and there is nothing wrong with that. Though, sometimes I wonder if I should be charting my stories better. ;-p

As I write, I jump into that story’s alternate dimension and habitat. For  me, it’s hard to come back to reality at times. Some days, I would much rather be sprawled out on the beach instead of bundled up in my living room. Dimension hopping is the only way I can function as a writer. I need that escape. I crave that first touch from the sun’s brilliant rays as I check out my awesome surfer boyfriend recreate Baywatch. Suffice to say, losing myself in a story is a way I find myself. I want that for my readers as well. I want them to feel so connected to the story that they react to the pitfalls and mountain tops as the character would.

I’m well aware that I live vicariously through my stories. If anyone tells you that you shouldn’t do that, get rid of them immediately. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life. You go jump ship in Bali or fly above the Alps. You be you. Don’t conform to anyone else’s standards. Life was meant to be lived and for heaven’s sake, get lost in a book!

~Skye~

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