An Unexpected Party
At the start of the third part of Reston Peace, Kenny attends a Thanksgiving dinner, hosted by Marilyn, one of his co-workers. Marilyn is the only one he knows, so he has to navigate the social awkwardness of celebrating a holiday with strangers.
Marilyn’s sister Denise has just moved to town, and unexpectedly she and Kenny hit it off.
The funny thing about writing this scene is that I had no idea Denise would be part of it. I was brainstorming, looking for a way to move the story forward. Sort of an introductory scene to get to a later event. Since Kenny lives a fairly solitary life, his chance of human interactions is limited. Marilyn is a boisterous co-worker – the kind who hosts big holidays for all the “strays and orphans” – so it made sense that she’d invite him over for Thanksgiving.
And out of nowhere Denise shows up. She was nowhere in my plans for the novel, but in a flash she became an integral part. She has spirit, spark, wit and compassion, and enough of her own baggage to empathize with Kenny’s struggles. Over the remaining part of the novel, she is the one Kenny learns to confide in.
The dialogue between them was some of the easiest to write. They naturally play off each other, first in a friendly manner, then a little more flirtatious. Not animal magnetism but rather an easy, comfortable sense of connection. Plus, they share a similar sense of humor.
The writing process fascinates me. How can a piece suddenly assert itself and become absolutely essential to the story? How can an unplanned event have such dramatic repercussions? It’s like taking an unexpected detour and discovering a beautiful scenic overlook.
Perhaps because Kenny is ready to reengage with life, that is why Denise appears. Maybe the lesson for me is that when the writer is ready, the characters will come.
Marilyn’s sister Denise has just moved to town, and unexpectedly she and Kenny hit it off.
The funny thing about writing this scene is that I had no idea Denise would be part of it. I was brainstorming, looking for a way to move the story forward. Sort of an introductory scene to get to a later event. Since Kenny lives a fairly solitary life, his chance of human interactions is limited. Marilyn is a boisterous co-worker – the kind who hosts big holidays for all the “strays and orphans” – so it made sense that she’d invite him over for Thanksgiving.
And out of nowhere Denise shows up. She was nowhere in my plans for the novel, but in a flash she became an integral part. She has spirit, spark, wit and compassion, and enough of her own baggage to empathize with Kenny’s struggles. Over the remaining part of the novel, she is the one Kenny learns to confide in.
The dialogue between them was some of the easiest to write. They naturally play off each other, first in a friendly manner, then a little more flirtatious. Not animal magnetism but rather an easy, comfortable sense of connection. Plus, they share a similar sense of humor.
The writing process fascinates me. How can a piece suddenly assert itself and become absolutely essential to the story? How can an unplanned event have such dramatic repercussions? It’s like taking an unexpected detour and discovering a beautiful scenic overlook.
Perhaps because Kenny is ready to reengage with life, that is why Denise appears. Maybe the lesson for me is that when the writer is ready, the characters will come.
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