tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post5210004065536580870..comments2023-10-30T08:00:54.059-04:00Comments on Laurel's Leaves: The stuff of life: characters and their belongingsLaurel Garverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-2683174080430861842015-07-13T18:58:00.894-04:002015-07-13T18:58:00.894-04:00Like a bit of shared wisdom she can turn to again ...Like a bit of shared wisdom she can turn to again and again. That is special. Love it.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-72978519019494423222015-07-13T18:56:56.026-04:002015-07-13T18:56:56.026-04:00I take it you've visited some places like the ...I take it you've visited some places like the London Dungeon museum, eh? Yes, it is pretty interesting to consider how such a pious population taught to love neighbor could think up such extravagantly cruel punishments. Now I'm shivering. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-49858780752502556652015-07-09T07:24:22.920-04:002015-07-09T07:24:22.920-04:00One of my character's has her late mother'...One of my character's has her late mother's Bible. It's special to her because of all the notes and personal observations written inside.Susan J. Reinhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07461276857852409546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-50235846346090324992015-07-08T15:56:41.961-04:002015-07-08T15:56:41.961-04:00I love being inspired by historical pieces. I'...I love being inspired by historical pieces. I'm kind of a closet history freak. You're right, though. We can learn a ton by truly pondering some of artifacts from days gone by. The medieval area is one of my favorites. And like with the Vikings ... #shivers Any image of an item those people used always gets me wondering. S.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-53440113080198918072015-07-06T16:51:14.778-04:002015-07-06T16:51:14.778-04:00Thanks, Lee. Fortunately, I only have to tackle ph...Thanks, Lee. Fortunately, I only have to tackle phase 1, deciding what she IS taking with her. Two of my older sibs will take on phase 2 and 3--purge and relocate. I think my sister may have the toughest bit for sure, because there is so much emotion tied up in one's belongings.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-33441118531388823062015-07-06T12:18:40.842-04:002015-07-06T12:18:40.842-04:00Things do become so important. They hold the memor...Things do become so important. They hold the memories from days we no longer have and people who have left us. Good luck with that move. I went through that three years ago and it was a challenge with some very poignant moments.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-2584365656999441132015-07-04T12:56:11.952-04:002015-07-04T12:56:11.952-04:00The act of accumulating, as well as the content of...The act of accumulating, as well as the content of what we accumulate says so much about underlying values and fears as well. Those who are raised with deprivation are much more likely to hoard than those raised with plenty.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-65738667742881047022015-07-02T10:06:24.411-04:002015-07-02T10:06:24.411-04:00The value we put on stuff is so charged with emoti...The value we put on stuff is so charged with emotional baggage. This is an excellent point to bring up and added dimension to bring to a character. I know as I get old I am doing as much passing on and jettisoning that I can. But still, there's so much stuff! Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-10618509748711320952015-07-02T10:00:01.854-04:002015-07-02T10:00:01.854-04:00Indeed, it wasn't something I'd previously...Indeed, it wasn't something I'd previously given much thought to until I started working on this hoarder character. All the research on the phenom is pretty fascinating. <br /><br />The museum helped me think more large scale--how a whole culture is represented in certain objects. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-2393812192192605992015-07-02T09:57:43.365-04:002015-07-02T09:57:43.365-04:00Thanks. Hope the idea bears fruit for you. Happy w...Thanks. Hope the idea bears fruit for you. Happy writing!Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-68511716502558388572015-07-02T09:57:11.211-04:002015-07-02T09:57:11.211-04:00The stories and meaning someone attaches to an obj...The stories and meaning someone attaches to an object can show us a lot about them for sure.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-50701881518948700272015-07-02T09:27:16.692-04:002015-07-02T09:27:16.692-04:00I don't know that I've ever paid conscious...I don't know that I've ever paid conscious attention to my characters' treasured objects, but now that I think about it, they're there. Definitely going to pay more attention now! They really can tell so much about a person - and a people. Nicki Elsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11412032684225126973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-63955191916311311942015-07-02T09:11:08.902-04:002015-07-02T09:11:08.902-04:00Objects can be a great way into the head and heart...Objects can be a great way into the head and heart of characters. Nice post!Samantha Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684962313482409801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-20114870664511883862015-07-02T05:07:30.941-04:002015-07-02T05:07:30.941-04:00You will have some good insights on how your chara...You will have some good insights on how your character feels about her stuff then. It is amazing how attached we become to objects.dolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-49359375238635129802015-07-01T21:11:29.335-04:002015-07-01T21:11:29.335-04:00I love that idea. I think in times of trial, those...I love that idea. I think in times of trial, those comforting objects can be a real lifeline in the storm. Like Katniss's mockingjay pin she received as a gift, or Linus's blanket, or Harry Potter's photo of riding his toy broom as a baby. Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-73858953152232921082015-07-01T21:06:11.804-04:002015-07-01T21:06:11.804-04:00I hear you. There are a number of books that feel ...I hear you. There are a number of books that feel like friends that I turn to again and again. That speaks to a love of written communication. I'm reminded of the Horace Mann quote: "a house without books is like a room without windows." <br /><br />And now I'm feeling the inklings of a short story idea coming to me. Thanks so much!!Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-2155441765172428132015-07-01T21:02:47.820-04:002015-07-01T21:02:47.820-04:00Gauch's ideas seem to ring very true to your l...Gauch's ideas seem to ring very true to your lived experience, don't they? I can tell you deeply value relationships and handmade, custom objects in which labor is a part of the gift--just based on the possessions you mention.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-5539967639269041542015-07-01T20:59:37.792-04:002015-07-01T20:59:37.792-04:00Definitely the idea of material culture applies to...Definitely the idea of material culture applies to lots of genres besides historicals. I write contemporary YA and find it helpful for characterization. <br /><br />I know the assisted living will be a great change for my mom (company for meals, closer to some the community amenities), it's just the period of transition that will be hard. I like that idea of helping her enjoy the present. Maybe I'll encourage her to purchase a few new things to celebrate her new living space and make it special.Laurel Garverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03657218435228802535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-41339057215864105382015-07-01T17:59:04.444-04:002015-07-01T17:59:04.444-04:00I like this idea. My MC, Clara, never appears to h...I like this idea. My MC, Clara, never appears to have any major material possessions other than her sword and armor, but I know she has a special quilt on her bed back home, one of her father's old instruments, and her mom's favorite cup. I may have to include more of that in the final novel of the trilogy. <br />Tyrean Martinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356604721537744361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-10477937102925574442015-07-01T17:39:47.934-04:002015-07-01T17:39:47.934-04:00Nice post, and good questions to ponder while deve...Nice post, and good questions to ponder while developing characters with life in them. I suppose I'm hopelessly attached to books and notebooks. I have boxes of old notebooks I have to go through and cull out one day. But I wouldn't dream of just "junking" them without going through them. Sigh.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-35863117518344148042015-07-01T17:11:38.705-04:002015-07-01T17:11:38.705-04:00I heard Patricia Lee Gauch speak very eloquently o...I heard Patricia Lee Gauch speak very eloquently on the importance of "things" in our writing. The items we include and possessions we bother to mention can say so much about character and world.<br />I like to think I'm not very attached to my possessions...but as soon as I think of parting with them, I realize how challenging it is to truly be detached. Mostly, the gifts that have been made for me, like my husband's paintings and my girls' handmade jewelry, have a special place in my heart and in my home.Faith E. Houghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03823750019164801104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263988256560129564.post-64743557671518542572015-07-01T15:43:48.692-04:002015-07-01T15:43:48.692-04:00I love the pic of that old radio! I don't writ...I love the pic of that old radio! I don't write historicals, but try to work up psychologies for my characters about all the things that are meaningful to them (often shown in the writing but not stated outright). Your mother will be far happier with fewer things. It takes the concentration of the past and puts it where it should be - in the present. Good luck!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735576044552810103noreply@blogger.com