Love and blessings from Paula Puddephatt of Paula Writes.
Hope to make progress with various writing projects soon. News of Distorted Perceptions novel should reach you via this site or/and my social media accounts, when relevant.
January 2021 update: New Year Post
Yet, if it’s done poorly, it can definitely do more harm than good. It can reinforce stereotypes, and cause offence.
And it’s complex. With certain controversial issues, we’ve actually come full circle.
Everyone says that everyone says syndrome is, in my opinion, at work here. People regularly claim that stranger rape is what we hear about, not date rape.
As a survivor of the former, I would disagree. Stranger rape is more common than people realise, and I hear it discussed less frequently than date rape, nowadays.
And to constantly hear that it’s “just a stereotype” that people are often raped down alleyways – not sure that’s going to help much, if you’re one of the many people who is raped in an alleyway. Which, yes – does regularly occur, hence the fact that it became a “stereotype”, to begin with.
We will cause offence. The subject is a controversial one. But we should aim to be as sensitive as possible, and hopefully, that way, we will do more good than harm.
My novel, Distorted Perceptions, does address mental health issues, in many ways. Real and raw – not the “pretty” version. I also hope to explore the subject further, in future fiction projects.
I’m in the middle of creating a series of posts, relating to mental health, from a fiction writer’s perspective. See my previous post, in which I shared some thoughts regarding research. Now, I’m going to cover an area that’s particularly close to my heart.
And the fact is that, at this point, there is actually more of a tendency, within mental health communities, to be tactless and insensitive about physical disability, than occurs the other way around. Yes, I said that.
I’m not a wheelchair user myself, but do have multiple physical health issues, and am fed-up, to put it mildly, with seeing images of crossed out wheelchairs on social media images, relating to mental health awareness.
Yes, it’s true that many people out there do assume that terms such as “disability” refer exclusively to physical disabilities, and of course that is wrong. But, as the saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right. In this case, that is certainly applicable.
Making people with physical health issues feel unwelcome within mental health communities is simply not acceptable.
Can you see a migraine? Would you necessarily know, simply to look at me, that I have dyspraxia?
And are self-harm scars invisible? Or the extreme weight loss associated with anorexia nervosa? In fact, eating disorders, and many addictions, such as drug addiction and alcoholism, are, by definition, both physical and mental health conditions.
Cancer doesn’t avoid us because we have a mental illness. People who use wheelchairs may also be struggling with mental health issues. Assumptions are harmful.
Well, we should ensure that we take this into consideration. I myself feel that I probably neglect physical illness in my stories, certainly compared to mental illness, and hopefully, simply becoming aware of this, will plant a seed in my mind.
I would like to be able to say that I cover both, and that I represent the challenges faced by many of us, who struggle daily with mental and physical health issues. That matters to me.
Refer to my previous post, in which I discuss why writers should consider addressing mental health themes, through their fiction.
I’m now hoping to expand upon this, and create a series of connected blog posts, and this, therefore, is the second post.
I’ve covered aspects of the subject before, but felt that it deserved more specific attention.
Certainly, in my own case, my personal experiences of both mental and physical health issues do motivate me, and make me especially determined to not only cover, but do justice to, the subjects of mental and physical illness.
My characters aren’t me. In fact, they experience many mental health issues that are similar to mine, and many that are not.
I feel that, having been through mental illness of any kind, does make us more compassionate, and able to relate more readily, to many of the extreme emotions, much of the deep distress, associated with other conditions.
Never more so than when it comes to exploring less familiar mental health symptoms, in our own work.
Many mental illnesses are very similar, in certain respects. If you’ve had problems with alcohol, or even eating disorders, this can help you to relate to aspects of heroin addiction, even though you would obviously need to thoroughly research the subject, in order to do it justice.
Also, OCD has a great deal in common with, for example, BPD and Bipolar Disorder – so don’t assume that you necessarily understand very little about a particular mental health problem, merely because you have never had a particular diagnosis.
I would actually advocate thorough research, even if you do have the same mental illness as one or more of your characters, because every case is different. Additionally, not every diagnosis given is even accurate, or as clear-cut and definite as may have been implied by health professionals.
Please also read my recent update about my novel, Distorted Perceptions.
April 2020 Important Update: Distorted Perceptions is now published.
Distorted Perceptions, in its original form, was a novel which I began at the age of eighteen. I wrote it, on and off, in extremely difficult circumstances, until finally forced to give up, when I became severely depressed, at twenty-six. I’d almost completed my first draft, at the time.
For many subsequent years, I worked on other writing projects, and was prolific as a poet, but Distorted Perceptions has never left my heart.
I started to write it again in recent years, but from scratch, since I could only find parts of the original outline, which had pages missing, and none of my previous manuscripts or notes. Anything that is worded as it was before, would literally have to be some part of the novel that I remembered, having read it over so many times. The opening paragraph is, I believe, close to the original.
I retained most of the original plot, although for many parts, had to go by memory alone for the details. I changed a few aspects, which in itself, presented issues. Still more alterations occurred, as I wrote – some of which were major. I did try to stay as true as I could to what I felt, in my heart, my eighteen- to twenty-six-year-old self would have intended, since I do see it as her story, first and foremost. However, the ending changed drastically.
There are strong autobiographical elements, but it is by no means an autobiography or memoir, and should not be read as such. However, I have used the novel as therapy, and it has helped me to work through many of the painful events in my own life.
The novel doesn’t fit neatly into any genre or category. This is perhaps appropriate, as I have never fitted in, either. Coming soon – my novel, Distorted Perceptions.
The story is dedicated to all who have believed in and supported me. You know who you are.
Sample my fiction, via a collection of my short stories, Alternative Landscapes. Or read an extract from Distorted Perceptions.
Why the lack of recent posts?
The answer is: various reasons. I’m struggling with some extremely stressful issues, in my life outside writing.
With regard to writing, I’m at the revision stage with my novel, Distorted Perceptions. More on this, in due course.
I’ve self-published some short writing craft books: Links below. All Ebook versions are free.
I had problems with my Instagram app, but it seems to be resolved – touch wood. But I have been finding it difficult to keep up with posting on social media in general – and yes, I’ve also been blogging considerably less.
Hopefully, I’ll find more time and energy for both blogging and social media, in the future. There’s only so much I can do, however – especially with ongoing health issues.
Paula Writes is still very much alive, but posts will probably not be as frequent as they used to be.
Creating Believable Characters – Paperback
Creating Believable Characters – Paperback, alternative version
Creating Believable Characters – Ebook on Lulu
Creating Believable Characters – Ebook on Obooko
Settings and Atmosphere – Ebook on Lulu
Settings and Atmosphere in Your Fiction – Ebook on Obooko
If you enjoy my writing craft posts, did you catch my most recent, about themes in fiction?
Check out Colourful Darkness, my recent poetry Ebook, which is a free download.
Please also note that Creating Believable Characters is now available in paperback on Amazon.
Theme is the deeper meaning, the underlying message, behind your story, and much more Universal.
In three of Jane Austen’s novels, the themes are right there in the titles: Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Sense and Sensibility.
When attempting to define your own themes, think in terms of a phrase, or sentence. Maybe two sentences, but rarely more.
Ideally, theme should be identifiable in any story we create.
Sometimes, our own themes will be obvious to us, but at other times, not at all. We tend to bury the deeper meaning, and may find it difficult to pinpoint.
Whilst it’s possible to tell a great story without specifically considering the theme, it does help to know the intentions, reason, and purpose, behind what we’re doing, as writers.
What compels us to complete a particular novel? What, ultimately, are we hoping to achieve through our works in progress?
A plot is a series of connected events.
Characters are of central importance, because they are the people aspect, and the particular people experiencing the events in question.
Why should readers be following these specific people, as they go through these specific life events?
What can the reader expect to gain from reading your work?
What will they learn, on an emotional, or even spiritual, level, that can be applied beyond the limited scope of the story world?
These are some brief thoughts, on the subject of theme in stories. Hopefully, this will help you, as you begin to consider and explore your own themes.
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In a recent post, I discussed the subject of basing characters on real people.
In general, I wouldn’t suggest basing your characters entirely upon people you know in real life. However, being inspired by actual people, and incorporating some of their personality traits into your characters, is fine.
If done well, this can make your fictional people significantly more believable and interesting.
People watching: It can help.
As long as you manage to people watch without appearing to be some sort of crazy stalker, that is.
But a snippet of conversation, or an interesting personality trait of any kind, can provide the spark your imagination requires.
And that’s what, as writers, we’re always searching for: sparks. These are the added ingredients that can elevate an okay character to a good character – or, better still, a good character to a great one.
So, stay alert. People watch to your heart’s content.
And hopefully, you will find some ideas that will assist you, as you develop your characters, and create more characters, in the future.
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Paula Writes is one site that covers writing related topics, but it’s important to find as many great sources of information and guidance as possible, to help you on your writing journey.
I am able to personally recommend all of the following sites. I will update this post, on an ongoing basis.
I would suggest saving this post to favourites, or to one of your Pinterest boards, for future reference, as I will add more sites to the list, over time.
Follow me on: Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
How about your other characters, starting with major characters? If not, why not? And did they ever have pets?
Two dogs, yes. But try two Labradors. Okay, one Black Labrador, and one Chocolate. Names?
Dog people. Cat people. Someone with a house full of parrots. The fact is that animals are important in many of our lives.
At any rate, the relationships between our fictional people and their pets can speak volumes. It can help from a character development point of view.
It might not seem necessary, if the rabbit doesn’t actually play a significant role in your story, but knowing such details about aspects of the character’s daily life does matter.
The more effort you put into these areas, the more you will ultimately connect with, and come to understand, your protagonist, and other main (and even minor) characters.
This seemingly small tip is one that can actually make a significant different, if you’ve created characters, but they feel somewhat distant, or like cardboard cut-out archetypes.
Pets can give characters the edge, and transform them from names, ages, and traits, into actual people: people readers can believe in, and care about.
Paula Writes 