Uh, Holden that Thought

I am reading “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger because someone told me that Jeremiah Jericho reminded them of Holden Caufield. I have heard about the book for years. I didn't have to read it when I was in high school and I don't think I'd appreciate it too much if I did. Right now I find it amusing and it fits. I'm writing Jeremiah Jericho with a pinch of me in him. And I can go off on tangents, so when I read that Holden does this, I feel in love with the book right away.

When people read what I have written and they dislike the tangents I don't edit them out. I might edit them down, but I won't remove them. There is character in each of the rants or tangents that happen with Jeremiah that if I remove them, his character might get lost in the voices of Christopher and Jeffrey.

Initially when I started “Jeremiah Jericho: Allowance” I wanted there to be only one voice: Christopher. As the story progressed and I decided to have Jeremiah as a reason for why someone committed suicide, I realized that Jeffrey could become an intricate part of the story itself. Which is how I like to write. I like to write with a bare bone idea of where the story is going and allow the story to flow out of me like people go through life. They don't have a writer directing their every move and even though my character does, he doesn't have to have me dictate everything. He can dictate some of what goes on. Only a writer can understand what I'm talking about there.

I understand he's not real, but when you write and your characters are speaking and acting and you think on the cuff of what they'd do, you're treating them as a real person. Giving them a life of their own without planning their every step. That's how I like to write. That's how Jeffrey came to be. If I didn't do that, it would be just Jeremiah and Christopher. I would feel that there was something missing.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I like Holden Caufield.

I am enjoying writing my second book that's part of this trilogy. I'm writing fresh thoughts and ideas down. I think that it's coming about well. You always have to give a lot of humor to soften the blow of a evil moment and right now I'm laying on the humor because Jeremiah is headed back to NYC to attend a funeral. It's going to be a powerful moment for him and his mother.

That is a bit of me in there. Humor it up before something sad or, even, during something sad. I'm always allowed to be angry, but I cannot stand others being angry. I have to make them laugh or feel better.

Better stop before another tangent jumps out of me.

Write your dreams. Dream your words. And may your soul inspire the ages.