About my material girl

Did something rather uncharacteristic today, and I think I made myself a new enemy.

There is an unwritten rule, in this new performing troupe I’ve very recently joined, that one doesn’t audition for major roles until you’ve done some face time in the greek chorus. I obviously didn’t get the memo (actually, I blithely ignored it), because just this evening, I blurted out that I’d like to give one of the major roles a go.

And then I got what I asked for.

Actually, I got more than what I asked for, because there had been an incumbent who’d been pretty sure she had the role in the bag. Until I stood up and became a tall poppy. When the announcement came that I got the role, I swear the daggers pointed in my direction were made out of icicles fedexed from White Witch’s Head Office, Narnia.

And all I could  think of when I met ‘em daggers was, “Wow… I need to remember that death look and give it to one of my characters!”

See, the beauty of planning a book is that everything around you becomes material. Dealing with a jealous rival? Create a new character! Got a difficult staff member in your team? Bring it on – it’ll only make your story more compelling. Murphy’s Law kicked you in the goolies today? Funny chapter!

The pen is indeed mightier than the sword and sweeter than revenge. Not to mention, cheaper than therapy.