Oooo, secrets! Let me think. Something readers would never know from my work. I don’t know if this counts as a secret, but I’m afraid of edges. As in falling off of. Mountain edges. Jumping off cliff edges. Canyons. Water fall edges. Even diving boards count here. Or maybe it’s that I’m afraid one of my five children would fall off said edges because they’re being…well…children. You know. Fooling around when we are close to edges; pushing and shoving each other.
Gosh! I worried about this each time we set up camp at national or state parks. We’ve camped in deserts, on mountaintops, by canyons, and water falls. Our children insisted the campgrounds have pools, and with those pools came diving boards. And with diving boards came the children’s favorite phrase: “Watch this, Mom!”
I think I closed my eyes each time. But don’t tell the kids. They still think I saw everything.
We were camping at Arches National Park, when I finally succumbed to this fear of edges with my children. I stopped our family hiking expedition completely. I wouldn’t allow the children to go any farther along the narrow orange sandstone arch we needed to cross on this trail. I turned us around. They were not happy.
I also have a terrible fear of wild animal encounters too—especially snakes because you don’t notice them right off. Not until they make a noise or strike! I’ve literally had too many encounters with wildlife in my adventures camping with five children. Out of the seven people in my family, I’m always the one who finds the snakes—and they are always ready to strike. I follow our last child on the trail. And my family is not quiet when we hike, which is why the snake is usually ready to strike by the time I reach him. Of course, I still would rather find them than my children.
So no matter how many YA adventure stories I write where my teenaged protagonists confront wild animals or tumble down cliff sides or mountains, I am terrified until I finish my first draft of the story. I need to be sure I can logically get the teen out of danger before I can revise—or sleep. My protagonists are my children, too!
Please note:
I will not be posting on Adventures in Writing in July or August 2020. I am moving and have much to do, especially since I’m still trying to move forward on writing projects. Don’t know if I’ll be able to keep writing during this time, though. Thank you for your understanding.
I’ll be interested to see how you’ve tackled this month’s question. It’s great having a topic to share our thoughts on each month. I am extremely thankful for all of you for being my sounding board and advisors in this writing and publishing journey.
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This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. We post on the first Wednesday of every month. To join us, or learn more about the group, click HERE.
You would think with five noisy kids, the snakes would hightail it away from your group.
I'm amazed that you make your characters and you go through the experiences you are most fearful of. Good luck with your move.
Hi,
Good luck with your move. Moving is hectic and it keeps you busy. Things pop up that you didn't expect so try to take as many breaks as you can
All the best and thanks for being a part of IWSG.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I've often wondered if feel of edges has to do with inner ear problems. I've had those my entire life; I also have vertigo. I bet they're connected. Happy IWSG Wednesday, Victoria. Happy moving.
Not a bad fear. Recently the floods around here took some land away. Erosion, I guess. A warning went out, mostly because of the speed and depth of the river, to stand back from the riverbank and its many overhangs.
Anna from elements of emaginette
Edges are scary. And imagine how characters feel every time we leave them hanging from an edge of the cliff (cliff-hangers). lol
Good luck with moving!
How interesting to find out about this fear(s) of yours, Victoria. I can totally imagine you seeing your young protagonists as children as well. I fear too little in life, which might not end well, one day. Have a fantastic move – exciting and stressful at the same time!
Our friends built a two-story house, and when the structure was erected, except for the outside walls, they invited us to see the progress. I stood in the middle of the second floor while they were all walking around THE EDGES. "Come see" they said. Yeah, I could see just fine right there in the middle. I told them someone had to stay close to the exit to call for help when one or all of them fell to their deaths (before cell phones, of course. Otherwise they'd have been selfy-ing themselves.)
I am a little scared of edges without rails and even those if the drop is hundreds of feet.
Not keen on edges either, but I was a diver and loved hurtling off the board in to the air. You knew you did your dive just right if you plunged straight down through the water and the bottom rushed up to meet you. Makes me miss it just writing those words…
Nope! They just got made because we were disturbing their "sunning" on a rock or their "quiet" forest. Still I was glad it was me and not the kids.
It's always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing, Alex. Thanks so much for your note. Have a beautiful July and August!
Thank you for your good wishes for our move, Natalie! Writing gurus say to write from what you know. I need to get the realistic details correct. But I'm still scared out of my wits!
It's always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing. Thanks so much for your comment. Have a beautiful July and August!
Absolutely, Pat! Every time I turn around there is something else that takes precedence over packing boxes. I truly appreciate your advice and will try to find time for breaks.
Thanks so much for your comment here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful July and August!
That's a good question, Joylene. I am always afraid someone will fall off the edge of something. And I did not take my children across the country just to watch them fall off a cliff. No. I had to turn around.
Thanks for your good wishes with my move. Truly appreciate your comment here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful July and August!
Oh my gosh, Anna! Drowning in swift water is another fear I have. That is truly frightening. I hope there were no casualties.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful July and August!
Yes they are, Chrys. Nice pun! Thanks for your good wishes with my move, and thanks for your comment here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful July and August!
Yes, the move is truly exciting and totally stressful. You have the right idea, Liesbet. Don't allow unnecessary objects or clothing to pile up in bins in attics or closets. Yikes!
You are a very brave person, Liesbet. You've sailed the seven seas and lived on a boat. Now you are roaming about on solid land, you lucky person, you. We've always dragged our children along on our many adventures. But you know what? I still wouldn't have changed a thing.
It's always a pleasure seeing you here at Adventures in Writing. Thanks so much for your comment. Have a beautiful July and August!
You are so right, Lee! I can just see the selfies.
I've always told my kids to wait until I got home from college or work before they tried to kill themselves on the trampoline or from climbing trees. I felt I was quicker at dialing 911 than they were.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful July and August!
Absolutely, Juneta! We went to the top of the Rockies in Canada at Jasper, and they had no railings there. I was petrified and kept low to the ground. I simply refused to stand upright, still thinking I could grasp the loose rock to protect me from sliding off the edge.
I truly appreciate your comment here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful July and August!
Hello and welcome to Adventures in Writing, Liza. I think many people aren't keen on edges. But how exciting that you were a diver. Yes, I can watch other people do splendid dives. However, when my children dive, I'm frightful. Bravo to you!
I truly appreciate your note here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful July and August!
I have that fear of edges, too, though not with diving boards, but definitely with mountains, cliffs, places like that. I've noticed it more as I've gotten older. I don't remember it bothering me so much when I was a kid. Snakes have never bothered me. Spiders, however, are a completely different story. Funny how we each have our quirks. Lori at https://lorilmaclaughlin.com
So funny. I don't like spiders either, Lori. And yes, I think I've gotten worse with edges since I've gotten older.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences here at Adventures in Writing. Have a beautiful July and August!