June 30, 2017 | HEA. Hard work. Equally. Always. This is the HEA I believe in. If you can pull it off in the real world, that's what it takes. It is the same HEA that comes out in my writing.
Hey, there! I see you made it to the blog, but have you perused the other areas of my website? There are fun things from The Making of Saying Goodbye! The playlist Riley made for Joss, the playlists I used for writing inspiration, the lyrics of Joss' song, along with quotes, snippets, fun facts, and photo inspiration boards, just in case you have some extra perusing time available.
Here's an awkward question for you: Have you read Riley and Jocelyn's story yet?
No pressure from me if you haven't. It's okay. I've already given my big brothers permission to forego it. I'm not into giving guilt trips. BUT, if you HAVE read any of their story, you may be wondering what will happen in the end. Will they have a Happily Ever After?
First, there is no spoiler alert here -- because I'm not about to spoil the anticipation by spilling any details, but Riley and Jocelyn will face some trials. They will have some incredible experiences. They will surround themselves with extraordinary people. They will learn amazing things. You might even learn something about yourself right along with them. Suffice it to say, by the end of their story, it may feel like you shared in something a little bit epic.
Since I asked you an awkward question, I thought I'd share an awkward question I've been asked since launching The Makeup Girl in May, The Mystery Girl in June, The Moment Girl in August, and The Memory Girl in September...
This was the Question of Awkwardness:
"Let me get this straight. Your book is about people making a movie? Like actors? Movie stars? I don't even need to read it. I can guess. The ending is obviously a gooey, sickeningly sweet happily ever after for beautiful people who never had any problems to begin with. Am I right? Am I right?"
Whoa. Where do I begin? To be honest, the question took me off guard. I nonchalantly closed my dropped jaw and answered, "I think your version of happily ever after differs from mine," before politely changing the subject. You know those delayed replies you think of later? The perfect comebacks for the snide remark? As I stewed over the absence of mine, I really couldn't come up with anything witty. Why? Because the real answer is long, and probably not worth sharing with people who are in the habit of asking awkward questions. Instead, I'm going to record my answer here. It will make me feel better about not snapping back with a witty rebuttal at the time.
The first jab concerned the story's setting. A filming location. I admit, filming movies seemed glamorous until I spent eight years imagining and researching. Wanna know what I learned? At the end of the day, it is a job that must be accomplished, with pressures and budgets and deadlines and co-workers you don't necessarily get along with. Yup. Just like your job. Just like my job.
The second jab was at the characters. Movie stars? Well, on a filming location, you may run into a few of those. It just so happens that of the two protagonists, one is an actor and one is a makeup artist. I didn't imagine those jobs. That's what they were doing the first time I dreamed about them. Nine years ago. In those nine years, I've added numerous points to their character sheets. Their backstories, their opinions, their fears and regrets and habits? All listed on their sheets. Portrayed in their words and their actions and decisions. They aren't merely beautiful people who never had any problems to begin with because I didn't write them that way. They could only be more real if I hired Dr. Frankenstein to animate them with a lightning bolt. I feel protective of these characters. Can you tell? Nine years of imagining how a character would think, react, or feel, is a lot of imagining. Enough said. I'm stepping down from my soapbox now. Oh! Wait!
There was one more jab to address! Will it really end in an obviously gooey, sickeningly sweet happily ever after? This might take a few more minutes atop the soapbox.
Amongst writers on the web, there are discussions about HEA - the Happily Ever After. Is it a mere literary device, used to easily plot a story? Does it exist? Some writers say it's farcical and fanciful, and should only be used in writing fairy tales. Some writers say the HEA is expected by their readers who want an escape from reality, and they'd have an uprising on their hands if they didn't conclude with one. Some say it never happens in real life, so you've either got to write fiction and include it or tell the truth and forego it.
HEA - Do I believe in it? Well, maybe not in the 200-page romance novel way, where the couple meets, falls madly in love, and walks sweetly into the sunset together.
Hard work. Equally. Always.
This is the HEA I believe in - If you can pull it off in the real world, that's what it takes. It is the same HEA that comes out in my writing. It's gotta be both parties, or it's not gonna work out in my fictitious world, either.
Some of my characters find love because I like writing about it. Finding someone to love is one of the grandest moments in life. It's fun to write about. Do my characters fall in love? That would be an emphatic no. Love is not a puddle to be stumbled into, people.
Love is when you're having trouble opening your locker and someone stops to ask if you need help, and you realize they're sincerely asking because they cared enough to notice you.
Love is a moment in a meeting when a coworker says something brilliant or kind or insightful, and you realize there's a soul functioning inside that co-worker you are drawn to know better.
Love is the epiphany you receive when a friend confides in you and you realize how much you'd hate it if they turned to anyone else.
That whole falling in love business? That's the hardest, because falling insinuates there will be a landing. A thud. The painful gasp after the wind has been knocked out of your lungs. And what then?
Instead, I think we should ease into love, one toe at a time, like a hot spring. Sure, it feels great when you're finally all in, but it is not the time for a cannonball.
Do I believe in HEA? If you mean working harder than you knew was possible and forgiving and apologizing and paying attention and never letting your grasp weaken? Then, yes, I believe in HEA.
The work? The success? The story? It's in sticking the landing. It's in planting your feet for the ten. It's in fully submerging yourself in the care of another by putting their needs ahead of your own.
Overlooking faults, accepting shortcomings, and pulling together like two crazy-in-love oxen, yoked to the wagon of life, is how it happens. That's not a very romantic metaphor, but that's what it takes--sturdy creatures who are in it for the long haul.
That's what gets my characters to the HEA. That is the HEA you will find in my books. That's the HEA you'll find between Riley and Jocelyn. Hard Work. Equally. Always.
Okay. That feels better. I'm glad to get that off my chest. I'm officially stepping off my soapbox now. Thanks for letting me vent.
If you'd like some apropos background music while you decide how you feel about HEA, head over to The Makeup Girl page and listen to the playlist Riley made for Joss. She swears he embedded subliminal messages of love. See what you think.
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