Finding Maggie, at 26,747 Words

I realized over the last couple of days that I need to stop whining about my novel and take the time to fix what I know is wrong. I realized some time ago that I actually didn't really understand my main character at all, and was feeling sort of trapped by that. Jackie suggested I find a way to make her interesting, and I don't know if I've done that, but I feel like I am finding her, and I am pleased with my writing session today. Part of it was my wholehearted surrender to snackskys- I picked up some wine gums after hitting up the liquor store for some wine, it was a brilliant combination. Part is the fact that I am home, and back at my favourite writing place- my oversized desk, with my dog laying at my feet, not chewing on my legs. The rest was my ability to finally get into writing, and stop thinking too much about it. I knew what I had to do, and just sat down and did it. I feel like I finally explained Sean and Maggie effectively. This is a long excerpt, but I don't know how to break it up, so please, bear with me, I won't always be this verbose (or will I? Cue evil laughter)

"The Story of Sean and Maggie
Set it to a rhythm, set it to music, as everything was, as everything is. Make it something rare, something that stirs the senses, something to set you on edge, bass you can feel thumping in your chest, something to make your teeth clench and your heart race. The story of Sean and Maggie is blood boiling, it is tempers flaring, it is desire, it is want, need, truth, pain, and it is everything in between. It is pure emotion, animalistic and without reason. It is like music at its best, music when it feels like recognition, like something archetypal, like part of human experience. When you hear it, you know. You know but can’t explain. And choice has flown away, lost in the wind, gone forever. Because it chose you, and if you walk away, it will follow. And you will want it to.
Imagine for a moment walking down a road- it is well travelled, populated by many, very straight, and very, very easy to follow. This was Maggie’s life. Raised in a middle class home, second daughter to brilliant, if cynical parents, younger sister to brilliant, cynical Edie. Maggie made friends easily, did well in school, had boyfriends, broke hearts, had her heart broken, picked herself up with the help of those easily made friends, and went on, and on, and on. Perhaps the only unexpected thing in Maggie’s life was her dissatisfaction with a life that seemed perfect to others, but stifling to her. She walked the road, but instead of looking forward as most seemed to, she looked around, wondering what else there was, and if perhaps, she should be travelling a different road. She was one of those who scream in a room full of people, and is never heard. Until Sean.
Sean was walking a trail, one that fell off and picked up again in places, so that he would have to find his way several times, and he was very, very alone. He had no parents, cynical or otherwise, had no sister to speak of, and friends were rare, treasured gifts. He had many girlfriends, loved some of them, had his heart broken, and broke hearts. He did these things alone, but was accompanied by music, which he always heard in his head. This is part of what set him apart from others, and part of what made him alone. He heard the music, and learned to sing along with it, and he found that people wanted to listen. They would walk with him for awhile when he sang.
Maggie and Sean didn’t meet, they collided. A tornado picked both of them up, and set them down in the middle of the wilderness. There was no one else there. When they looked at each other, they both heard the music, and for the first time, Sean didn’t feel alone. And Maggie finally understood what had been missing. It was the music. She had missed it when it wasn’t there. And now that she has heard it, she can never go back.
They had no compass, and only had each other to rely on to find their way. Being lost felt much the same as being found. Maggie used the stars to navigate. Sean used the moon. Maggie was used to having friends, Sean was used to being alone. They couldn’t agree on what constituted danger, and what was safe. They were euphoric, high on each other. They detested each other, raged, fought, screamed in frustration and cried at the thought of ever being apart. They were miserable together, more miserable apart. Maggie wanted to lie in the grass with Sean forever, lying in his arms and hearing the music play. Sean wanted to consume her whole. Possess her, keep her, never lose her.
They were forceful, determined, passionate, and willful. They were used to getting their way. They both hating giving in. It was a disaster, but it was everything to both of them. Maggie tried to leave, Sean played the music, and she followed him back. And every time she did, she lost part of herself, and he gained more. It had to go on forever, and it had to end. It was impossible, and inevitable, and Maggie loved and hated every moment of it."


I will leave you with one final question... why are black wine gums?