Where Has All the Toilet Paper Gone?

Yesterday, I had to use my kids' bathroom. Normally, this isn't a huge deal; they are required to clean it top to bottom every weekend. But yesterday, there was no tp on the roll. Nope. It sat, forlorn on the counter next to its holder. The two are supposed to work in tandem, darn it.

I did what you're supposed to do. I put the white cotton layers on their dispenser. And then placed it in its silver delivery system. In that moment, I had this crazy little thought. Proper placement of toilet paper has a direct correlation to writing.

Two-ply Please - Three if it were possible - dimensions that is. Cardboard hurts character development. Characters need layers, sheets. The thicker the skin, the greater the character depth & development.

Placeholders are important - Just as tp doesn't belong on the bathroom counter; characters need to be immersed in their environment. Where they are determines how they react, the decisions they make & the dangers they encounter.

Hang it - In order to unravel a character's world, it is necessary to rip the tp from under their feet. Drop them on their backsides and write them through the dust off. That can't be accomplished if the paper isn't hung on the zip line.

Characters aren't fluffy white, nor can they be bought in packs. It's the rough edges and their exposure that create memorable characters. And, although MCs need support, equi-measured rolls from the same lot will not provide the ensemble needed to incite change. Don't forget to put the tp where it belongs. And make sure it hangs just right.

Happy Writing,

Patti