'Live By Love' Day

Yes, it's Groundhog Day & Writer's Digest has a cool obit prompt for poor Phil's untimely death. I have to say, it's -4 outside without the windchill. Hubby says it reminds him of his days in Anchorage & we're not even close to there. Lightning snow in Chicago, volcanic eruptions in Japan & a cyclone off the coast of Australia - yeah, 6 more weeks of winter would come as zero surprise in this camp.

But, instead, I want to focus on the love. My kids brought this to my attention. The deal-y - place a paper heart on your shirt. Every time someone says something hurtful, you're supposed to tear a piece of the heart away. But, whenever someone says something nice, you're supposed to write a positive message on the heart. At the end of the day, see where your heart stands.

While in theory, it sounds interesting. I am concerned, first because teenagers aren't exactly the most empathetic individuals. Second, what parent doesn't hope their kid comes home with a scribbled over, in tact heart. Of course, this brought me around to novel characters.

We nurture them, love them & then we tear their little aortic valves to shreds. Comes with the territory, but in fiction, we get to put them back together. New life, new love, new normal - it's a neat little package of "We can rebuild him/her." The $6M man & woman had an easier time, I think. But, it is the stock with which we peddle. Tear 'em up, tear 'em up, tear 'em real good - rah, rah, rah. Okay, obviously, I'm no cheerleader, but hey (shrug).

Live by love novel day would consist of the MC picking up the pieces of their broken life & putting them back together with super, heavy duty new-life glue. Not based on compliments, but choices & decisions, twists & turns, trauma & drama. No melodrama need apply.

How do you plan to spend your 'live by love' day?

Happy Writing,

Patti