Month: May 2019

domestic abuse

Writing Lives Of Fictional People

carolyncordon

I have been looking into the life of an imaginary person, Molly, considering her life, and the reasons she looks the way she looks. I drew her, I am completely lacking in talent as a visual artist, it doesn’t come naturally to me, drawing. For this story, that doesn’t matter, my character isn’t some sweetly pretty princess, she is a sad and unsmiling abused woman.

Screenshot 2019-05-17 at 5.52.43 PM

This person above is Molly. She is an angry person, and she doesn’t smile, not ever. Molly never has anything in her life to smile about. She has a sad and angry life, being abused for all of her life so far, in many different ways.

This writing project that I am doing with Molly, is a fictional story, but there are many ‘non fictional’ elements to this story. Abuse is a fact of life for many people, in particular, but not only women, I acknowledge that.

But I am a woman, and the people I know who have spoken about any abuse they have encountered in life, well they have almost all been women. Hence Molly, and Molly’s story. I would love it if people like Molly could find good things in their lives, so they could smile happily, and feel they can move on, ‘get over it’ and go on toward living a good life.

But women like Molly, ones who have been victims of domestic abuse for much of their lives, they struggle so much in their lives, that smiling is something they never do, because their lives are a burdensome series of punches, bruises, broken bones, harsh words, and worse, day after day, with no joy ever.

Having things to look forward to in our lives should be something for every one of us, but sadly, for women like Molly, the only thing to look forward to is to not get hit, raped, or abused in any other way.

Domestic abuse is a fact of life for many women, and for some men too. I have little experience about any domestic abuse that men face, although I have certainly heard about it happening. That isn’t my story to tell though. It isn’t Molly’s story.

I will be continuing with Molly’s story, on this website, adding a new piece I hope, every day or so. When this is finished, perhaps Molly will learn how to smile. I certainly hope she does, but that is something I can’t see happening yet. I think there is much to be discussed before Molly can smile.

If you have any thoughts or ideas about women with lives like Molly’s I welcome any discussion about this important subject. Feel free to leave a comment here.

domestic abuse

Molly Has Needs, Does Anyone Care?

carolyncordon

Molly is a mix of many people, women all, but with some parts that may apply to men as well, in some regards. Vulnerable people all, survival is their only aim in life, and it’s hard to do sometimes. Life hits you, knocks you down, over and over again. Surviving all of that means there isn’t much space in your life to do anything over and above mere survival.

Screenshot 2019-05-17 at 5.52.43 PM This is Molly. She has been working hard.
Every single day, she works hard.

Living & breathing, both of these are hard
to do for people like Molly. She doesn’t
even think about doing anything more
than just living – being alive and breathing.

Molly doesn’t have the energy to smile,
to smile means there is something you are
happy about. Molly can’t see anything in life
to be happy about.

Molly hasn’t lost hope, Molly never had any.

 

Never assume you know what a person is going through in their life, some of them might be like Molly, and it is hard work just to live and breathe.

If you are doing it tough in life, there are people and organisations who can help you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, you deserve it.

We all have wants and needs, we all deserve to have at least our needs met. Food, shelter, care from others. All are vital to live a good life, and the opportunities to have wants met too, we deserve the chance to have some of those met too. Having options in life is how we can find our best way to live, but people like Molly don’t even realise they have any options beyond merely breathing, and sometimes even that can be difficult.

If you know someone like Molly, why not have a chat with them, who knows what might happen. Good things can begin with a simple sit and chat. If you do it, maybe one day Molly and people like her may smile.
 

 

Writing

Molly’s Story Shifted, But Back Here Again

carolyncordon

My “This is Molly” story had a brief move to another of my blogs, one which deals with abuse, sexual abuse against children initially, but other forms of abuse later on. It seemed like a better spot for Molly’s story, but on further thought, I’m back to feeling the ‘story’ should be here, on my writer blog.

That other blog, https://wordpress.com/view/damagedchildrenpreciousgems.wordpress.com got its name from the poetry collection I had published quite a few years back, and I have gained much from having written and shared the words. Life isn’t always lovely, and when you can show that bad times can have a better way to go, it can be helpful for other people, and I am glad to know of women I have helped with this book.

Screenshot 2019-05-17 at 5.52.43 PM

This is Molly. She has had a hard life, and it shows …

 

So I’ve decided this blog is the best place for Molly and her story.

Molly has had a tough life, and Molly shows her reactions to that in her face. Molly’s face has had smiles, but that was a long, long time ago. She’d love to have a reason to smile just once as an adult, it would be a good thing, a new thing, but her smiles were as a child and they were few and far between, even then.

Keep a look out here, and you sill see some more of Molly’s story. I truly hope Molly can have a happy ending, but I can’t see it going that way, not yet. Poor Molly, domestic violence is a terrible thing, and even though there are groups and programs to help victims of DV, it is never an easy thing to get over.

Hearing about the lives of people who haven’t had things as easy as we have, may bring a better understanding to people, and empathy as well. When things are bad, you need all of the help you can get. People like Molly may not smile and say thank you, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t grateful. They may not think the help will continue, based on their life experience …

If Molly and her story are like your own story, I hope you are able to get the help you need. If not, some of these links may be of help: click here

 

 

 

Story Ideas

Molly, My Brand New Character

carolyncordon

This is Molly

Molly has lived a hard life. I am going to be doing some thinking about Molly and why she is like she is. Sometimes people have many reasons for why they are cranky.

 

 

Molly might not seem to have anything likable about her, but if you talk with her, maybe you’ll find things about her that you never knew. If you know anyone who doesn’t seem likable, maybe you need to have a chat, you never know what you might learn.

Everyone has one thing, at least. Maybe Molly makes lovely cookies. Maybe Molly loves dogs, but she was never allowed to have one. Poor Molly, maybe she just needs someone to listen to her …

Some people don’t realise there is any possibility of having a friend, so they don’t bother trying to be likable. Some people have had friends, but lost them from death, misunderstanding, many different reasons.

If you know people like Molly, why not give them a chance, you might both be surprised, in good ways.

It might take a while for Molly to want to be your friend, but please help, by making it easy for her. If you smile kindly at Molly, she may find her own smile again. She lost it a long, long time ago …

This is Molly2 (2)

 

 

Uncategorized

From Fiction to Non Fiction

carolyncordon

When the mind feel like a holiday from coming up with new ideas for the novel I’m writing, new back story, dialogue, plot issues and answers, that’s when it may be time for writing some more non fiction. And right now, that is just the spot I feel I am currently in.

It’s Mothers Day, and I am having a lovely day of doing not much really, while my husband gets on with doing things – making coffee first thing in the morning for me, as a lovely Mothers Day gift, then cleaning, and now working hard on getting our main meal cooked and lovely. Roast chicken with vegetables, in the Weber, lovely!

I was reading various things on Facebook and Twitter, then I decided it was time to get some writing done. If I want to call myself a writer, I have to write, right? Right! So I’ve spent a few hours adding to my current non fiction work, an exploration on the everyday wisdoms I have found, and am continuing to find, in my life. I envisage this book being popular with people who are working at finding deeper meaning in their own life.

poetry books

(this book case is right next to me, when I sit on the sofa with my laptop, and write, and the green and blue thing is a small blanket I’ve been meaning to finish crocheting, but need to get more yarn for, and keep forgetting to …)

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This book is still a long way from finished, but I am finding the writing process a satisfying one, thinking, then writing, thinking, writing some more. The word count is slowly rising, but there are still many more words that need to be written.

And today, , a few days past Mothers Day, I have connected with this blog post, in draft form and am finishing it off, having just posted a new blog post here, with a new Creative Writing exercise, the sixth one. I’m happy with the post, it’s a good writing exercise, about using the senses in your writing, which is always a good idea to try to remember to do. It brings more into your writing.

It was a creative writing workshop I help a couple of years ago, so I had to make a few changes, which is definitely a ‘non-fictionish’ kind of thing to do. Perhaps I’ll get some more of that novel written today too, and more of the non fiction manuscript I’ve been working on, off and on.

So another blog post done, and posted, I’ll finish that coffee, feed Missy, then get my own lunch happening! Life, such a lovely life, I am living here!