The Ties That Bind Us

As a writer with a psychological bent, I often examine my own interactions with the people around me, probing the boundaries, fingering the threads and knots. I've done this since I was prepubescent, working out who got along well with whom, how to diffuse tense situations, how to tailor my approach to a person when I wanted to ask a favor. I'd like to say the ability comes naturally, but it doesn't.

I'm still the master of social gaffes. I sometimes work against myself.

But there's a beauty in the way people are connected -- some bonds stronger, taut, steady...others thin, wispy, barely sustained. Complicated. There's the mother who would sacrifice anything for her child, yet she hardens her heart with jealousy, eyeing her thriving child, born into privileges she herself was not fortunate enough to have. There's the broken criminal, brusquely keeping the other inmates in line with threats and muscle, but whose thoughts turn to the younger brother he left on the outside, barely a teen and now fending for himself and their younger siblings.

A story can take place anywhere, any time, in any setting. But it's the relationships between the characters that draw me in. So I don't rule out any particular genre. I'll read mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy...anything, if the author catches me with some good relationship tension. So how are your characters connected? Are the ties overt, simple? Or hidden, snarled?

Sure, I love a good relationship. Does that mean I write romance? No. In fact, I find relationships that are barbed with awkwardness, conflicted feelings, and hardships to be the most interesting.

I also love to get deep down into a character's biggest soft spot. His or her true devotion, whatever he or she most wants to protect. Whom does Dek Sundowner most want to protect? The answer may not be so obvious...

Keep loving,
Ren D.