Spilled Coffee

This morning started out like ever other morning...rushing and scrambling as soon as my feet hit the floor. Every morning at 5:30 am, my alarm goes off, I rush to make the kids lunch and breakfast, wake the kids up, lay out clothes for the kids, grab some clothes for myself, help the kids put their clothes on, tell the kids they are old enough to brush their own teeth and put on their own shoes, brush MY teeth, then help them brush their teeth and put on their shoes anyways because they are taking too long, grab and load all of the homework, backpacks, jackets, food, keys...and then we are out the door.

Now, normally, because I work with kids all day, I wear black and jeans. It is easy and if things get dirty I don't mind. Well, in my rush today, I decided to change it up. I dressed in light cargo pants with an equally light long sleeve top that has thin orange stripes (one of my favorites).

This is where the fun day begins. Following my husband into the equipment room so I can talk to him while he gets the items he needed to teach his PE class, he set down his piping hot coffee mocha next to me. In his attempt to hurry, this lovely coffee gets tipped.

Or more accurately, hit with his shoulder slash elbow and thrown at me, exploding at my feet and staining my lovely and not so kid proof outfit. Or should I say husband proof.

I tried washing it. No such luck. For the rest of the day I had students asking what in the world I had spilled all over myself.

My husband felt horrible for the rest of the day and tried to make it up to me by lots of quick kisses, lunch, and a Vitamin water (also one of my favorites).

And his attitude towards what was obviously an accident is just one of the things I find incredibly perfect about him. He was what I needed to make walking around stained with coffee all day not that bad.

Later this evening I was speaking with my mom and we started talking about characters. In the stories that I write, I find it hard to stray too much from some very core characteristics that make heroines and heroes likable.

In the books that I write, the lead females have very strong personalities. They are survivors and fighters. They are also usually stubborn in an independent way.
My males have a protectiveness about them and a willingness to just love the girl they have fallen for. Or like my husband, be exactly who that girl needs when she needs him.

Now, from these core characteristics, I branch out. One may love music, one may be more passive, one may have a temper that can flare at times...the list can go on.

But those core characteristics tend to stay because they are what I tend to love in fictional characters. But this can get boring when coming from the same writer book after book. There needs to be some challenge for a writer in really getting into the head of a person with a different character make up completely. A lot like acting.

And so, for one of the books I have started building the framework for, my challenge for myself to grow as a writer is to create a completely different heroine....who is also just so darn likeable you wish she were real.

How about you? What do you find in a lead female or male character that draws you to them?