Rough Edges

[wayfaringwordhack]

I know that 99% of the people on my friends list are writers, and I'm pretty sure than a 100% of that 99% are interested in character arcs, specifically helping their MCs improve or grow stronger over the course of novels and, perhaps, shorts.

But a conversation with frigg  got me thinking and wondering: How many of you have the same concern for YOURSELF? Do you actively try to make yourself a better person? Are you aware of your faults/weaknesses, etc., and do you accept them or try to change them?  Want to share how? I don't suppose you go out and try to save the world or arrange to have redshirts  friends killed simply so you can grow through grief and strive to be a better person. *g*

I know I have plenty of rough edges, and I swear that every time I get one smoothed out, I find another jag in need of attention.

Comments

[renakuzar.livejournal.com]

We don't need to go out and find conflict and stress, it finds us, and thus we grow in our response to this, or we die. Some of us do go out to try to save the world, some of us do this by writing. GRIN. Eventually we face death and realize that the final word of our lives is not said by us, but by those who know us.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Well said, Walt. We definitely don't need to go out and find conflict, but sometimes I wonder if I *do* look for it. I know people who do this on a regular basis, but I tend to be a gal who prefers to turn aside confrontation. However, I've noticed a certain hothead tendency in myself--one that comes from a slow-build that eventually blows--that I need to damp early on rather than stoking it. I like to think I grow. I just wish it didn't hurt so much sometimes. Still, while you're hurting, you're not dead. *g*

[melinda-goodin.livejournal.com]

Trying to avoid confrontation can indeed create more of it, and at a time delay. I want to stay friendly with our neighbours, my husband can be difficult, and we've been having issues about our tree pushing over a shared fence. Instead of running the risk of DH antagonising the neighbours, I tried to keep everyone happy and instead the problem dragged out for months. When DH found out what the problem was, he said "I can fix that over the weekend" and wasn't difficult at all. *headslap*

Not doing that again.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Ugh, LJ ate this reply, too.

I need to find the balance of facing a confrontation and doing so with patience and feelings of goodwill instead of allowing my nerves (usually at the situation and not the other person) to make my tone overly brusque.