Reinventing Claire
by Darian Wilk
August 20, 2012
People get divorced, but that's what happens to other
people. That's what Claire thought anyway, until her husband, Charlie, tells
her he wants a divorce.
Claire has no choice but to take on the title of Divorced Woman and face the
question she has no idea how to answer. Who is Claire without Charlie? Her
family believes her newly divorced woes can be cured by landing herself a
boyfriend. With her dating dunce cap in hand, Claire stumbles her way through
the foreign territory of online dating.
A teacher from hell, a softball coach, and a sap later, Claire proclaims
herself the dating idiot she thought she was and fears she's doomed to be a
lonely, crazy cat lady. But an accidental run-in with an old acquaintance might
change everything. What starts with comparing dating battle wounds over a cup of
coffee quickly turns into something Claire had given up on.
As Claire discovers maybe there is love after Charlie after all, Charlie
realizes his mistake. He wants her back, and he'll do anything to prove it to
her. Now Claire must choose who deserves her heart, and if she's really willing
to give it away again.
People Watching is Cool
Guest Post by Darian Wilk
One of the most frequent questions readers ask me is not how
I come up with ideas, but how do I create such realistic characters? This is the part where I give the awe
inspiring answer only a brainiac like me could come up with, which will send an
explosion heard throughout the literary community… I must give credit to my
stealthy, honed, people watching skills.
Wait for the writing world to erupt into applause…wait for it, wait for
it…nothing yet? Crap. Guess I’m still stuck in the trenches…
The success I’ve had thus far comes from years of being a
wallflower and watching, well, you. People
watching is cool. Admit it, you like it
too. When you see that woman at the
grocery store, in a Superman t-shirt, yellow shorts, and her worn out Kermit
slippers – you’re staring too. People
watching is not only highly enjoyable, for me it’s also apart of work. It’s part of my research. Thus giving me a justifiable excuse to
continue staring – I’m working by staring.
Often times I can’t hear the conversation between the
cashier and the woman in the Superman shirt, and I don’t really care what
they’re talking about. Dialogue fitting
to a character comes naturally when they behave
as they should. I want to see their movements, their reactions,
and expressions. People watching is how
I’ve learned the subtleties of people, which I pour into my characters and is
what hopefully gives them that realistic flare.
For example, what’s an easy way to spot a couple on their first date at
a restaurant? It’s not the flirtatious
smile, or how attentive he seems. The
giveaway? A woman always has perfect posture on first dates. The established couple? She’s slouching and checking Facebook on her
phone.
While it may look like I’m just staring at someone for a
random reason, I’m actually learning.
I’m studying the traits of real people, to create real people. I’m learning how a woman reacts to
back-handed compliments from her mother-in-law, how a frustrated mom quiets her
kids at the mall, and how people react when they run into someone they hoped to
avoid.
A writer could drown in the advice of proper ways to create
realistic characters. Everyone is an
expert, or has proclaimed themselves one.
But for me, if my characters feel as if they come to life on the page,
it’s not from the hundreds of articles or books I’ve read, it’s credited to
watching real people. So you never know,
maybe the next time you wear your Kermit slippers to the store, I’ll be
studying you, and you’ll end up in my book.
About Darian Wilk:
I'm a women's fiction writer, author of Love Unfinished and
Reinventing Claire. I love the challenge and thrill of putting words onto
paper, and forming it into a story. For me, the only thing better than that are
my kids.
On the occasions I'm not engulfed in writing, you'll find me reading a book,
either for fun or for review on my blog, Crazy Lady with a Pen. When I'm not
reading, I'm spending time with my friends and family. Life is too short to
pass those beautiful little moments life has to offer by, I want to soak up
every moment I can.
For more information about me, my books, reviews, or my blog, please visit my
website,
www.DarianWilk.weebly.com. You can also find Darian on
Twitter and
Facebook. (And occasionally as a reviewer on Krazy Book Lady!)
Reinventing Claire 
