The rewrite of my novel is consuming my every waking moment, and yes, most of my sleeping moments, too. I dream about my fictional characters, which is great for plot and character development. It’s when I dream about the real-life psychopaths on whom they are based that my emotional stability gets challenged.
So, by all accounts, I have led a colorful life. From an outsider’s POV, many think it’s glam, enviable, exciting and action-packed. But to the one who was living it, ME, it was full of more than my share of drama, pain, loss, misery and sorrow. And some happy parts, too, don’t get me wrong. I would not change a thing in my life as I sit here today. I survived and thrived in spite of it all. I’m living the happily ever after chapter of the real story as I memorialize the villains and heroes in my imagination, also known as a novel.
Here’s my problem. I’m still forced to live in the real world with real villains and mentally challenged people roaming free range in my microcosmic world. The main antagonist in my debut novel is straight out of the headlines from our last, and final, drama in the States. A narcissistic sociopath on steroids. Once he was in my rear-view mirror, it was fun to play with his character from the relative safety and security of my home office in paradise. But then there are the crazies in every day life here, who demonstrate personality disorders that disrupt our life and cause unnecessary confusion and pain.
So, how to cope? A lot of venting helps, but only in the sanctity and privacy of my home, and only with K, my life partner. A lot of research on google helped me to identify the symptoms of certain disorders, and then offered suggestions for coping with the crazy behavior in the least harmful way to my peace and serenity. Information is power. And the beauty of all of this is that today’s psychopath will be tomorrow’s antagonist in my next novel.
Namaste
May. 10, 2018
Judy Richter 