top of page
Writer's pictureSylvia Woodham

Key Relationship Dynamics (Isarina)

In my current WIP, I am trying to make sure relationships are described on the page. Yet I wonder how the author is supposed to die if there are inaccuracies in reader interpretation?


There are two relationships in the main character's life I hope I get right on the page. Perhaps as I describe them more clearly here, without trying to give away any spoilers.


The first relationship in the book that is an interesting and complex character arc to me, is the relationship the MC has with her first husband. She has five spouses in which she invests heavily, so this was a really interesting book to write in each of the arcs of those characters. However, the other spouses all came into her life after she had begun her reign. Her first husband came into her life when she was named heir apparent, two years before the start of her reign, at a time when every family desired the political alliance. She set the tone for her reign in selecting Xerfus for chosing someone who did not try to rule for her. He knew her parents, and has been by her side while the first 9 years of her reign and creating her vision have come to life. He is the strong man behind the successful woman. He is also the one who has seen her transformation and growth into her leadership style, and knows her insecurities much better than the younger Consorts, so he is someone she relies on instead of having to pour so much concern and oversight into his development. Because of this dynamic in their relationship, it is interesting to consider his growth arc, and that impacts how the events happen, and ultimately the events at the end. That is where I am not sure my beta readers understood that by stepping back to trust her instincts and character judgement, he gains less growth and experience himself. Readers like her character growth in facing her fears of losing his support, but did not fully grasp the complexities of that process for her, not being dependent on him monetarily, so there being an unequal power dynamic.


The second crucial relationship in her life which came up in a recent workshop, which one member of the workshop was ignoring details on the page in lieu of her own projections onto the scene, is that with a long time foreign power alliance. Slightly older than my MC, the woman ruling an Empire to the North, which is a Viking/ Rus culture, has been a peer to Isarina as two women allied in the interests of two of the largest powers in their world. This Empress, named Segrid, has attended every wedding of Isarina, again, since before her reign began, and her parents were still alive. This woman would have been alongside Isarina's tutors of foreign diplomacy and understanding the process of Isarina finding her own rhythm as a ruler. In addition, the dynamic in her family relationships, and maintaining power in their world, is something Isarina would have only been able to fully relate to Isarina about, despite any cultural relationships.


I think the deeply rooted inspiration with the incredibly acheiving women in my life, as well as the work with my clients, and relating to them as human beings first, seeking to balance dynamics of how they are perceived in public against their personal interests and strengths and weaknesses. These are all dynamics I bring into working with them about their leadership styles. What I would not ever expect to see in these kinds of relationship on a page are those which adhere to stiff formalities. This was what was expected by one reader, who only saw the two most powerful women in a room together, and expected that to be the definition of their relationship and interactions.


I was so tickled by Sigrid when I introduced her because it was fun to pull from contemporary references trying to create familiarity for the reader. Some readers absolutely loving her bluntness. In addition to the Love Interest which develops for this character was someone one beta reader wanted to see more of, which made be particularly happy. That Romantic relationship delves into two women from these two different cultures finding commonality and exploring each other's culture in the context of their intimacy. This was also a fun dynamic to explore. However, when i took a step back from these characters a few months into the projects, the rest of the characters being diverse, and Segrid being the white woman in the room, in a supporting role of diverse strong characters, made me feel like it did represent my relationship with my friends quite well. I do love being able to paint those strokes on paper. It is important to me that when the final product becomes the domain of the reader, these are things that are understood.


Recently, someone wrote a post about Indian women having to justify their arranged marriages, and I commented about my experience supporting a Pakistani woman living with us in an arranged marriage introduction since her parents were in Pakistan. We certainly did not focus on the formalities. There was no cultural "ritual." The man and his parents came to our home, and we sat with them for moral support as our friend began to get to know the man and his family. She was a very spunky woman, and said in her choices to study medicine and move abroad, she was much more independently minded than the average woman from her culture. However, my experiences have not been different hosting a member of the Italian nobility in that same room. Nor have they been different visiting members of the British nobility on their estates, where we had coffee, discussed the fire that had damaged a wing, their sources of income, and things that would be a concern to any human being about their home or business. My father was someone who could shoot the breeze for hours with toothless rural neighbors, and I have worked with global leaders as fully able to set aside custom, ritual, or formalities, in building relationships with people of any station. There is certainly an opportunity for my readers to have a glimpse into that world and reality if they have not experienced it. One I hope my readers do not miss.


If there are any resources, particularly on writing subtext, you have to suggest, please do leave those references in the comments below!



8 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page