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Misery: An Aid to Plot and Character Development                by Marsha Diane Arnold

2/13/2015

11 Comments

 
Some writers can write through anything – surgeries, illness, death. It’s their way of coping and expressing their feelings.  I’ve never been one of those writers.  Even if I’m just having a bad hair day, my writing usually comes to a halt.

But I do have a blog to write. So, I’m making an exception. Besides, I suspect that if I ever need to write a miserable book, perhaps one similar to Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, that my recent experience of three days in ICR and 6 in hospital could play a role.

When one of the fourteen doctors who saw me asked, “How did you ever get scarlet fever? It’s a children’s disease,” I didn’t miss a beat. “It makes perfect sense,” I responded, “I write books for children.”

Later, I recalled that scarlet fever provided plot twists, helped with character development, and allowed epiphanies, caring, tragedies, and triumphs to be expressed in some classic children’s literature.

The reader can often guess when a story was written or set by the illnesses found in the text. Scarlet fever is most often thought of as a disease of the 1800’s or the early 20th century. Indeed, in the mid-1800’s it was one of the most fatal infectious diseases among children. Strange that something so deadly has such romantic sounding names: scarlet fever or scarlatina.

All-of-a-Kind Family was published in 1951, but took readers back to the 1910s, before World War I. The story of five young sisters covers trials from missing library books to scarlet fever. In those days there weren’t antibiotics, like the ones they pumped into me, and the children were placed in quarantine for weeks. 
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One of the most beloved children’s books of all time, The Velveteen Rabbit, also features a main character with scarlet fever. After the boy recovers, the doctor orders, “Why, it's a mass of scarlet fever germs! Burn it at once.” Poor Velveteen Rabbit. Fortunately, the toy rabbit was left in a sack in the garden and not burned straight away. He's found by a fairy who turns him into a real rabbit, because he truly is “real.”
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Then there was sweet Beth March from Little Women who contracted scarlet fever during her caring for the Hummels, a poor German immigrant family. Although Beth recovers from the illness, she grows weaker and weaker and eventually dies. Sadly, scarlet fever can lead to many complications, including rheumatic fever, infection, and liver and kidney damage.  The novel expresses Beth’s character of goodness and provides a tragedy for the story.  Her death also changes Jo, who resolves to care more for others.
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In the fifth book of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, By The Shores of Silver Lake, set in 1879, the whole family comes down with scarlet fever. And even American Girl’s independent and spunky Kit Kittredge could not escape the disease. In Kit Uses Her Head, both Kit and her best friends Ruthie and Stirling had scarlet fever.
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One of my friends shared that her father had scarlet fever as a child and was kept in isolation for six weeks. The solitude for him was both a traumatizing time as well as enriching. It would certainly allow for introspection.

Some of the scarlet fever stories have sad endings, others happier. My own story has me recovering with the help of some healing springs water. On our way back to Florida from North Carolina, I coerced my husband into taking a detour to Blackville, South Carolina, where God’s Acre Healing Springs is found. The area reminded me of what the spring in Tuck Everlasting may have looked like. 

And so again, my life is intertwined with children’s literature, as in truth, all our lives are. Write well, write wisely, dear writers.

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An award-winning picture book author, Marsha has six upcoming picture books/board books slated for 2015/2016. The first, Lost. Found., from Neal Porter Books, will be out this fall.

Her Writing Wonderful Character-Driven Picture Books course has helped many published and aspiring writers to write stronger characters. Read more at www.marshadianearnold.com or hop over to Facebook to like her author page. 
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11 Comments
Kirsti Call link
2/14/2015 02:37:52 am

Loved your post, Marsha! I'm glad you're recovering and using your illness for inspirational blog posts!

Reply
Manju link
2/14/2015 04:26:12 am

Marsha, it's great to hear that you are feeling better. Like your doctors, I wondered how you managed to get scarlet fever. Your answer makes perfect sense. :)

Reply
Debra Bartsch
2/15/2015 12:30:18 am

Reply
Debra Bartsch
2/15/2015 12:37:49 am

Hi Marsha,
Very glad to hear of your recovery. Thank you for your post. For me it was a memory walk as all of those books you mentioned with the childhood illnesses and fortitude for life, no matter which way it seems to go, are among my personal favorites as well !
Also the healing waters , I am a firm believer in that. I am taking a week long vacation to several natural healing water hot springs, next week , to swim in the minerals and recharge from the inside out, outside in. !!! THank you for your post as and keep up the positive recovery !
Deb Bartsch (Bergerson) from Mira's CBA classes

Reply
Marsha Diane Arnold link
2/17/2015 10:13:57 pm

Thank you all for your good wishes. Deb, I'd love to hear about what hot springs you are enjoying. You have inspired me to find some hot springs. Enjoy! And yes, those books are a memory walk for me too.

Reply
Sandy Asher link
2/20/2015 03:57:43 am

So glad you're over it, Marsha! My mother contracted scarlet fever as a girl, then rheumatic fever that cast a shadow over the rest of her life. Raise a glass of that spring water and toast antibiotics and those who developed them! I'll join you from here.

Reply
Marsha Diane Arnold link
2/20/2015 04:06:15 am

Thanks so much, Sandy. I'm sorry about your dear mother. It really can be a horrific disease! I am nearly well. Just a few things to clear up and need to get my energy back...should be good by end of the month. Yes, thanks be to antibiotics. When they are good, they are very, very good. And to the spring water. :)

Reply
Charlotte Dixon link
2/20/2015 07:13:50 am

I'm relieved to see you well and writing, Marsha. I grew up with the books mentioned in your post and cried when I read the sad ones. I revisit them and cry again. Children's books were my window to see many of life's happenings-the happy and the sad. Wishing you continued wellness and happy writing.

Reply
Marsha Diane Arnold link
2/20/2015 08:07:12 am

Thanks, Charlotte. Glad you enjoyed the walk down memory lane. Sorry about the crying...but sometimes crying is good for the soul too. Happy writing to you, too!

Reply
Mary A Livingston link
2/20/2015 11:24:47 pm

You've taken getting into character to a whole new level. Glad you're on the mend.

Reply
Marsha Diane Arnold link
2/21/2015 01:12:51 am

Ha, Mary. Yes. I really get into my work.

Reply



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    Meet the Friday Blogonauts

    First Fridays will feature Bryan Patrick Avery, published writer , man of mystery, and professional magician among other things.

    Second Fridays will feature  awesome multi-award winning author Marsha Diane Arnold who will be writing about character-driven and/or nature-based books and/or anything she likes :)

    Third Fridays
    will feature independent Aladdin/Simon & Shuster editor Emma Sector who has helped bring many books into the world.

    Fourth Fridays will feature the great Christine Taylor-Butler who has published over 70 award-winning fiction and non-fiction and nonfiction books including the acclaimed new middle grade series - The Lost Tribes.

    Fifth Fridays will feature the fabulous Carl Angel award-winning multi-published Illustrator and graphic designer.


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  • Home
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      • Yuyi Morales Picture Book Scholarship
      • Andrea Davis Pinkney MG CB Mastery Scholarship
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