Essence of Narrative: Food (second helping)

Today, in response to several email questions and the posted responses by Caddo Veil and Maddie Cochere to my September 11th post, Essence of Narrative: Food, I am posting the second example of my using food to develop a character.  No, this is not simply more free advertising for Route 11…however, I did add the company link for their store  locator 🙂

Philosophy at 3:24 AM (1,000 word flash fiction)

(Dave is telling the story of the first visit of his true love, Danielle, to his home; Donna is his best friend.)

With the house in some semblance of order, I joined them. Danielle tossed down the, now, near empty bag of Route 11 potato chips she had been rummaging through; picking out only those chips that met her satisfaction. On seeing my displeasure of her gluttony, she looked sheepishly at me and yawned.

“Danielle, at least try to make an excuse.”

“You eat your mint chocolate chip ice cream straight out of the carton and I’ll pig out on Route 11’s. Besides, SOMEONE cleaned up by combining the different flavors into one bag, and I am in the mood for the pickle flavored ones.”

Donna was amused, “The alternative Dave is to drive her to the Route 11 chip factory tonight and buy some more pickle flavored ones.”

Before I could respond, Danielle jumped in, “You can go on-line, and they list places all over the country that carry Route 11’s. Or we could do overnight FedEx from Route 11!”

I wanted to throw my hands up in defeat, but that would be ceding to both of them, “There’s no alternative involved in this…discussion. She just plowed through the bag as if there was no tomorrow. The world will most likely not come to an end before you get another bag!”

(Philosophy at 3:24 AM is a work of fiction adapted from Through a Strangers Eyes, Copyright 2005 Steven S. Walsky, all rights reserved.)

The Route 11 store locator link.

Route 11’s New Facility photo: Chips coming out of the cooker.

Essence of Narrative: Food

Every writer has personal preferences they will write into their stories; be it a location, a song, a favorite author, or a food item.  Looking at food, characters in a novel are people and they have to eat.  I find that when I can match a fictional character to my own tastes (pun intended) I can better relate to the character and thus have an easier time developing both the character and the story.  And, as with life, what your character eats, or dislikes, adds personalization to the ‘picture’ you are painting of that character; especially for minor characters.

For me, there is only one brand of potato chip my people, who are worthy enough, can eat, and the brand is Route 11 Potato Chips, the best in the world.

Here is an example of how I used food to ‘humanize’ a character:

Simplicity Lane, Chapter 14:

While the group was making the copies, Millie was back at the University eating Route 11 potato chips in relative silence; crunching each chip as if it were her last.  The crunching of the chips and her breathing punctuated the solitude of her dorm room.  She had become a Route 11 fan at first bite.  They were not just her favorite, but her anchor to family and home.  The University was nothing more than a stop; not home.  The room, just a place to retreat to when she needed to sleep, wash, change clothes.  Millie did not consider it any more than a room.  Nothing more.  But the Route 11’s were more than great chips, they were a taste of home.  Then, a ‘home’ for Millie had been a succession of places as her father moved in assignments.  Thus, the consistency of chips was a measure of consistent pleasure in her life.  Millie equated ‘consistency’ to ‘home.’  She made an extra loud chomp, sighed, and turned back to her laptop.

(Simplicity Lane, is a work of fiction, copyright Steven S. Walsky, 2007 all rights reserved.)

This is the 20^th anniversary year for Route 11s; let the world celebrate!