In the novel How to Read a Book (see dot #4310), one of the central concepts is that every story has a meanwhile “the important thing that’s happening while the rest of the story moves along.” It is designed to be a salve for the women in prison, realizing that they are able to write their own “meanwhile” and don’t have to make their crime the centerpiece of their lives.
Author Monica Wood provides this simplistic example to illustrate the concept: “Heartbroken Cinderella sweeping and scrubbing: story. Handsome prince searching far and wide: meanwhile.”
A more realistic example: A person gets cancer: story. The inner strength from fighting the disease makes them a warrior in other areas of their lives: meanwhile.
We all have a “meanwhile” in our lives, whether we acknowledge them or are even conscious that they are occurring. Often, it’s only in retrospect that we know the importance of the simultaneous actions that surface later and shape our lives. It’s one reason reflection is so important; it helps us ascertain patterns of our meanwhile moments.
The Book Lady character in the novel tells the women they have the power to decide what is the story and what is the meanwhile. You have that power, too. Don’t let unfortunate setbacks define you; write your own meanwhile and change the ending.
Source: How to Write a Book by Monica Wood, 2024.
