I trust my process. I knew if I gave myself space, the inspiration would come, and it did.
Today the dear husband and I took a get lost trip in the beautiful country around
Bell Buckle, Tennessee. Poverty and reconstruction after the Civil War had such a beautiful way of preserving antiquity in the Nashville surrounds. As I viewed the vistas, got a bit sunburned, and let my mind wander, I heard what I needed to take my book further.
I always have a pad and pen with me wherever I go, and I jotted my inspiration down. So so happy!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
66000 + y'all
That's right. Less than 4000 words, and I will have my book ready for proofreading. I've become comfortable with my process. I get inspired, I write until said inspiration is on paper, and then I'm done for a bit. I go on to whatever fuels my creativity next - that might be a good dose of sleeping, reading, or painting, but whatever it is I respect my brain's need for refueling, and I wait until it is the right time for writing. It has served me well. I am so close. I am going to meet my goal of 70,000 by my August 22 birthday.
Monday, April 18, 2011
In the beginning
I thought it would be good to post about what started me on my novel writing.
An acquaintance sent me a book that she wrote. It took me about an hour to read, and it was insipid and saccharine at best. I know those are mean words to write, but it is truth. It was every cliche in extremely concise text.
It was bad. I knew I could do better.
So I found inspiration, came with an idea, created my heroine, and have steadily and carefully built up my story, which is why it has taken me so very long to craft. If I didn't work for a steady paycheck, it is possible that it would have been completed by now, but my life is what it is. I love my life, and jam pack it with as much pretty, creative lovelies as I can.
So here I am, staring down 70,000 words with a strong, proud gaze. The end is in sight.
This weekend was a sad one - nothing to do with my family or anything, but I attended the memorial service of a person whose life ended entirely too soon. I am hopeful that I will be inspired to write again in the near future, but I am not going to force it.
I would love to take a "get lost" drive in the country around Nashville. It has helped me so much in the past to remove myself from the reality of my surroundings. If the weather is cooperative this Saturday, I hope to be driving someplace lonely and quiet.
An acquaintance sent me a book that she wrote. It took me about an hour to read, and it was insipid and saccharine at best. I know those are mean words to write, but it is truth. It was every cliche in extremely concise text.
It was bad. I knew I could do better.
So I found inspiration, came with an idea, created my heroine, and have steadily and carefully built up my story, which is why it has taken me so very long to craft. If I didn't work for a steady paycheck, it is possible that it would have been completed by now, but my life is what it is. I love my life, and jam pack it with as much pretty, creative lovelies as I can.
So here I am, staring down 70,000 words with a strong, proud gaze. The end is in sight.
This weekend was a sad one - nothing to do with my family or anything, but I attended the memorial service of a person whose life ended entirely too soon. I am hopeful that I will be inspired to write again in the near future, but I am not going to force it.
I would love to take a "get lost" drive in the country around Nashville. It has helped me so much in the past to remove myself from the reality of my surroundings. If the weather is cooperative this Saturday, I hope to be driving someplace lonely and quiet.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
62,000 Words
That's right. I'm over 60,000. At one time, 60,000 seemed like an insurmountable number. It was my Moby Dick, my completion of the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred program, but I got past it, and I was positively elated!
I am so close to my goal of 70,000 that I can almost reach out and feel it with my fingertips. When I hit 60 last week, I looked at my book for the longest time, and didn't know how I would be able to expand the story any more, but I soon told my mind to shut up, because I knew that faith trumps any human emotion, and I got inspired. I know I can carry this story through to my goal.
This past Saturday morning, thankfully before it got beastly hot, dear husband and I took a trip to the historic Nashville City Cemetery. It had always been on my list, but I had never gotten myself there. It was so helpful to be surrounded by all of that history, all of that collected time.
I am so close to my goal of 70,000 that I can almost reach out and feel it with my fingertips. When I hit 60 last week, I looked at my book for the longest time, and didn't know how I would be able to expand the story any more, but I soon told my mind to shut up, because I knew that faith trumps any human emotion, and I got inspired. I know I can carry this story through to my goal.
This past Saturday morning, thankfully before it got beastly hot, dear husband and I took a trip to the historic Nashville City Cemetery. It had always been on my list, but I had never gotten myself there. It was so helpful to be surrounded by all of that history, all of that collected time.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
59,000 words
That's right y'all. Just short of 60,000 words. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I could take the story this far, but now I have the confidence to get to that goal of 70,000 words.
This past Sunday, I took a drive into the country, on the sort of roads that locals look at the passing car and say "oh...is that what cars look like these days?" We saw countless goats, and cows, and horses, and towns that, if you huffed and puffed on them hard enough, could get blown to dust. All sorts of old houses, barns and stores, and the vistas....need I describe the views?
We shall not discuss the sorry sunburn I got. I am convinced that I am indeed the whitest person ever to breathe.
It was very inspiring. I was so thankful that I brought pad and pen with me, just in case thoughts for my book came to my head, and did they ever. I am truly pleased.
This past Sunday, I took a drive into the country, on the sort of roads that locals look at the passing car and say "oh...is that what cars look like these days?" We saw countless goats, and cows, and horses, and towns that, if you huffed and puffed on them hard enough, could get blown to dust. All sorts of old houses, barns and stores, and the vistas....need I describe the views?
We shall not discuss the sorry sunburn I got. I am convinced that I am indeed the whitest person ever to breathe.
It was very inspiring. I was so thankful that I brought pad and pen with me, just in case thoughts for my book came to my head, and did they ever. I am truly pleased.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
56000 Words
After a brief foray into painting, I am back to my book project. I am now over 56,000 words, and I love where the story is going. I have been able to expand some important parts of the book, and flesh out my villain characters even more. I think that having my book done by the end of the year is a very realistic goal.
I realized the other day that I have created over 20 characters. That's a whole lot of people to come from one person's brain. I hope that people my finished work, but I especially hope that Nashvillians enjoy the trip back in time that I take them on.
I realized the other day that I have created over 20 characters. That's a whole lot of people to come from one person's brain. I hope that people my finished work, but I especially hope that Nashvillians enjoy the trip back in time that I take them on.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Creative phases
I'm back! I go through creative phases. A dear friend recently had a birthday party where she asked all of her guests to create their version of a favorite painting of hers. I did as instructed, and seriously wanted to take it home, but I did not, and below is the end result.
It will eventually hang in my bedroom, but for now I am enjoying it in our living room. I have recently acquired a 36x36 canvas for yet another painting, and lo and behold the subject is going to BIRDS, but painted in a very different style from my most recent work.
Alas, I first need to buy paint, a lot of paint, and it is just not in my budget right now. So, I am once again back to working on my beloved novel. I originally split the book into three files for my ease. The third part is what I need to work on, and I am really dreading the task, which also probably contributed to my painting jag. It needs a lot of tender loving care. The story moves way too fast. I need to let it breathe and wander.
I love how it turned out. I hadn't painted anything in quite a while, and this exercise got me thinking of painting yet again, and I was now obsessed with painting birds to boot. Below is the painting I just finished for my very own self. I love, love, love it.
Alas, I first need to buy paint, a lot of paint, and it is just not in my budget right now. So, I am once again back to working on my beloved novel. I originally split the book into three files for my ease. The third part is what I need to work on, and I am really dreading the task, which also probably contributed to my painting jag. It needs a lot of tender loving care. The story moves way too fast. I need to let it breathe and wander.
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