Suzanne Strong's Blog, page 9

Writing, musings & naming characters…

Hey everyone,

This morning for the first time in a while I decided to write and rewrite some sections of my next novel. I have not had much time with all of my teaching I have been doing. I focused on some images, and memories between characters, as well as creating some nicknames. Nicknames say a lot about a character, as do names.

I had decided to call my main characters brother Tommy, for no real reason, I liked the name. This main character Sarah and her brother Tommy were always described as twins when they were young, always together and they looked alike as well. So, I was looking up the name Tommy for some nicknames and I saw that this name means “Twin” in Aramaic. What?!

Do good …John Wesley

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Emerson…life…

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Wordsworth…

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Hey everyone,

I love #Wordsworth, this poem expresses the peace of connecting with nature or the creation.

We are meant to be connected to it, we are part of it-snorkelling last week, floating with the fish and turtles, peacefully with the soft cool of the water around me, cradling me, I was part of their world, and they accepted me there.

It was and is truly beautiful!

Samuel Johnson

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Charles Dickens

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another.”

Charles Dickens.

 

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Hey guys,

I love this quote. I believe to give your life to help others, is the ultimate purpose and no matter what we do in our jobs etc, wherever you find yourself, serving others is so important in this world.

Have a nice weekend. Stay safe.

Kind regards, Suz

Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young…”

“May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young



May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young



May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
May you stay forever young

How good is this song? It was written for his children, but I think it is an excellent summary of the kind of life I would and probably most of us would like to live.

Personal stories in your novel…

Hey guys,

I just wanted to write about my writing process at the moment. I have reached as I said a deeply personal section of my novel. I am still in two minds as to whether I will include it in the final novel. This morning I was writing about a personal experience of mine in life, and most of this novel is not directly related to my life, though it is to some degree as always.

Where I am right now – there is a dilemma, and I am faced with an experience, I can’t put my full experience in the novel as it is not appropriate and the question is, am I satisfied with that? Or do I keep that narrative as part of another novel or a non fiction work?

Today, I wrote this experience into the novel modified through the eyes of my main character, Sarah Johns. I am satisfied with it at the moment, but I will keep exploring. I could possibly change the ending slightly, if I want to remove this plot, but on the other hand it is also all the way through. I think I am slowly forming a modified version of w hat really happened.

A writer friend of mine said I was very brave to be sharing this deep experience into the world, I hadn’t really thought about it like that. Art should share the deep experiences of the human condition, I believe. Of course some art is also for entertainment, pleasure and enjoyment and I am not against that. In fact I really want to write a humourous novel next.

F. Scott Fitzgerald, criticising others…

“Whenever you feel like criticising someone…just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages you have had.”

F.Scott fitzgerald

This has always been true, and will always be true.

New edition of my novel…

Hey guys,

I was excited yesterday to receive my new edition of my novel, Where the Sun Rises, which includes a map I used to put certain points of the plot. I have also included a small glossary of terms, it is not exhaustive but I thought I should include some Kurdish language in there.

Anyway, I am excited by the results. Thanks for reading and I hope you and your family are safe! Take care, love Suz

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