Jan Notzon's Blog, page 32
February 3, 2018
Authors Battling Depression
Some quite intuitive person established this group (on goodreads, if I'm not mistaken). I have been in a funk since November (just coming out of it) and consequently do appreciate the group name.
In 2016 I lost a sister and was stupid enough to sell our ancestral home (the only one I knew till I went away to college). My maternal grandmother built it in 1915. (I know for you people on the other side of the pond that is just yesterday.)
It hit me in November when I realized there would be no family gathering for Christmas.
Well, can't change the past.
I was also making no progress on a historical fiction piece. Perhaps the two were related.
Anyway, I'm coming out of it and have arranged for presentation/book signings in Texas (where my latest novel is set).
I'm uploading it to my facebook/author page just in case you're curious.
Cheers,
Jan
In 2016 I lost a sister and was stupid enough to sell our ancestral home (the only one I knew till I went away to college). My maternal grandmother built it in 1915. (I know for you people on the other side of the pond that is just yesterday.)
It hit me in November when I realized there would be no family gathering for Christmas.
Well, can't change the past.
I was also making no progress on a historical fiction piece. Perhaps the two were related.
Anyway, I'm coming out of it and have arranged for presentation/book signings in Texas (where my latest novel is set).
I'm uploading it to my facebook/author page just in case you're curious.
Cheers,
Jan
November 25, 2017
Thankful
On this, two days after Thanksgiving, I must say I am thankful for my neighbors. One of them has been in a rehab hospital for 16 months. Thanks particularly to one neighbor, he has a clean and suitable home to return to (if he can; he's determined).
This particular neighbor, Alisha, together with her husband, Troy, have spent hours, days and weeks getting the house in shape: deep-cleaning to get rid of mold and mildew, replacing toilets, fixing leaks, throwing out and replacing furniture, etc, etc. And no, neither of them is retired. It just astounds me, the generosity and commitment to someone they hardly knew.
It is an inspiration.
This particular neighbor, Alisha, together with her husband, Troy, have spent hours, days and weeks getting the house in shape: deep-cleaning to get rid of mold and mildew, replacing toilets, fixing leaks, throwing out and replacing furniture, etc, etc. And no, neither of them is retired. It just astounds me, the generosity and commitment to someone they hardly knew.
It is an inspiration.
October 27, 2017
Title
I recently finished a rewrite of my first novel "The Dogs...Barking" and it is now in the publication process.
I'm in the fourth edition of my fourth novel (which I hope to complete on the fourth of some month!). As usual, the title I wished to give it, "A Voice in the Wilderness," is already taken. It is set in Appalachia and concerns a relationship threatened by a crisis of faith and the resultant conflict it creates. A lullaby sung by one of them figures prominently.
I've been toying with other titles, and I would appreciate any feedback as to which would pique your interest:
"To Get You To Sing"
"A Mountain Canticle"
"Fissure of Faith"
"Song of the Forsaken"
"To Teach You To Sing"
"Sing for the Forsaken!"
"A Cry From The Wilderness"
"In Praise of Doubt"
"Hymn Of The Forsaken"
I would appreciate any and all feedback.
I'm in the fourth edition of my fourth novel (which I hope to complete on the fourth of some month!). As usual, the title I wished to give it, "A Voice in the Wilderness," is already taken. It is set in Appalachia and concerns a relationship threatened by a crisis of faith and the resultant conflict it creates. A lullaby sung by one of them figures prominently.
I've been toying with other titles, and I would appreciate any feedback as to which would pique your interest:
"To Get You To Sing"
"A Mountain Canticle"
"Fissure of Faith"
"Song of the Forsaken"
"To Teach You To Sing"
"Sing for the Forsaken!"
"A Cry From The Wilderness"
"In Praise of Doubt"
"Hymn Of The Forsaken"
I would appreciate any and all feedback.
October 19, 2017
Hurricane Harvey
It was quite a surprise how people deal with hardship. I'm quite astounded at how people keep their faith in the face of so much trial and tribulation. It seems to give them a strength I truly envy. And I find myself embarrassed at my own complaints with the tragedy and destruction I saw down there.
Samaritan's Purse truly does astonishing work with disaster victims. The faith and generosity of the people who volunteer is nothing short of awe-inspiring. I wish all victims could benefit from their gifts of help and caring.
Samaritan's Purse truly does astonishing work with disaster victims. The faith and generosity of the people who volunteer is nothing short of awe-inspiring. I wish all victims could benefit from their gifts of help and caring.
October 15, 2017
Hurricane Relief
Boy, Samaritan's Purse doesn't fool around when it comes to helping people recover from disasters. I go home to my brother's (who happens to live in Victoria, Texas where I'm helping) absolutely dead. Knocking out walls, spraying and brushing, digging at bits of drywall that has to come out, cutting trees and stacking wood, cleaning, emptying, etc, etc,
It's been quite an experience and I have all kinds of souvenirs as in scratches, scrapes, neck cricks, blisters, and wonderful people I've met from all over the country (so far from the plain states eastward. Very friendly and kind--such a giving group.
Is it that people who are naturally loving and optimistic tend to become religious, or is there something in some religions (obviously not all) that makes people that way?
Interesting question.
It's been quite an experience and I have all kinds of souvenirs as in scratches, scrapes, neck cricks, blisters, and wonderful people I've met from all over the country (so far from the plain states eastward. Very friendly and kind--such a giving group.
Is it that people who are naturally loving and optimistic tend to become religious, or is there something in some religions (obviously not all) that makes people that way?
Interesting question.
October 7, 2017
Crossing My Fingers
I finally more or less satisfied a quite demanding beta reader. Whew!
One of the complaints about my first novel (and not just from her) was that it was excessively over-written (if there actually is such a thing. As an actor I was taught that there's no such thing as overacting; there's only good acting and bad acting.)
I mean basically that I was trying too hard--same problem I had as an actor--and alienated some readers. Most reviews were favorable, but I think the unfavorable ones told me much more concerning the steps I needed to take to improve.
I've re-written it and this particular beta-reader said it was infinitely better, except for the prologue: "Too many adjectives!" Fair enough. That's a tendency of mine. I too much love playing with words. I need to remind myself (or have someone like her to remind me) that I'm not writing for myself. (Well, I am. But I do want to be read!)
Anyway, it's absolutely crucial to get these kinds of responses. Looking forward to many more.
One of the complaints about my first novel (and not just from her) was that it was excessively over-written (if there actually is such a thing. As an actor I was taught that there's no such thing as overacting; there's only good acting and bad acting.)
I mean basically that I was trying too hard--same problem I had as an actor--and alienated some readers. Most reviews were favorable, but I think the unfavorable ones told me much more concerning the steps I needed to take to improve.
I've re-written it and this particular beta-reader said it was infinitely better, except for the prologue: "Too many adjectives!" Fair enough. That's a tendency of mine. I too much love playing with words. I need to remind myself (or have someone like her to remind me) that I'm not writing for myself. (Well, I am. But I do want to be read!)
Anyway, it's absolutely crucial to get these kinds of responses. Looking forward to many more.
September 23, 2017
The Harder You Work
I remember one successful businessman remarking that it always seems that the harder you work, the luckier you get.
I've found that to be true with writing. I needed two characters to come together and an idea was not forthcoming on how to make it believable. I just kept plugging along writing other parts and voilà, it came to me. (I do hope it will be believable for the reader.)
Then, I had a revelation scene to write with one of those characters and a different character. I thought and thought about how I could make that revelation come about in a believable and, at the same time dramatic, manner. I thought about it as I ate, as I waited to hear Beethoven's 9th symphony in concert here in Charlotte, I went to sleep thinking about it. Ironically, I found a way to make my original scenario work just fine, I believe. (Again, I can only pray it works for the reader.)
At any rate, both instances provided great relief.
I've found that to be true with writing. I needed two characters to come together and an idea was not forthcoming on how to make it believable. I just kept plugging along writing other parts and voilà, it came to me. (I do hope it will be believable for the reader.)
Then, I had a revelation scene to write with one of those characters and a different character. I thought and thought about how I could make that revelation come about in a believable and, at the same time dramatic, manner. I thought about it as I ate, as I waited to hear Beethoven's 9th symphony in concert here in Charlotte, I went to sleep thinking about it. Ironically, I found a way to make my original scenario work just fine, I believe. (Again, I can only pray it works for the reader.)
At any rate, both instances provided great relief.
September 14, 2017
"Yesterday's People"
Actually I finished this over a week ago. It's mixed in with the other five books I've read on Appalachia now. It was written by a minister and is a compilation of his observations of the character of the southern highlander.
I found it insightful and it pretty generally squares with the other books I've read on the subject.
I get the feeling from it that there is an inherent assumption that the mountaineer needs to change. While it's certainly true that there is poverty (although there is also affluence) and certain assumptions and habits may be detrimental to their well-being (as who among us has no such habits), if people are happy with their lot in life, then they might very well be way ahead of me!
I found it insightful and it pretty generally squares with the other books I've read on the subject.
I get the feeling from it that there is an inherent assumption that the mountaineer needs to change. While it's certainly true that there is poverty (although there is also affluence) and certain assumptions and habits may be detrimental to their well-being (as who among us has no such habits), if people are happy with their lot in life, then they might very well be way ahead of me!
September 3, 2017
Patience
This week I had an interesting experience while writing my current novel. I hope to learn the lesson, or to take it to heart, more fully in the future.
On Monday I wrote for about seven hours (that is, I sat at my computer that long), at the end of which I had only written a little over a page. I kept moving around paragraphs, deleting portions that were unnecessary, rewriting, etc, etc.
The happy difference is that this time I didn't panic (which I have an unfortunate tendency to do). The benefit is that at the end of that somewhat grueling day, I came up a new avenue to pursue and the rest of the week went quite swimmingly.
Nobody ever said it was going to be easy, but it's damn fulfilling!
On Monday I wrote for about seven hours (that is, I sat at my computer that long), at the end of which I had only written a little over a page. I kept moving around paragraphs, deleting portions that were unnecessary, rewriting, etc, etc.
The happy difference is that this time I didn't panic (which I have an unfortunate tendency to do). The benefit is that at the end of that somewhat grueling day, I came up a new avenue to pursue and the rest of the week went quite swimmingly.
Nobody ever said it was going to be easy, but it's damn fulfilling!
August 26, 2017
Adaptations
I'm currently adapting a play I wrote into a novel. I started with what takes place before the play starts. Of course, all story-telling is challenging (at least it is for me!). But I thought the parts taken from the play would be easy to adapt; I thought they would flow more readily than the other parts.
Interestingly, I'm finding this not to be the case. In a play, one depends on the actors to supply subtext, emotional tension, etc. In the novel, what the characters are thinking and feeling must, to some degree, be related to the reader. (Of course, one must be judicious in determining just how much to include and how much to let the reader intuit hi/herself. After adapting just half of the initial scene of the play, I found myself exhausted! The amount of concentration it required was quite a challenge. But, it keeps life interesting.
I suppose that dialogue comes easy to me because I was, in another life, an actor. But I realized that I often think in dialogue. If I'm trying to decide some issue, I tend to have a dialogue in my mind.
I imagine some would call that strange. And to them I say, "Guilty as charged!"
Interestingly, I'm finding this not to be the case. In a play, one depends on the actors to supply subtext, emotional tension, etc. In the novel, what the characters are thinking and feeling must, to some degree, be related to the reader. (Of course, one must be judicious in determining just how much to include and how much to let the reader intuit hi/herself. After adapting just half of the initial scene of the play, I found myself exhausted! The amount of concentration it required was quite a challenge. But, it keeps life interesting.
I suppose that dialogue comes easy to me because I was, in another life, an actor. But I realized that I often think in dialogue. If I'm trying to decide some issue, I tend to have a dialogue in my mind.
I imagine some would call that strange. And to them I say, "Guilty as charged!"
