The Beginning of a Novel
Originally posted April 18, 2011.
This novel began it's short life as a Chick lit. The idea had been there for years; rambling around in a dark, musty, cobweb filled closet somewhere in the creative centre of my brain; while life took me on it's merry roller-coaster. I've begun my family quite late in life and have been given the rare opportunity to stay at home and raise my children at the expense of my husband's health and sanity. (Thank you, Dear.)
Having worked ever since it was legal for me to do so, I looked forward to the four year vacation. The first two and a half years passed somewhat like a butterfly in flight; on a random course with no apparent destination, at a speed that appears deceptively slow. I discoverd, though my days were one adventure fast on the heels of another, my evenings were haunted by insomnia and self-doubt.
It had been so long since I had done any serious writing, I hadn't even thought to begin again. It just kind of crept up on me. I began reading old backed-up computer files of bad poetry and reasonable short stories I'd written years ago. Then I sorted through my "Random Bits" and "Possible Ideas" folders. The next thing I knew, I had two chapters written and the very grand notion of a novel of life-altering inspiration, brilliant insight and moving emotions. (Well, if you're going to dream, dream BIG. I'd have been THRILLED with helpful, smart and touching).
The words poured into my laptop so quickly my fingers could barely keep up. It wasn't until I'd reached the end of the ninth chapter,(of an estimated 14), that I ran out of steam, took a serious look at where I was and began to worry I'd written myself into a dead end.
I loved my protagonist, but I was bored with her story. I tried to tell myself that I could write my way out of it. I made a video teaser for the book. O.K., I confess, I made 5 video teasers for the book, in an attempt to step back and reinspire myself. I contacted one of the readers who'd helped me thus far, (Mr. Ford) with three of them, in the hope of some tidbit of feedback or inspiration to push me past the obstacle. We both liked the same one best; the one you'll find on the Welcome page of this site.
It was a random comment I made about it, and Dave's enthusiastic response, that in an instant swept aside most of what I'd written and set "Learn To Love Me" on the path to mystery-lit.
That was mid-March 2011. Since then I've dumped all but a handful of characters, created a full skeleton of the novel and completed the first four chapters to first edits. I am, at the moment, a third of the way into the fifth chapter and still going strong. I know exactly what is going to happen, how and to whom. I just have to flesh out the descriptions and recheck the details. Self-imposed deadline: Oct. 31, 2011
If anyone is interested, I'll fill you in on some of what's happened between the (second) beginning, and now....
This novel began it's short life as a Chick lit. The idea had been there for years; rambling around in a dark, musty, cobweb filled closet somewhere in the creative centre of my brain; while life took me on it's merry roller-coaster. I've begun my family quite late in life and have been given the rare opportunity to stay at home and raise my children at the expense of my husband's health and sanity. (Thank you, Dear.)
Having worked ever since it was legal for me to do so, I looked forward to the four year vacation. The first two and a half years passed somewhat like a butterfly in flight; on a random course with no apparent destination, at a speed that appears deceptively slow. I discoverd, though my days were one adventure fast on the heels of another, my evenings were haunted by insomnia and self-doubt.
It had been so long since I had done any serious writing, I hadn't even thought to begin again. It just kind of crept up on me. I began reading old backed-up computer files of bad poetry and reasonable short stories I'd written years ago. Then I sorted through my "Random Bits" and "Possible Ideas" folders. The next thing I knew, I had two chapters written and the very grand notion of a novel of life-altering inspiration, brilliant insight and moving emotions. (Well, if you're going to dream, dream BIG. I'd have been THRILLED with helpful, smart and touching).
The words poured into my laptop so quickly my fingers could barely keep up. It wasn't until I'd reached the end of the ninth chapter,(of an estimated 14), that I ran out of steam, took a serious look at where I was and began to worry I'd written myself into a dead end.
I loved my protagonist, but I was bored with her story. I tried to tell myself that I could write my way out of it. I made a video teaser for the book. O.K., I confess, I made 5 video teasers for the book, in an attempt to step back and reinspire myself. I contacted one of the readers who'd helped me thus far, (Mr. Ford) with three of them, in the hope of some tidbit of feedback or inspiration to push me past the obstacle. We both liked the same one best; the one you'll find on the Welcome page of this site.
It was a random comment I made about it, and Dave's enthusiastic response, that in an instant swept aside most of what I'd written and set "Learn To Love Me" on the path to mystery-lit.
That was mid-March 2011. Since then I've dumped all but a handful of characters, created a full skeleton of the novel and completed the first four chapters to first edits. I am, at the moment, a third of the way into the fifth chapter and still going strong. I know exactly what is going to happen, how and to whom. I just have to flesh out the descriptions and recheck the details. Self-imposed deadline: Oct. 31, 2011
If anyone is interested, I'll fill you in on some of what's happened between the (second) beginning, and now....
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