MY BRAND SPANKING NEW WORK-IN-PROGRESS

I'm starting a new book which means I have a whole new piece of history to explore.  In this case, it's actually more than one piece of history - at least I think so.

Which means I have lots of eras to get familiar with.  And multiple characters to live in those eras.  People who will go through immigration, deportation, war, and I don't know what all. I have only the vaguest idea of what will happen or what really did happen in the history behind this story.

I have a concept but no real certainty that I can pull it off.    I have 3 DVDs and 4 books to get me started on research.  I have the internet.  And dreams of travel.

I have 6 lines.  I think they are rather beautiful.

I feel very rich.

And as hopeful as an immigrant moving to a new land.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A WRITER

I should be doing so many things.
1.  Posting a Tuesday Teaser With a Twist (passage from a great historical)
2.  Blogging about FDR or Poland or something pertinent to my work-in-progress
3. Spending time with my granddaughter
4. Cleaning and laundry
5. Organizing my records so filing for taxes is easier next year!
6. Posting wisteria pics
7. Yard work.
8.  Cleaning for my mom
9. Post Office and bank trip
10.Reminding you of the book giveaway in the sidebar.
11. Revising my work in progress

Tomorrow I'll post wisteria pics. Right now, I'm writing!

IN WHICH HUBBY SENDS ME PACKING (And I Am So Grateful!)

THANK YOU CHUCK FOR:

· Staying calm on a slightly stressful day.
· Making photocopies for me.
· Printing out my e-ticket.
· Waiting patiently for the last 100 pages of my manuscript to print so we could finally leave for the airport.
· Loading the car with my things.
· Not complaining!
· Driving me through pouring rain.
· Sending me with your blessing when you could’ve used my emotional support at home.
· Cleaning up the clutter I left behind. (As far as I’m concerned, leave it where it is!)
· Reading my work-in-progress while I'm gone. (I saved it to your desktop. The title is Committed! )

Committed?

Sounds like us.

You are committed. And I should be. And that pretty much sums up my work-in- progress!

WRITING WEDNESDAY: (Who Needs Sleep Anyway?)

The only problem with being on a good writing jag is that it goes hand-in-hand with a lousy sleep jag.

It's easy to sleep when my writing life is stale.

But when the story is telling itself and the adrenalin is pumping?

Not so much!

Sometimes I just don't want to leave my characters. So I take them to bed with me where they talk while I'm trying to sleep. Or they keep their mouths shut. But they toss and turn.

So I get up and down all night, moving about the house in search of sleep solutions. Shower, food, melatonin, Charlie Rose (I really do love his show - why can't it come on at a decent hour?) Sometimes I give up and just write. But being in the mood and having active brain cells for the task are 2 entirely different things.

At any rate, this is a switch from where I was when I unsuccessfully instituted WEDJ (Write Every Day in June). It wasn't happening! So I gave myself a break, enjoyed sleep-filled nights, and attended to mulching & household projects.

Since then, I've had some amazing encounters related to my story. Last week I slipped back into 1941 Williamsburg, VA with Margie, one of 5 (yes, 5 in the span of a week!) octogenarians who are breathing life into my work-in-progress.

In the following pic, Margie is giving me a TALKING tour of a mental hospital as it was back in the day.
Can you see how this might fire the imagination? And at very least it settles tons of logistical issues about my character's movements. And provides desperately needed descriptions.

But, best of all, are the stories Margie told me. Of people and escapades and the children my story needed.

Precisely the sort of things that make a writer too hyper to sleep at night! Such lovely problems I have...

WRITING WEDNESDAY: Meeting Kelsey

I was getting a little bogged down with my 1942 story - partly because I had so little time to write it. I just couldn't get into the flow. But part of the flow problem centered around a need to do more research and some of it related to the age of my protagonist.

So I hung on for months, contemplating my dilemma all the while. And then, wouldn't you know, I met an unexpected character. I had thought there might possibly be a contemporary component to my story but I never expected Kelsey - an energetic 15 year old who uses her special skills to - okay so never mind. Might not be ready to reveal that just yet.

Suffice it to say that I like Kelsey. She brought energy to my work-in-progress. And if you'll excuse me, I am off now, to spend a few hours with her.

LIKE A CAN OF CASHEWS

I am between writing assignments.

So I have options. I can do “non writing” tasks such as organize my financial records, paint walls, update my webpage, or spend time with people.

And then again, I could shop for new furniture or a rug for my office. Verrry verrry tempting…

I could read just for the sheer pleasure of it. Which, in a way, is what I'm doing. I’ve been buying resources related to my new historical work-in-progress. Now that is pure fun.

For real.

I love this time in a book’s life when I’m overwhelmed with a new story - when I don’t yet know my character but am coming to terms with the agonizing questions he faces. When plotpoints present themselves to me but I have no idea where they’ll fit in the storyline. When I’m discovering more resources than I can possibly access and when I can’t read the ones I have fast enough.

It’s like having a can of cashews and not knowing whether to stuff or savor.

As usual, I am stuffing! But I’m marking up pages as I go (just one good reason to buy the books!). Later, I’ll be back to really taste. And then back again. And again.

What I'm savoring is the subject itself. I love the pure secrecy of it - the knowledge that there is this hidden history that I have the privilege of telling. It feels sacred, really. Much too precious to talk about just yet. Not before I know my character. Not before I discover his deepest anguish and glimpse his greatest triumph.

For now, I'm hugging this story to myself.