Writing

I am so eager to finish working on my novel "A Series of Scandals" so that I can start working on the next book. Which would only put me at square one again. I'm not sure why I feel like I need to start a new book when I'm clearly so close to the end. I should want to complete what I have started. And  I will. However . . .

I think it might be that I like the chaos of just sitting down and writing scenes and incidents. I like trying to complete the picture without knowing what exactly it looks like. My daughter sent me pictures from our trip to Leaville. I think the one below is how I feel when I first start writing a new story.

It's all tangled and has its own kind of beauty. As opposed to where I am now -  fine tuning words, times and places. Everything is in place. Everything is balanced purposefully so that a person who picks up the book can make sense of it. It has its own beauty.

More like this picture to the right.

Writing

We went up to Rocky Mountain National Park to see the Aspens changing colors. It is at the very beginning of the change so it was spectacular. We saw hidden lakes and mountain glaciers (snowy ice in crevices of mountains). My son and son-in-law hiked to one glacier and threw snowballs. I watched marvelling at the energy of youth.

  
But back to writing. I should get Chapter Three back later today from my editor. More work, I'm sure. But getting closer every day.  I had a friend read the entire book a couple of weeks ago. She told me she was compelled to stay up later than she wanted to keep reading it.

 Her comments inspired me to really work hard the following week to continue fixing sections to make it the best that it can be. She finished the book and said she enjoyed it. 

But I find it is not enough. It seems I want a continuous flow of people coming into the world my editor and I have created and become enthralled in this world.

I guess it is similar to re-decorating your home. You invite your closest friends and they marvel over it. But when they leave that is it. You need more. So you invite other people over, work friends, neighbors etc. 

All that hard work. But when it is all done, you really need to find that you have enjoyed it. The process and the project and now the knowledge that you actually achieved it.   

Day gown and the Logistics of Writing.

By my calculations, By February 2015, my editor and I will have reread each chapter of my novel making sure the characters stay true to who they are. The plot is clear. And the places the characters visit and reside in are correct. 

I've already found one logistical problem. I had a family walking to church from their square. However, even the most athletic could not turn an hour long trip into 15 minutes. 

This part is actually fun. Chapter One and Two are done. Onto Chapter Three.

Am I a Writer

Some days I wonder if I am a writer. When the fever of a scene or plot doesn't pour forth from my pen, I think maybe I'm just an appreciator of writing and those who do it well.  But on those days when all my thoughts linger on a certain plot or scene and I rush through the day until I can sit down in an evening and write it all out, I think I must be a writer.

It's review time for my first novel which means my editor and I are going through each chapter and fine-tuning every word and action for the last time. FOR THE LAST TIME  -  YEAHHH!!!!

I mean  - it is quite rewarding.

Here is another scene my daughter made for me.
It is a day gown made of muslin with embroidered circles. Different pattern of embroidery on the hem and neckline. Lace on the edge of the sleeves.

What do you think of this gown?

Ball gown and Writing assignments

Up to the mountains to see St. Mary's Glacier. A little bit of a hike but beautiful.

My last chapter is almost there. I need to re-work the last scene. I have it in the POV of the hero and it needs to be the heroine. My very kind and generous editor gave me a new assignment. It has been such fun to do.

She asked me to take each of the main characters and write a description of them, what their goals are, what their secret is, about their personality and finally what they fear most. Next to find a map of their city and see if they can make it logistically to the places I have them going to.

My daughter sent me this link. It is very interesting reading of the finances of Jane Austen's characters.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/11063670/Could-Mr-Darcy-afford-a-stately-home-today.html