It occurred to me this morning as I was working on what will probably be the second-last edit of my novel The Great Dagmaru, that editing is an inherently ugly process. When I read my novel as a whole, it’s like taking in a picturesque landscape, with rolling hills, still lakes and vividly coloured birds, twittering and flitting from branch to branch.
But as I edit it, sentence by sentence, all I can see are the caterpillars, munching on the leaves and weaving themselves gauzy tents where they squirm like maggots. My job, of course, is to get them outta there looking like pretty butterflies.
It’s easy to get discouraged when I’m gazing at my work under a microscope. I agonize over single words; I look at them sometimes until they cease to have meaning. I forget how phrases go together in natural speech because I’ve contemplated them for too long. Thankfully this only happens occasionally. There are also parts which I can read through and not want to change a thing, except to delete a word here and there.
Today, however, the ants are crawling with the spiders and the worms are aerating the ground to allow for new growth. And I’m seeking oxygen to keep going.
Do you hear me zipping by in the title? Always looking for new ways to say the same damned thing.
After an amazing 20 (yes! Twenty!) views yesterday, I’m looking for something to write about today. I was actually busy yesterday trying out the free trial of Scrivener, and I have to say I’m in love with it. I went through the tutorial in just over the two hours they promised it would take, and I started plugging my manuscript into it right away. Many people have told me this is probably not a good idea, but with the synopsis feature, where I can write a few words about what each chapter is about, I can so easily see now where I’m being redundant. I have a feeling Scrivener is going to be the best thing to happen to my novel yet.
In other news, I received my paperback copy of The Mirror: Book One in the mail and I can’t wait to read it again! If you’re reading this, Mr. McConaughey, I’ll be wanting it signed. I hope you’re working on your pseudonym’s autograph.
As soon as I’ve finished reading–once it is again fresh in my mind–I’ll be writing a review.
What else is new?
I have an exciting new addition to my job as a newspaper carrier. Starting Monday, I’ll be delivering magazines! I’m guessing Rogers Communications–one of the, if not THE biggest media companies in Canada–who distributes a certain number of mags, has contracted the job out to Sun Media because of the cutbacks that are coming up in the post office. Soon, apparently, delivery of the mail to our front doors will be a thing of the past. But hey, with the decline of the printed newspaper, if it keeps me in a job, I’ll take it.
I had an amazing inspiration for the sequel to The Great Dagmaru yesterday. When Chris woke up, he came down the stairs and asked me, “Did you hear the man screaming outside in the distance last night?” I didn’t. He failed to tell me whether the man sounded angry, in pain or frightened… my imagination being what it is, I can see this being a strong sub-plot. I love it when things like this are just dropped in my lap. It’s exciting!
Speaking of inspiration, I’m working on today’s SoCS prompt – will give that some more thought on my way around the block.
‘Til then, have a great morning/afternoon/evening, depending where you are in this wonderful world of ours.
There was nothing particularly appealing about Kingston, Ontario, when I first started writing my novel, The Great Dagmaru. At the time, I was traveling there weekly to attend doctor’s appointments at either Kingston General or Hotel Dieu Hospital. Two things inspired me to set my story there: one, I was familiar with the geography of the city, and two, this place:
Kingston’s Grand Trunk Railway Station – source – Wikimapia.org
I started writing my novel about a teenaged girl named Herman, who runs away from home and meets a tall dark stranger on a train. She never makes it where she is going. My initial idea for the tale included the stranger taking her to this train station – hollowed out as it is by a devastating fire – and keeping her there to serve him and his wicked magic. However, as I wrote, the character of the tall dark stranger morphed into Stephen Dagmar, a rich, gorgeous, and talented magician with a dark secret, who lives in a grand Victorian house with a turret:
I was lucky to be able to stay in the house I had envisioned my character living in, and as you’ll see if you read my July account, I even had the thrill of being allowed to sleep two nights in the turret room.
As I said at the beginning of this post, Kingston had no real attraction for me until my characters were born. Gradually as I traveled there for appointments I found myself enthralled with the city. I could see the places I imagined my characters would visit, and the things they would see with their own eyes. Eventually, the place began to inspire me, like a painting of a narrow pathway curving through a lush forest.
My story had a world.
Here are some pictures I took while I was there: here is the world where Stephen and Herman exist.
Next door to the Hochelaga Inn
Cross, Lake Ontario
Girl, reading by the water
Kingston Harbour
Inside the turret, Hochelaga Inn, Kingston
I have been back to Kingston since this trip to do further research. I found the spot where Stephen’s house will be situated in the story (I expropriated land from the government which currently houses the local airport – I doubt they’ll notice) and I have measured distances from there to various places my characters will visit. I’ve sat in restaurants, sipping wine with the ghosts of Stephen’s and Herman’s characters, and I’ve strolled with them along the shoreline.
One of the first things I ever read about writing fiction was that it is necessary to create a world in which your characters will live. I consider myself lucky to have found this amazing, inspirational setting for mine.
lindaghill.com 