things in motion sooner catch the eye

The Mermaid Discovered, John Reinhard Weguelin

John Steinbeck on titles: “I have never been a title man. I don’t give a dam what it is called. I would call it Valley to the Sea which is a quotation from absolutely nothing but has two great words and a direction.” Quoted from Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters.

For the past three weeks the Santa Anas have harassed the palm trees, peeled away the warmth of the sun, and left the day full of bright and empty light. Every morning for the past three weeks I’ve sat with my coffee and Silk River, and now, to my surprise, I’m ready to write. Sunday, April 1, Silk River begins again.

The art of fiction does not begin until the novelist thinks of his story as a matter to be shown, to be so exhibited that it will tell itself. –The Craft of Fiction, Percy Lubbock

good knives

A Tale from the Decameron, John William Waterhouse

“… and may the words be very clean and sharp like good knives.”
Steinbeck, Journal of a Novel, p. 83

50,012. Brain is sluggish this morning, but I won’t let that stop me. The rewrite intimidates me somewhat. I’m afraid of not finding the words or not finding the right words; I’m afraid the words will be flat and lifeless, shapeless and mundane. The rewrite is a rebuilding of the story on the words that are already there, and I’m anxious about it.

Reading Georgie’s blog Sunday night, I followed this link to Bourdain’s hilarious rant about Food Network’s downhill slide into presenting cooking shows lacking real chefs and real food. The comments that followed were equally sharp and funny, particularly the one about Giada’s molesting the basil. That one sent me into such a conniption of hilarity, Taffy and Levi fled the room.

dandelions

The Old, Old Story, John William Godward

50,012. It’s a strange thing to have lively characters and a story that isn’t quite all there. And, bright and spiky as dandelions, ideas for a paranormal have popped up. I may be able to start the Silk River re-write in another couple weeks–ahead of schedule. If so, then I might consider the paranormal, or I may pull out A Haunting of Roses, blow off the dust and spiders, and see how I feel about it.

no worrying about the weather

The Labour of the Danaides, John Reinhard Weguelin

Something to remember–we all began as cute babies–yes we were most definitely cute–peeing in our diapers. The journey from diapers to maturity and independence is fraught with physiological and psychological change, and the unpredictabilities of living day to day, year to year; chance and serendipity are constant companions.

Every day is a journey; forged on the anvil opportunity. Single minded purpose, considered on the whole a good thing, can shape us and set us on a path no wider than a sword blade, and we can become monstrous. Sometimes a multiplicity of purpose can fracture us, and we fall to pieces. Sometimes single-minded purpose leads us along a path of light and shadow–there is not one without the other.

We become what we become; life is all about that becoming. Always there is a moment of divergence where we choose a branching path, and it may branch and branch again. All the while, we forge the bridges we cross.

This morning’s light is dull. I’m going to work on Silk River. Yesterday morning I finished my critique and now I’m contemplating my next move in preparing for the rewrite. Don’t want to start writing too soon. Need more of the story to come together and unfold for me. During my critique I saw opportunities for development. I’m going to write a summary and see how much story I’ve got, see if the bones are strong, see what I can build upon them.

I’m contemplating present tense rather than 3rd person, and I know Jewel gets the first chapter and Rochelle the second. I know this will not be a long book. The story is not complicated; nor as complex as A Lamentation of Swans. I’m aiming for a straight run when I start the writing, and I think it will go quickly.

among the daisies

The Lady Clare (study), John William Waterhouse

Thank you to all who commented on my last post. A Lamentation of Swans is gone, for now, but definitely not forgotten. Letting it rest for a while will do me a world of good.

Almost done with the Silk River review. The manuscript is 244 pages long, and needs lots of work. I’m glad the weekend is just about here. This’ll be the first free Saturday I’ve had all month. Next Saturday a friend is visiting, and then April will be here! Last night I read three more chapters of the Napoleon bio. I have not had the time to make progress with this book. Perhaps my objective of reading one non-fiction book a quarter is a tad ambitious. I’m enjoying the bio, and there’s a fine picture of a twenty-seven year-old Napoleon, lean features, shadowed eyes, stern mouth. He’s made brigadier general, and is in love with the beautiful Desiree Clary, his sister-in-law. He’s not yet met Josephine Beauharnais. That’s next, in Chapter 12.

this morning

A Young Girl with Flamingoes, John Reinhard Weguelin

This morning I made it to page 133 of my reading-review of SILK RIVER. The rough draft is 228 pages. And this morning I worked on CLOAK OF SHAR, revised the end of the battle scene. While going through my folders yesterday I came across the story, read some of it, and liked it very much. It reads well, moves right along, has a battle scene I love, and I’d like to know what else happens. Only way to find out is to continue writing it. Think I was writing this as a novella. 4469 words so far.

synapses firing into gravel

Ophelia, George Frederic Watts

I’ve cracked my head against the glass ceiling, having risen to the level of my incompetence in attempting to write A Lamentation of Swans. It is as important to know when to let go and let be as it is to know when to keep on keeping on. Today I packed every piece of paper about Swans into a box, every piece of paper dating from 1992 to now, and placed that box in the closet, where it will sit until I feel like I can write the book–whenever, and if ever, that time comes. I’m not giving up entirely, but I think the book is bigger than my ability to write it at this point in my creative ambitions.

Adrian put it succintly and perceptively in his comment, “Perhaps this is just a larger work that you will get back to. Working on other things could help you develop whatever skills, insights, etc., that you’ll need when you come back to Swans.” Yep. Think so.

I’ve labored on this novel since 1992, and it has become an albatross, bowing my shoulders. I want it out of my way. In his comment, Adrian also said, “Best to capitalize on strengths and work on what works, in my view.” With Swans, I was no longer capitalizing on my strengths, but merely lugging from year to year a sack of weaknesses. I’m going to move on, and when I gain more insight into that book somewhere down the road, I’ll pick it up again.

But I kept out the Swanology binder. I’m sure things will occur to me. So I’ll keep a playful connection with the novel. I really enjoy working on Swanology, and it’s grown some. I’ll post a photo of the cover and some of the pages as soon as I stop feeling lazy, take the pictures, and load them.

I certainly appreciate all the encouragement I’ve received from you all who read these scribblings, and it does make me a little sad to set it down. But there’s other books for me to write, and time enough.

at the tip of the grass blade

Ophelia, Paul Albert Steck

Huntington Library and Gardens with Michelle today. We’re going to view the Constable exhibit and have lunch at the Tea Room. Halfway through my review of Silk River, preparing for the rewrite. Have a few decisions to make about a couple characters, specifically Glory and James. Don’t know their roles yet, except they’re a part of the supporting cast.

Thinking about a dream date to complete the second draft–they say it’s good to have a deadline. “They” must know I’m masochistic. I’m not ready to start the writing yet, but I’m thinking six months. April will definitely be a planning month. If I start writing May 1, then October 31st would be the finish. Just in time for NaNo in November, if I decide to do it again. I like ending up with another completed rough draft ’cause it’s so difficult for me to write progressively every day, i.e., actually produce words. I like the idea of having another manuscript that I can rewrite at my usual snail-like pace. I’m so sick of trying to complete a novel!

Anyway, I won’t pressure myself about an October 31st deadline to finish the second draft. I think Silk River will need a third rewrite, at least, before I’m satisfied.

As for A Lamentation of Swans, I just don’t know. This may be the year I shelve it for a long time. I want to move on to other fiction and Swans is holding me back. However, if I shelve Swans, that means I may not write the other two books set in the story world of Raeve–A Haunting of Roses and A Rain of Pearls–both of which are partially written. But their independent stories so maybe they have a chance of seeing daylight.

Red’s at the dealer’s today; I think I’m going to have to buy a new car next year. Red is showing his age, poor guy, and our lovely relationship is inching toward its end.

good bones

The Lady of Shalott, John Atkinson Grimshaw

Silk River review moving along, now at the note-taking phase. I’ve divided the manuscript in sections, ten pages per section, and I’m reading and making notes page by page, section by section. There’s lots of exposition about the characters, neck-snapping transitions, and scenes that go nowhere but the story, as I’ve said before, has good bones.

Rochelle and Jewel are good strong characters, especially Jewel, although she is supposed to be a supporting character, she may supplant Rochelle as main character. Why might that happen?

Jewel’s story arc is stronger than Rochelle’s at the moment. Silk River as it is belongs more to Jewel than Rochelle, although Rochelle’s story has potential too. Both women are fully formed in my mind, but Jewel’s story has more drama.

Considering how painful writing A Lamentation of Swans has been, and continues to be, it’s comforting to have a completed rough draft of this book, a contemporary novel. This is the second such novel I’ve completed. Loose Daddy is the first, and it needs a rewrite too, but it can wait a while longer.

I know the title, “Silk River,” will change. I need something more in tune with the characters than the town.

bleh

Pain, Carlos Schwabe

Well shoot…I’ve fallen into a funk.