Dear Readers,
Walking and thinking are truly a cure for a bad case of procrastinating starting something new.
Recently I have been constantly perched at my desk, and sometimes a lovely green recliner chair in front of the fish tank (that is when I can ‘rent’ some time from my daughter who just loves this chair) planning and planning a new novel, character by character, scene by scene, and furiously studying how to build scenes through reading a text-book.
I’ve been researching setting (more still to do) and yet the first pages remained unwritten for several weeks.
I’ve been writing other things; four poems, a short prose piece, a short observation piece; as well as editing several picture books.
I’ve been reading quite a few books for children, young adults and adults to see what I like in my own reading and what techniques I like from other writers.
I’ve been avoiding my novel project.
But a couple of days ago I knew I just had to start doing the hard yards of writing and completing my first novel, lest this become the novel unwritten!
I began to do more walking. Something about the fresh air, and moments to observe and day-dream suddenly lead to a productive writing session of the opening! As I walked the voice to open the novel became clear. That’s it! I suddenly felt like the journey of writing this novel was on!
Now heading into my third day of writing I have four scenes, and have established three central characters. I have made a pledge not to miss a novel writing session every day, even if its short, it is the sticking at it that is going to get me through, together with some change of scenes, and thinking breaks when required throughout the day, and of course I do have other things to do, being a mum, running a household, being a tutor and conquering some other things in life to enable me to grow as a human being.
I am doing the first draft, and have a goal of when I would like to complete it.
The outline does make me feel more confident that I can do this, although the characters may do some dynamic things, but I have a compass for them to help us all make it to the end.
Switching from short forms to long forms and finishing long forms has been a bit of an issue for me, and a recent realisation that many of my short stories are novels, or novellas in the making is a jolt to the writing senses. I have actually started three novels and not completed them. I could sigh, and say, ‘I just have to do this and make it through the first one!’ But I want a better attitude than that, and want that being in the flow writing experience. I do so love these characters and want to honour them!
On one of my trips out into the real world – I came across this random cafe poetry. It made me chuckle. It reminded me this novel cannot be completed by being chained to my desk.
Wondering about the opening
Apathy sets in
Lingering on other tasks until
Kickstarting this dream with the first scene after a walk.
Well I can’t stop in too long to this blog because there is a novel waiting for its next scene and a few submissions to put in so as to earn a crust.
Yes, I am walking today, and who knows what novelistic ideas I will daydream whilst I walk through my next scene.
Have a brilliant week wherever you are, and don’t forget the power of a walk and dream session!
All the best,
June
Gumboootspearlz 