It’s a scary thing, leaving
safety behind.
Novel Number Two has been
rattling around in my dusty attic of a creative mind for, oh, probably about
five years now (and it’s still not bloody written, I hear you wail!), and I’ve
always known the basic arc of the story and how it’ll end. But now, I’m about
to lift-off into the unknown...
I’ve been writing/mulling
over/tinkering with (delete as applicable – though it has been new, fresh
words, not a rehash of things done before!) two individual scenes for each of
my main characters; comfortable, risk-free scenes because I’ve played them over
and over in my mind so much! But now I’m only a few hundred words from
finishing them and beginning an event, an exchange, an interplay I haven’t
planned to the nth degree!
Precautions and preparations have
been taken, of course: notes to hand for reassurance, but not too close for
over-reliance; SMASH book scrapbook propped up to give characterisation help; research
file divided up into the way I think and approach (which might be confusing if
anyone else was to read it...!); books on dressmaking/sewing looked through and
considered; tea-bags stocked up for the next year; spare printer cartridge
primed and ready.
This writing-book-wise, I’m
trying a few new things, launching away from my old ways. For all my note-taking
and planning, I haven’t plotted this book step-by-step, point-by-point,
number-by-number – I did this for Book One and it bloated my thoughts and text.
Instead, I’m thinking a scene at a time, putting myself into the character’s path
and wondering what’s at the forefront of their mind, their experience (or I
will be, as soon as I get writing the fresh stuff!) – and I’m naming each scene
around its broad theme, not numbering it. Oh no. Numbers lead to lists, to
ranking of importance, to a linear progression, which killed my spontaneity
last time, so I don’t want that now!
I’ve also picked up a tip from a
blog/article/rambling somewhere, to choose a different font for each project
and for each narrative voice. Now, let’s get the professionalism out of the
way: when submitting (for competition, consideration or publication) one always
uses Times New Roman or Arial, no flouncy, funny stuff or unnecessary bold and
italics, and keep it to size 12, double spaced. Thank you. But I’m not
submitting, am I?! I’m a long, long way from that and if I start thinking about
it, everything just gets too scary... So, let me catch my breath and keep it
real-ish with Garamond and Perpetua, both clear, typed fonts (not handwriting –
but I’m using that for the header titles!), as well as having some artsy, bespoke
fun!
So, in just a few days, I will be
lifting off in my metaphorical space capsule, seeking new life and new story
happenings... Wish me luck!
~ ttfn ~
