S. McPherson's Blog: On my way to being a writer - Posts Tagged "at-water-s-edge"

For a while I was content; convinced that this time would be different, that I'd learnt from my mistakes. This time I would make sure the images were clearer and that the text was easier to read. I would talk to all the right people and I'd appear in all the right magazines.

The journey officially restarted and I was ready for the hike. But, somewhere along this metaphorical road, I came across a crooked sign and written on it were the words of Henry Ford: 'If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always got.' That's when I realised that this time wasn't going to be any different at all because I wasn't actually doing anything different.

That was when I took a step back and decided to enter a new chapter of my life. Here I introduced a much-needed plot twist. Things were certainly going to be different this time!

Unruly waves fling themselves at my ship. Rain barrels down from the sky and lightning meets the sea in a jagged electric blaze. The harsh slap of the wind stings my lips and smothers them in liquid salt. I watch the wheel spin; veering this way and that. Somewhere along my travels, I have taken the wrong course.

Scrabbling in my pocket, I pull out my compass and realise that the arrow is pointing North, away from the storm and towards my first true love; novels. It is time to go back.

‘Land ho!’ I cry as I steer the boat in another direction.

It isn’t long before I am carried away on the current of my imagination. Diving in and out of waves of fantasy; words flooding my mind like the tumultuous crests of high tide on the shore.

Forever a hopeless romantic and a vivid dreamer of the unbelievable, my route is clear. There is only one channel for my tale to take; a fantasy romance one. I stand on the mast of my stories ship, telescope in hand. Perhaps on the lookout for a romance I can never find; I start to invent one.

And so my voyage begins again…

After defining my perfect imperfection I open up to that blank page and my fingers stretch across the keyboard. The words pour out of me like water from a faucet; tumbling down and drenching the page in sentences I never knew I wanted to say. I let the characters take me to where they want; their personalities steering the story to its apparent end.

The beating of their wayward hearts becomes the tempo my story follows. The continuous shift in their ever-changing moods brings to life the melody. And every interaction between the lovers; hushed whispers and gentle grazes, becomes a lyric. After I’m done with the first draft, I move on to the next and the next and the next.

My aim: To write a story that feels like a love song; just as powerful, just as memorable; just longer.

The January lull has come to an end. The resolutions and the vows of a healthier lifestyle, starting to feel like the remnants of a distant dream. Did you say: Never drinking again?? Only whole-wheat toast from now on?? You want to lose how many pounds by the end of the month?? All very admirable tasks but the chore of sticking to news year’s resolutions usually results in them dissolving close to the time new year begins.

That’s why this year, I threw in a few things, I knew I would stick to. Things that I already wanted and was working towards; I just reminded myself of them when the clock struck twelve.

As you may have guessed, many of these re-resolutions revolve around my book. Resolution 1: PUBLICISE! A feat I am a stranger to and no fan of. Publicising the book is like parading your new-born on the red carpet whilst the umbilical cord is still attached. You’re haggard, sleep deprived and both covered in substances you pray will wash off and yet the worst is not over. You have to smile and bellow over the baby’s cry, hoping to be heard over the arrival of Jennifer Lawrence and Kim Kardashian.

Publicity almost seems unkind. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to clean yourself up first; put on a nice dress? Surely your little one can enjoy a few hours’ sleep, have some food before the showcase begins??

Absolutely not! The publicity train is a fast paced and unforgiving one. You miss your stop and you may never get another ride. So pull out your sad little Kleenex, wipe the blood off your face, hook your babe on your bosom and let’s do this! ALL ABOARD!

As the writing wheels continue to turn against the sparking track, I notice a station named Dialogues Bluff rising in the distance. Looking out the window I eye the mammoth crest of the mountain looming over the neighbouring peaks. Each one holds a flag; one with the name, Voice and the other, Reality – two important factors when putting together dialogue.

As we trundle passed leaving Dialogues Bluff to blur behind us, my mind drifts to the characters of my own book and how they might say certain things. What is their voice? As a fun experiment, I pull out my notebook and jot some ideas down:

How my characters might express not doing something when asked:

Dezaray: I could but I don’t want to.

Lexovia: Not in this lifetime.

Milo: Give me one reason why I should; I’ll give you fifty why I shouldn’t.

Yvane: I couldn’t possibly do that

Jude: On the one hand I could. On the other hand I couldn’t. Which hand do you suppose I’ll pick?

Nathaniel: Not likely mate.

Howard: Not with a face like this.

How my characters might express being sleepy:

Dezaray: I’m shattered.Someone carry me.

Lexovia: Me. Sleep. Now!

Milo: As much as I’d love to stay up and chat – (fakes snoring and drool)

Yvane: I need to go to bed immediately.

Jude: Right; I’m off to the land of dreams.

Nathaniel: I’m knackered.

Howard: Time for my beauty sleep.

Drawing out my characters voices turns out to be a great way to pass the time and before I know it, the writing train is screeching to a halt at the next station…