Well, its been a while but at last I am about to send out my second MS to an agent. For the past few years I haven't been sitting in a comfortable chair, twiddling my fingers, staring at the sun; rather I've been in front of a computer screen. Fully concentrating on my novel, even though I have to confess it seems like I've progressed in fits and starts . Now, at last, I see a work that I really want to submit, something I hope others will enjoy as much as I have in writing it. Especially an agent.
Over the past several years, in order to write, I have had a hand me down computer on my desk. I endured this recalcitrant machine, until at last it gave up the ghost and died; literally, one keystroke at a time. The computer would accept one letter then pause before allowing me to strike the next one. It was so frustrating. The computer's unwillingness to follow my directions, finally forced me to buy a new one.
She's a beauty, large white plastic encased screen, a keyboard that doesn't do repetitive letters if my fingers don't move quickly enough. So easy to use and it does so many wonderful things that the one I had been given years ago couldn't do.
Moving on from this difficult time, I feel bad for my poor character, Henry, a psychopathic, serial killer. I have left him languishing on a pier in a lake on his Orange Grove outside Orlando; just waiting for me to pick him up again. Henry has to stay there a little longer, while I figure out another ending. Being eaten by an alligator is so Florida that there has to be another way I can help him leave the scene, perhaps even alive.
While he waits, Phillip, my Vampire and his cohorts, have been busy, growing in strength and vitality while floating in my imagination. They've been busy loving, living, gorging on others and creating havoc for their small yet continually disintegrating coven. I am a huge fan of Anne Rice and her 'Vampire Chronicles'. Like this wonderful author, I have tried to make my characters sympathetic, charismatic and flawed.
As I've said before, Phillip and the others in this novel have absolutely taken me over in the writing. Not in an unhealthy way. They flood my consciousness and unconsciousness. Awake or asleep they talk to me, give me ideas, places, situations, dialogue and their problem resolutions, which then flow through my fingers and onto the screen. Without my love of words they couldn't exist, so they let me breathe life into them.
Happily, I am progressing through the last review and rewrite, (count them three, plus 1 year of editing and review by others). Now, I only have the last 50 pages to go over before I can send it off. Unfortunately, I have during this review, keep picking up flaws and sections that need to be expanded. So, the work gets longer, but I think better. I know this is my first book and it probably shouldn't be send out, but as a fairly new writer, I think its important to take the chance that someone will see value and potential in my writing and help me. Fingers crossed.
I don't want anything more for Christmas than to be accepted by an agent. If my novel isn't accepted somewhere, Phillip and I will be very upset. My holiday spirit will survive but he and I might drink a little more eggnog than usual during this season.
The writers group I facilitate is still going, 7 years strong. This group has given me great pleasure, it is wonderful to see writers grow in their craft and seek to publish their own works. I congratulate all of them. A poet in the group has been recognized by the library system here, they chose her poem in a contest; she was asked to and then presented it at their annual dinner.
As a result of this dinner and the beauty of her poem, she was asked to participate in a television program describing the process of writing poetry, we are all very proud of her.
Now for my Kindle, I am currently rereading "Alaska" by James Michener. A truly wonderful book by a great writer and researcher. It deals with the Native Peoples of Alaska, the founding of Russian settlements along with the growth of Alaska's fur trade. That is as far as I've gotten, there is much more to go.
If you haven't reread Michener in a while or never read his works, you might give them a try. His investigation into and knowledge of different world cultures, the history of places, and an understanding of the human psyche; combined with the scope of his intellect and language are breathtaking. He was truly a master of the written word.
I also have and can't wait to read a book published in the early nineteenth century, 'The Worst Journey in the world: 1910-1913' by Apsley Cherry-Garrard about his study of penguin eggs and survival in Antarctica as part of Robert Falcon Scott's ill fated expedition. Using scientific investigation of penguin eggs he wanted to follow their embryonic development in the shell, hoping he could prove an evolutionary link between penguins and reptiles. Remember, this was the beginning of the second decade of the twentieth century. His book also covers Scott's expeditions hardships and their struggles in that frozen world.
Then, I also have 'Thoreau: A Life' by Laura Dassow Walls. I haven't started it yet but look forward to doing so.
So until next time, I hope we all keep writing, we need our voices and stories to be heard just like the author's I've mentioned in this post.
Happy Holidays to everyone out there, embrace those close to you, pass your joy, love and happiness that lie inside with them. Also, please share these same sentiments with any strangers who are lucky enough to pass you by everyday.
Your small act of kindness may be just what that person needs during the holidays.
Over the past several years, in order to write, I have had a hand me down computer on my desk. I endured this recalcitrant machine, until at last it gave up the ghost and died; literally, one keystroke at a time. The computer would accept one letter then pause before allowing me to strike the next one. It was so frustrating. The computer's unwillingness to follow my directions, finally forced me to buy a new one.
She's a beauty, large white plastic encased screen, a keyboard that doesn't do repetitive letters if my fingers don't move quickly enough. So easy to use and it does so many wonderful things that the one I had been given years ago couldn't do.
Moving on from this difficult time, I feel bad for my poor character, Henry, a psychopathic, serial killer. I have left him languishing on a pier in a lake on his Orange Grove outside Orlando; just waiting for me to pick him up again. Henry has to stay there a little longer, while I figure out another ending. Being eaten by an alligator is so Florida that there has to be another way I can help him leave the scene, perhaps even alive.
While he waits, Phillip, my Vampire and his cohorts, have been busy, growing in strength and vitality while floating in my imagination. They've been busy loving, living, gorging on others and creating havoc for their small yet continually disintegrating coven. I am a huge fan of Anne Rice and her 'Vampire Chronicles'. Like this wonderful author, I have tried to make my characters sympathetic, charismatic and flawed.
As I've said before, Phillip and the others in this novel have absolutely taken me over in the writing. Not in an unhealthy way. They flood my consciousness and unconsciousness. Awake or asleep they talk to me, give me ideas, places, situations, dialogue and their problem resolutions, which then flow through my fingers and onto the screen. Without my love of words they couldn't exist, so they let me breathe life into them.
Happily, I am progressing through the last review and rewrite, (count them three, plus 1 year of editing and review by others). Now, I only have the last 50 pages to go over before I can send it off. Unfortunately, I have during this review, keep picking up flaws and sections that need to be expanded. So, the work gets longer, but I think better. I know this is my first book and it probably shouldn't be send out, but as a fairly new writer, I think its important to take the chance that someone will see value and potential in my writing and help me. Fingers crossed.
I don't want anything more for Christmas than to be accepted by an agent. If my novel isn't accepted somewhere, Phillip and I will be very upset. My holiday spirit will survive but he and I might drink a little more eggnog than usual during this season.
The writers group I facilitate is still going, 7 years strong. This group has given me great pleasure, it is wonderful to see writers grow in their craft and seek to publish their own works. I congratulate all of them. A poet in the group has been recognized by the library system here, they chose her poem in a contest; she was asked to and then presented it at their annual dinner.
As a result of this dinner and the beauty of her poem, she was asked to participate in a television program describing the process of writing poetry, we are all very proud of her.
Now for my Kindle, I am currently rereading "Alaska" by James Michener. A truly wonderful book by a great writer and researcher. It deals with the Native Peoples of Alaska, the founding of Russian settlements along with the growth of Alaska's fur trade. That is as far as I've gotten, there is much more to go.
If you haven't reread Michener in a while or never read his works, you might give them a try. His investigation into and knowledge of different world cultures, the history of places, and an understanding of the human psyche; combined with the scope of his intellect and language are breathtaking. He was truly a master of the written word.
I also have and can't wait to read a book published in the early nineteenth century, 'The Worst Journey in the world: 1910-1913' by Apsley Cherry-Garrard about his study of penguin eggs and survival in Antarctica as part of Robert Falcon Scott's ill fated expedition. Using scientific investigation of penguin eggs he wanted to follow their embryonic development in the shell, hoping he could prove an evolutionary link between penguins and reptiles. Remember, this was the beginning of the second decade of the twentieth century. His book also covers Scott's expeditions hardships and their struggles in that frozen world.
Then, I also have 'Thoreau: A Life' by Laura Dassow Walls. I haven't started it yet but look forward to doing so.
So until next time, I hope we all keep writing, we need our voices and stories to be heard just like the author's I've mentioned in this post.
Happy Holidays to everyone out there, embrace those close to you, pass your joy, love and happiness that lie inside with them. Also, please share these same sentiments with any strangers who are lucky enough to pass you by everyday.
Your small act of kindness may be just what that person needs during the holidays.
