A Writer's Notebook, Day One-Thousand-Five-Hundred-And-Forty-One

 I think I have had a real breakthrough in terms of my understanding of the novel I am writing.  There had been certain parts of the structure that weren't quite lining up yet, and a part of that was that I didn't quite know who the villain really was or how to incorporate that person into the story as more of a character.  I was thinking that the individual responsible would be behind the scenes, maybe, or not as significant to the action of the story.  What I was imagining was the main character receiving a sort of medical treatment that was the product of some particular doctor or corporation, but earlier tonight I realized who in the story is behind that and have found a way to add a stronger personal element which will help me to make it work better.  It is a strange revelation in some ways, as I am not certain if it is something that I just came up with, or if I am just catching up with an idea that was already percolating on some level, as it was a result of my considering the work I have already done.  The part of the story I am writing at the moment is in the past and is setting up various aspects of the character's world, but, when I thought about it, I wasn't certain how necessary it would be for the story to work.  It was when I recognized just who the character I am introducing is in terms of the story that I realized why this section is important and came to understand, I think, just how the whole of this story works.  I may be wrong, of course, and it could all shift about again at some point, but that is always the way with these things.  For now, though, I am quite positive.  I had been struggling with writing this piece, and the last few days it started to turn as I drew down and began to explore a specific set of scenes.  Now, I feel like I am really getting a grasp of the piece and how what I am writing fits the larger whole.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Poem: Neighborhood Inhabitants

Neighborhood Inhabitants There was a fox once, and another time, otters, and now a peacock that we think got lost during one of the storms. She stays down on the other end of the street, though, does not visit us. We have a racoon family that stays in our tree some nights, and there is a baby lizard, a brown basilisk, who we have seen several times. It is not supposed to be here, is invasive and troublesome to the local ecosystem, as are the duck.  I hear there are giant snails now who eat stucco or concrete or something of that sort. I have not seen one, though, I just heard they are here and big as my fist.
Read more

A Writer's Notebook, One-Thousand-Eight-Hundred-And-Seventy-Three

I am still finding it difficult to get back to a more productive work schedule at the moment.  In part, I am sure it is that I gave myself permission to slack off a bit, and it is difficult to walk that back, especially because I am still writing and being productive, even if not to the same degree. I know it would be good to get back to doing more writing, but I also know that I am still meeting my core obligations, even if at a more minimal level.  Really, I just need to make the choice and force myself to stick to it.  To that end, I am planning to at least get back to work on my longer projects again tomorrow, even if I don't increase the poetry output right away.
Read more

A Writer's Notebook, Day One-Thousand-One-Hundred-And-Thirty-Three

I received my acceptance to attend workshop at the Palm Beach Poetry Festival next year and am very excited to be working with Matthew Olzmann, a poet whose work I have admired for some time.  He has a rare capacity for being simultaneously absurd and serious in ways that are hysterical, but with devastating insights underneath.  I feel quite fortunate to have the PBPF, and can say, honestly, that each workshop I have attended there has been incredible.  As a person who has taken many workshops in my life, and who often finds them wanting, I am always astounded at the caliber of the classes at the festival, both in the instruction and in the community of poets I have encountered.  I only wish it could be more than just one week out of the year.
Read more