There is a sharp-toothed wind outside my house,
calling. The noise drags through me like a spoon stirring curdled milk.
Hedgerow berries are turned to moulded knots. Winter's entourage is waking. It
will soon be Halloween…
I think this year's story is ready. Not perfected, and
full of risk. Not as stomach turning as it was, perhaps the story line is then
exposed as rather banal. I care not. The risk is the point. One must bring the
fight to the comfort zone. On the 31st, you can read and decide.
Most of my attention is taken up with finishing The
Novel (this is how I think of it now, though the next one will assume the same
title, and the one after that, it does not signify a solo thing, it's a misuse
of the definite article for psychological purpose.)
I don't like to talk about The Novel. If you are
talking about writing you are not writing. Why aren't you writing?
I don't like to write about myself- too much self
reflection is a hobbler. When I present my life snapshots here, they are done
in a way I have cultivated, to be openly reflective. I'm not sure if I can
describe more clearly what I mean by this. I even use the third person.
I prefer present tense. I like to be there. This is a
difficult habit to overturn (An Artist Goes To The Shops was a past tense
project, felt most clumsy!)
Trying to develop a style, to keep a balance and not
be confined to a flat level of achievement, to do this in a world that has
heart crushing stupidity and humbling redemption and still have something to
say that will reach out and be reciprocated: this is my writer's quest and it
scares me.
Best of luck with the novel, Lisa. Don't know if you have much time to read, too, but if you do, I hope you might consider joining my bloggers' book club. Details are here: http://armchairsquid.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-cephalopod-coffeehouse-october-blog.html
ReplyDeleteThis entire post was a massive tuning fork in the chest. I'm alarmed by the similarities in our hearts and pleased at the differences in how we express. Same sun, different ray. Btw, this:
ReplyDelete'I think this year's story is ready. Not perfected, and full of risk.'
is just IMMACULATE. Have just tattooed it on my heart, Lisa.
Thank you Mr Squid, I do attempt reading - not as much as I should so I shall sign up to club as part of a push to do better.
ReplyDeleteSuze: 'Same sun, different ray' :-) Agree!
We'd be delighted to have you!
ReplyDeleteJust quoted you over at Cygnus's place, Silverbetty!
ReplyDeleteI peeked! I read the post and commented and then realised I was quoted in your comment- feeling famous now if a little inattentive! x
ReplyDelete