I can't believe it's 'Fess Up Friday again. Fridays come and go so quickly! Anyway, this has been a good writing week. Heart's Chalice continues to develop and come together, and this past week, I went ahead and began revisions in order to see how I ultimately want to round out the story.
And today, on a hike, I had revelation about my story -- a bird's eye view, if you will. Or a hawk's eye view -- they fly very high and have excellent eyesight.
Much of what I figured out today will come forward to create the main narrative thrust of my story, or to borrow Ernest Hemingway's iceberg analogy, the tip of the iceberg that the reader sees. And much of what I've already written will become the large part of the iceberg that moves out of sight, under water.
And that means lots more work for me. More rewriting. More restructuring.
But that's okay. It'll be worth it -- the story is developing, deepening, becoming more and more the kind of story I envisioned when I started.
Rough-drafting Heart's Chalice has been much like an archaeological excavation. I've had to dig and dig and dig to discover the shape of the story, then after all the digging, I had to sprout wings and soar above it to see it fully. And in so doing, I've learned where else I might dig to better reveal its shape.
More and more, I'm getting there. I'm excited about this story. More so than about any novel I've written before. And that, I believe, is a good sign.
I'll continue to record the word count for Heart's Chalice in my sidebar, but it'll be wonky for some time to come. It'll stay steady for a while, then it'll start going up, up, up, but then as I do more revisions, it'll come down again.
We saw three deer on the mountain today! They ran away too quickly for me to get pictures -- we came upon them unexpectedly -- but it was wonderful to see them. Two were adult deer (two does) and the third was a fawn. Just precious.
And the mountain laurel (rhododendron) is blooming all over. It's gorgeous! Here are some pictures I took -- enjoy.
Friday, June 20, 2008
'Fess Up Friday
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8 comments:
Congratulations on your continued efforts. Just be careful not to get so layered and complex that only us brainy gals can appreciate it! ;-)
*giggling*, Bunnygirl! Thanks so much, and your advice will be well-heeded. :) HC is pretty darned layered and complex right now, but the hawk's eye view I had today will help me streamline things nicely.
So what I'm shooting for is layered and complex but also smooth and swift and rollicking, with the gears not so much in evidence -- kind of like a roller-coaster ride for readers' imaginations. :)
Hi Thomma Lyn,
I too have been busy with my first novel. Much to my surprise and delight my sister has just read my completed novel for the first time ever. She is only the second person ever to have read my novel from cover to cover so to speak.
if the publisher was to get back to me then maybe there will be three people who have read it. Anyway she has found a few tiny little typos which need sorting out so I've started to read through it again and making some tiny charges. This may be a dangerous thing to do but if it going to make it a stronger book then so be it.
Here a fresh cup of tea and I'm glad to know all is well with you and yours.
((Hug)) & best wishes
Annie
Hi, Annie, and thanks so much for the tea! :) That's great, your sister reading your novel. It's beneficial to have fresh pairs of eyes to catch things we might have missed. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for you -- I hope you'll get good news soon! :)
(((((((hugs)))))))) and best wishes to you, too, my friend! :)
Sounds like you are getting to the heart of Heart's Chalice.
Love the pics. And isn't it great to see deer?
Yeah, "getting to the heart of Heart's Chalice" -- how true! :) I'm glad you like the pictures, and oh, seeing the deer was wonderful! They're so beautiful. :)
This story sounds so intriguing. Your building anxiety in me...dying to know what its about and whats happening.
I love the laurels and your seeing the deer. I miss seeing wildlife in it's natural state.
Keep up the good work.
Big bear hugs, my deer KS...D
Thanks so much, Dorothy! Had kind of a crazy go-go-go day today, but this evening I'm back at Heart's Chalice, and I'm in the process of going through it, smoothing plot lines and patching inconsistencies to make it ready for the next step -- threading through an important new plot line that will ultimately become the story's backbone.
It's funny how each of my books has come together differently. Goodness knows, this one has come together more strangely than any of my others.
But strange, as I've learned, is good!
It was lovely to see the deer, and the laurel is just soooooo gorgeous. I can't quit taking pictures of it! :)
Great big bear hugs to you, my deer ks! :)
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