Back in the “saddle” again

Tags

difficult, novel, postaday2014, writing

Yeepee for me, yesterday I got back to writing on my novel. I know it has been a little too long away from my novel, there is no excuse in the world that I can offer to justify my lack of progress.

I have to admit that I am entering the New York phase of my book with trepidation. I am not entirely sure how or where to proceed, I know how I am going to remedy that. I am going to write up an outline with ideas and thoughts as to what my goals are for the New York part of the saga. I have already done some historic research so I am good there, it is more on the emotional side and my character’s feelings about her new home, being away from her family, meeting her love’s friends and family; how much excitement, how much homesickness, how much loneliness and how much infatuation for the new city to describe and put into the pages. So there is where I am.

I tell you, I “knew” that writing a novel was really, really hard. I just never quite understood how wrenching the words can be to put on paper, how hard it is to translate emotions into words and even dialogue is a tough nut to crack. I refuse to rush myself, I don’t want to make it about the finish line, I want this to be about the characters and how they feel, where they are and have them get to their place at the correct point in time. I am working really hard to not be negative about my writing or get bogged down in self-doubt. I need to forge ahead one page at a time or two if I’m feeling energetic. That is what I need to focus on; type and move the story forward.

It is hard, but it is so worth it.

Exercising some discipline

Tags

challenges, fiction, heroine, historical fiction, novel, postaday2013, protagonist, writing

Today is one more day that I have spent a few hours working on my novel. I think about it every day and you would think that with the amount of time that I spend thinking about the story, the book would be done by now, but for some reason, the typing process and the actual putting thought on “paper” is much more time consuming than simple thought streaming as you walk. As I walk and think, I get whole scenes that seem to transpire in a matter of steps but when I am seated in front of the computer, the flash in my head is many, many words that need to be typed and after a while my brain feels as if it is overheating, believe it or not.

I know where my story is going, the plot is outlined and I know where they are going and how they get there and how it ends. I just need to continue with the discipline of sitting down for several hours at a time to get it down. I don’t do well with sitting down for several hours, so I do get up and walk up and down the stairs several times during the hours and I take Jack for walks and sit back down again and continue typing. I could never have worked in an office because I have never been able to stay in a seat all day long. I need to move and stretch my legs often. Having said all that, it is no wonder that this exercise in novel writing is taking such a longish time. Two solid years and counting, however if I think this way I am probably just shooting myself in the foot and focusing on the wrong thing, putting unnecessary pressure on myself with imagined time constraints, I just need to focus on the positive, writing and continuing to write.

I am very happy that I spent a good deal of time writing my story today. I feel that the end is very near and it feels good. I am aware that I have said this before, every time my characters go out and do anything there is always food involved and those scenes don’t write themselves, but they do seem to have a mind of their own and take forever to get through. I can talk forever about food and that is what is taking so long. What may be taking me so long may just be the thing that distinguishes my novel from others. Only a finished book will tell.

A tentative book review

Tags

Albert Brooks, book reviews, fiction, futuristic, novel, postaday2013

I named this post a tentative book review because I confess that I haven’t yet finished Albert Brooks novel “2030”. I am a little more than 3/4’s into the book and though I find it to be very well written and engaging, I haven’t reached the punchline yet and I am still waiting wondering when and how it will appear. I say punchline because I have always associated Albert Brooks with comedy, not fall down laughing comedy, more a thinking man’s comedy, but comedy nevertheless. Albert Brooks has had a varied body of work. He has written and directed several films such as Modern Romance and Defending Your Life. The last one is one of my favorite movies of all time; not only is it an optimistic view of the hereafter, but it also informs you that in heaven you get to eat what you want and never gain weight and everything tastes as the most phenomenal bite that you could ever imagine. The whole point of defending your life isn’t about not going to heaven; rather it’s about entering heaven only when you have become the best possible you and not a second before. Essentially your flawed life allows you for a do over until the day when you finally get it right. As I said optimism in all of its glory.

I associate this vision of the world with everything that Albert Brooks does so when my sister gave me his book “2030” for Christmas. I was first and foremost excited and second I was intrigued as to how he was going to weave a story in the future. As I said it is very well written, the characters are interesting and the themes are universal. You would imagine that a medical miracle, the cure for cancer, would be cause for monumental celebration but after some time it is no longer just a celebratory occasion. The cure starts to produce issues and devastating problems the world over and the issues aren’t what I had expected. The quandary revolves around the resources pie and who gets a share of the pie and what to do when there isn’t enough pie to go around. Another question is when do you outlive your usefulness to yourself and to others? Is there a point that if you aren’t set up for longevity economically, you shouldn’t be allowed to continue living on the government’s dime? As I said, I am still waiting for the punchline and I have a sinking feeling that there isn’t going to be one.

I am enjoying this book because I appreciate the questions and issues Albert Brooks raises throughout the book. It is thoughtfully written even when it is pitting the young ones against the “olds”. Within the book, I can’t help but feel empathy for the younger generation who are born into a society that no longer has any opportunity left unless you are already from a wealthy family. In my opinion it’s showing what has happened throughout the industrialized world but depicted as if on steroids.

I am not the book reviewer that my dear friend Jackie Paulson from getreadingnow.org is and I’m sure that if she read this her review would be far superior. I am essentially simply airing out my thoughts and impressions on a very well written novel by an interesting man.

End of year goal

Tags

books, end of year goal, novel, postaday2012, writing

• End-of-Year Goal
• books

  I hope that I finish at least the rough draft of my book, The Chic Bootlegger, if I do at least that much I will be very proud of myself. The only thing that could stop this from happening is me, so I am using the National November Writing challenge to give me the kick in the pants that apparently I so desperately needed.

Where do you hope to be in three years time?

Tags

Boston, loft apartment, novel, politics, postaday2012, publish, writing

Where do you hope to be in three years?

June 14, 2012

Where I Hope to Be in 3 Years

Villa in Cap Ferret, Arcachon Bay

In three years, I hope to be writing for a political publication, perhaps be a published author of my novel that is currently being written. My hubby and I would perhaps be living full time in a loft apartment somewhere in Boston. The possibility of having a second home in the southwest of France would also be nice.

Chapter 1, page 5, paragraph 1 – 3 Madeleine trying to get to work -excerpt from The Chic Bootlegger

Tags

1920's, Love, madeleine, novel, Paris, postaday2012

Where is the time, I have to go. Where is my coat and hat, it is cold outside. I hope that it is not going to rain, Paris in the autumn, you are guaranteed grey skies everyday or at least that is what it feels like and if you are lucky rain every other day. It does make for a long winter, a very short autumn but a long winter. At least we don’t have to worry too much about snow, that would be hard because boots are so expensive and I don’t really have the extra money to spend on snow boots, least of all the whole family. A factory worker’s pay does not allow for much at all. I shouldn’t complain because I still have my job, since the war has ended, many of the men who came back, took up where they left off and the women were fired. Since I work in the sewing machine factory, not many men were working there before the war, so my job has always been safe, I inherited it, if you will, from my Maman. Having a family history with the factory does help, because Gabrielle and Maman during holiday seasons are able to come in for part-time work that helps us out during the year with extra money. It also helps out the Patrons because they don’t have to train any one else, Maman and Gabrielle are very experienced. All in all I must say that we live in a very tidy universe on Avenue Victor Hugo and rue de la Pompe.
Here I am at last out the door; Papa is still sleeping near the stove. I wonder if he even noticed that it is no longer cold in the apartment. One of these days, someone is going to have to do something about Papa, he can’t go on like this. Maman needs help and a husband who is at least present. It can’t be good for the little ones to see an adult do nothing all day long except eat, drink and fall asleep in a chair listening to the radio. I should stop worrying about it now; I have to start thinking about work. Down the stairs, two at a time and I am out onto the Avenue.
It is not that bad outside, here I am at the corner of rue de la Pompe and voila, I am at work. There is Sabine; she is my best friend in the world. We have known each other since we were in the bassinet together because our Maman’s are best friends and they worked at the Usine together for years since they were young girls. Back then it wasn’t a sewing machine factory of course, it had been a factory for textiles. When in 1910, it changed over to a sewing machine factory; the Patron simply kept the same factory workers and trained them for the new jobs.
Sabine and I work side by side on the assembly line. We try to set new records, not just in speed but in efficiency and quality. Anything to keep our jobs interesting, the monotony not only can drive someone batty but it also can lead to bad work. Bad work equals bad product which then equals time docked for bad product and that eventually leads to no job. Sabine and I, we have no illusions, we know that we need our jobs. Not only do we need our jobs to put food on the table for our families but we are also young and we do like to go out every now and again to the new café’s and the new music clubs that are opening up all over Paris.

Writing is hard!

Tags

bootlegger, intimacy, love affair, madeleine, novel, postaday2012, relationship, writing, younger days

I have not given up on writing my novel that I started on November 1,2011 The Chic Bootlegger. I make sure that I spend everyday writing about Madeleine and her life in Paris. I have to confess that it is hard and a little scary. I really like writing it but it is scary because I am investing pieces of myself into Madeleine and writing about a grand love affair between Madeleine and her mysterious beaux seems like kissing and telling.I might as well just come out with it, I am feeling a little shy because they are getting to that moment where intimacy is about to happen and I feel very awkward writing the scene which is quite important because it will propel the relationship beyond comfortable to neither can ever be without each other. I know that I am being silly and I never thought in my younger days that I would grow up to be so modest. Who knew, I have sort of become my mother, all prim and proper.