ed note: sometimes I get stuck. usually because I'm taking myself and The Story too seriously. sometimes because I read great authors and upon the reading feel as if I've completely forgotten how to write or that what I write is such tripe as to waste the time it takes to write and wastes the time of those who attempt to read. sometimes I'm just out of ideas, interesting ideas, of where to take the story. when this happens, you get a chapter like the one below. each of the snippets could and perhaps should be a full chapter in its own right, and one or two just might be expanded. forgive my stuckness and feel free to skip the tripe below although I'm not promising tomorrow's tripe will be any better.
"So, tell me more about his message?" asked Kyra.
"Don't really know anymore than I've told you," said John. "What's wrong with your nose?"
"Nose bleed. Can't seem to get it to stop."
"Let me see."
__________
"Is there a chapel?" asked Von.
The servitor displayed a virtual map of a building a few hundred yards away. Von took note, nodding his thanks. A few minutes later, standing in the courtyard, his eyes sore from the sight, sore of memory forgotten, the chapel stood, an object, as chapels should he thought, with a gravity and presence beyond stone and mortar, wood and banner. Creed mattered not. He opened the door and walked into the expanse, tradition and ritual breathing, him, breathing life into soul, stoking memories of Tao sanctuaries back on Hyneria, reminding him of what was and what was never to be again.
__________
Em motioned and Trev followed. "I've got a problem," she said.
"Look, this is not what it looks like."
"You ever notice that when you get nervous you repeat the same word."
"I'm not nervous. I'm concerned."
"You should be."
"I don't know what your problem is but Mairi was there when I needed her and I fully intend to be there for her now."
"I'm not talking about Mairi."
__________
"Rog, you wanna get your message? You know, we haven't heard from anyone since we landed."
"No, not really."
"Well, I think I will."
"No, I don't think so."
After a short and playful wrestling match with Yul on top, her knees on either side of his chest and his comm to her ear, Rog noticed a change in her demeanor. "What's up?"
Handing him the comm she said, "I think you need to listen to this."
__________
Kyra held her head back and removed the bloody cloth. John webbed his hand to the back of her head, looking, looking a little too long without speaking.
"What is it?"
"I'm not sure, but I think we should head to the hospital."
"Are you serious? For a nose bleed?"
"Yes. How quickly can you be ready?"
15 comments:
During these times it could be that you're thinking too much. Looking too much for outside validation. Comparing yourself to other writers when no such comparison is really valid.
Here's a suggestion. It's not for everyone, but it should work for you, Tree. Go back and read some of your chapters from several months ago. They're good. You have talent. Don't let your brain's left hemisphere tell you otherwise. I say this will work for you because of the quality of your writing and your artwork. You have much to be proud of.
And, hey, everybody's entitled to a little tripe now and then. You ever see any of Beethoven's composition manuscripts? Good god, what a mess they were!
You have a loyal following and it's growing day by day. Hang in there.
Greg, thanks for the kind words. In DiSC parlance, I have a "High C" personality, which among other things leads me toward extreme self-criticism fueled by a relentless perfectionism. I usual have both within arms length but there are days when they conspire and coordinate a rather effective pincher movement. Today is one of those days. It will pass, but like most things, in the moment, seems as if, in the eternal now, to exist for now and forever. :-D
Last night I had the privilege and pleasure to see Rodrigo y Gabriela in concert. What I witnessed cannot be put into words, at least not words that I know. I've said before that some music has to be seen to be understood and perhaps these two musicians exemplify this maxim as much as anyone. Even my wife commented at the end of the concert, she was not looking forward to going, that seeing them made their music so much better than just listening.
Here is what I saw. I saw a musician, Gabriela, lose herself in the music, exhibit a passion, become the instrument in such a way that I wasn't sure exactly what I was witnessing. It looked religious in surrender, orgasmic in embrace, a melding of flesh with wood and nylon, seamless in all directions. And as I watched, I smiled and marveled knowing I was watching something rare, something that cannot be duplicated on demand. Inspiration personified. Yet, it was more than that. Somehow the crowd became part of the performance, the Ryman, a quaint and intimate venue, glowed with magic as if the blur of her fingers and wrist, the bobbing of her head with eyes closed, cast a spell, took the energy of thousands and channeled it back into the performance. I saw life, life being lived and I saw it for almost two hours. And, at the end, you could see that they saw it too, that they knew the performance last night was not a normal performance.
And so, on that experience . . . Well, what can I say. :-)
I may not visit daily, but when I do, I always enjoy your writing. I've been blogging since 2005, and have visited many blogs. Yours is the one that I continue to visit (I think for a couple of years now).
I may not comment all the time, but I do read the chapters, even if I have to catch up! It's an escape for me. You gave this handful of characters life, and I immerse myself in their experiences. I especially enjoy the Kyra/Papa flashbacks. They always so insightful.
Aaaaaand, those awesome fractals! I don't know how you find time to do all this, with all the traveling you do.
BTW, your new title image is beyond awesome. When the page opened, I immediately let out a WOW!!
-Deb
Deb, thanks for the kind words. I wasn't fishing for compliments (Janus knows I've received my share) but rather trying to be what I call transparent, which is to say, to pull the curtain back on the trials and tribulations of writing. One of my favorite authors, Cormac McCarthy, is perhaps one of the least transparent authors I know, and as much as I respect his right to be so, I feel, especially as his days grow short, that he will take so much to the grave and the rest of us will be the poorer for it. I suppose I would make a horrible magician, always wanting to show everyone how the tricks are performed. :-D
Thanks again Deb for visiting for as long as you have. I believe you've been around from the beginning. Quite a feat in and of itself. :-)
Oooooh, doesn't sound stuck to me !
I like the ones about Em... And Rog... And Kyra/John.
I can 'hear' them from you, Tree...
Forget about what other people have written. Don't let their voices intimidate your thinking. What you have to say and how you say it is unbelievably far from tripe.
Mhmmm, walk away from it... unh-huh. You can't touch it. No stop thinking about it. Don't go there, not... It is forbidden because it holds mystery, and that holds the key.
Then it flows. when you let all else go...
Annie, those are wise words. Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. I'll make some fresh coffee, french press, italian roast. Can I get you a cup? :-)
I strongly relate to what you're saying. In fact, I have a word document full of snippets like the ones in your post, and I just stare at them. They're good but need to be developed before they get a home in my novel.
I too find reading other authors can be daunting instead of encouraging. But you know, there is a thing about pushing creativity, and as much as we don't like to take a break, a fresh pair of eyes after a rest has done wonders for my story.
You've been working on this story for some time. It's ok to relax and just freewrite, or even take a break.
Cléa, I feel like I've been on break. :-D
Thanks for checking in and the kind words. I've started work on expanding one of the snippets in this chapter. Look for it tomorrow. :-)
Tripe is the one thing that you cannot write, therein lies the limit to your limitlessness as a writer. One thing I would like to say is that your writing is always worth waiting for, and there is a deliciousness in the wait, a Susan-type scenario, but contrastingly so for the anticipation, though and strangely enough on the back of very many experiences of the same, never quite matches up to the chapter. Though anticipation be huge, the chapter is greater. And I can almost hear your response mentioning 'kindness' as I type those words, but and I have said this before if only I had greater words, I'd reach somewhere near the true extent of admiration and appreciation of your gift.
Personally, I like these type of chapters, though I understand what you are saying not least having read the fleshing, to use your word, of Von's visit above, I like the drawing together of several or all of the characters in the present time, swinging open the doors for just a moment into each of them in turn, and though there are continuances here, Trev and Em for example and John, Kyra, it is but that moment's worth and though adding information, more than that it adds suspense, curiosity. A taster, a trailer for what is to come, whether we see the whole as we have with Von now or whether this is the extent of what we will be privy to at least of these scenes. Now, that said, I would very much like to know what Em has to say and whether John's prolonged look has to do entirely with what might be causing the nosebleed or whether there is another element to it.
Thing is, if you knew how good you are, as one cannot help but wish, you wouldn't be the writer that you are, not only always capable but always striving.
Sunshine, as I've said many, many times before and I'll say it again, you are very kind. I think we need more people in the world just like you. :-)
Tree,
with some cinnamon please and a lovely bit of milk :)
On the way Annie. :-)
The worst for me is to write something in one mood, and read it later in another. Because I am usually FEELING the emotion that I am writing about I don't descibe that emotion enough. Then upon a re reading it falls flat. I think that is where talent (such as yours) comes in handy.
Your snippets of stories always leave me wanting to read MORE. You are able to create an interest very quickly.
Going to read some more - I am SO behind!
Jen, I know exactly what you mean. I wrote a very short piece last night riding a strong emotion created while watching a music video. The piece makes perfect sense to me, but I fear without that emotional wave to ride, which no one else is going to have, the piece will either fall flat or make little sense.
Nice to have you back. :-)
It's wonderful to be here. Now that the boy is doing better my mind is free. Great place to land!
Jen
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