Then one afternoon I awoke from a nap with an idea for another story. It was barely formed. I was left with the final scene of a dream, no idea what preceded it, and a vague notion. The scene stuck with me. The notion formed a bit more and it led to me consulting websites on world-building.
These sites got me worked up to form my new world and go back over all my manuscripts to see what else could be done.
I made notes on all of them.
I want to work on all of them at once.
This only sounds good.
I held myself to only going through the steps and making notes on all the others while I actually write the vampire western.
In the violent upheavals of rewriting I've changed the working title from Biting the Dust to Saintree. I think it's normally pronounced "Saint Ree," but in my manuscript the characters insist it's "Sane Tree."
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| A little digital filter fun on a photo of Wyoming. It's kind of like putting a different working title on a manuscript. Both change how an object is viewed. |
Two sentences fresh as blood from a neck bite:
"Since they'd moved to Saintree their children had embraced the life. Neither Eury nor Kid had taken their first human blood yet."
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Reading took me to Oz. I love this book. I didn't read children's books when I was a child so I've missed out in some respects, but at least I've read it now. I can appreciate it more today than I would have 40-45 years ago.
In fact there were a few times I found myself saying out loud, "This isn't a children's book."
Baum had an unceasing imagination and a gift of spare prose to the point of underwriting. It works.
A few more than two from the scarecrow in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum (Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005). Dorothy has just told him she wants to go back to dreary, gray Kansas.
" 'Of course I cannot understand it,' he said. 'If your heads were stuffed with straw, like mine, you would probably all live in the beautiful places, and then Kansas would have no people at all. It is fortunate for Kansas that you have brains."
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Thanks for being here. I appreciate every one of you. For more or to get in on the fun, please see the Women of Mystery.
16 comments:
Aww - I liked the title "Biting the Dust" - but if Saintree works better for you, then that's what it should be!
Good luck on this huge project. You are almost there. It is funny how just a title change can reflect the evolution of the writing.
Bag Lady, I liked the original title, too, but it simply doesn't suit it anymore.
Tabor, thanks. It's a simple thing, but very powerful.
Enjoying catching glimpses of how your writing and what you're writing develops and grows .....
Can't wait for the final creation.
(Isn't it something what a nap does?;)
I STILL need to read the Wizard of Oz. I can hardly believe I haven't.
Thanks for your support, Dawn.
I recommend the Wizard of Oz. It's a quick read, but don't let that fool you.
I love the idea of the Vampire Western (which is saying a lot, since I am not a vamp fan), so I really hope you get it edited and published soon so I can read it!
Don't know much about world building, but doesn't nonfantasy writing also require world building? Realistic fiction requires an understanding of what is and is not probable or possible, too.
Oz is definitely not a children's book. Scary. A vampire western sounds cross-genre enough to be interesting to one who hasn't read about vampires since Ann Rice!
Laura, thanks so much, I'll do my best.
Yes, Ron. World building is for every work of the imagination, even the real stuff. It gives a deep understanding of the world you're writing in and the characters.
Lois, I'm trying to make it interesting. I've got a vampire and some half-bloods. I just need to finish it.
You could make it a trilogy and use Biting the Dust as the series title! I am sure you have a trilogy in you after all. Lovely lines Leah, I can't wait to read this one.
Oh auspicious - WV: presse
Leah- I AM a longtime vamp fan--albeit a jaded one after recent overdoses of glitter and hair gel-- but yours has a sandy-assed feel, from what I've read, that I know I'll like.
Oz is bigger than a kid's book to me, that's why I love it so well. Glad you're reveling, too, and that your creative sap is on the rise.
Cousin, thanks for your faith in my abilities.
Glad you like the lines, and that is some WV.
The sparkle vamps aren't to my taste either, Clare. Give me a proper bloodsucker.
OZ is quite something. I wish the rest of the series was in the bookstore, I may end up ordering a few.
You are being quite sane yourself to make sure you don't get carried away and try to do too much too fast.
"Fresh as blood from a neck bite" -- you have quite the gift yourself, and I'm glad you are enjoying the Baum.
Thanks, Messymimi. It's taking some effort not to flip between manuscripts.
My MIL, who is 98, gave me her Wizard of Oz books from when she was a child. They are old and crumbly and I love them.
Nancy, those are treasures.
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