One of the best moments when writing a novel is when you achieve character nirvana. It’s that moment when you really tap into your main character’s psyche and understand his or her motivation and eventual path. In the beginning of a new book, you’re just getting to know your characters. Some days are harder than others–you can’t figure out what they would say next or how they would react in certain situations. Some of the words seemed forced and the flow of the novel seems compromised. Then, something magical happens. Somewhere, in the middle of a sentence, the characters become real. They take on shape and substance. You’re no longer searching for the right words; you’re just writing down what they’re saying. They have become real people finally. It’s a beautiful moment in the life of a writer.
Monthly Archives: May 2014
Courage….
My mother called me yesterday to tell me that my dad had picked up my copy of Because of Dylan and had not put it down all day. Why am I seeking courage this weekend? 1) My dad doesn’t typically read, and NEVER reads adult romance novels, so I’m not sure what his expectations are. 2) There’s sex in the book. 3) The character of Will Masters is quite obviously based on my father. I guess it could be worse. At least there’s no sex involving Will Masters. Mom told me that he had made only one comment all day. He said, “If she thinks I don’t know who this character is, she’s crazy.” What is it about your parents that makes you want to please them, no matter how old you get? I can read book critiques all day but one word from my mother or father has the ability to elate me or crush me. When my mom read Wait for Me, she told me that it was “painful.” Guess what, Mom? Your critique is painful. After I finished sulking, she explained that it was because she saw me in Amy and had trouble seeing her being abused. Like Will Masters, I doubt that my father will ever say a word to me about the book. I will forever be stuck in petrified limbo between being happy that he read something I wrote and being fearful that he hated it. Aren’t parents grand?
Inspiration…
I’m working on my newest book, “The Ghosts of Wolf Island Creek,” which is loosely based on the Cantrell family which I first mentioned in “Saved by Grace.” My husband took this picture for the cover of my book and it’s like he could see the pictures in my head. My main character, Charlotte, first sees this creek in a dream, led to it by a little girl. In the creek, Charlotte finds a murdered Hannah Cantrell who desperately wants Charlotte’s help to bring her killer to justice. When I write, I sometimes lose my way–I forget the main plot as I’m busy developing characters and sub-plots. Having this picture helps bring me back to original idea–the reason why I started writing this book. I’ve written before about finding inspiration in music and nature. Can’t you look at this murky creek and thick foliage and just imagine your next storyline? Find your inspiration and let it carry you away.
I’m just a word-nerd at heart….
I love words. I love the shape of them, the feel of them, the sight of them. I love hearing them in different accents and different languages. In my real life, I’m a speech language pathologist. I work with adults who have had their words taken away from them by strokes and tumors and brain injuries. My mother asked me once if my job made me sad because I worked with people who were suffering and I told her that it’s hard to describe the joy of hearing an adult speak their first words again. When I write, I love to play with words and see how they change the meaning of what I’m trying to convey. Two nights ago, I wrote an entire scene in my new book using phrases like “His lips curved into a smile” and “His eyes lit with amusement.” As I was documenting therapy sessions at work, it hit me (yes, I think about writing while I’m working) that I was writing that scene all wrong. I came home and changed the phrases to “His mouth thinned in anger” and “His eyes darkened.” Maybe I’m a word-nerd but it thrills me that you have the ability to change the whole tone, the whole direction of a scene by exchanging one word for another. Words are simple yet powerful, there are an infinite supply of them, and they are free for the taking. Is there anything better in this whole world?
A room of my own…
A woman must have money and a room of her own is she is to write fiction–Virginia WoolfWhen my older son moved out and my younger son moved into what he had always perceived as the “better” room, we turned his room into a guest room, complete with twin beds and a small bookcase with young adult books. At some point, though, we had to face the hard fact that there would be no more sleepovers. My younger son was approaching high school graduation and, believe it or not, nearly-adult men don’t often indulge in sleepovers. So we put the beds on Craig’s list and I fulfilled my dream of creating my own space in which to write. I never knew what I was missing. I have an over-sized chair and ottoman, a desk, music, and (most importantly) books. Rows and rows of books. At times, my husband will stick his head into the room and ask how the writing is going and is surprised to see me reading. “Research,” I mumble and return to a particularly juicy love scene. The point is, though, you have to have your own space, free of the distractions of being a parent, a spouse, a pet-owner, and an obsessive-compulsive house cleaner. In my room, my characters are free to walk around and talk to each other while my fingers on the keyboard try to frantically keep up with them. Find a space and make it yours; your characters will be waiting for you.
Sandy Huth 