The story/plot of the final story in the current sequence popped into my head about 15 minutes ago. It's odd how ideas swirl around a bit and then one comes out which has a certain ring about it, a lustrous quality that says "pick me".
I suspect it will be a tricky one to write, but it is a lot easier to point myself in the right direction when I have a mental map of waymarkers on the journey. At this rate, it will all be over by Christmas: what could possibly go wrong?
(And yes: Daunsing in the title is deliberate.)
Saturday, 28 November 2015
Thursday, 26 November 2015
Catch Up
Funny old world. I thought I could wrap up this collection with one final story, albeit one with several strands. I couldn't get the final story to work out in my head, though, until, in one of those moments when I wondered how I could be so dense, I realised that one of the strands was a complete story in its own right.
It's now done in first draft: 10,000 words, titled The Beast Astray. It ties up two or three threads from earlier stories, and I like it. It still needs work, but I like it. It was also a pleasure to research (it's set in the US in 1954). It didn't take long to write it either.
The title comes from another Herman Hesse novel.
Where now? I'm not sure. Either one or maybe two stories are needed to finish this collection off. Partly this depends on some transcripts I commissioned of some 17th century Scottish documents (two wills and a marriage contract). These may, or may not, give me the basis of a story set around about that time. If not, then probably just one story will wrap up the sequence.
I've been gratified, too, by the reaction of my sister and niece to the previous stories, which has been very positive. That suggests I'm on the right track. I know I've said that I write these things for my own amusement, but it's obviously good if someone else likes them too.
Longer term, ideas are shaping up for a second set of stories (or possibly a novel) in the same universe. I also have reasonably advanced notes for two other distinct novels. I have no idea if or even when these will be written. If I could afford to stop work and write full time I would, but I can't, so they'll be written around whatever time I can carve out.
It's now done in first draft: 10,000 words, titled The Beast Astray. It ties up two or three threads from earlier stories, and I like it. It still needs work, but I like it. It was also a pleasure to research (it's set in the US in 1954). It didn't take long to write it either.
The title comes from another Herman Hesse novel.
Where now? I'm not sure. Either one or maybe two stories are needed to finish this collection off. Partly this depends on some transcripts I commissioned of some 17th century Scottish documents (two wills and a marriage contract). These may, or may not, give me the basis of a story set around about that time. If not, then probably just one story will wrap up the sequence.
I've been gratified, too, by the reaction of my sister and niece to the previous stories, which has been very positive. That suggests I'm on the right track. I know I've said that I write these things for my own amusement, but it's obviously good if someone else likes them too.
Longer term, ideas are shaping up for a second set of stories (or possibly a novel) in the same universe. I also have reasonably advanced notes for two other distinct novels. I have no idea if or even when these will be written. If I could afford to stop work and write full time I would, but I can't, so they'll be written around whatever time I can carve out.
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