The garden is keeping me sane right now while I struggle with the middle of this book. What I’m really struggling with is not knowing. I have a vague plot, but nothing precise because the way I write, character has to lead to the next action. So I have to feel right in the character before I feel right in the action. Whine. Whine. Wine. Please.
I feel like the carpenter bees that love the cedar of my garage. They drill precise holes and burrow in and out to forage. But the return is never easy. They hover clumsily before the hole they’ve made, can float for hours before they enter. They remind me of landing craft whose pilot can’t make a decision.
So I can’t get in my hole of a story again easily once I leave it. To distract myself from the fear that this time I may not pull a novel together, I garden. I’m in the clean up, prune, unglamorous stage. Sweating. Hauling. But I have focus and a plan. I can see what needs to be done, and I do it. Done. Finished. Finito. New task. Next, please. Straightforward. Right there in front of me. Unmistakeable.
If I look back over this blog, I see my whines about my last novel, Before Versailles. As the Duchess always says, Nothing changes and everything does.
Sigh.
Karleen Koen — writing life 
I think whining is step #1 in the writing process. Also step #3 and step #7. True friends listen, go pat-pat-pat, and wait for the next chapter to emerge. (They do NOT say, in that patronizing tone, “Oh, don’t worry. Yoooou’ll get it written.”)
So, pat-pat-pat.
Wonderful writing, Karleen. I can feel the pressure…& the gardening. May the book continue birthing – or I guess it’s also growing inside – ok forget the analogies!
I’m in town – would love to find time to get together if you can – lunch at our Japanese place would be nice – Monday, Thursday, Friday work for me – or late Tuesday, around 2:00.
Leaving Monday 16th.
Have been here a week but feels like 2 dats, then just overwhelming. First hit of Houston very exciting – then place I’m staying isn’t a good match (various reasons), trouble with Internet (none here now & won’t be for rest of stay), finding places to see clients maddening – plans fell thru at last minute but th Sent from my iPhone
Heidi Straube, M.Ed, LPC – Inner Path Photography “Honoring Inner. Creating Outer.” You are the Artist of Your Life 713-521-1676 (studio) 713-542-1912 (cell) http://www.straubephoto.com http://psychophotographer.wordpress.com http://www.heidistraube.com 1315 Samoset Road, Eastham, MA 02642 P.O. Box 981045, Houston, TX 77098
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Oops
Trip had to go on 🙂
Whine whiny me too 🙂
I know you’re writing – let me know if any possibilities for us or are we doomed to wait until…? Not sure of my Houston future…all will be revealed As usual …
Hug Ox Heidi
Sent from my iPhone
Heidi Straube, M.Ed, LPC – Inner Path Photography “Honoring Inner. Creating Outer.” You are the Artist of Your Life 713-521-1676 (studio) 713-542-1912 (cell) http://www.straubephoto.com http://psychophotographer.wordpress.com http://www.heidistraube.com 1315 Samoset Road, Eastham, MA 02642 P.O. Box 981045, Houston, TX 77098
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A writer much better than I’ll ever be wrote me, “The trick to writing is to write, badly, messily, but write.” I do too much thinking to follow that advice as much as I should; but sooner or later I force myself to sit down and write that next sentence to see where it leads. Has led to some happy moments.
you always do it with great finesse . . . (in the end of course), then read in awe and wonder how you did it . . . cannot wait of course, so “march on”, your ‘troops’ are behind you , , , Always, Jeannine
From cocoon to butterfly , from acorn to oak tree… When we think nothing is happening, the most extraordinary creative force is afoot. Trust your process. Your story is right there , germinating and growing. P.S. Heartfelt thanks for describing so eloquently our artistic fears.