From time to time I'm asked when I'm going to write a novel.
The notion makes me cringe. As far as I can tell, most of my peers are pounding away on keyboards lovingly crafting theirs. I have a fantastic idea for one; even the potential for serialization is promising. The characters haunt me every time I go kayaking. They're shadows just beneath the water's surface, tucked in the vegetation, tickling the loons' underbellies, snacking on rocks, waiting for me to pull my head out of my ass.
But, HA! I can only go kayaking a few fleeting months a year, so they sleep.
I see writing my novel as one huge essay assignment I'm dreading and keep putting off. It's such a grown up thing to do. First, I've got to write, edit, and polish the thing. Second, troll for an agent. Third--yippppppeeee--it was worth all the hard work! I make some money, take my place in line on a shelf, and promote myself. **
But at this point, as a writer, I have all the discipline and maturity of a puppy. I see a flash of something, I want to check it out. I smell something interesting, I'm rolling in it. Chew on that, sure, it looks tasty. I puke--gee--I might as well eat it before someone else does.* Metaphorically speaking, writing short stories lets me do all these things. Beginning, middle, end all in under 5,000 words. I can change my mood, perspective, genre, style, tone, message, on whim, week to week--fun,fun, fun--and then sleep soundly because one day was a full adventure.
Writing a novel is a long term marriage, and I'm not ready to settle down yet. I truly believe I'm fated to discover the plot of my dreams. But for now, I have some rolling, romping, and chewing I need to get done.
*Nausea sets in at step one.
*I'm emulating Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell--one of my favorites--with my use of footnotes. Now that's the kind of novel I'd like to write.
*Sorry, I went too far with that one.
4 comments:
Hi Rebecca,
Start with an outline and let it sit a while. Write a scene or two on a whim some days when the mood strikes and file it with the outline. Nothing says you have to do it and only it until it is done or even sell it.
I have nine books that I play with as time and mood allows. But mostly I write short stories and my blogs. I write because the characters can't stay in my head any longer and if they never net me a dime I don't care. I write because I can't not write. It completes me.
Good luck with the growing up thing. I never plan to do it. If I did I'd loose my innocence. And without that I'm not in touch with my characters anymore.
Sincerely, Euphoria
Nine! Wow. I like you take on things.
Short stories are great (fun to read, fun to write) but a novel, now that's a scary word. One day, I keep telling myself... one day.
Euphoria--I like 'your' take on things. Sorry, not enough coffee going through my system earlier.
L R--Yes, but not too, too long from now, I'm hoping. I do worry sometimes about putting it off. I might be hit by a bus or something--rap on wood.
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