Blog #4 Where?
Where did this all happen? The actual sitting down to write a novel? Well, I initially began a textbook lol. It was on depression in women (my college thesis). About a third of the way through, I was so bored I chucked that idea and decided I wanted to *entertain* as well as teach!
I was in Knoxville, TN at the time. I hadn’t moved into the log cabin and hadn’t married, but was headed in that direction. I still owned my home and my (now deceased) husband still owned his. We were going back and forth during our engagement.
Sitting out in his backyard, I remarked “I wish I could get motivated to write a novel.” Next thing I knew, George came out with a spiral-bound notebook and a pen and said “write!” I wrote several pages that day, and over the course of a few months, I had written a couple of chapters. Strengthening our relationship was my priority at the time. But I had the idea tucked safely in the back of my head.
After we were married, we were watching a Lifetime movie in our newly purchased log cabin by the lake (the one that burned down if you’ve read my other blogs). I had thoroughly enjoyed the movie, the characters, the plot and subplot (it was based on a true story; I wish I could remember the movie but I can’t). Important thing is that movie prompted me to take the “idea” of writing a novel out of the safe place I’d deposited it in my brain.
But, living by the lake (it was spring) and surrounded by woods, I just couldn’t stay focused. I developed some retreats and focused on those instead. Needless to say, the manuscript once more took a back seat.
About that time, I attended a book writers conference called “Writers Boot Camp” by Bill O’Hanlon, a fellow psychotherapist was facilitating. It was in Santa Fe, NM. That area is absolutely stunning and the perfect place to write! So, I wrote two more chapters that week.
I came home very motivated and did what Bill suggested; made an appointment with myself to go to Barnes and Noble, sit for at least two hours and write (or at least attempt to write). Great idea for me. I was away from distractions (I tend to have some ADD issues lol) and was forced to focus on my book! George dropped me off and didn’t come back for two hours. That was our agreement, every Friday!
I eliminated some of the chapter I had written in NM so I was basically back down to three chapters again. Writing is not an exact science. You write some; you delete some. I wrote another few chapters, while enjoying scones and other delicacies that the manager sent my way. He doesn’t work there anymore but that place, that “where” was a magical time. Some days, I’d write nothing at all; other days I wrote the whole time.
Then I stopped. Not sure why. Life happened. Again. So, a few months later, George said “Maybe you should go away and focus on your book!” He really held me accountable (as Tom does today). I took advantage of our timeshare and went to Florida. Walking by the gulf each day, listening to sea gulls and sand pipers, feeling the waves at your feet. That did the trick! I wrote seven chapters that week! Didn’t use them all but used most of them and finished the book when I got back to Knoxville, TN.
Next blog: #5 Why?