In my previous post I mentioned that I collaged the story I'm about to start writing, which is the first book in a 2008 Desire continuity series titled DIAMONDS DOWN UNDER. That's the series title, not my book's. I refer to it as "my diamonds book" and I've worked up a reasonably detailed synopsis to go with the bible of background and research information which the six-author team has put together.
I thought I knew my characters very well. I had compiled a decent mental list of scene ideas and lots of juicy conflicted conversations between Ric and Kimberley. And so it's somewhat of a revelation how much the collaging process added to that compilation. I found a better picture of Kimberley (see the smiling brunette in the center of the collage) than any I'd collected earlier. She even has the widow's peak thing happening, a family trait. I discovered that the book is going to be dark and rich and sensuous and intense; the words and phrases I gathered have much significance. They helped me zero in on character and the central conflict, when I'd been eddying around that all through my plotting and synopsis-writing.
But the richest return, I think, is on a subliminal level where the relaxed and prolonged process of flicking through magazines and letting my mind drift over the story created a deeper understanding and awareness. I'm rip-roaring ready to start writing this one; I'm even considering including one of those worm things here to track progress as I go. I've resisted until now and maybe I'll end up resisting again. We'll see.
Labels: Diamonds Down Under, the muse, writing retreat
posted by Bronwyn Jameson @ 3:15 PM
