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
I spent last week on a writing retreat with ten fellow authors whom I'm lucky to call my friends. We took over this gorgeous Victorian guesthouse on the Bellerine Peninsular, an hour and a half south-west of Melbourne. Eleven bedrooms, eleven authors, eleven laptops, and eleventy hours of talking, brainstorming, sharing wisdom, and an equal number of fall-down-laughing moments as we relaxed in the evenings over a quiet wine or three. For me this truly was a retreat from reality: I turned on the television once, checked my email once, didn't have to think about cooking or housework even once. I've returned home rejuvenated about my writing, with two new storylines synopsised and also chomping at the bit to start my next book after an inspiring collaging session (more on that tomorrow.) What is it about a morning walk along the beach that sparks energy and inspires relaxation in equal and paradoxical measures? I don't know there's anything to match, although I'm willing to listen to alternatives. What is your favourite re-energiser? How do you recharge your tired muse?
Labels: the muse, writing retreat
