It seems as if I have, unintentionally, kept the plot a mystery. Even a blog needs some drama.
Here is the plot as it stands now:
Ron had a biking accident where he had a fall and broke his neck and left him a quadriplegic. Nine months after the accident, Ron, with his caregiver Ben, return to the sight of the accident. Ron ends up riding his wheelchair over a quarter mile from the bridge where he had his fall, up along the country road. Ben and Ron stop and view the bridge from this higher vantage point and happen to look from the road, down to the creek bed off to the right. They see what appears to be a gold chain dangling in the brush by the creek bed. Ben decides to check it out. Once down, he discovers that the gold chain is nothing more than a fishing lure caught in the branches. But, he also discovers the remains of a body.
Walking back up, Ben comes upon a gun. Because Ron knows he is missing his gun that he normally carried when he rode his bike, he convinces Ben to bring the gun back. Ron identifies the gun as his own. He has absolutely no recollection of the events on the day of the accident. It makes no sense to Ron why he may have shot someone a quarter mile before the spot of his accident but he does not like the idea of notifying the authorities and basically indicting himself for what could be the murder of someone he has no memory. Thus begins Ron and Ben's quest to solve the mystery of the identity of the body and why Ron might have shot the person.
I had high hopes of getting some high quality writing done today. A very poor night sleep put a damper on those plans but a mild stomach bug of some sort put an even bigger damper. I still put in a 1,000 words for the day but concentrating on the writing was difficult.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
29 Jan 2012: A Full House
Yesterday, I gave myself a goal to write 4,000 words today. I am happy to say that after a bit over four hours of writing I achieved that goal.
Waking at 6:00, I stayed in bed and wrote about 1,500 words in my notebook for about 1 1/2 hours (Carol was in Atlanta). Manged another 1,000 after breakfast by which point I needed to clear the cobwebs and went for a walk. After lunch, I completed the remainder 1,500 motivated by the desire to take of advantage of the beautiful day and get in some bike riding.
Most of what I wrote today will probably not make its way into the novel. I had a Round Table where I had four of the characters in the book sitting around and discussing the plot and their own characters and their relationship to one another. It was a lively discussion that, at one point, seemed to be going nowhere but really took off in the last 1,000 words and helped with pulling the story together. It was quite a bit of fun.
But, the big news in our household is that Carol has been promoted to full professor. She has worked very hard over the years and I'm so happy for her that her hard work has been acknowledged.
For a Full Professor, a house full of flowers seemed in order. Below is what awaited Carol when she came back from Georgia this afternoon.
Waking at 6:00, I stayed in bed and wrote about 1,500 words in my notebook for about 1 1/2 hours (Carol was in Atlanta). Manged another 1,000 after breakfast by which point I needed to clear the cobwebs and went for a walk. After lunch, I completed the remainder 1,500 motivated by the desire to take of advantage of the beautiful day and get in some bike riding.
Most of what I wrote today will probably not make its way into the novel. I had a Round Table where I had four of the characters in the book sitting around and discussing the plot and their own characters and their relationship to one another. It was a lively discussion that, at one point, seemed to be going nowhere but really took off in the last 1,000 words and helped with pulling the story together. It was quite a bit of fun.
But, the big news in our household is that Carol has been promoted to full professor. She has worked very hard over the years and I'm so happy for her that her hard work has been acknowledged.
For a Full Professor, a house full of flowers seemed in order. Below is what awaited Carol when she came back from Georgia this afternoon.
On the kitchen table.
On the wood insert of the fire place (thankfully, it was a warm day).
The hallway.
By her computer.
Her bedside.
Her dresser.
Can't forget the bathroom.
And, the other bathroom.
Way to go, Sweetie!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
28 Jan 2012
I mentioned that I live and breath the story as I'm working on it. I go to sleep thinking about the story, I read the newspaper wondering if there is some way the articles I'm looking at, no matter how mundane, might somehow be applicable to my story.
I wake up thinking about the story. This morning, for instance, when I woke at 5:00, I thought maybe I will jump out of bed and write 500 words; that has a good ring to it, 500 at 5. But, I linger, I think about the story as I'm lying in bed and allow the thoughts to send me back to sleep, drifting in and out of sleep until 6:29 when I do get up. 500 at 6:29 doesn't have quite the same ring to it but that's really not the point.
I am not even certain what I am going to write about. Last night, as I was sitting at the kitchen island waiting for Rachel to finish up something before we were going to exchange shoulder massages, I introduced a new character, Ben's brother. I realize no one knows who Ben is at this point but I will eventually make that clear in the next few days. I was enjoying the new character and furiously writing, longhand, before going into the living room.
This morning, I was feeling as if the story was in trouble as the plot seemed to be falling apart for me. A sense of panic came over me, probably becuase I felt as if I had everything pretty much neatly tied up in my mind just a few days ago. So, I focused on Ben's brother (who doesn't have a name as yet) and did some rambling between Ben and his bro and the story began to gel again for me. I was on a roll and instead of merely getting 500 words out to start the morning, I raced all the way to the 2,000 word mark. Definitely a very good way to start the day.
5:20 in the PM and I've managed to scratch out a few more words during the day. Rachel and I went on an almost 2 hour hike and I thought I would have some photos to bring back. The opportunities certainly presented themsleves but it turned out my camera battery was dead. Among one of my favorite sightings which I wish I could have photographed was some fungi on a log that obviously had blossomed with yesterday's rain. A light tannish, scalloped affair that Rachel said reminded her of cave formation, which they did indeed.
A few more words put down during the evening. I'm not sure if it will work out but I've challenged myself to 4,000 words tomorrow. But putting down words is not the same as putting in miles on the bike. At the end of the year, it won't matter if I have 100, 200 or 500 hundred thousand words as it's what the words spell out that is key. Yet, still, with a goal of putting down x number of words, it forces me to focus on the end result.
I wake up thinking about the story. This morning, for instance, when I woke at 5:00, I thought maybe I will jump out of bed and write 500 words; that has a good ring to it, 500 at 5. But, I linger, I think about the story as I'm lying in bed and allow the thoughts to send me back to sleep, drifting in and out of sleep until 6:29 when I do get up. 500 at 6:29 doesn't have quite the same ring to it but that's really not the point.
I am not even certain what I am going to write about. Last night, as I was sitting at the kitchen island waiting for Rachel to finish up something before we were going to exchange shoulder massages, I introduced a new character, Ben's brother. I realize no one knows who Ben is at this point but I will eventually make that clear in the next few days. I was enjoying the new character and furiously writing, longhand, before going into the living room.
This morning, I was feeling as if the story was in trouble as the plot seemed to be falling apart for me. A sense of panic came over me, probably becuase I felt as if I had everything pretty much neatly tied up in my mind just a few days ago. So, I focused on Ben's brother (who doesn't have a name as yet) and did some rambling between Ben and his bro and the story began to gel again for me. I was on a roll and instead of merely getting 500 words out to start the morning, I raced all the way to the 2,000 word mark. Definitely a very good way to start the day.
5:20 in the PM and I've managed to scratch out a few more words during the day. Rachel and I went on an almost 2 hour hike and I thought I would have some photos to bring back. The opportunities certainly presented themsleves but it turned out my camera battery was dead. Among one of my favorite sightings which I wish I could have photographed was some fungi on a log that obviously had blossomed with yesterday's rain. A light tannish, scalloped affair that Rachel said reminded her of cave formation, which they did indeed.
A few more words put down during the evening. I'm not sure if it will work out but I've challenged myself to 4,000 words tomorrow. But putting down words is not the same as putting in miles on the bike. At the end of the year, it won't matter if I have 100, 200 or 500 hundred thousand words as it's what the words spell out that is key. Yet, still, with a goal of putting down x number of words, it forces me to focus on the end result.
Friday, January 27, 2012
27 January 2012: Choose Your (Writing) Weapon
Just like I had a goal to ride a certain amount on the year long journey (60 minutes), I have a goal to write at least 1,000 words everyday. And, just as with bike riding where the miles may not be the best, the most intense or pleasurable or pure, the idea is to get them done, get the words on paper so that it becomes habit. I am happy to say that the words have been flowing rather easily and I've easily surpassed the 1,000 word mark since I made it a goal last week sometime.
I have written for many, many years now so I take for granted what goes on behind the scenes, not that it is some secret, glamorous world. But, when I was massaging Joe the other day and he was asking questions about the writing process, I realized that others might have the same questions. I hope this year as I write to share some of the thought processes that goes on, much as watching a building being constructed or being on an assembly line as a car is being putting together. The challenge will be, especially with the limited time I foresee I will have to work on the blog, making this an interesting behind-the-scenes glimpse.
One of the first questions is the mode of getting thoughts on to paper, computer (typewriter?) or paper. The answer is both.
I love putting pen to paper and working what feels like the spur of the moment. Thoughts come to my head in the car, sitting at the computer, at the kitchen table and I begin to write down some thoughts or scenes and I get lost in the text. The downside is that I eventually need to transfer it to the computer. And, then, I also have to decipher my own writing! The type of notebook is important as well. I may spend quite some time in the note pad section of a store, picking up various notebooks as I try to come up with one that feels just right. One can't tell in the picture, but I like the smaller notebook as it's more packable. Once I begin writing, I like to carry my notebook with me everywhere. Even if I don't think I may end up writing, I like having it with me as the story is something I feel I'm living and breathing night and day.
I can get lost in the computer as well when the muses flow. The computer is better for throwing out ideas and seeing where they will go. If I'm stuck, I'll have two characters banter around an idea that I'm wrestling with. And, the computer is great because it tells me as I type the word count, sort of like an odometer for writers.
Well, time to work on dinner.
I have written for many, many years now so I take for granted what goes on behind the scenes, not that it is some secret, glamorous world. But, when I was massaging Joe the other day and he was asking questions about the writing process, I realized that others might have the same questions. I hope this year as I write to share some of the thought processes that goes on, much as watching a building being constructed or being on an assembly line as a car is being putting together. The challenge will be, especially with the limited time I foresee I will have to work on the blog, making this an interesting behind-the-scenes glimpse.
One of the first questions is the mode of getting thoughts on to paper, computer (typewriter?) or paper. The answer is both.
I love putting pen to paper and working what feels like the spur of the moment. Thoughts come to my head in the car, sitting at the computer, at the kitchen table and I begin to write down some thoughts or scenes and I get lost in the text. The downside is that I eventually need to transfer it to the computer. And, then, I also have to decipher my own writing! The type of notebook is important as well. I may spend quite some time in the note pad section of a store, picking up various notebooks as I try to come up with one that feels just right. One can't tell in the picture, but I like the smaller notebook as it's more packable. Once I begin writing, I like to carry my notebook with me everywhere. Even if I don't think I may end up writing, I like having it with me as the story is something I feel I'm living and breathing night and day.
I can get lost in the computer as well when the muses flow. The computer is better for throwing out ideas and seeing where they will go. If I'm stuck, I'll have two characters banter around an idea that I'm wrestling with. And, the computer is great because it tells me as I type the word count, sort of like an odometer for writers.
Well, time to work on dinner.
27 January 2012
Dramatically changing gears from the biking blog. This will be an attempt to update and record the progress of how the mystery novel unfolds. The goal is to have the book not only finished but on the way to market by the end of the year. The dilemma is that time I would spend updating the blog I will feel as if I could be working on the novel. My hope is that updating the blog will help the writing process along. We shall see.
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