Glimpses

Today I found myself lounging on my bed with my notebook computer and a stack of books surrounding me.

The topic: The Spanish Civil War

The mission: Write a three book series that will highlight this time in history, incorporating real-to-life characters, a page-turning plot, and beautiful descriptions that will transport a reader to 1937 Spain. Basically, a story that will force readers to tell all their friends, “You’ve got to read this book!”

Okay, the truth is I can’t think about all those things at once. Nor can I think about my faith reader. And especially not the reviewers who each have an opinion on whether my work deserves a thumbs up or thumbs down rating.

Instead, I must focus on the glimpses. The bit of research that captures my attention. The character that begins as a foggy impression in my mind, but soon starts to take shape.

Many people ask how I can write a 400 page novel. I can’t. It would be impossible. Instead I write the emotions, the bits and pieces of dialogue. I write glimpses as I receive them, and somehow they build until a story unfolds.