(This photo is me and my son, Nathan taken two weeks ago at the end of the long day at a theme park. After feeling too sick to ride any more roller coasters, we played around with the camera while the others zipped around Timber Terror.)
Novel Update 02
I can sum up the 1 1/2 hours I spent yesterday on my novel with one word: Research. I spent my time reading some articles about The Spanish Civil War on the Internet. I scored when I came upon a quote from a newspaper that talked about one element of the war that I’m working into my novel, and I’m toying with the idea of including newspaper clippings like I did with Dawn of a Thousand Nights. Having actual clippings gives a great historical effect, in my opinion. It also can “tell” part of the story for me and heighten the conflict!
I also started digging into a great book on the bombing of Guernica in April 1936. Can you believe Nazis were involved in the war in Spain long before WWII started? I don’t want to give too much away, but they were!
I also started jotting down notes of minor characters. Who will live. Who will die. I’m horrible, I know. But I do write about war, after all.
Finally, why only 1 1/2 hours? I’m supposed to be writing a novel, after all.
Orthodontist appointment (for me), working with kids on their homeschool (rain forests was the main topic yesterday), and I taught a writing class for teenaged homeschoolers. It’s a once a month writing club. I teach a lesson and the kids bring stories for each other to critique. It’s very fun and inspiring. These teens love books and stories and they let their imaginations run wild. I learn a lot from them!
Of course, I had writing scheduled for the rest of the afternoon, but we all know how things change. (I ended up “researching” after dinner while I waited for my turn with the dancing video game I play with my kids. Dance. Sit down and research. Dance . . . )
My writing schedule changed when a phone message from the producer of a network talk show wanted to, uh, talk with me. We chatted for an hour, then I helped one of the teen moms I mentor with some paperwork. It appears at least one of “my” teen moms is going to NY to be on a program . . . More than one might end up going, and maybe me too. Yes, I’ll clue you in once I know all the details!!!
And it’s true, sometimes life IS stranger than fiction!
I thought the newspaper clippings in Dawn of a Thousand Nights added realism and perspective to the novel. I hope you’ll use them again.
Judy
Thanks for your vote, Judy. I’m leaning in that direction!
That’s totally cool!
Camy
Thanks for getting excited with my, Camy. My prayer is that if God will get glory from it, that we can be there. And if not, that every door will slam shut.
Blessings!
Tricia