I love it when a plan comes together. That was one of my favorite lines from the A team TV series, in the way back when. It works for the writing process also. I love it when you decide on the threads that will intertwine through out your plot. Then you begin to weave with all the threads to create something unique and perhaps poignant. I have two stories that have now reached that point in my mind and on the page.
When I start a story, it generally begins as a simple beginning and ending. There is one event that defines the middle. I lean towards being a panster for dialogue, but I usually have the image for action and characteration. As I consider the story and often before I actually start to write, I have to build the mythology, the details that color the world. I like the imagery of a tapestry. The first step is the story in outline form, or the simple design.
The mythology/details are when I decide on the colors. Do I want vivid or murky for this section, should I choose forest browns and greens or bright yellows, pale greens or reds. Will there be birds and angels in the sky or an austere church. It has to be read enough to fall into.
More then the skies, the back round of the characters are for texture, bringing them to the forefront, so our eyes are drawn to them. Should this story be made from a hand made loom or manufactured. My preference is hand made with yarn and thread of many thicknesses. There are so many choices to make.
I realized yesterday as I wrote on my current wip, that it was suddenly forming a picture that I had not fully realized. Threads that I believed were there for their bulky texture would now become more prominent and extend further, even beyond this story. I love it when a story comes together.
On a completely different topic, this last week we had a toddler come in to the ED, who was resuscitated on the scene and survived long enough to spend a day or two in the hospital before his death. It was child abuse and neglect. The other children had already been removed from this family. The last custody hearing for this child, the judge was recommended to not return him by the social worker and child protective services, but the child was placed back into this home. HIs death is now on that judge, who I suspect will now carry the burden of his judgement upon his soul.
We see child abuse from neglect, physical to sexual abuse come through our doors. Not every day, but enough to have very strong opinions about people who preform cruel acts upon the innocent. I don’t think there is a person male or female, amoung our staff that would consider the death penalty too extreme for any one who kills a child through abuse. The two nurses that performed his SANE came away in tears.
This topic is a well developed discussion among the nurses, doctors and law enforcement officers. I can recall some years ago the 18 month old who came to us with a cervical 2 fracture. One that made her a quadraplegic for life. I was all for the death sentence for that, breaking the neck of a baby. Perhaps it is why in my writing I found some justice along the way for those who could not demand it or make it happen. If you have read Shaking Off the Dust, then you’ll know exactly what I am referring to.
Perhpas the oddest thing that you might not know about me is that I still tend to trust people, despite the unsafe world we live in, I still want to believe there are good people, willing to make our lives better.
Rhianna
Rhianna—I’ve always wondered what an author’s process is. I’m sure it’s different for everyone, though. I was going to ask you at some point because I find that kind of thing interesting. I have many questions about your process because I’m just curious like that, but I won’t ask them now. I think your process intriguing from what you’ve have said so far. Glad you stories are coming together for you.
Umm… what is Panster?
About abuse, nothing boils my blood or creates more rage in me than people who abuse kids, the elderly, or any helpless being for that matter. I can’t stand it! I don’t understand how anyone can do such things. I can’t wrap my mind around it really. Those people who do such things deserve what ever they get as punishment and if there is a hell, they belong there.
I don’t find it odd at all that you still trust and want to believe the best about people. I actually think it odd when people don’t think that way.
Comment by MB (Leah) — April 8, 2008 @ 1:56 am
hi Leah!
A panster is a writer that writes by the seat of thier pants. They have an idea and then just sit down to write. they generally have a beginning and how they want it to end, but let the idea grow as they write. I tend to have my mytholodgy in place before I start. Like the ghosts in my story have very specific rules about thier existence, who and how they can be seen or where they can be. And I had my three main characters very solid in my mind, but pants mky way through thier dialogues with each other.
Got a go to work now. Rhianna!
Comment by Administrator — April 8, 2008 @ 11:38 am