myself back into my NOVEL. It’s been over a year since I finished it – December 1st, 2006 to be exact. I saw that date on the document and said out loud, "THAT CAN’T BE RIGHT."
But it is.
I am printing out the manuscript as I write this. My thoughts as of today are to read over feedback from my agent and my friend Marcie, make more notes (I started some last night) on what I remember is not working and then decide on a path and time zone before sitting down to read the whole thing. I know this much: before I enter back in, I have some perspective that must be carefully recorded and explored. I must not rush in just to say "I have started." I also know that I want to do this rewrite fairly quickly. It feels like the story might not have much more time before other projects demand air time. You see, I believe that projects have a life span and if they are not honored and (hopefully) brought to fruition within their life, they cannot only die a stillborn death but they can take other projects with them. There are so many other projects clamoring for my attention – including paintings!
*****
My mother was reminiscing about Dad on the way to the airport and it made me ache. I wish I could be a little girl and hear him come through the back door after a round of golf, all happy because he got a good score. Smell the Lava soap as he washed his hands and bask in his happiness as he mixed himself a Scotch and water and settled in to talk to his beloved Betty.
5 responses so far ↓
1 SusanG Feb 12, 2007
My dad’s been gone since ’95 and I still miss his voice, the opportunity to pick up the phone and ask him a question, roll my eyes over one of his WWII stories. I don’t think that ever goes away.
I find that when I’ve “finished” a project, it’s finished in my head and it’s very difficult to go back to it again and do more work. I’ve been told that’s a function of my ADD. Whatever the reason, it’s sure a pattern of mine. For me, cooking is all about the preparation, not so much about the eating and certainly not the clean-up. The emotional finish often happens before the physical finish…it’s finished in my head before it’s passed through my fingers…and that’s tough, too. Do others out there move on and then have difficulty revisiting a project?
Susan
2 Tara Feb 12, 2007
Hey Jen,
I’ve been meaning to ask how the novel was going! I like the idea of a project taking others with it. Might be enough to kick me into fast forward. I’ve actually been devoting some time to mine in the last few weeks and it feels so good to work on the revisions. Despite having a new baby and little time to write, I’m worried that the agents who expressed interest will forget who I am if I don’t hurry up and get them my revised draft.
I’ve found that sitting in the bathroom for an hour while the kids are getting to sleep is a great place for daydreaming and journaling and drafting new scenes. Then, when I emerge into the quiet house it seems calm and ready for me to get down to business on my laptop. I usually pick someone’s birthday as a personal deadline, since birthdays are important in my novel. I know you said you want to get the rewrite done fairly quickly. What exactly does that mean? I’ve always wondered how quickly other writers do and submit revisions to their agents/editors.
3 Jennifer Louden Feb 12, 2007
Susan, while I don’t have the issue you do going back into things, I’ve encountered lots of writers and creative types who come to my retreats who do! I think Tara is right, we have to prepare ourselves mentally and physically and spiritually…
What do I mean by fast? A month? I’m not ready to start yet as the Life Organizer is demanding I get it out into the world. But I read notes from the people who have read it today…. and I’m thinking about how to set myself up to solve some issues before I start.
4 Lauren Miranda Feb 12, 2007
Hmm… your theory on the lifespan of an idea/project makes me nervous, as I have certainly witnessed this happen myself. Even worse, I have had more than one book idea rise within me, and within a year or so of me having done nothing with it, I will watch with dismay and self-reproach as some version of the idea appears in someone else’s book. I really do believe that many ideas have their time, floating out there in the ethers, and if I don’t grab it when it appears in front of me, someone else will! Of course, we each have our own creative DNA and the end product will always have unique fingerprints on it.
Well, in any case, something very different is happening in my writer’s landscape these days… I have an idea that simply will not go away. It first came to me about 7 years ago. I held the idea for a while, jotted down some notes, then lost confidence or interest or SOMETHING, and let it drift away. But it came back… 3 or 4 times since the beginning. I spoke about this idea to you during Writer’s Spa – back in 2002! Anyway, I am now convinced that it wants me to write it – not someone else, ME! – and it will not leave me be until I complete it.
I have to say that I remember you telling me about your novel during that same Writer’s Spa, and I was entranced with your ideas, and still greatly look forward to seeing this long-gestated baby when you do give birth to it.
Thank God for ideas that single us out and don’t let us go…
Lauren
5 Jennifer Louden Feb 13, 2007
Lauren – what is your next easiest step? How could you use the life organizing process to start?
AND thanks for remembering my novel– and Tara too — my questions these days are all about keeping the unfolding story lines clear and when to begin.