Novel #3, Where Art Thou?
In a post I published a week or two ago, I mentioned that as soon as the promotional efforts for Separation of Faith were fully underway, the need to start writing another book began swelling within me. And, athough my days have been packed with marketing and promotion to-dos ever since, the time I’m spending in thoughts about the next story is increasing exponentially each day.
Then this morning I ran across a folder I’ve been keeping for years entitled very simply “Ideas.” So, I gave myself some time to enter the folder and subsequently found all sorts of inspiration in my notes that date back as far as several decades. My eye was particularly drawn to a couple of pages written in longhand that I kept while serving on my one-and-only jury duty. I think that was in about 1989, athough I didn’t write the date in my notes.
Because my most consistent idea for novel #3 incorporates a crime (which I think I’m ready to try now that two novels are under my belt), the discovery of the jury duty notes was pretty exciting. Apparently, I must have been thinking “novel” way back then because I wrote descriptions of the eleven other jurors plus the single alternate. I also started a description of the judge but didn’t finish him, for some reason.
That experience was so long ago that I have no idea how much of these descriptions was based on what I was actually observing versus the role my imagination and plans for a story might have played in what I wrote. But here’s a sample, highlighting seven of us:
“Martha–white, age 67, wears glasses, widow, 4 daughters, 11 grandchildren, husband was a Prof. of Engl. Lit at local college. Skinny. White hair. Attractive.”
“Leticia–age 21, black, beautiful, short hair, slightly overweight, great makeup, faded jeans outfit, unmarried (never was), mother of 5-year-old son, handles doctor’s office work (OB/GYN), concerned about time commitment. Never learned how to drive. Neutral about jury duty.”
“Mimi–age 36, black, married, 2 children, legal secretary, gold streaks in her hair, doesn’t ‘see color,’ wears glasses.”
“Kevin–age 23, white, handsome, athletic, long hair, very bright, laborer, h.s. grad., parents divorced, father actor, married, 3-yr-old son. Vision problem. Wants to serve on jury but worried about family/child care scheduling. Wife works. Waits patiently.”
“Donato–age 26, white (Italian), handsome, thick black hair, married, 3 children (1, 2, 3), BA in Poli Sci, working for U.S. congressman, studying for MA. Very nervous. Hands shake when speaking. Dry mouth. VERY INTELLIGENT–very upset that legal education could produce incompetent attorneys that represent poor people who truly have a case.”
“Michael–42 years old, white, Georgia State ‘perpetual student,’ gray hair, not unattractive, very personable, gay.”
“Alternate–Albert–age 20, black, student, unmarried, ‘freaking out’ over missing class. Wrote a note to the judge. Bailiff jumped all over him for not mentioning the problem earlier.”
Well, I have no idea if any of this will serve as a foundation for anything at all. But the descriptions did take me back to what I remember as a wonderful, eclectic group of folks who were thrown together for three days and miraculously managed to come up with what we unanimously believed was the right verdict. They all knew I was a writer and joked about showing up in a book some day. Funny. The images grow clearer as I work to retrieve the memories from so far away. Frankly, I’m very proud of myself for saving the notes and excited about the discovery.
That same file included random thoughts about good opening lines and potential story threads. So, this is sort of an interesting study about how novels can take root–borne of something real that happens to us and then taking on a life of their own from there.
Also, if you’ve been a writer all of your life, you might want to go exploring through your files and drawers. Very possibly you might have written something down on a napkin a long time ago that you then stuck away somewhere. Inspiration is often like the watched pot that never boils. The thoughts start flowing into our heads as soon as we stop trying to force them to materialize.
Speaking of Stuff Found in Drawers
In the same folder as the jury descriptions, I found an essay written about the same time (1990) that I was seriously trying to get published because the “Barbara Bush controversy” referenced in the essay was actually ongoing at the time. The rejections (also saved in the folder) are all quite encouraging–but they’re still rejections in the end. 🙂
The essay’s subject matter deals with women’s roles in the workplace (remember, that was in 1990!). As I mentioned in my Scribd description when I published the essay a few minutes ago, I’m amazed at how relevant a lot of the words still are today, twenty years later.
If you’re interested in taking a gander at some of the stuff writers stick away, you can find the essay on Scribd at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/38697919/Where-Is-Everybody.
Making a Novel “Unforgettable”
If you’re working on a novel, here’s an article that really popped out of the reading pile at me: “5 Ways to Make Your Novel Unforgettable.” It’s actually five different elements of a single, very critical point. Hope you find the information of use: http://victoriamixon.com/2010/09/13/5-ways-to-make-your-novel-unforgettable/.
A Final Thought Combining Both Writing & Promotion
In several articles I read yesterday, various authors spoke to the reality of needing a minimum of six months to even get a novel off the ground. Separation of Faith has been officially launched now for about three weeks. So I’m going to stop running around like an idiot, trying to make everything happen this afternoon.
There’s an endless list of things to pursue on the promotional road, with new angles appearing every day. Over the next month, I’m going to readjust my activities so there’s some promotion and some new writing going on every day. The plan is unfolding, and the Journey is on track. No need to make myself any crazier than I already was.
Perhaps that’s a good thought for all of us to consider while we’re going after this dream …?
Have a good week!
Oh I can hardly wait to see what you come up with! 🙂
Me too! At this point, I’ll be just as surprised as everyone else. 🙂
Good idea to write those descriptions down. If you write a crime novel and have to come up with a jury in situ, that would be so difficult unless you were once there. Juries are always fascinating in a novel, too.
Interesting how the story is starting to take a squiggly shape after running across that file folder. The jury slant would have to be different, though, because there’ve been so many jury stories. Some ideas are starting to come together, and I’m encouraged now that the vision will become clearer soon. It’s nice to know you’re there to bounce ideas around.
BTW–I’m following you on Scribd, but my nom de plume is Kali Delamagente. She’s the main character in my yet-to-be-published action thriller.
Another BTW–I have a few cards and bookmarks left, though not many from the Reader’s Festival. Do you want me to send them back?
Oh, so that’s you! Glad to know, and what a great name for a character! I’m waiting for that book too!
You can just hang on to the cards and bookmarks, unless they’re in the way. Thanks so much again for featuring my book. I know I keep saying that, but I really mean it. And I’m hopeful that we’ll get to meet someday–at a conference would be the best. The next Writer’s Digest Conference (the one that changed my life and spurred me to launch my blog last fall) is January 21-23 in New York. Any chance that you’ll be on break from school …? 🙂
I’ll be in Mississippi next year, but not New York. Darn! I’ll just have to catch you on one of the morning shows as they interview the newest great author!
Your optimism is a gift and very fun to receive, Jacqui. However, I think that finding you at a writer’s conference might be more doable. 🙂 And nothing would make me happier than to meet you in person. I’m sure it will happen somewhere down the road. Take care. –Cheri