source; unsplash by allef vinicius
Well, I’m sitting in a smokey haze. It’s not that I’ve taken up smoking but it’s the forest, wild-fire smoke that has blown into town this week. It’s cast a yellow tint to everything including my brain.
Maybe it’s a summer slacker thing, but I’ve been avoiding my blog. Although I have more than a few drafts that are ready, I have hesitated in clicking the publish button. Don’t ask me why.
Today, let’s talk writing, editing, Hemingway, and literature.
You’ll recall my short story collection titled The Icing On The Cake. I’ve officially changed the title to Lost Hearts, after the final short story in the collection. I felt it captured the collection quite well and I’m following literary tradition in naming the collection after one of the stories.
Besides, when I googled my original working title, many cookbooks popped up. Same with a search on Amazon. While I still love the original title’s play on words, I decided it was misleading.
I’m so very close to completing the final edits for Lost Hearts-–so very close. There’s the one story I’m still re-working. New York Dreams is sitting on my desk with all my notes and scratched out sections…almost there. No one told me how excruciating the editing process can be.
Then I had an idea. Why not approach this edit with slow and rich deliberation? Choose my words with joy and reverence. Hmmm, what a new idea. Instead of agonizing over words and sentences…take pleasure in the manipulation of the story. Ask myself; “Is that what you want to say or can you say that better?”
Thus I’m enjoying the process more. That is, the process of butchering my original writing and my ‘brilliant’, original thoughts for my main characters. The thing is, I’ve grown to love these characters.
I thought about abandoning this whole collection. At the second round of edits the monster in my head told me it was a stupid project that wasn’t worth anyone reading. But my heart said there was no way I could abandon any of these characters. Their stories need to be told and to be read. I love them too much to leave them now. Does that sound weird?
Whether it’s weird or not really doesn’t matter. That passion is what I needed to carry on with the project. When I should be doing something more productive, I’m sitting at my desk getting into the heads of people who don’t even exist.
Speaking of people who only exist on paper, I will be interviewing Kora Stone here on the blog. She’s my MC in New York Dreams and I’d like my readers to get to know her. Heck, there’s some things I’d like to know about her. This will be a good way for me to find some things out, too. More importantly, I think you will be inspired by her.
This is my reality. Concocting fictional characters with rich lives, emotions spilling off the page until it turns red.
Who do I think I am anyway, a writer? Well, turns out I am. A writer that is.
this guy will be in my town filming on Saturday. source; film district
It’s not the smokey haze that’s got me all crazy like. No, it’s just me, writing fiction, heart on my sleeve, blood on the page.
I fell in love with Hemingway books in my early 20’s. The first one I read was The Sun Also Rises. It was the summer of ’86 and I had my nose in a book everyday. When I got my hands on Hemingway, his words had me hungering for more than Danielle Steele. Yup, that was one of my favorite authors back then. That summer I discovered John Irving when I read a second hand copy of Cider House Rules. Again, I fell in love with his storytelling. Actually, correction; the first book I read of Irving’s was The World According to Garp. That was in 1981…so I was reading more than just Danielle Steele in my teens. Later, I read A Prayer for Owen Meany. I think that’s my favorite Irving book, to date.
So now I’ve evolved from reader to non-fiction writer to fiction writer. It’s been a learning curve, for sure. I LOVE it so much that if I’m having a down day, I start writing/editing my stories or any WIP. What happens? Time flies and my heart wakes up. I feel like I can do anything if I can finish a chapter. In the meantime, let’s hope the fires die out and the smoke blows over.
Maybe it isn’t quite as profound as Hem, but it’s mine.
Do you write fiction? Are you a blogger? How is your summer going?
Comments are closed.
Design by ThemeShift.
dhlip
August 25, 2017 at 1:59 amI hope the fires subside soon and that your edits go well, good post.
lisa
August 26, 2017 at 8:01 amThank you! Fires are still burning in our province and edits are still burning as well. Haha.
Vishnu
August 23, 2017 at 9:30 pmLove Hemingway too but not a big fan of writing fiction, Lisa.
It’s terrifying to me to write but wonderful for me to read. Looking forward to reading your writing. I’m glad you kept going even when you wanted to stop – the signs of a professional writer 🙂
lisa
August 25, 2017 at 2:33 pmWriting fiction is a whole other animal.Thank you, Vishnu and I’m so glad you’re interested in my fiction writing. 🙂
marie kleber
August 22, 2017 at 6:19 am“Writing is tonic for the soul”. It’s you and it’s beautiful Lisa.
I love your post and I love the idea that your book is nearly finished. I know editing can be quite frustrating. But you made a good point in changing your perspective about it – I am sure you’re finding pleasure now!
Can’t wait to read you…
Till then sending you love from sunny Paris.
lisa
August 22, 2017 at 8:54 amHey Marie, How is your summer? Have missed you…but I’m sure you’ve been enjoying Paris all summer. Love back to you!
Kimberly
August 21, 2017 at 10:08 amYou are a brilliant writer my friend. I get in slumps and it’s hard to drag myself out of. I love those Hemmingway quotes – he makes it sound like it’s just so easy to do. It’s not though! It’s not!
For me it’s medication changes that make the fogginess so bad that I can’t string thoughts together. OY. What helps is just writing journals. Like stepping away from what I was working on and just diving into other writing. I know that sounds like procrastination but it helps me not get frustrated and muck up what I’m working on. Gah it’s hard to explain. We all have our weird writing processes don’t we!
Friend, you’re going to write something wonderful. I know it.
lisa
August 22, 2017 at 8:53 amAw, Kim, your words are music. Thank you! Slumps are bummers. I’ve been procrastinating lately, too. Hemingway makes it sound like a breeze. His writing feels like a breeze as well.I would never know by your writing that you suffer brain-fog. I like your solution to free writing in a journal. I also do that as it seems to open the brain a little more. Here’s to writing… *lifts glass* (half-full of course).
kimbacaffeinate
August 15, 2017 at 7:27 pmGreat post. I hope the fires subside soon and that your edits go well. I like the new title.
lisa
August 20, 2017 at 9:10 amHi Kim, the fires are still burning but the smoke has lifted and we’ve finally enjoyed blue skies and stars at night again. Thanks for the reminder to get back to work! 🙂
Jeri
August 14, 2017 at 4:16 pmGlad to hear the collection of short stories is coming along. It’s been smokey in my neck of the woods as well. My AC broke and needed replaced in late-June right when temps were nearing a hundred, so that wasn’t fun. I’ve been enjoying writing narrative nonfiction. It’s a skin that feels more like my own, as writing fiction tends to make me feel less at home.
lisa
August 14, 2017 at 7:48 pmIt’s coming along, almost done 🙂 I recall my hot water tank gave out during pre-christmas -30 celcius weather (back in Alberta). These things always seem to happen at the worst time! Narrative non-fiction sounds perfect for you right now with all you’re going through. I hope to read your work!
Christine Carter
August 14, 2017 at 9:22 amAh, I love this so much Lisa! I love that you are tackling such an incredible mission to write these stories and develop these character’s rich perspectives and I’m SURE it will be a worthy read when you are done.
THIS: Then I had an idea. Why not approach this edit with slow and rich deliberation? Choose my words with joy and reverence. Hmmm, what a new idea. Instead of agonizing over words and sentences…take pleasure in the manipulation of the story. Ask myself; “Is that what you want to say or can you say that better?”
That is so inspiring to me. And a great reminder for me to do the same, when I feel stuck or apathetic or down right done.
I can’t wait to *meet* and learn about Kora. 🙂
lisa
August 14, 2017 at 10:04 amThank you, Chris! I believe in these stories and won’t give up until they’re published. 😀 I have designed the cover and will reveal that probably in September. Editing can be a dreadful process but it doesn’t have to be. Tedious, yes but it shouldn’t be agonizing (which it has been at certain times LOL). I’m happy this has inspired you in your own work, Chris. That is wonderful! I can’t wait to introduce Kora here at The Great Escape 🙂
Sheryl
August 10, 2017 at 6:28 pmIn addition to my blog, I’ve started writing my own book this month. It is a story of my own journey during my Mother’s illness. My blog started as the journey of grief through a grief counselor’s eyes and I’ve always wanted to turn some of my emails (more like an ongoing journal) to my friends into a book. I’m finding I cycle in regards to the energy I have but right now I simply keep writing The editing will come later.
lisa
August 11, 2017 at 9:18 amGood for you, Sheryl. That sounds interesting and will in the end, help others going through that process. Good luck to you. p.s. the first few drafts are the most fun.
Lynn
August 10, 2017 at 2:34 pm“Writing is one-third wit and two-thirds perseverance”. Now that I’m blogging, I can relate. Thank you for sharing this. It’s good to know it’s not just me.
lisa
August 11, 2017 at 9:17 amSo true, Lynn! That’s one of my own quotes 😀 Blogging takes a great deal of perseverance to maintain. Thanks for stopping over!
Shantala
August 10, 2017 at 2:28 pmI love how you choose to look at the editing process. It sure makes it sound more fun and less tedious, which is exactly how it should be. After-all, you are polishing your baby and making it shine.
Oh and btw, ‘getting into the heads of people who don’t even exist’ is extremely productive. Because if authors did not do that, the books that we love would not exist. And call me crazy, but I do not want to imagine a world without my fictional people.
lisa
August 11, 2017 at 9:15 amThank you, Shantala. Your comment made me smile. I do not want to imagine a world without fictional people in it either. Point well made and thanks for that reminder!
dgkaye
August 10, 2017 at 10:07 amWow, good for you Lisa. Undoubtedly, editing is the process where we begin to pick apart our stories and transform them from original thought. Your new book sounds like a great read and I’m looking forward to it. And oh, terrible about those fires, I’ve heard so many terrible stories about that smoke haze. Stay safe. <3
lisa
August 10, 2017 at 7:41 pmThank you, Deb. It’s amazing how long that editing process can go on for. Then I need space from the story to get some perspective again. The fires are awful. We’re only getting the smoke though, so i shouldn’t complain. It’s been over a week of haze 😛
dgkaye
August 11, 2017 at 5:44 pmI’m sorry for the fires and the environment. Yes, we have to be grateful for tender mercies. And yes, while in editing it’s important to take breaks from it (sometimes for days) to get a different perspective. Every time I go back to mine I try to pretend I’m a reader, not me, lol. LOL 🙂 Have fun! <3
lisa
August 14, 2017 at 9:42 amMe too, Deb. The fires are another thing to worry about that we have zero control over. Sometimes I have to take a break from the news so I don’t get all upset…
I will try your trick and pretend I’m someone else reading my story for the first time ha! Beta readers are a wonderful resource for getting fresh, unbiased eyes on the story.
dgkaye
August 14, 2017 at 8:13 pmOh, absolutely, we need beta readers. But we must be our own beta readers first and there’s no way to be objective unless we take a few walk aways for a few days for fresh perspectives. 🙂 x
lisa
August 15, 2017 at 9:01 amSo true, Deb. That’s exactly what stalls me. I’ll sit it out for a while but it will be on my mind. I’ll play around with ideas in my head “What if….” haha. It’s quite the process.
Tamara
August 10, 2017 at 9:26 amI am a writer, but I don’t write fiction too often, or very well for that matter!
I like simple and happy stuff. I think I’d be a good children’s book author. All my heady stuff comes out in the blog.. sometimes even in sponsored posts.. oops.
I love A Prayer for Owen Meany. Never had as much luck with his others!
lisa
August 10, 2017 at 7:40 pmTamara, you would be an awesome children’s book author! Your heady posts are beautiful. Nice to hear you’re an Owen Meany fan, too 🙂
Balroop Singh
August 9, 2017 at 7:12 pmWhat a wonderful news Lisa! I am so happy for you that your book is almost ready…looking forward to its release. I know how time consuming and exhausting editing is!
I love the way you have shared your inspiration and success through quotes…I am glad they kept you going despite those thoughts of dropping this project. We all face such scary monsters but success stands right behind them. Stay blessed dear friend! 🙂
lisa
August 10, 2017 at 10:56 amThank you, Balroop! Do you like my acronym, STBP? 😀 Yes, writing and bringing our writing to publication is a labor of LOVE. The mean monsters seem to come out when we’re working on creative projects…
Chrys Fey
August 9, 2017 at 2:04 pmThe fact that you’re loving it so much is a good sign. And I like your attitude and technique toward editing. That way of thinking would make the process a lot more manageable and enjoyable, that’s for sure. Keep up what you’re doing!
lisa
August 10, 2017 at 10:54 amYes, I’m sure you’ve felt that same connection or love for your heroines, Chrys (Beth comes to mind). I had to change my attitude regarding editing. It has really inspired me to work harder. Your edits were extremely helpful, Chrys!
Beth
August 9, 2017 at 11:50 amWriting is most definitely a process! I have tried to write fiction before but not with much success. I’ve been having a pretty good summer I must say. 🙂
lisa
August 10, 2017 at 10:52 amAs a prolific blogger, YOU know!Going from non fiction to fiction is a writing curve 🙂 You certainly are having a fab summer. I love reading about your adventures!
Crystal // Dreams, etc.
August 9, 2017 at 11:12 amI loved reading this! Good luck with edits. I’ve found editing to be an excruciating process sometimes too, but it can also be exhilarating.
lisa
August 10, 2017 at 10:50 amThank you, Crystal! Thank you for saying that about editing. I thought I was the only one who found it so painful 😛
Charlotte
August 9, 2017 at 8:33 amI love your words, whenever you find the time to share them with us. And you are absolutely 100% beyond a shadow of a doubt a pure writer, one who bleeds on the keyboard and burns in the night. You’ve always had a knack and clear voice and I love to read anything you write so I’m excited to see what’s ahead for you!!
PS–I’ve always loved that Hemingway quote 🙂
lisa
August 10, 2017 at 10:49 amAh, Charlotte, thank you so much. That is kind of you to say! I’m looking forward to introducing you to Kora Stone. 😀