storytelling

Today I sat under a tree on the campus of Boston College with a yellow lined pad and a really cheap pen. This, because I left my computer back at the place we're staying and I had an hour to kill. I had no real thought of writing a scene or anything of that order, and found, as I sometimes do, that pen and ink are a good way to break through problems.

Hannah is in a situation just now and I have been unsure of her actions and reactions, but after writing just a few sentences -- or really, questions to her directly -- it suddenly sorted itself out in my head and I found the whole scene ready to be birthed. Right there on that rather uncomfortable bench on a hot summer day.

I don't really understand why this works sometimes (and other times, does not work) but it's a nice surprise when it does.

Tomorrow the others are going to run around Boston, and I'm going to sit down and write. I lived in Boston for a year and I know it pretty well and really, I'm not so interested in seeing the tourists stuff themselves into Faneuil Hall. So I'll ice my very sore knees and write and hopefully get all this stuff in my head down in a form that works.

And then we're off to Manhattan.

Posted by at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I have this idea about the manuscript for Queen of Swords, which I will share though you may think I'm nuts.

If you know the earlier novels in the series (and even if you've just read Homestead) you'll know that I use a lot of letters and other kinds of documents as part of the storytelling process. I like to do this. In fact, I need to do this to make the story work for me. Sometimes it's the best way I have to get in touch with the characters. Elizabeth writes a letter to Jennet or Lily, Curiosity writes to Daniel, Nathaniel to Hannah, Gabriel to Luke, and their voices come to me very clearly as I take dictation.

Now, you may also remember that I have a fondness for fonts. What you don't know is that I have a specific handwriting font for each character, and when Elizabeth writes a letter (for example) it shows up on my computer screen in her handwriting.

So I'm thinking that when I turn this manuscript in to my editor, she will find each of the letters not as part of the whole (Courier New 12 point) but instead she'll find the letters themselves. Folded into envelope shape and addressed, as they must be.

I know that the chances of Bantam actually printing the novel this way are next to non-existant, but at least the editor will experience it. I like that idea. So here, for your information, are a few examples.

Posted by at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)