The Scottish book
August 10, 2010
I am working on the Scottish book, poking around in the beginning melodies, and listening to the truth of my characters, or their lies – same thing. Loose threads of narrative begin to brush my face like sunlight through pines. I start to see what my characters have known for weeks – I start to feel the loss and yearning and heartache that life delivers. It is not even close to being concrete – it is more, a mass of swirling weather – a big, sideways rain sort of storm with lightning and claps of thunder and hail pounding the grass in the back yard flat – only it is not the storm where this novel exists – it’s after. It is the memory of weather.
I reach out in the black room, hoping nothing bites me, or shocks me, or scares me – hoping there is something to hang onto, but I just don’t know.
10 Comments
1. Stephanie Laskoski had this to say: Aug 10, 2010 ~ 17:13 ~ #
I hope your new book is not written in the Scottish language because I had a long conversation in the beer garden with the fellas that make up the band “Lau” and I am still not sure what we talked about.
Steph
2. thomas had this to say: Aug 11, 2010 ~ 13:38 ~ #
With enough drinks, communication becomes a sort-of universal suck into a vortex of “can’t-remember” but it sure is fun at the time.
3. Brigge had this to say: Aug 11, 2010 ~ 17:10 ~ #
truth and lies are not the same thing
5. Brigge had this to say: Aug 12, 2010 ~ 17:56 ~ #
Yeah Thomas that is true … so true of all of us. Still, I think that it reinforces the fact that truth and lies are not the same. You must be a good reader of people to be creating characters from this point of view. Thanks much for replying. I’m sure you all have better things to do than answer my comments, but your reply leads me to another question. As a writer do you believe that a character is a pure creation or simply the solution to a problem? I’ve read that characters have a life of their own, but not being a writer I’m not sure I understand that. It seems to me that they all must come from your consciousness, so must they all not be you in fact? And if that is true, how do you know that their lies are not your own lies.
6. thomas had this to say: Aug 13, 2010 ~ 11:37 ~ #
Okay, okay…of course, you’re right. Truth and lies are not the same, but if the result is the same, what does it matter? If I get to learn my character, the journey to get there is irrelevant, except I’d like it to be interesting. Interesting is sometimes better served by lying. This is not the only way to find character.
Regarding your question: As a writer do you believe that a character is a pure creation or simply the solution to a problem?
7. thomas had this to say: Aug 13, 2010 ~ 11:42 ~ #
…I think, neither. Characters get created by writers and there is no one way, or right way, or way that works every time. But, once created, they begin breathe. They live in the writers subconscious – inside the denied delusional state. (As a writer, your characters are all you – but you let go of sensible and imagine them so well, that they become real…and they HAVE to be REAL for your readers or you’re screwed.) Interestingly, my characters begin to demand the truth. They will refuse to do things they wouldn’t do. So their actions must be true to the character. If they lie all the time….then, that’s what they’ll do. They might even insist on changing their names. Sounds crazy doesn’t it? Of course, their lies are my lies – I’m in total denial about it though. I take no responsibility. As writer, I don’t have to.
Well, I could blather on and on….a conversation like this should be at dinner, with wine…
8. brigge had this to say: Aug 13, 2010 ~ 19:21 ~ #
you’re right about that brother – was it kierkegaard who talked about a hut in a forest, a bottle wine and a friend being the most sublime experience? everything is better with wine. sounds like you can’t be in too much denial if you accuse yourself of being in denial. BTW, i discovered your site because i was looking for a blast from the past in a band i used to love called “little feat” and they have an album entitled “waiting for columbus”. after further clicking and surging i stumbled on your interesting looking book.
namaste,
brigge
9. Brittany had this to say: Aug 17, 2010 ~ 19:59 ~ #
I wish you a million great writing days because I am already excited to read this book you have started.