A while ago, I wrote a blog about the Seasons of Writing. It was an idea that my good friend Jen Alexander shared with me, and I’ve loved it and referred to it on countless occasions
ever since. The idea is that the process of writing a book is very much like the
calendar of seasons in a year.
Well, if that’s the
case, it is definitely spring right now.
I’m at the very start
of working on a new book. It’s an idea that has been patiently waiting
underground for quite a few years, and its time has now come. Just as I’m
beginning to see snowdrops appearing in the countryside, and tiny shoots
starting to come through the ground in my own garden, my new story is beginning
to show its head. Little tiny shoots coming up, one by one, all pretty and
fresh and exciting.
For over a decade,
writing has been my job, and there are times when I’m very aware of that. I
make myself sit at my desk for a certain length of time; I set targets that
involve writing a set number of words; I organize events, I attend book
festivals, I do publicity, I write emails, blogs, articles; I reply to lovely letters from readers. All of these things are wonderful, and all
make me feel glad that this is how I make my living. But a lot of the time, my
job doesn’t feel especially creative.
But it does now.
A couple of months
ago, I attended a writers’ retreat that I run with my author buddy Elen
Caldecott. Four days where eighteen children’s authors come together to share
thoughts, ideas, inspiration and workshops all about writing and creativity,
set in beautiful countryside.
(I made a kind of slideshow of my photos while I was there. You can
watch it here if you want to see why it’s such a lovely place.)
This was the fourth time we’ve run this retreat, and I have to say I think it was the best yet – especially in terms of creativity. But the point of this blog is to share what was, for me, the best thing to come out of this year’s retreat. And that was that my new book started to open up – yes, like a beautiful new crocus slowly unfurling its petals.
Part of the way that
this happened was to do with my surroundings. Each morning of the retreat, I
got up early and went out for a walk with my camera. The mornings were so quiet
and the light was so soft, as a mist gradually lifted from the fields and
trees. Something about the mornings felt right for my book, and started leading
me towards the background mood and setting.
Then one evening, another writer buddy, Kelly McKain, and I had a wonderful couple of hours sharing music and downloading
each other’s favourite songs. So on the final morning when I went out for my
walk, I took my headphones and listened to these new songs at the same time –
and the most amazing thing happened. As I walked, and watched the mist and the
dew, and listened to the songs, I started almost seeing my book begin to take
shape in front of me. I almost heard my characters singing lines from the songs
as I listened to them. Almost felt their moods and their emotions, as I felt
the mist rising on a storyline that was starting to take shape after five years
of waiting in the shadows.
And it’s carried on
like that for the months following the retreat. I’ve added more tunes and now
have a playlist of about thirty songs. I play them when I walk the dog, trudging
along a muddy coast path and hearing the characters singing the words. I play
them in my study, writing away in my lovely new notebook, as I try to capture
the feelings, the moods, the words and the moments in the same way as I saw
them out on the cliff path.
I have written about
fifteen books, and I can honestly say that I have never experienced anything
quite like the process that is taking place with this book. It feels so
creative, and such a journey of exploration. It’s intense, emotional, exciting and
kind of magical. It reminds me that, after all, this isn’t just my job. It is my passion; it is one of the things that is at
the heart of who I am, how I see the world and how I live my life.
The book is due to be
delivered in September this year. I have two books coming out before then and a
busy year ahead – but for now, I’m enjoying taking the time to nurture these
seedlings of ideas that are popping up every day.
So yes, this is work, and yes, sometimes it’s hard. But right here, right
now, it feels like a privilege that I get to do such a magical, wonderful, creative
thing and call it my day job. I hope that over the coming months, I can do my characters justice. I look forward to the rest of the spring, and am hoping for a summer filled with bright colours, delightful scents and a beautiful, blossoming story.
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9 comments:
Lovely pictures, lovely post!
Thanks Sue! :)
How lovely! I've bookmarked this for future inspiration purposes.
What a beautiful post! Inspiring.
What a wonderful book story!
I'm feeling quite jealous! I'll have to come to the winter retreat next year and see if I can benefit from this kind of inspiration!
You capture the pure happiness of writing so beautifully here, Liz - inspiration, indeed :)
Liz, this great blog would be perfect for Roz Morris's 'Undercover Soundtrack' series of blogs -
http://mymemoriesofafuturelife.com/2015/01/21/the-undercover-soundtrack-suzie-grogan/
Makes me wish I'd managed to get to Folly Foot!
The joys of gestation - thanks for this!
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