I really like this. I felt like I was in the room with you and the other writers, each with their particular gifts. It made me think about getting back to my writing group.
Interesting that a drawing a map by hand is what works to let your imagination move the characters around in a scene. I’m often intentionally blurring or blending the specifics of a place on the Island to make it unfindable in real life! My struggles are different - plot and character!
Having read one of your books Tracey, I find it hard to believe you have struggles with plot or character. (But maybe whatever we struggle with, we wind up dong the best job on?)
I have to do all the choreography, who's where in the scene, what do they see, how they move, and how far. I think of staging a scene in a play where I have to give all the characters spots on the floor to understand the distances between them and the furniture. For my debut novel, I had to design a whole house--floor plans and elevations--to be sure I wasn't sending my characters walking into walls. I love your idea of mapping a town, although my own shortcomings don't extend, yet, to having a problem with a town I know. If I were writing historical fiction, that would be a different story! Great piece, Jan.
I can identify, Jan! Sometimes it's all I can do to move a character from one side of the room to the other, let alone running through the city streets. I love the idea of sketching it all out.
I really like this. I felt like I was in the room with you and the other writers, each with their particular gifts. It made me think about getting back to my writing group.
Then it was worth writing. Thank you! (And I hope you do go back!)
Thank you, I will now!
Interesting that a drawing a map by hand is what works to let your imagination move the characters around in a scene. I’m often intentionally blurring or blending the specifics of a place on the Island to make it unfindable in real life! My struggles are different - plot and character!
Having read one of your books Tracey, I find it hard to believe you have struggles with plot or character. (But maybe whatever we struggle with, we wind up dong the best job on?)
I have to do all the choreography, who's where in the scene, what do they see, how they move, and how far. I think of staging a scene in a play where I have to give all the characters spots on the floor to understand the distances between them and the furniture. For my debut novel, I had to design a whole house--floor plans and elevations--to be sure I wasn't sending my characters walking into walls. I love your idea of mapping a town, although my own shortcomings don't extend, yet, to having a problem with a town I know. If I were writing historical fiction, that would be a different story! Great piece, Jan.
thank you!
Such a finely crafted rumination. Beautifully done. The art of being fallible...and human.
thank you so much, Abby!
I can identify, Jan! Sometimes it's all I can do to move a character from one side of the room to the other, let alone running through the city streets. I love the idea of sketching it all out.
THank you! Brenda hoped I could display one of my maps. I told her they are so embarassing that I usually destroy them afterward!