• Home

Still A Dreamer

Life, art, animals, writing, children's books, dreaming …

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Where Do Story Ideas Come From?
When Life Gives You …. »

Me? Write A Novel?

June 18, 2011 by still a dreamer

A novel? Really? A couple years ago, Sheri, from our children’s writer’s group, said, “You have a novel in you.” I didn’t find that to be something impossible, yet didn’t see it as highly likely at the time, either.

Aside from one story of mine which hasn’t yet found its proper genre – picture book, chapter book or middle grade – I have been focusing on picture books. I read novels all the time, but had not really thought about writing one of my own. The meager story beginning I had written for a First Page Session was a starting point, and even then, I wasn’t all that focused on it. Until I got a critique from two editors on my storyline, and things that did and didn’t work for an MG reader.

Since that time, I’ve had a unique experience. The story is writing itself.

I’ve read online, and seen among my fellow writers, how some novelists just write it all down straightaway, while others make an outline, map it out, etc. This is not what’s happening. The story is telling itself to me … at odd times, when I’m relaxing, working, whenever it pleases. I mentioned this to my friend, Linda, who told me I’m channeling my story. Well, that’s kind of exciting, and makes sense. Although I envisioned a most basic structure for how the pattern of the chapters would go, beyond that, it just keeps coming.

I’m not writing anything down; there’s no way I’ll forget it. I’m allowing it to just come through. I cry, I laugh, I see who’s becoming a character. This is very new to me. Some ideas require some of my attention – for ex., should that character enter my heroine’s life in the same chapter as another? Why IS my character like that? And I let it go. The answers come back in a fairly short time.

I don’t need too many facts at this time – I can fill in the realities of horses, riding, racing, later. But I realize I can also feed my storywriter within, so am reading Taming the Star Runner by S.E. Hinton, and perhaps returning to other horse related books I have here or reading some new ones or checking out some videos. I am fortunate to have friends involved with horses who can help me with facts, as well as one of the sources for this story’s inspiration … the horses of Mylestone Equine Rescue, for whom I volunteer and help in other ways.

Perhaps the best part of all – is I’m not in a rush. It comes as it comes, and I’m quite grateful for that.

At top left is a photograph I took of Calvin, one of Mylestone‘s rescued horses.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in Animals, Children's Books, Creativity, Writing | Tagged Horse Rescue, Horses, Middle Grade Novel, Mylestone Equine Rescue, NJ SCBWI June Conference, Novels |

  • What I’m Reading Now

  • What I’m Also Reading …

  • Like what you see? Sign up and get an e-mail when I've posted something new.

  • Recent Posts

    • My Dad
    • A Little Hope and Happiness
    • Seeing Art …
    • River Walk – Spring 2022
    • Film, Music, Dance, Editing
    • Finding A Unicorn
    • Need A Little Joy?
    • Making My Way in the World with A Book
    • Update on “Butterflies”
    • Send A Little Love in Valentine’s Season
  • I write about ...

    Animals Art Authors Books Cats Children's Books Creativity food French Bulldogs Good Reads Helping Out Holidays Home Stuff Illustration Inspiration Just Fun Life Metaphysical Nature Novels Photography Reflections Society Spiritual Writing
  • Blogs I Follow

    • From The Quill
    • Bespoke Traveler
    • saania2806.wordpress.com/
    • Wandering Ambivert
    • Marie Lamba, author
    • The Yoga Cowgirl
    • J.J.Brown Author
    • THE DAILY ROUND
    • roughwighting
    • Platform Number 4
    • Letitgocoach
    • Giving Voice to My Astonishment
    • Lauren Reyes-Grange, Digital Strategist
    • JEANNE BALSAM GRAPHICS
    • Salmon Brook Farms
    • Harvesting Hecate
    • Cynthia Reyes
    • A Leaf in Springtime

WPThemes.


From The Quill

Aren't songs of grief lullabies to the lost?

Bespoke Traveler

Immersive Tales for the Curious Explorer

saania2806.wordpress.com/

Philosophy is all about being curious, asking basic questions. And it can be fun!

Wandering Ambivert

Marie Lamba, author

Some thoughts from author and agent Marie Lamba

The Yoga Cowgirl

Live fully and have fun doing so...

J.J.Brown Author

Be entertained. Be horrified. Be inspired.

THE DAILY ROUND

Living From the Spirit Level

roughwighting

Life in a flash - a weekly writing blog

Platform Number 4

Becky Ross Michael: an author's blog

Letitgocoach

You can shake the world in a gentle way.

Giving Voice to My Astonishment

Observing, Gathering, Gleaning, Sharing

Lauren Reyes-Grange, Digital Strategist

Lauren Reyes-Grange

JEANNE BALSAM GRAPHICS

BRINGING YOUR DREAMS TO LIFE

Salmon Brook Farms

Official Home of Lavinia and Rick Ross

Harvesting Hecate

Thoughts on life, writing, creativity and magic

Cynthia Reyes

The blog of Canadian author Cynthia Reyes

A Leaf in Springtime

"Be a dew to the soil of the human heart."

  • Follow Following
    • Still A Dreamer
    • Join 149 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Still A Dreamer
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: