Back in June (almost a year ago now), I gave an update on my next project with an oblique reference to a historical romance I was crafting and wasn’t sure I would end up finishing. With the world we ended up in, and the amount of energy to focus on world-building versus stepping into one I had already crafted, I ended up turning my focus back to the historical romance story. I’m happy to report I finished my first rough (very rough) draft last week. My mom asked if this one had a happy ending. [Spoiler Alert] I can say this one does in a much more unequivocal fashion then my some of my other works.
The image I’ve included in the post is one I found on Pinterest originally and has been one of my inspiration or mood pieces for the characters. It evocates a lot of my characters and helped orient me back into the feel of the novel. Before posting the image, I did some further research and believe the image was taken by Michel Brodsky in 1959 of Romy Schneider and Alain Delon. Schneider and Delon were actors and partners for four years but had a relationship/friendship that apparently spanned decades.
In working on stories, I sometimes do stumble on images that ping in my braing connecting it to the story I’m working on. I try not to get too attached to other’s images though as I tend to get disappointed that I can’t use them for my cover art. For the past few works, I also have created playlists on Spotify to help with the plotting. I usually can’t listen to music when actually writing, but it can help on the walks I take to plan. By the end of last book, Don’t Belong to No City, my playlist had about 60 songs to it. The current WIP has abut 45 and may end up getting a few more songs added to it.
It’s true to say writing can channel emotions from disparate parts of my life and what is in the novel may not truly reflect my own state of mind or experiences. However, to fully enmesh in their lives can carry a weight with me that can occasionally catch me unawares. I turned back to the historical romance because I needed some softness in my life. I am about to undertake the editing process, and there is an ease in working through already created work too.
However you are processing this time, I hope you are giving yourself leave to shift focus to other projects, to new projects, to old worn-out stories you have passed the time with in happier moments.
Take Care, Lovelies!
The image I’ve included in the post is one I found on Pinterest originally and has been one of my inspiration or mood pieces for the characters. It evocates a lot of my characters and helped orient me back into the feel of the novel. Before posting the image, I did some further research and believe the image was taken by Michel Brodsky in 1959 of Romy Schneider and Alain Delon. Schneider and Delon were actors and partners for four years but had a relationship/friendship that apparently spanned decades.
In working on stories, I sometimes do stumble on images that ping in my braing connecting it to the story I’m working on. I try not to get too attached to other’s images though as I tend to get disappointed that I can’t use them for my cover art. For the past few works, I also have created playlists on Spotify to help with the plotting. I usually can’t listen to music when actually writing, but it can help on the walks I take to plan. By the end of last book, Don’t Belong to No City, my playlist had about 60 songs to it. The current WIP has abut 45 and may end up getting a few more songs added to it.
It’s true to say writing can channel emotions from disparate parts of my life and what is in the novel may not truly reflect my own state of mind or experiences. However, to fully enmesh in their lives can carry a weight with me that can occasionally catch me unawares. I turned back to the historical romance because I needed some softness in my life. I am about to undertake the editing process, and there is an ease in working through already created work too.
However you are processing this time, I hope you are giving yourself leave to shift focus to other projects, to new projects, to old worn-out stories you have passed the time with in happier moments.
Take Care, Lovelies!
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