Taking a step back

I have been so caught up in Judith’s head, it’s time to take a step back and try to look at what I’ve written objectively.

Strengths   

·         Dialogue – BUT I need to check for differentiation. Would you know who was speaking just by their words or way of talking?

·         Storyline – generally strong and fast-paced

·         Pace – I feel I have got this right – everything is relevant to the story and moves it on

·         Structure and outline – I am very pleased with the way I planned it all out and know where I am going with it

Weaknesses

·         Characterisation – Judith is fine but I’m not sure that all the other people are well-enough defined

·         One anomaly about Judith – why is she like she is with her family? I think I know but need to give it a stronger basis to her actions with them

·         In the Hexham side of the story I need to show things from other people’s point of view more

·         Interest – I live in mortal fear of being boring. I don’t think it is boring, but maybe some bits are rushed where they could be slowed down and still be interesting

Padding or detail?

I am finding it difficult to write about the next stage because I am pondering on what to do with the storyline. More areas for research have come up but I can’t blog about them without giving away key aspects of the plot. Suffice to say I need to talk to a police officer or a solicitor for some clarification.

On 15^th November 2010 the Carlisle part of the story was moving along well. If I write an equivalent amount for the Hexham part I am going to end up with 81,000 words, about 10,000 short of what I am aiming for. It will be ok. As soon as I get into dialogue it all flows out so it may just be a case of going back to add more scenes, and conversations into existing ones.

The Hexham chapters can be longer anyway. Because they are written in the third person, I can add more about what other people are thinking and saying, especially about Judith.

My journal also says, ‘I wrote a death scene today and made myself cry.’

When the character takes over in an unexpected way

I am now writing the Carlisle section, set in the present time, without alternating with what happened the year before.  The reason for this is that I am finding it difficult swapping from first person present tense to third person past tense on alternate chapters. I’ll go back later to do the Hexham part of the story.

On 6^th November 2010 I made this note in my journal:

‘Oh no! I am starting to like Judith.’

Not only that, but she is starting to like her life in Carlisle; her job, the people she works with, her friend outside work, her boyfriend, and she is starting to like herself. She decides not to upset anyone any more.

I am going to be very sad when it all goes horribly wrong.

My lovely London step-daughter asked what I would like for Christmas – ‘Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook 2011, please.

9^th November 2010

I led a lesson on play-writing with Eden Women’s Theatre Group. It was fun, they loved it and they found it useful.

Feedback and influences

On 20^th October 2010 I had my first 1:1 tutorial with my M.A. supervisor. It was a highly motivating experience. She said she was enjoying reading the story, that it flowed well, it was gripping and a page-turner. She also said she could imagine taking it with her on a train journey.

I thought that was enough of a tutorial but we actually spent the next hour talking about ways in which I could improve it.

We discussed Judith’s complex personality and why she behaves the way she does; why she is so antagonistic towards her sister and mother, and why she is so needy in her relationships with other people. I will have to do some more work on this to make sure that I know the reasons why, even if the reader never knows. She is attracted to women and I wonder whether she has lesbian tendencies. I hadn’t intended that to be the case and still don’t think it is.

We discussed how the parts I wrote in the first person contributed to the tension as Judith’s thoughts and devious plans unfold and develop.  Two books I have read recently influenced that aspect of my writing.  They were Engleby by Sebastian Faulks and Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller; amazing books and certainly a standard to aspire to.

I told Eliza that I found it quite demanding and sometimes exhausting writing in the first person from within Judith’s head. She referred me to some academic writing on the subject but also admitted that there wasn’t much that had been written about it from the author’s point of view. Maybe a subject for my PhD? (ha ha).

Facts or fiction

There seems to be so much research associated with every new idea. I have talked through with my ‘writing buddy’ Lizzie Gates what needs to be factual and authentic and what I can make up. Some conclusions:

·         Old artists – I can make up some names

·         Power of attorney – I need facts

·         HMRC rules – I need facts

·         Music for a school concert – I won’t specify

Lizzie has a great Writing Blog: http://authorgym.wordpress.com  

I was wondering who I could ask about Power of Attorney and couldn’t think of any friendly (free) solicitors. Then when I was visiting one of my management students at the Alzheimer’s Society in Workington I realised that she and her staff would know all about that. They discussed it with me and printed off some information too. Thanks Lou and Jackie. I have named a character after Lou – D.S. Doggart.

On 6^th October 2010 my journal entry read:
‘Today my word count reached 15,000 – that’s about a 6^th of a book.’

People are very kind. I was talking to a manager from a care home in Kendal about people suffering from dementia in old age. She sent me a book with some case studies for me to adapt and use in the book.

Two weeks later, I had increased my word count to 23,000 simply by making sure I write something every day. I am still resisting the temptation to edit as I go along. It will need to be done later but at least the story is moving on at a good pace.

Using Nick for research

Although Nick (a fellow student) advised me on Facebook to forget about detail and not bother with research, he has been a great source of ideas and information for me.  It was him that helped me sort out what incident would be big enough to drive Judith away from her business and her home town but would not prevent her from getting a job in a supermarket cash office.  The following is a direct extract from my journal on 1^st October 2010.

·         My word count has exceeded 10,000 – YAY.

·         I am writing about Judith meeting Joanna by chance in Bitts Park in Carlisle and once again realised that my local knowledge is lacking. I texted Nick to ask whether there was a duck pond there. This was his reply.

‘There is and it’s quite hidden. Near a children’s playground and well dodgy toilets. Hammonds Pond at Upperby is the proper duck pond with swans and a family park, etc.’

So much local colour for me to work with. Thank you Nick. I decided that the ‘lesser’ duck pond would work in my favour and I made Joanna’s five year old son insist that they fed the ducks at Bitts Park as nobody seems to like them. It also saved me a research trip to Upperby.  I have looked it up on the internet, though, and the swans there do look beautiful.

A pause for reflection

On 28^th September 2010 it was time to pause for reflection. In my journal I listed the decisions I had taken, which I have already blogged about, and also listed some learning points since I started the planning and writing on 26^th July 2010.

Learning point 1   I do not need to clear everything and settle down for a whole morning or afternoon. I can be just as productive setting the timer for one hour and writing until the time is up.

Learning point 2   At first I wrote about 800 words in the hour and the number increased with practice and confidence.

Learning point 3   Although I am trying to write a first draft without editing, I have to read back over what I have already written. This means I make small changes as I go along – there were continuity issues such as Chloe (antiques shop owner) not knowing who Judith was although she had invited her and had her number to call her back. Things like word repetition in a sentence or paragraph cry out to be corrected. I am going to keep notes of what I change as I go along.  (I stopped doing that as they were quite small and there were so many of them)

Learning point 4   I CAN DO THIS and I WILL DO THIS

Learning point 5   Research and having key facts to hand is important to me. I felt much better about the first Hexham chapter after I had been there and identified where Judith’s office would be (above one of the shops in the picture below) and where the new antique shop would be in relation to it. I also found (by chance) the route that Chloe will take on the evenings when she catches the train.

Learning point 6   Short form biogs are fab. In particular the extension exercise I did identifying Judith’s strengths has helped to shape her actions and behaviours. She is a good listener, is observant, patient, diligent and determined. Even though these would be considered strengths, the way Judith uses them are not for always for good and it helps to make her a creepy and scary person.

I did have some other thoughts about research but I can’t tell you as I don’t want to give too much away.