about figfield ~

[lookingland]

Last time I’s on a train with my father was the first time. I’s just-turned seven an’ sat like this next to my pa, him in the aisle seat readin’ the news an’ smokin’ his pipe, an’ me at the winder watchin’ the country go to autumn all the way from Birmin’ham to Balmer.

i actually started writing this morning. slow going, but at least it's started.

i think i've been so subconsciously intense about what i need to be working on that i've actually burned myself out on my own ideas. i sort of feel like i've done all the thinking i want to do ~ now i just want to sit back passively and have someone else come in and execute the plan.

so it's good to poke myself forward a little by putting some words down (1,552 for those who count). It's a little all over, but it's getting me back into the voice and making me realize a few things that I hadn't considered before (like just how long it takes to recover from rotted toes after frostbite).

i've started exploring the grim white witch world of margaret fletcher as well. i want her to be a positively glen close-ian character: cold, bitter, duplicitous, and capable of incredible horrors. so far so good.

my only concern is for the dickensian quality of lewis's childhood. when taken as a whole, you wonder how the kid survived long enough to get to the war (in fact the war seems the least of his traumas). but i think that's the point: how easily desensitized someone with a fractured sense of worth becomes in the face of conflict. how easy it is to become sociopathic if you never had a strong foundation for experiencing compassion to begin with (or a confusing one, at best).

"Figfield" will prove to be a pretty dark story. i'm thinking i need something to balance out the darkness, but i'm not sure what. my best bet is prolly to introduce the horse sooner (or as soon as possible) to alleviate some of the ickiness.

i think i need a new name for the horse. unless someone can think of a good reason why i should keep "Fiona". or unless i can somehow justify the choice.

~ * ~

quiet Sunday. i'm sure i have homework to do. i'll think about that tomorrow.

: D

Comments

[bachsoprano.livejournal.com]

You said it was dark, and I like dark, but I didn't get to it today. Green paint led to strange pewtery colour paint (it's called Cheyenna Rock - I love it) and then blisters....so, tomorrow!

And, yes, please ask questions about horses! Horse inaccuracies in writing is one of my pet peeves. I might know everything, but I have people that I can ask that will! :)

PS I'm shopping for a horse of my own this week....details to come!

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

a horse for reals???

when can i come visit? hahahahaha ~

i will definitely hit you up to eagle-eye my horsie stuff. i am a horse dunce. it's an area of research i've neglected horrendously and now i have to catch up because it's important to my novel.

i look forward to hearing about your horsie!

: D

[bachsoprano.livejournal.com]

Yep! A horse for real! I'm just in the looking stages, but with luck, I'll find one in a month or so (horse shopping is notoriously slow and difficult because horse people tend to be the *worst* liars ever! Well, the ones selling horses, that is...)

You're always welcome to come visit!