Juggling Timelines

05/01/2016Blogcreative nonfiction, creative process, Nola Passmore, parallel narrative, poetry, short stories, The Write Flourish, Write Time, WritingAdele

Nola 2014 g copy This is our final ‘Write Time’ guest blog. I don’t know about you, but I’m sorry to see the end of these insightful blogs. What I’ve found so great is the diverse angle each contributor’s brought to their post, and today is no exception as we welcome Nola Passmore to round out this series. Nola is a widely published poet and writer of short fiction and creative non-fiction, not to mention social psychologist and co-editor of the recently released ‘Glimpses of Light’ Anthology. She’s also in the throes of crafting an epic novel, which is bound to bear her stamp of excellence. But I’ll let Nola tell you more about that. Thanks, Nola. 🙂

I have a problem. I’m writing a parallel narrative where a contemporary story about Libby interweaves with an historical one featuring Maggie. The two timelines intersect in that Maggie’s actions in the past affect Libby’s choices in the present. That’s complicated enough, but that’s not my main problem. I’ve set up the plot so that the historical story takes place in the early 1880s and then jumps forward thirty-five years to 1917. How do I account for thirty-five missing years without dumping lots of backstory?

I could fill in the details by continuing Maggie’s saga through those years. However, that would add way too much to my already-bulging manuscript. Another approach would be to narrow the gap by starting Maggie’s story later (maybe the 1890s) and finishing it sooner (well before 1917). However, the plot hangs around some key historical events. Changing my heroine’s timeline would mean altering significant parts of the narrative. Maggie wouldn’t be in Halifax to bring about certain social reforms, the subplot for one character would have to change completely, and the climax could no longer be tied to a real-life catastrophe. Even if I decided to make all of those changes, I wouldn’t be able to stop there because the historical part of the novel affects the present. If Maggie’s story changes, so does Libby’s. Everything is intertwined, with one person’s timeline inextricably linked to others.

Isn’t that the way it is in our lives too? If our ancestors had made different choices about where they worked and lived, we wouldn’t be the same people we are today. Some of us wouldn’t even have been born. Historical events also have an impact in the present. What if Hitler had won World War II? What if Jesus hadn’t died for my sins? What if Lucy Maud Montgomery had never stayed at her uncle’s house with the green gables? What if Lance Hills’ wife hadn’t needed a space-saving washing line?

At the beginning of each year, we have the opportunity to reflect on how we’ve used our time and to think about what we’d like to do differently in the months ahead. We can’t go back and change the timelines of our past and there will always be things we can’t control in the future. However, we can make choices about how we approach life now. In terms of writing, I’d like to focus more specifically on finishing my novel and solving my timeline dilemma. All suggestions welcome! I’d also like to achieve a better balance between work, family life and play. How about you? What are your hopes and dreams for 2016? Sometimes the road ahead can seem daunting, but if we take it one step at a time, we can achieve more than we ever thought possible. With God’s help, it’s going to be an awesome year.

Nola Passmore has had more than 150 short pieces published, including devotionals, true stories, poetry, short fiction, magazine articles and academic papers. She loves exploring different facets of creativity and encouraging others to develop their God-given talents. She and her husband Tim have their own freelance writing and editing business called The Write Flourish. You can find her writing tips blog on their website.

A Right Time to Write?

29/12/2015Blogcreative process, Lynne Stringer, Verindon Trilogy, work life balance, Write Time, WritingAdele

Can you believe we’re up to week four of the ‘Write Time’ series? Today we have another quality guest blogger, award winning author and professional editor, Lynne Stringer. Lynne has loved to write since she was small, and as a published YA author, magazine and newspaper editor and screenwriter, she’s been able to explore that dream across numerous genres. Today Lynne broaches a topic most writers will relate to – that wrestle to achieving a workable balance between crafting a new writing project and the demands of ‘real life’. Just days before we launch into the New Year, this is timely wisdom. Over to you, Lynne. 🙂

Is there a right time to write? It’s an interesting question and one I’m pondering a lot of late.

One of the problems with being an unknown author is that you have to have a day job or else you starve. You’ve also usually got a family and so you need to spend time with them, not to mention doing things like feeding them, cleaning the house, etc.

Also, once you’ve had some books published, you really need to spend some time promoting yourself and your books.

The dilemma then becomes—when do you find time to write something new?

I recently started a new job, and although we’re closed over Christmas, I’m still trying to catch up on fifty million (okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration!) other things I have to do. This is causing a little ball of pressure to build up in me because I’ve got an idea for a new story. Am I going to find the time to write it or even start it? I hope so. It’s not quite at the point where it’s knocking on the inside of my head, demanding to be released (yes, authors are weird!) but I don’t think it will be long before it is. I’ve just got to work out the resolution (that’s the bit at the end where everything is tied up) but I think I’ve got it, so soon the little voice of my story will become a loud scream, as it decides it’s time to come out!

One of the best things about this story is that I already know what it’s going to be called. That’s rare for me. I usually find it hard to think of titles. And I’m reasonably confident it’s a title that is useable, although I’ve been wrong about that before, so I’ll have to see if that’s the case.

But still, will I find the time to write it? What I need to do, of course, is make time. While that’s easier said than done, especially at this time of the year, I’m hopeful that soon will come that exciting moment when I sit down and write the first line. The only thing better than writing the first line of a story is writing the last.

Lynne Stringer has been passionate about writing all her life, beginning with short stories in her primary school days. She began writing professionally as a journalist and was the editor of a small newspaper (later magazine) for seven years, before turning her hand to screenplay writing and novels. Lynne currently works as a professional editor and proofreader. Her debut novel, The Heir, the first book in the Verindon trilogy, received the Literary Classics’ sliver award in young adult science fiction in 2014. You can connect with Lynne on Pintrest, Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon and Twitter @TheHeirNovel.

‘Tis The Season

22/12/2015BlogAdele

Today I have the pleasure of introducing to you to a brand new guest blogger for this site. Shane Brigg brings a broad background to his writing, which includes publication in local community media, ministry outlets, and several Youth development programs. His current projects encompass a three part fictional novel, based around normal Australian characters who influence world affairs; a young adult graphic novel, and numerous other non-fiction articles. With professional influences ranging from a Bachelor in Environmental Science focusing on Human Society and Management and Policy Studies, to extensive engagement in work with young people, Shane brings a unique flavour to his writing craft. Like you, I’m looking forward to his insights. Thanks, Shane.

‘Tis the Season …

… for lots of Write Ideas

There are a lot of ideas that get circulated this time of year as the marketing machine that has become known as Christmas kicks into gear. The image of the jolly red fellow became Coke Cola’s icon for a generation of citizens. It has now been embraced by numerous generations across the west and beyond. It has unfortunately become synonymous with concepts of affluence and ego rather than of humility and altruism. Ideas are interesting things. We have tremendous power in the ideas that we write about. Either the intrinsic values reflected by characters, scenarios and themes we populate our narratives with; or extrinsic deliberate discussions we make through our various mediums.

The idea that writing can provide hope for our readers by being active in our promoting simple things like serving, and helping, and caring, and supporting, and just generally engaging honestly with others is truly a novel, but vital concept that lies deep in our cultural conscience. What I mean by this is that our writing has the power to simply provide good natured, empowering ideas that may support others valuably in their life journeys. Our writing should not primarily be some well marketed idea. But it can be a revelation of Truth that dovetails with ideals that are well attested to in our society’s humanitarian heart. It may therefore be an expression of the best things that make us human.

Our writing provides an outlet for action and discussion around things like belonging, meaning and purpose. Perhaps it shows to a world that quickly resorts to a focus on self that at the core of what makes us human is that looking out for others is as important as looking out for yourself.

The reduction of the idea of Christmas being an opportunity for marketing to fuel people’s self-oriented perspective needs to be challenged. This might begin by simply returning to the historicity of the Christ that its very name implies. This should cause us to reflect upon the age old adage that “the season is not about the getting, but in the giving”. Jesus claims of himself as Saviour, were not accounted for as a clever product or an idea, but in the giving of his life for the cause of peace and justice. Of this there is historically tangible evidence. What will be the evidence you leave behind in your writing?

What legacy will you pass on to your readers?

What will they say after the years and the spin have taken their toll on the image you leave behind in print? Is it coloured by your kindness, hope and generosity; that you loved greatly and empowered others to reach for a better future. That you emulated Christ. I trust this perspective is more than just a value for you, but is your experience as you consider the ideas that surround Christmas. I hope this is the mark that this piece of writing leaves for you as we finish this year: that into the future you are alert to the presentation you provide of ideas that can shape another’s future.

‘Tis the season for the ideas we write about to be the right ideas.

Shane’s early life of living in vastly different communities has given him a rich context of writing that focuses on people’s lives. He has been involved in various ministries locally and internationally for over 25 years. Shane has a passion to see this generation engaged, equipped and empowered to impact the world. He is currently a lecturer with Harvest Bible college, a school Chaplain, and part of a missional outreach leadership team. He has just completed a Masters of Arts in Ministry. Shane has been regularly published in local community media, and ministry outlets as well as having written several Youth development programs. Projects that he has underway include a three part fictional novel; a young adult graphic novel, and numerous other non-fiction articles.

Foundations in Time

15/12/2015Blogambition, Best Forgotten, CALEB Prize, legacy, Paula Vince, Picking up the Pieces, The Vince Review, Write Time, writer, writing processAdele

It’s an absolute delight to introduce our second ‘Write Time’ guest blogger. Paula Vince is an award winning Australian author, whose novels continue to inspire and challenge. Paula writes not only to entertain, but through her work she skillfully tackles difficult topics with sensitivity and insight, offering her readers a fresh perspective by enabling them to walk ‘in the shoes’ of her characters. Having been in the writing industry for many years, Paula knows the ‘write times’ well. Let’s welcome her now as she shares wisdom from her journey. Thanks, Paula.

In 1951, a man named Arthur Koestler wrote, ‘A writer’s ambition should be to trade 100 contemporary readers for 10 readers in 10 years time, and for one reader in 100 years.’

If we agree with his premise, we’re being short-sighted when we judge the impact of any book by its immediate public reception, or by what we can ever see, for that matter.

One of the beauties of the written word in the form of stories and wisdom is that it has the potential to keep impacting new readers in time, maybe centuries after its author wrote it. For example, Jane Austen was born in 1775, but started a chain reaction of young woman readers who regard Lizzie Bennett as a role model, and swoon over Mr Darcy. Some of these readers surely haven’t even been born yet.

Another ripple effect evident through time is that of influence. Jane Austen strongly admired the writing of Samuel Richardson, Fanny Burney, Maria Edgeworth and Anne Radcliffe. Many contemporary people who love Austen have surely never heard of these long-ago authors, or know very little about them, yet still benefit from whatever Austen took on board from them. She, in turn, became an inspiration for more modern authors, including Virginia Woolf, Fay Weldon and J.K. Rowling. Next in the sequence, these ladies are no doubt influencing, a line of still more modern authors. Some of them surely haven’t even been born yet.

That’s what I love when I hear people refer to the roots of good literature, and encourage us to reach down into them. We may see the woody, physical roots of a tree with our naked eyes, yet the roots of literature are just as real. They are simply formed of more intangible matter, such as time.

In ‘One Year to a Writing Life’, author Susan Tiberghian says, ‘We enter this world on the shoulders of our predecessors, emerging from centuries of thought, reflection, storytelling and dreams. We learn by reading others, by reaching down into our universal roots.’

I’d like to finish with an equally inspiring thought along the same lines from ‘The Distant Hours’, a novel by Kate Morton. Percy Blythe, one of three sisters who lived in their family castle, reflects how her personal history was built on a lineage of words and ideas. ‘Daddy had said time and again, the family tree was laced together with sentences in place of limbs. Layers of expressed thought had soaked into the soil of the castle gardens, so that poems and plays, prose and political treatises would always whisper to her when she needed them. Ancestors she would never meet, who had lived and died before her birth, left behind them words, words, words, chattering to one another, to her, from beyond the grave, so she was never lonely, never alone.’

It’s an honour to do the same, each in our own small way?

Paula Vince is a South Australian author of contemporary, inspirational fiction. She lives in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, with its four distinct seasons, and loves to use her environment as settings for her stories. Her novel, ‘Picking up the Pieces‘ won the religious fiction section of the International Book Awards in 2011, and ‘Best Forgotten‘ was winner of the CALEB prize the same year. She is also one of the four authors of ‘The Greenfield Legacy’, Australia’s first and only collaborated Christian novel. Her most recent novel, ‘Imogen’s Chance’ was published April 2014. For more of Paula’s reflections, you may like to visit her book review blog, The Vince Review where she also interviews other authors.

Write Time – A Case of Extremes

08/12/2015BlogAkrad's fantasy fiction, anthology, fantasy, Glimpses of Light, Jeanette O'Hagan, Let the Sea Roar, novel, women's fiction, Write Time, writer, writing processAdele

I am so excited to be hosting another guest blog series. This time last year, guest bloggers shared inspiring and humorous reflections on their ‘Write Life’ . This year the theme is ‘Write Time’.

As I’ve discovered in life, timing is everything. Time is also one of our most precious commodities. Writing in season, and finding time to make it happen, is a constant juggle. Over the coming weeks we’ll hear from a diverse group of authors as they reflect on this theme. And like me, I’m sure you can’t wait.

My first guest blogger is one you might know. Jeanette O’Hagan is a gifted author who writes across a diverse range of genres, and she’s had a full-to-overflowing writing year. (While still managing to be superwoman without the cape!) I could say more, but I think it’s time to hand over to our guest. Thanks Jeanette!

From one extreme to another.

This year my ‘write times’ have seesawed from intense focus to being swallowed up in other tasks. In some ways, it’s the equivalent of kangaroo-hopping down the road (for those of you who remember their first lessons in a car with manual gears).

Five months – just five months of this year did my writing get the my highest priority – in January with the Month of Poetry (over thirty poems written some of which have since been short-listed or achieved an award), in March and April I wrote three short stories for a couple of anthologies, in July it was Camp NaNoWriMo as I dusted off novel 3 and wrote 30,000 words, coming within cooee of finishing my first draft, and November was NaNaWriMo, with another 50,000 words on novel 5.

As the words began to flow during NaNo, I remembered once again why I love writing— it’s fun, exhilarating, entertaining, inspiring.

So what about those other months? Family, friends, faith, community— yes all these things take time—but what has really eaten up the hours is other writing related activities. I finished off my writing course (MA) and started another (Year of the Edit). I have been involved in editing, proofing and/or publishing anthologies (to different degrees of involvement)—Another Time Another Place, Let the Sea Roar, Glimpses of Light and Like a Girl. I’ve needed to edit my own stories and follow the suggestions of my crit friends and editors. I’ve attended conferences, festivals and retreats. I’ve taken time to set up my writing as a business and make plans for next year.

Reflecting on 2015 I’ve come to a greater understanding of my writing process:
I work well to deadlines – especially those where I’m accountable to others.
I feel alive when I write and I want this to stay a vital part of my life.

Yet writing a first draft of a story, poem or novel is just the first step in a complex process. If I want to be serious about writing, if I want to write for others as well as for myself— I have to take it to another level and that means learning my craft, networking with other writers, giving back to the community, editing my work, working out how to publish and promote it. I need to factor those times in as well as regular writing times.

Family, friends, faith, health, community matter too. If I steal from these areas in my life for too long or too often, I’m likely to crash and burn rather than be in this for the long term.

I need balance.

In hindsight, I don’t think I’ll try to publish two anthologies (plus involvement in three others) in one year again.

Maybe moving forward in kangaroo hops is not a bad thing (especially if you are a kangaroo ‘grin’) but I’d like to smooth out the curves a little. Those other things—learning, networking, editing, publishing—are part of the journey which I also enjoy doing.

As a wise person once said ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.’ Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

Jeanette O’Hagan has short stories and poems published (or about to be published) in various anthologies, including Tied in Pink Romance Anthology (profits from the anthology go towards Breast Cancer research); Poetica Christi’s Inner Child; Brio anthology, Another Time Another Place, Let the Sea Roar, Glimpses of Light and Plan Australia’s Like a Girl. She has practiced medicine, studied communication, history and theology and has taught theology. She cares for her school-aged children, has a Masters of Arts (Writing) at Swinburne University and is writing her Akrad’s fantasy fiction series. You can read some of her short fiction here.
You can find her at her Facebook Page or at Goodreads or at JennysThread.com or Jeanette O’Hagan Writes or Twitter.

adelejonesauthor.com

Science fiction for the real world