Maureen Bush

Fall and Solitude

It’s fall, and we didn’t really have a summer. Last year we missed fall entirely, and this year, our summer was wet and cool. My mint and bergamont are thriving; the tomatoes are not so happy. We have a small crop of green tomatoes; we’ll chose whether to let them ripen indoors, or make green tomatoe pie. I suspect the votes in my house will be to let the tomatoes ripen, and make apple pie. We have an old apple tree with fabulous cooking apples ­– they make the perfect pie, if you like a pie that bites back.

Our summer was mostly upheaved, as our schedules shifted all over the place, we replaced a vehicle, and sorted through neglected corners of the house. I’m hoping with fall we’ll settle down, as everyone else is off to school and work, and I can work in solitude.

Maureen

The Forest for the Trees

I’m reading An Editor’s Advice to Writers; The Forest for the Trees, by Betsy Lerner. She quotes Maxwell Perkins:

“We must somehow bring the underlying scheme or pattern of the book into emphasis so that the reader will be able to see the forest in spite of the many trees.”

This is where I’m at editing. Pulling forward threads, cutting extraneous bits. It’s oddly gentle but fierce work.

Maureen

First Draft

I’ve finished the first draft of the sequel to Feather Brain. I set it aside for a few days and then read it right through. When I finished, I thought, “Well, it’s not trash.” That was a good response  – I’d feared much worse.

I don’t know if other jobs involve this degree of self-doubt. I do know it’s common for writers ­– an inability to judge the merit of our own work, and the need for a little distance before assessing.

I’m starting to research a new project; I’ll alternate between research and editing as inspiration takes me.

Maureen

Conversing with My Characters

When I was struggling to write Cursed, I had tea with a writer friend. She said when she’s struggling with a story, sometimes she’ll have a conversation about it with one of her fictional characters. I realize non-writers will see this as a sure sign of insanity, but I suspect that most fiction writers will understand. Of course, I tried it.

I ended up writing out the spirit man’s version of the story. I had to hide from my family while I wrote so I wouldn’t lose my – his? – train of thought. Easily interrupted, anyway.

I can’t share it with anyone because it’s full of spoilers, but writing it was a lot of fun. He’s pretty opinionated.

Maureen