Painting as Writer Inspiration?

(Convergence, 1952, Jackson Pollock)

A few years back, I was asked about my writing process when I was on a panel at the Left Coast Crime Mystery Convention, 2004. I had mentioned that my first novel began as a painting; my way of loosening up my creative muscles—a way in to find my story. I found that others in the audience also work with painting to find inspiration.

 



(The She-Wolf, Jackson Pollock, 1943)

I’ve had this blog for a few years now, but I’m not an author who posts about writing (which many do). I post about creativity and the things that inspire me. I am not trying to reach other writers, I am trying to reach my audience (some of whom might be writers interested in what I write about, but the majority will be readers only).

So, I write about anything that strikes my fancy. Kind of like the painting process of Jackson Pollack. I throw, brush and dribble paint all over the canvas and let the creativity flow in whatever avenue it wants to flow until an image emerges for me to work with. If my audience likes the way I write, they might be interested in reading my stories.

 

This novel I am highlighting today was a tale within another tale, a story that formed like a painting. I write about past lives, and this story was the past life of two of the main characters in Dance the Dream Awake, my first novel. It emerged rather powerfully and began to take over when I was writing the sequel. I had to pull it out and make it a standalone Romance novel. I hope you will enjoy it when it is published in 2015, along with my first novel (a paranormal romantic suspense that will be republished, both with Black Opal Books).

 

I was nominated to talk about my new novel by my author friend, Carrie Padgett. You can read her answers for the novel she is working on at her blog.

 Here are the questions and my answers:

 

1. What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or historic?

 

I have two main fictional characters in a dual point of view. The setting is historical Heian Kyo, the era of the Pillow Books. My samurai is Saito no Shino and the object of his love is Fujiwara no Miyoshi, once his childhood friend, now a courtier to the Emperor Enyu.

2. When and where is the story set?

Ancient Japan, 980 A.D. The story starts in the tea fields of Mount Takao and moves to the Imperial City of Heian Kyo, Japan.

 

3. What should we know about them?

Shino starts out as a defiant boy coming into his manhood. His grandfather decides Shino needs discipline and structure to rein in his unruly behavior. He sends Shino for training with samurai monks in the Enrakyu-ji Temple of Mahanyana Buddhism to follow in the footsteps of his own father, a famous samurai.

 

Young Mihoshi is also ripped from her home when sickness invades their mountain home and her mother dies. She goes with her father who has been promoted to the higher class of Governor in a province just outside the Imperial City of Heian Kyo.

 

4. What is the main conflict. What messes up their life?

Shino overcomes his defiant nature and years later finds himself offered the position of chief samurai to the house of Fujiwara, Miyoshi's father. As samurai, he is of a lower class than Miyoshi, but realizes he loves her and has always loved her. Their love is a forbidden subject for serious consideration. She is slated to wed one of the sons of the Emperor's wives and although Shino can be Miyoshi's lover, he cannot be her husband.

 

5. What are the personal goals of the characters?

Shino wants to train other samurai to be the best fighters in Japan, to have status and prestige of their own. By doing so, he hopes to find a way to have Miyoshi for his own before it is too late.

Miyoshi wants the freedom to live her life as she does within the walls of her father's house, to have Shino as her husband and not be a fixture in the court of the Emperor. But her father disagrees and wants her safely ensconced in the palace. His word decides her fate.

 

6. Is there a working title for this novel, and can we rad more about it?

The title is Haiku Dance. There will be more about it on my blog as time moves toward publication in 2015.

 

 

7. When can we expect the book to be published?

It is presently slated for publication with Black Opal Books sometime in 2015.

 

 

And now, to continue the blog hop, I nominate Kris Lynn and Sunny Frazier to talk about their books next Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014 on their blogs.

(Sunny will talk about her book right here on my blog at that time as she has no blog. But you can visit her website.)

 

Do you read historical fiction?

If a writer, do you have a certain method for inspiration that works for you best?

 

 

The Tragic End of a Romance

Today is #WANAFriday prompt time: Write from the perspective of an inanimate object. 

Since NaNoWriMo has taken most of my time this month, writing for that 50,000 words by Nov. 30, this short, short tongue-in-cheek story explains my thoughts (from the Point of View of my Pilot G2 gel pen). Obviously, romance is on the menu.

Pilot Pining

I’m feeling like a split personality. First, she held me tight while giving me one story, but soon switched to another. She began throwing out these crazy ideas like she was talking to someone. And then I heard her whisper, “Muse.”  

Who is Muse? There’s no one else here but me and her. 

I think I am the latest of many she has used and thrown away. I know I will not be the last. When I can no longer give her what she wants, I’m toast.

It all started when she began making up that story about ancient Japan. I figured it was her way of whispering sweet nothings in my ear. So I played along and wrote down her musings. I was hooked, allowing her to guide my hand. We were almost finished, ready to finalize the deal when NaNo came along.

Now I’m trying to figure out who this NaNo is she keeps talking about. Is he taking my place? 

Suddenly we were writing a new story. Was it their story? It was very hot, not like the slow burn that I had become accustomed to. Now it was wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am. I felt tarnished, used, empty.

It will not be long now before all my ink will be gone and I'll be replaced with a new gel-tip pen—the tragic end of a beautiful relationship.

*

As you might have noticed, I am feeling a bit schizophrenic with writing two stories, insuring that I will not succeed at 50,000 words for NaNo, but since my stories are linked, I am making great progress on my writing goals.

A note on my present novel published this year: you can read a review on Dance the Dream Awake at KingsRiverLife Magazine. (it will be up on Saturday, Nov. 22)


Are you writing for NaNo? 
Do you use a writing implement or directly to computer? 
How sentimental are you about your writing implement?

Now you can visit Ellen Gregory who has a puzzle for you to solve on her blog.
Visit Liv Rancourt and read about her Inanimate Intellections.

The Sniff Sense

Or,  

What I Learned from my Dogs About Writing and Writers

Every day my dogs require that we do our pack walk around the neighborhood. They want to walk or trot together, but then they stop individually to sniff those stinky wet compelling sniff spots. They have slightly different tastes in smells (eew, that came out weird), so some stops take longer than others—more to smell read, I guess.

Those dogs that came before, tell my dogs things that only a dog would love, (sorry that was too good to pass up), and then they add their own pee comments on top of the really good ones of others. Sometimes they make their own statements and start their own conversations and maybe brag a bit. It’s all part of the ritual conversation.

When my Buddy (Lhasa Apso with his summer cut) scratches the ground like a bull, I figure he’s proud of his last comment that topped some other dog’s previous comment. Maybe he said something really funny and is applauding himself, but probably not since he doesn't have a very good sense of humor--more the cuddly type.

When Milton (a Ratcha-that's a rat terrier/chihuahua mix) drags his feet in getting started on the walk, I have to pick him up and carry him until he warms to the idea (but his nose is in the air informing him of the latest news) until his curiosity gets the better of him and he wriggles to get down, closer to the action.

Observations on the walk: (You can make the analogies as writers)

-          They are aware of and keep tabs on their pack mates even while they wander a bit on their own.

-          They add notes of confidence when appropriate, to the 'writings' of others?

-          They pace themselves.

My dogs have very different temperaments yet they pack together in a harmonious walk. (Even if they start off pulling in different directions, by the end of 15-20 minutes, they are in sync.) Are your dogs energies all going in the same direction in a harmonious 'walk', or is all the information out there pulling you in different directions? Be a good pack leader and stay in control of your dogs energies.

*

Writers who stay current daily by reading the work of other writers (blogs, books, articles and social media) learn more quickly and improve their own work, inspire their own creativity and learn the latest in publishing. They support fellow writers.

Writers who pace themselves don't burn out.

and

Writers who pack together can learn and grow faster than going it alone—or, at the very least, have more fun: 

• Critique partners that make constructive comments can accelerate your progress by giving you suggestions that you might not otherwise think of. 

• Online social interactions with other writers glean valuable insights and help. They keep you centered from getting too far into your own head--which might be a very weird place (from some of the writers I know).

So take a lesson from the dogs and try commiserating with other writers.

Do you think writers are better as pack animals? 

(See WANA (We Are Not Alone), Kristen Lamb’s pack invention).

Do you learn from your pets? What?

Don't forget to visit other WANA writers who are writing today on the same theme of our favorite pets, real or imaginary: (some very creative blog posts)

Ellen Gregory

Janice Hall Heck

Liv Rancourt

(more links will be added as more of our WANA writers add their posts throughout the day)