Mood:
caffeinatedNow Playing: The Gaither Homecoming Friends: "Lord, Feed Your Children"
Topic: My Writing Life
Journaling-Why I Do It
The current title being considered for publication began life on November 1, 2004. That title, now one of five actively worked titles, is STILL under edit.
This was my first fiction work. Because of that, and because of a habitual compulsion for Journaling, the first words written for the novel were actually written in my Journal. Journaling the writing process became an obsession for me, even more so than creating the words that the book became. I felt as if the Journal was a textbook on my personal writing style, written for only myself to read, and review as each novel came about. I was correct in my presumption—at least partly so.
Two weeks ago, I was discussing a passage in the novel with my Senior Editor. The Main Character was doing something. (Imagine that!) It was nothing major. In fact the action in question was indicative of a completely commonly performed action by humans the world over. That alone should have set my alarms to going, but I still had something to learn. It gave me something to learn (and appreciate) about my Editor, as well.
Editor: Here, you have him somehow (you do not say how) going to Home Depot.
Me: Yes, that’s true.
Editor: Why?
Me: I beg your pardon?
Editor: Why? Why is he going to Home Depot? It’s like, out of nowhere, and I cannot find any significant reference point to any other word in the book.
Me: Oh. I don’t know. Let me check my notes, and I will let you know.
Editor: Do that. It sounds stupid. Either support it, or get rid of it.
Me: Yeah, ok, ok. Don’t get yer knickers twisted. I’m sure there’s a reason for it, I just happen not to recall where those eighteen words came from out of the 104,000 words in the book. I’ll look it up, and get back to you.
What I remembered, during the call, was that I had journaled this whole Home Depot thing. I just had to find it. My Editor doesn’t have to know ALL my secrets!
The Journal entry in question dealt with a trip to Home Depot that I made! I was confounded by the size of this place, and how difficult it was for me to find what I was trying to purchase. I journaled that I felt that if my character had been with me, a scene would have been created! I had no doubt that we both would have been summarily removed by, if there was such a thing, Home Depot police agents forthwith!
In the book, those eighteen words made no sense whatsoever. They were removed. But, I knew why, and so did my Editor. I also learned that my Editor knows my characters at least as well as I do. That was a comforting thought.
Me: I found the reference to Home Depot.
Editor: And?
Me: I removed them.
Editor: So did I. It was a stupid reference.
Me: I know.
Editor: Good. Now we all do. You really should listen to me, you know.
Me: I know. But my character still doesn’t completely trust you.
Editor: Your character will get over it.
Me: I know.
Editor: Fine. I’m going to Bingo.
Me: I know. Goodbye.
She understands the writer like nobody I’ve ever seen. She knows my characters better than I do.
But I know her better than she does, and I just have to win once in a while. If I do, then I have something to Journal.
This is a private Journal for me. I have other Journals that tell about the publishing life, the Minister's Life, the Prayer Life, and My Political Life (among others). But here, this is just my reflections about My Writing Life.
And so it goes.
