Inner furniture in characters' minds

In the back of The Thirteenth Tale, there's a conversation section with Diane Setterfield. The interviewer asks her what significance the titles of the nineteenth-century novels had that were sprinkled throughout the novel.

Setterfield answered, "...once the titles started coming, I made no effort to keep them out. They are there because they are part of the inner furniture of Margaret's and Miss Winter's minds..."

So, not only are we writing physical settings that could be characters in themselves, certainly Setterfield's houses in this tale are characters, but the inner minds of the characters now have a new depth to consider.

Storytelling

In The Thirteenth Tale, Setterfield emphasizes her characters' storytelling skills. When Margaret asks Aurelius to tell her about how Mrs. Love found him, Margaret speaks about voice...the story telling voice. Margaret describes it as she listened:

"His face settled into passive neutrality, a sign that, in the way of all storytellers, he was disappearing to make way for the voice of the story itself." (page 233)

The "voice of the story itself", I appreciated that perspective, and made it a renewed goal as a writer to listen to the story's voice as it's being written.

The Thirteenth Tale

Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale has captivated me for the last couple of weeks. I had trouble doing my work since the book kept calling me back to read on. I finished it about a week ago and then I dived into Run by Bel Canto's author, Ann Patchett.

"Diane Setterfield is a former academic, specializing in twentieth-century French literature." (From the back flap of her book) That sentence sums up what is unique about her writing: classic, Gothic, yet present-century. She created two houses with characters I now know so well, I feel I could visit them anytime...and I do, when I think about her story. What a memorable read!

This rainy weather has provided a perfect time to make reading a priority. But I promise to pay more attention to blogging and tell you more about the great stories written by Diane and Ann.

2010 Is On It's Way

Happy New Year to you all!

My novel, Hada, will be published in 2010. At least one printed copy will be. Being a 50,000 word winner of NaNoWriMo last November qualifies me to have a free printed copy of my Nano novel. I have until July 1st to submit it to Createspace who has made the printing offer. That means I have to revise a chapter a week since I'm only halfway done with the second draft.

To have one copy of Hada in book form will be worth the work.

NaNoWriMo Ends Tonight For Another Year

Well, my new novel, Lilli, met the NaNo goal of 50,000 words in this one month. Time to relax and finish it at a more realistic pace. For you Wrimos that made it, Congratulations! It truly is an accomplishment. For those of you who have done it in the past, you know what it's like. Anyone who hasn't done NaNo, it's worth it...all the pressure, the all consuming time factor, the fun, try it, I'll be you'll like it.

Lilli is at 50,000 but isn't done. Actually, 50,000 was at a turning point for Lilli so I'll continue writing fresh with it and continue revising Hada.

Good thing I like to write.

Kennel the Inner Editor

This is my fourth year writing a 50,000 word novel with National Novel Writing Month. I missed last year's event because I was devoted to revising the previous year's novel, HADA.

LILLI is this year's sequel to HADA and to use a cliche, it's pouring out like slow molasses. Years past my fingers couldn't keep up with my muse and this year it's like a slow motion movie.

With the help of my fellow writers in this frenzy, I shall prevail. Leslie quoted the advice of Chris Baty, the founder of NaNo: Kennel that Inner Editor.

I did, but I think there was an escape reported.

National Novel Writing Month

The frenzy has started and it's great fun. This is Day Two and I'm at 5,925 words out of the 50,000. Check it out even if you don't want to sign up to write. There's interesting tips on the home page and you might be tempted. It's free.
www.nanowrimo.org