Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Making Lists.

SF and I are both on a roll, loving our WIPs. But such love produces lists...

I have lists on my iphone, lists on gum wrappers, grocery lists, the backs of invitations. Lists on blank envelopes, in 2-3 journals, and a zillion other places.

Although I am loving the collecting of phrases, foods, colors, sounds, smells, places, and names, I have become panicked I will forget to include them all in my book.

So, this week I bought ONE new spiral notebook and titled each page with something different like Food, Plants, Phrases, and Names. My plan is to cross each item off the list as I write and include them ALL in the new super-epic novel.

In addition, NSEN (new super-epic novel) is set at a very peculiar Mississipppi event that happens only once a year. I really want to capture the feel of this thing so I have scheduled a research field trip to get a feel for the area before the big event. I can't wait!

Hmmm... what else?
Damn, I love this job!

UPDATE: I wrote this post about a week ago and saved it in drafts and today burst into tears because NSEN feels so epic that I am having trouble writing it at all. It just feels bigger than me. I'll get through it but I'm all about telling my truth, so there ya have it. If I ever do get this sucker down the right way, it WILL be epic. It's just that great of a premise. But now I'm braggin so I'll shut up.

I hope your Wednesday is tear free :-) Hugs!

Katie

9 comments:

Emily J. Griffin said...

Sending a hug right back at you, Katie. I have one epic fantasy idea that I had to make the decision to shelve for the exact same reason. It was bigger than I am right now and I want to do it justice.

I am working on another idea that popped up under duress, but has that extra something to it. Good luck!

Bethany Elizabeth said...

Wow, you're dedicated. I'm not much of a list person myself (except to-do lists, I love those) but you're apparently really into them. More power to you! It sounds like a great way to create imagery that involves all the senses, which, as I'm sure you know, is harder than it sounds. By the way, my mildly dislexic self balked at the acronym NSEN because it's so like SNES, which (I'm sure you know) is the acronym for the Super Nintendo.
But I'm sorry that you're nervous about it, but if you love the work (which it sounds like you do) then it'll show, and because of it the book will surpass even what you hope it to be.

Elana Johnson said...

Oh, you can get there Katie. You are epic. I mean, a notebook where you have everything? That right there is about fifty steps ahead of me. *hugs* Can't wait to read the epicness!

Bethany said...

Hugs to you! Can't wait to read it; no pressure. =P

JESSJORDAN said...

oh, I hate that feeling! It comes to me all the time, though--the "Oh crap, what if I'm not skilled enough or experienced enough or whatever enough to write this really kick ass idea??"

Love your list idea. I have a bajillion word documents with lists and phrases and names, etc., but I can never find any of them. A notebook is a good idea!

Hilary Wagner said...

I tried the notebook thing, problem was, I started using more than one notebook! Kind of defeats the purpose! I went back (happily) to my scraps of paper!

Good luck!

xoxo -- hilary

Little Ms J said...

Nothing can be more EPIC, BIGGER or more WONDERFUL than you, my dear. I don't care if it JK Rowling type of epic. You have a certain something and a stick-to-it-iveness that I love.

Katie Anderson said...

Thanks guys! I had a breakthrough this afternoon. yay! And J, I love the word "stick-to-it-ness." Thank you dear :)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

That's how I feel about my mg hf set in England. I've got tons of notes, letters, emails, and research. I haven't been to the main setting of the story since I was little....if I can sell a coupl magazine articles I'm usre I can convince my hubby into letting me have a research/visiting family trip.

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