Now the Real Work Begins.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, opinion, Progress, Reading

I’ve spent the best part of the last 12 months engaged in research for the new novel I’m now writing. I’ve ended up with three documents totalling 83 pages and 54,468 words, many including links to some of the research sites used for the information. Add to that the 604 pages from the Chronicle of the 20th Century book on my shelves, several dozen TV programs carrying relevant information, and the contents of personal diaries and journals I’ve intermittently written over the years, and you reach a picture of the sort of depth I’ve dived to for the book.

It’s set mostly during my lifetime up to the mid-1980s, a period of 38 years. My memory is now fading due to the cruel nature of aging in our species, but much of the research has re-incarnated memories I had thought completely lost. There will be elements taken from my personal life, but all other characters are fictional, drawn from my imagination. But it is decidedly NOT an autobiographical novel. It will be, when complete, a fictional description of the times through which I’ve lived and the effect of those times with their attitudes, priorities, events, and language on the two central characters who tell the tale from their parallel but idiosyncratic and divergent points of view.

I’m intending to explore, among other themes, the formative effects of unguarded comments made to young children, the changing attitudes derived from language and socially accepted interpretations of the ‘norm’, the nature of societal change brought about by the mix of technology and available resources, and the ways in which business, entertainment and politics influence our perceptions.

If that all sounds a little too academic, please be assured I intend to make the whole story accessible and as entertaining as I can.

From time to time during the writing process I’ll give clues to my progress, mostly by letting you know how many words I’ve written. I started the writing yesterday and as I put this post together the current count for the novel is 4,443 words.

19 thoughts on “Now the Real Work Begins.”

    1. The most ‘daunting’ aspect, Noelle, is everything else that needs doing! Now, if I can just employ a butler, housemaid, cook, gardener, oh, and fast typist with a good level of English… Joking. But, fortunately, I enjoy both the creating and editing of my writing, so not so much a problem of work, more of finding the time to do other things I should also be doing.

      Like

        1. I hope you treat him(?) as he deserves (desert, of course, is a subjective decision). It’s great when domestic chores are shared, isn’t it?

          Like

        1. I think that’s a fairly common experience among writers, Mick. I made a conscious decision to stop doing it early in my writing career as I discovered it caused a break in my creativity. Writing without editing along the way usually results in some quite heavy editing at the end, but at least the story is down. And, working as a pantster means I can experience what I hope will be the same emotions as the reader as I progress with the story.

          Liked by 1 person

  6. Wow Stuart this sounds like quite the undertaking my friend. I am sure knowing you and your style it will definitely be entertaining. Hope you and Valerie have an amazing week ahead. ✨

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for your encouragement, Joni. It’s been a long time gestating, but I know it’s reached the point now at which it needs to be written. I both look forward to and am rather nervous of the process itself, as it has already thrown up ,many memories, not all of which are happy. But its time has definitely come and it will be written!
      I hope all is well with you and yours.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, thank you Stuart. The time taking to get the house ready to sell in North Carolina, looking for another house to buy in Virginia, took much longer than we ever suspected. It was a much bigger adjustment than we thought it would be. Finding doctors was almost impossible, and getting settled in and learning where things were, vital things like grocery stores, took longer to sort out than I expected as well. We are grateful to be settled. Finally in the house and learning where everything is. We have 3 acres here which is nice to have more land and more trees. I miss the front of the house being treated like our other house. However, our view of spectacular overlooking an all grass fed and hay, fed free range cattle. Thank you, Stewart, and glad to see you enjoying this project and no, it will be a great one. Big hugs to the whole family, Joni

        Like

  7. Sounds interesting, Stuart, and great to have started the actual writing. Do you have a plot already worked out, or do you let your characters meander through the research to find their stories? Good luck with its progress either way

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Penny. I generally write as a pantster, so no plots. However, the nature of the new book requires a lot of planning, so while I still have no plot, as such, the research itself forms a loose framework on which I can construct the story, some of which will be fictionalised accounts of actual events.

      Like

Comments are closed.