Creating a Narrative

I sent the manuscript off to a publisher recently and received instant feedback which was very promising. They thought I had the start of a good book but that it needed more pulling together, and they offered a few other very good suggestions and thoughts.
They praised my writing and want to see the manuscript when its further along. This is all very encouraging.

So... I'm about to begin working on the overall structure.  Creating a narrative for the material is a huge task, but vital to writing a great book. I never envisaged it to be only about deer cullers, its about a time and a place in our national history that doesn't exist anymore. Although that might be obvious, that of course that time doesn't exist anymore, it's about finding ways to write it with subtle not so obvious layers - thats where the magic lies.
Writing to me is about the hard work of re writing and re writing until its so distilled and powerful it resonates with the reader on many levels. Stephen King talks about this in his book "On Writing" You rewrite, you edit, but the words that get axed they're all still there.  Ernest Hemingway likened his writing to an iceberg, you only see the tip but what lies beneath the surface is enormous.

I will dream and muse on what the storyline will be. How do I want to integrate all the material? Where to begin? By looking at other publications - biographies and memoirs, seeing how other authors create a vehicle to tell their story. I'll revisit workshop notes on brain storming, do some mind maps - they're always good fun and bring up unexpected threads and ideas.

Last year I attended Kathryn Burnett's brainstorming workshop at the Auckland Readers and Writers Festival, she's so vibrant and full of ideas her workshops are fun and very helpful. I've referred to her notes before and keep them handy.
http://www.kathryn-burnett.com/about-kathryn.aspx

I'm having to stretch my brain and go somewhere with this book that I hadn't given thought too until now. I saw it going in a certain direction and now it's taking me in another. After the initial shock, and a shuffling of the feet this way and that, I see this is so dam exciting.

Up until now I've been absorbed with all the research, interviews and collecting images, scanning and creating the archive which has also included completely changing how I file my research. I now have four filing cabinets and the system is working fantastically. Before that everything was in folders in clear sleeves, sometimes ten deep and all on bookshelves. It took time to locate documents and pull everything out, and put it back again.

I have everything in order and easy access to all the material.  Thats all done and most of the interviews are completed so its time to take the next step. I'm with a new sets of goals and more challenges. I'm creating the space to think about this next step. Theres no distractions anymore. I cant say, but I'm not there yet, I'm not ready there's still this to do, that to do.

One can think up many reasons to put something off. I dont tend to do that - not usually - I know, because the vacuuming always needs doing, the dishes stack up and the gardens a bit of a mess; thats because I have to write. Anyway, we live surrounded by native bush so 24 hours after a house clean every-things moved back in again, daddy long leg spiders, the cats dragging in bush debris and the occassional half eaten rat. Too Bad...the writing must go on!!

Speaking of which, I'll keep the posts coming and do some interesting side storys to keep you all visiting.

The author relaxing at home, west Auckland.

And as always, thanks for dropping by, the traffic to the blog the last few months has been from: Slovenia, Croatia, Russia, China, Australia, America, Scotland and of course NZ, that's so cool. Thank you everyone xx

The reading list for the next month includes:
Witi Ihimaera's, The Parihaka Woman (he has some interesting thoughts on creating a narrative so thought I'd give this one a go).
http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/ihimaerawiti.html

Dave Drangsholt s book on Dave Saxton.
http://www.halcyonpublishing.co.nz/hunting-books/128-sax-preorder-9781877566165.html

Art/biography books see how the authors integrate research into a storyline alongside images - that was my big brothers suggestion, and a good one.
Plus a trip to the library for a few leisurely hours and look through a pile of books.

Back again soon. Until then take care - where ever you are!
Louise.