Chatting with Linda Sue Park about writing yesterday was just what I needed. I don’t know about you but I do love hearing how successful authors struggle with insecurities. I don’t wish pain and suffering on anyone but it does make me feel a bit better to hear well-known authors talk about floundering at different stages of creation. Linda Sue shared some of her thoughts on the importance of structure (which she feels is the must-have first thing for her which got me rethinking an original idea for structure I had for my project a long time ago) which led to her making the comment that there were two universal themes for stories: hero goes on a journey and stranger comes to town.
I admit to hearing that before but I hadn’t stopped to think about that in regard to Plant Kid’s book. So last night when I was in that in-between falling asleep time I gave it some more thought.
First thought: “That SO totally doesn’t work for me.”
Second thought: “You must not be a real writer then because, come on, Linda Sue Park, HELLO?”
Third thought: “Well it’s not like I have a real plot yet. MAYBE it could work for me.”
Fourth thought: “HELLO?Linda Sue Park, remember.”
Fifth thought: “Well B isn’t going anywhere for real and I don’t think he is going anywhere emotionally so that journey thing is totally out.”
Sixth thought: “You’re not trying. Remember what Linda Sue said, if you want easy, bake a cake.”
Seventh thought: “But no one new comes to town. Everyone already lives there. See, it totally doesn’t work for me.”
Eight thought: “You’re really dense sometimes. Remember what else she said? Remember how she said she wrote three different endings to Kite Fighters? You have to try them all out.”
Ninth thought: “What if M wasn’t someone who already lived there? What if M is the stranger who came to town? What if he came to town because . . .”
The last thought I remember having before falling asleep was about birds which suddenly had the potential to matter in the book which made perfect sense NOW but which I hadn’t even considered before.
Thanks, Linda Sue!
So what about your story? Do you think it fits into one of the two universal themes?
Oh! Yes! That got me thinking, too, of how my stories fit into one or the other themes. What a lovely afternoon! 🙂
wow re ninth thought and then the birds. I love it when some stray image turns into something big and meaningful.
And I loved hearing your going-to-sleep thoughts. That can be such a creative time.
Me too. (on loving how strange images can turn into something powerful.)
I had all sorts of thoughts that I think will help me deepen the plot but that, of course, I can’t go into here, but it really gave me a boost.
Of course I just promised to do a huge work-for-hire project that will keep me from spending much time on plant kid for a while so I hope I can hold onto the energy.
Plots can always use a dash of birds 🙂
I guess my two finished mss could fit into the hero’s journey category. They’re more journies of self-discovery than literal, but still…
LOL on the birds. It was so funny because I have always thought of this as my native plant book, which it still is, but I had forgotten (in relation to the plot) how the birds appreciated the native plants which has led me down another whole strand of possibilities.
My other novels are all “hero takes a journey” so this will be an interesting experience for me with “stranger comes to town.”
Yes.
Yes.
And both themes in one character (the MC)–a story that has been becoming crystal clear just became crystal clearest-I can even see how this runs through other characters AND even something I can do with setting-thinking flowers, or one flower in particular!
Thanks so much for this Sharon. I esp. loved watching you think, lol.
Enjoy the day-and the writing!
Yeah! Isn’t it lovely when a story comes together? Thanks for reading.
How interesting. (Although I have to admit, when I think of a stranger coming to town, I see Clint Eastwood riding in on his horse. 🙂
I’m pretty sure both of mine are journeys, but it would sure be fun (in that sick way) to set out to write the other one sometime.
I agree with Linda Sue about structure. I just get so impatient sometimes and want to start writing…
LOL on Clint Eastwood. I know, I think along those same lines.
I hadn’t given a lot of thought to structure – just POV – so her comments made me think a little bit harder and realize a few things I need to take into consideration in this story. (More detail in a forthcoming email.)
catching up….
Susan–home for a week now, and almost out from under the laundry pile.
Much as I love talking writing with other writers, I always worry that my words will have too much ‘weight,’ due to something that was TOTALLY none of my doing (that lovely gold sticker, given to me by a group of total strangers–something over which I had absolutely no control…). It doesn’t make me any wiser about writing than anyone else who writes, and that’s the honest truth. All I know is what works for me.
So on the one hand, I’m thrilled that our conversation helped move you along. On the other hand: Use what’s helpful and file the rest under “LS has no idea what she’s talking about.”
Because it’s true.
LOVED having the chance to chat. Keep on keeping on. xo, LS.