Kathie Harrington's World

Writing a novel #6

Fireflies takes place in my home town of Iowa Falls, Iowa. Of course I know Iowa Falls like the back of my hand and the inside of my soul but never-the-less, I talk to old friends, revisit places ~ physically or in pictures, keep momentos close by on my computer desk; things that make me think of Iowa Falls and transport me back there when I’m writing. These all give me the sense of wonder and the joy of being a part of my own novel. I am there on the bridge. There at the Princess Cafe. There on Washington Ave. I’m everywhere in Iowa Falls that I can be when I’m writing about it. I’m loving every minute and enjoying the process of writing even more.

A week ago I vacationed with a girlfriend of mine since we were in second grade at West Side School in Iowa Falls, Iowa. We will always be the best of friends and we share so many, many memories through grade school, middle and high school, college, marriage, children and now grandchildren. How fast life has gone. On my visit to North Carolina, we talked and talked until all of our oral muscles were fatigued from the use or abuse they enjoyed so much. In doing so, however, I was reminded of many details of Iowa Falls ~ her people and her places along with her events, her joys and her sorrows. That, my friends, is called life.

So, what ever you are writing about, find out more from your friends. Perhaps they are your most valuable source of detailed information.

Now from Fireflies ~
Audrey held thoughts of French fries piled high and smothered in catsup along with a Cherry Coke or what made The Princess Cafe famous, a Green River. That’s what Audrey would order today, a Green River. She recalled how Stephen had introduced her to Green Rivers.

Writing a novel #5

Another great writing tip is to join local writer’s groups. This is beneficial for many reasons: it gives you a networking with other local writers, it keeps you motivated, it can give you access to agents, publishers, editors, and it has shown me a whole new group of friends. I have connected with a small critique group. This is new for me and I think I’m going to like it. We exchange one chapter per week and critique each other’s work. I’m also going to start reading Fireflies at one of the writer’s groups that has a forum set for that purpose. This will give me more critiquing opportunities ~ I need to be a good listener here and not become defensive.

So join local writer’s groups, get to know people in your own community, and be willing to listen to what they have to say about your work. It will pay off and you will be a better and more inspired writer for it.

Now from Fireflies ~
Stephen was solemn and Audrey sensed something deep and very sad in his voice. It went far beyond the image of a hog swirling in the Iowa River on either side of the dam. She knew there was a shadow lurking in the corners of his soul and because of what Doug had said at the Princess, Audrey was sure it had to do with Vietnam.

Writing a novel #4

BIG WRITING TIP I call this a big writing tip because it is. So many times people sit at a computer or look at a blank sheet of paper and think that they need to start at the beginning or square one. NOT SO. The best advise I ever received about writing was from a high school teacher who said, “start with what interests you. Start with what you know and love.” That might be at the beginning of a novel or short story or article but it might not be. That’s okay.

There are 24 chapters in Fireflies. I’ll be honest, I didn’t start at chapter one or two or three. On my first draft I started with the last chapter, number 21 at the time, because I wanted to find out where my characters were headed.

There is no wright or rong (make that right or wrong) way to write a novel. Of course there are guidelines but it is the creative, innovative, fun ideas of the author. Just maybe the “fun” word is the most important here ~ because that it should be.

As the words and phrases of Fireflies unfolded on paper, I realized that this was more than Audrey’s story. It was a tale of Iowa, her people and her places; those who had left her boundaries and those who had never wondered about or wandered beyond them. I set forth on a journey in exploration of a man’s emotions. His pain, his desire, and his needs were spread before me and calling my feminine spirit to tell his saga.

Writing a novel #3

Enjoy the jar of fireflies ~ I do. Now that you know about how and why I selected Audrey’s name its only fair that I tell you about my Stephen Grant. I choose to use the name Stephen Grant as my main character because I thought I’d been looking for him for over 45 years. It was a random search and one that holds no real logic or direction. One that follows no reality but is based rather in that state of being we call a dream.
It was a dream, an adolescent dream of a very young teenage girl that drew me to his name. I remember sitting up in bed one night and the name Stephen Grant came leaping forth from my head just as sure as sugar plums had danced there when I was even younger.
I’ve never met a man by the name of Stephen Grant, but I always knew that he was out there, out there somewhere. He’s been a part of my life just as sure as the Stephen Grant in Fireflies has become a part of who I am.
Yes, the Stephen Grant of my fantasies does have a face to me, but the one that holds me in his arms has a name, Tim, my husband of 42 years.

Writing a novel #2

Writing and rewriting ~ that’s what writing a novel is all about. Yesterday, I rewrote two chapters and worked on a new one. When I read something, be it short or long, I always start at the end or toward the end ~ call me crazy but that’s the way I’ve always been. I want to know how the story ends and even with a magazine, I start at the back. In doing so with Fireflies I’m having quite an emotional time as Fireflies takes the reader to unimaginable emotional heights. (It’s taking the author there too.)

I thought that perhaps, you might want to know where my two main character’s names come from because they are not just plucked out of the “sky so blue.” I’ll tell you about my heroine today, Audrey, in the following excertp.

Audrey smiled broadly just thinking about her father who had passed away a few years earlier. He was really the favorite man in Audrey’s life and she always knew it. He had named Audrey after his hero, Audie Murphy, the most decorated American Army soldier of World War II who was now buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Murphy had become a movie star and it was a father – daughter ritual every Friday night to go to the Met Theater (Iowa Falls, Iowa) for the weekly cowboy movie; many of them staring Audie Murphy, the baby faced hero from Kingston, Texas. Audrey’s father often called her Audie with a sense of pride in his voice. She almost felt his presence in the car with her today.

More to follow.

Writing a novel #1

Although this is my first blog about writing my novel To Dance With the Fireflies, it is not the beginning of my writing it. As most novelists do, I started it long ago, did a first draft, put it in a drawer to gather dust, and then brought it out once again. I find that I am now more mature and have more to say, as well as more time to work on it. I also know my way around the internet better and can electronically maneuver things to my advantage along with upgraded equipment.

So here I am, at the keyboard, old script in hand, characters dancing in my head, surrounded by mementos from my hometown, Iowa Falls, Iowa, (setting for Fireflies) wearing my Princess Cafe T-shirt, sipping tea from my Princess mug, and reading my quote of the day, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ~ Thomas Edison

I am a writer; I’ve proven that to myself. I already have an editor lined up and on board. I’ve culled through possible book publishers ~ all I have left to do is ~ WRITE. Sounds simple.

I’ll blog along in Kathie’s World although not daily, but I’ll be here writing, rewriting, and living the lives of Audrey and Stephen as they cavort in the wonderful land of Iowa and dance with the fireflies. With each blog I’ll leave you a line or two so that you can crawl into their lives and feel the joy, sensitivity, longing and pain of knowing who they are. Like the following.

Audrey went back to her red T-bird and with her forehead resting on the steering wheel, she caught her breath, let her shoulders and chin slump a bit and felt her silk panties edge into the wrong places. She sat up to adjust the latter and to start the ignition. As Audrey’s eyes raised slowly from the top of the steering wheel, they scanned an object that had not been standing in front of the car before that moment. With her lower jaw dropping open, her eyes at bay and her panties still in a wad, she recognized a form and face from the past ~ Stephen.