Starting A New Book
Starting a new book is like jumping off a literary cliff without a parachute. I think of myself, arms spread wide, mouth open in shock, spiraling rapidly downward.
My imagination is starting to chug along, the ideas starting to form, the symbols coming to me, the issues and problems beginning to whisper…and then I start journaling. Writing. Drafting. Drawing. Cutting out pictures. Walking more. Daydreaming more. Spending more time alone. Slugging down coffee. It’s like going into Writing Hibernation. The real world gets vague for me.
This is what I have so far, in terms of my next book. These are random and disorganized thoughts, and pictures from my journal, photos from trips, that are the launching pad of my new novel…
I am super picky about what, and which authors, I read. I love reading, but I always study what I’m reading. too. How did the author bring me into the story? How did she make me care? Is there a magical rhythm to the words? What about word choice, pacing, surprises and twists? Was there a special quality to the tone and voice, the setting, the suspense? What was original about the plot in general?
Toni Morrison, I’ll never be, but I truly try, in every book I write, to be better than I was before. So what do I need to work on this time? Where am I failing? Where can I do better, be better, as a writer? How do I dig deeper emotionally and put that on the page?
I think it would be fun if my main gal in my next novel has twin cats. I also keep seeing owls pop up everywhere: At a museum I was at in Central Oregon recently. On Pinterest. In books. I think someone’s trying to tell me something, so there will be owls in my next book. What do they symbolize, though? Where do they fit? Is it their wings and free flight? Their watchfulness? The appearance of being intellectual? Their ability to disappear? Their feathers? And how does that relate to my plot?
I live in Oregon, but part of my heart is in Montana. I couldn’t live through the winters, but everything else is natural and perfect. Yellowstone. Glacier. My sister’s place with her six horses, three dogs, and a cat named Marvin. The Swan Mountains. Flathead Lake. Whitefish. That place has heart and heart is what I need in every chapter, every paragraph, every sentence of my book. If there is no heart in it, I take it out. I am brutal with my edits. I cut out tens of thousands of words in every book I write. Sometimes it’s not until the sixth edit that I chop them out. And yes, even in the sixth edit I’ll sometimes cut out a character, too. Goodbye, character!
Add science to my book via a kid? Contrast faith and science?
Beautiful beaded bags by the Payuse Indians. Do I incorporate history into my book? I love history. If I do so, how do I do it? What time period? Do I tie the past characters and current time characters together? How? Why? What will it add? Where is their link?
There is something about the Deschutes River that grips my soul. Rushing, peaceful, rocky, dangerous, stark and barren, lush. It has it all. I took this photo last weekend. I am playing with this line for my book, “Where does the water come from?” It’s a literal and metaphorical question.
This furry guy driving the car is very funny. I have to remember to put humor in my books. I can get waylaid sometimes in the real life moments, the issues and struggles, and I end up going back and adding the laughter. This happened, especially, with Henry’s Sisters. I wrote that book after my father and father in law died the same year, and by the time I was done with the first draft, it was quite clear what it needed: Laughter.
I want to start my next novel with a joyful, funny premise. But where’s the premise? Come on, brain, think!!
Serenity is in a color blasted sunset. To me, they’re a gift. Every one is different and they change minute by minute. They surprise and delight. That’s how I want to write – surprise and delight – and I want to make my readers shed a tear and laugh so loud they startle the person next to them on the bus.
This says, below, “Structure the book around symphony.” I love the symphony. Love the structure of the concertos. Love Bach, Beethoven, Dvorak, Rachminoff, and Mozart. Love Itzhak Perlman, Hilary Hahn, Emanuel Ax, and Lang Lang. Sometimes I think that being at the symphony (or the beach) is the only time I can truly think.
When I write my first draft, I write 2,000 words a day. Once I have that first sentence, I’m off and writing and I don’t stop until the book is done, and the book is never done until it has been edited eight times. It’s a mind boggling project that sometimes has me simultaneously breathing deeply and gritting my teeth.
My last book, What I Remember Most, out in September, was edited NINE times. Thought I’d lose my mind, but there it was. It simply wasn’t ready until that ninth edit was done and I knew it. Felt it in my gut.
Hopefully, this time, I can get it done in eight edits.
Now, if I could only blend all these thoughts together and get the story straight in my head…
The perfect recipe for a perfect book! I can’t wait to read it when it all comes together. Twin cats, an owl, history and a furry guy. Indeed, can’t wait to see how that all translates into a “Cathy Book”. 🙂
1Maryellen,
2I can’t wait, either!! We’ll see where the cats and owl land…
fascinating, artful way to brainstorm for your new book-looking forward to reading it.
3I feel like you just gave me a peek into your process. How your imagination works is mind boggling. Your creativity is hard work!! Thanks.
4My imagination is strange. Very strange. And ideas come to me in odd places. Like running. And eating hamburgers. And staring outside my window. And drinking coffee. Can’t write, if I don’t get time to THINK and be alone….Who knows. I’ll probably be a hermit by the time I’m 50 – which is not so far off.
5Ohhhh, the Deschutes is a grand idea for a plot! I have rafted down the river and have seencritters beside the waters! Thank you for sharing your process! Love the way you let me peer inside your brain!
6I love the Deschutes, too, Joleen. Although I did NOT like it when my son fell out of our raft and disappeared under water last summer. One of the scariest moments of my life. We will not be doing that again.
7Your process is amazing and is so evident in your beautiful books. I just wish September would get here for your new book and can hardly wait for the one you’re beginning to work on now.
8I think I’m going to start my next novel Monday, Pam. At least, that’s the plan. Unless i get lazy. Or the sun is out. Or I have a lunch date with girlfriends….many variables. The lazy part is looking good.
9Whatever you do, however you do it, just don’t ever stop please! It works!
10Well, Tara, I do love writing.
Will I be doing this when I’m 80? Maybe.
Maybe so.
Or, maybe I’ll be traveling away, around the world…ya never know.
11Whatever you do, however you do it, just please don’t ever stop! It works!
12I really enjoyed reading about your process. It shows how much creativity, intelligence and research go into every one of your stories. Whenever I am in a book drought and I’m craving an interesting, intelligent, funny, romantic, emotionally touching book, I always think, I wish Cathy Lamb had a new book out. But then I’m grateful that you only release a book a year because it means you take time with your stories, and give your readers the best book possible. I would rather have a book a year that was stellar then a new one every few months that wasn’t. Thank you for writing such beautiful stories. Looking forward to August! 🙂
13Thank you, Sophie!
A lot does goes into the books which is why, by the 12th edit, I don’t need to see that book again, ever. It’s done and done and done…I cannot imagine writing more than one novel a year. I often write a novel and a short story a year, which I love but two novels. Eek. I don’t think I could do that.
Hope you like What I Remember Most, out in August 2014.
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