Books in some of the Brontë section of Keighley library
I haven’t touched my long ‘short story’ for several months, the writing urge being satisfied by a mixture of a daily journal on our summer trip to Romania, a couple of ‘fairy tales’ written specifically for ‘performances’ by our writers’ club and, more recently, posting almost daily on this blog. In the past few days I’ve felt an urge to resume the intertwined stories of Peter and Miranda but they wouldn’t speak to me, for me essential if I am to resume. As I commented to my writer/blogger friend in Slovenia, Kristina, maybe I should just write anything about them, even if rubbish to be ditched later, to get them talking with me again.
With that in mind I thought I would bring what I had written so far with me to read over my two double espressos in Wetherspoon then see if I could resume the story.
Inappropriate behaviour
I was almost diverted by one of the regular Wetherspoon old lags sounding off about ‘inappropriate behaviour’ towards women in the light of this morning’s news of the resignation of the UK Minister for Defence. In his view the current furore is, he announced loudly, a “witch hunt to stop ‘Brexit’”. There’s no point in trying to argue with such stupidity so, resisting the temptation to shut his mouth physically, I left for the library next door. I don’t know what Fallon’s ‘inappropriate behaviour’ was but evidently it was 15 years ago, when I often found myself a lone voice among both men and women when protesting about the acceptance of it. In fact, much more recent than that.
Inappropriate behaviour
What is odd, one of those ‘coincidences’ I don’t believe in, is that wrapped up in my story about the relationship between scantily clad, sexually provocative Miranda and the business suited ‘correct’ Peter is that it is a theme underlying the story, though perhaps not the major one. Should I make it one?
Reading what I thought was my story so far, about an hour and if I remember correctly about 25,000 words, it is now clear that I didn’t bring the complete draft. There’s a comment at some point ‘TO BE WRITTEN’ but I have a hazy memory that I did write this section so now I have to find it. What is more, I remember arguing with myself about how explicit some scenes should be and writing some which some people might argue border on the pornographic. I must find those now and perhaps I can take an objective view after the time lapse.
Visit the Brontës?
When I set out this morning I did have the idea to go to the Brontë sisters’ home in Haworth and see if being in the presence of their ghosts would prompt a creative outpouring, but though I’d still like to visit again I don’t think I need it now to resume writing my story. Anyway, I haven’t left myself time enough before picking up Petronela from school.
When I find those missing scenes and try to take an objective view, including or excluding them, maybe I need another view. The obvious answer is ask someone in our writers’ club to read it but apart from perhaps being too big an imposition for the working parents whose opinion I would find valuable, they are all much too ‘nice’ to give me real criticism.
So, for now I’ll pop upstairs to the Brontë section to get a picture so I can finish this post then the hunt will be on to find the parts I’ve ‘mislaid’.
November 2, 2017 at 3:46 pm
Writing is never easy. I have the irritating habit of writing by hand in the park in the company of my bike. Some other people in the park hunt for Pokemons, not ideas 🙂
I look forward to reading the story of Miranda and Peter. By the way, Miranda is such a beautiful name…About your question, maybe you should judge it from the point of view of your tree, I mean, the tree of your story. This is how i see stories, as having the trunk with the most important branches and then the adornments, the smaller stories.
I guess the Brontës are always a source of inspiration. You are lucky to have the opportunity to pick up ideas from places under their touch.
Give my best to P.
XXX
November 2, 2017 at 4:00 pm
I can always rely on you to make me think; I like this idea of trunk and branches.
Would you believe I’ve no idea what a Pokeman is, and I don’t care that I don’t.
I’ve said to Petronela that I want to get a fountain pen; looking at the letters I wrote to my mother from Romania (she kept them) it seems to me that I wrote better by hand before I got access to a computer.
Yes, I am lucky to have had the Brontes so close during childhood and again now. I find the place inspirational.
November 2, 2017 at 4:17 pm
Thank you! I am glad! 🙂
I am laughing with tears about the Pokemons, and I will tell you the story. I myself did not have the faintest idea what a Pokemon is, until I noticed a lot of people in Herăstrău, gazing intently into their phones and crowding some of the most beautiful alleys. It is computer game and the park, my park, is a Pokemon’s hubs (they roam the place), meaning there is a hunting area for these creatures. This is all I know. Anyway, it is funny when I pick up up some conversations like, “look, a Pokemon there, ..let’s go!!…:)))))) It is very amusing.
I (have to) write with ink. Nobody understands my handwriting (me included) if I use a ball point pen 🙂