Friday, July 16, 2010

Muskoka Novel Writing Marathon

Ok. Novel writing is hard. Writing fiction is really really hard. It's a compression of intent, narrative, theme, character development, dialogue, picture painting pushed into a small basket. Hot water is steamed through the contents, and essence pours out. That's if you are good. Otherwise, all you get is a weak brew with lots of grounds in it. That's what I'm doing...making a camp coffee from a string of words and thoughts that meander like a dusty road which loops back on itself.

First 4 hours, and only 10 pages to show for it. 10 pages of descriptive blather.
Breathe. Drink Tea. Type. Don't edit. Repeat.

Only 68 more hours to go.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Kayaking Elbow Falls

I returned to Elbow Falls the other day to celebrate my re-birthday. I have so much to be grateful for and I wanted to let the river gods know.

The water was really flowing and I was lucky enough to see some kayakers run the falls. Made me think of Linda and Kevin of course.

I also meandered along the bank, clambered down to the scene of my folly and had a "moment" listening to the river, breathing in the sounds and showing my body it was safe. All in all, I feel much better for it. Since, I've been paddling the Kananaskis with Michael.

The thing about fear, as Frank Herbert points out in Dune, is that when the fear has left, what remains is you. Here I remain.