Thank you for all the well-wishes last week. My mom had knee surgery last Friday, and returned home Monday after over a week in the hospital. I took a trip to the other side of the state to visit her this last weekend. She’s doing well, enjoyed seeing the grandbabies, and is now under the loving care of my retired dad.
The magnificent Sarah Brentyn tagged me in the Why I Write blog hop. Sarah writes because she needs to. I imagine many writers have that same need.
I don’t.
If I didn’t write, Derek would still live inside my head, smiling at me with that lopsided, boyish grin of his. He’d still go through endless trials and come out stronger for it. He’d still pine for a love he’d been denied.
If I never wrote him down, he’d still be there. So, you see, I don’t need to write.
But I do write, because he has a story and I want to share it.
I don’t talk about actual book content on my blog much. I used to, three years ago, when I blogged on Blogger under my personal email account. I rambled about my ideas and all the many changes Derek’s gone through. A lot has changed since conception. Some things haven’t. He’s still 22, works with plants, and has a way with attracting women. He took up residence in my head when I was 16 (half my lifetime ago). At the time, Derek had a younger sister who was 6 years younger than him, a model student, and a genius. Yeah… The sister got scratched.
Derek saunters into my thoughts every time I lay down to sleep, turn off the radio, or have a free moment of any kind. I have to listen to music at work, otherwise he shows up and shares another tidbit about himself I hadn’t known. Or he forces me to go over the scenes that don’t quite work. Or he’ll just smile at me from behind his coffee cup and casually ask me about my progress on book 2.
He won’t leave me alone, and I’m okay with that.
Cera, Michael, Jack—everything I’ve written thus far somehow ties back to Derek and his story, even if the other characters never mention him. His actions had a ripple effect through the world I created. Thanmir War is just the beginning. There are three more books I still need to write to tell his story completely.
I decided to tag a couple of local writers who are also part of The Seven. Sherry Briscoe, author of Mists of Garibaldi, and Marlie Harris, author of Into The Darkness. I met both of these fine ladies through my critique group, and had the pleasure of reading their work before it hit the shelves. I was going to tag Troy Lambert, another member of The Seven, but he’s a bit busy with editing the Aladdin stories. Oh, and The Seven now has a facebook page! Feel free to like it. 🙂
Why do you write? Do you have voices in your head? Do you see people who aren’t really there?
My main character lives in my head, too, so I definitely understand your feelings. I think it would be weird if he wasn’t there, if I couldn’t talk to him or imagine the things that happen in his life, even after the events of my WIP are over. Maybe I’ll turn the things in his future into another book, or maybe I’m just writing them for me, but I couldn’t imagine letting him go just because the book is done.
I’ve seen Jordan take over on your blog. It does sound like you and he have a similar relationship to Derek and me.
It’s a bit like flipping through a photo album for me. After I finished Thanmir War, my head dwelt in books 2 and 3 instead of book 1. But I still go back and flip through the pages and relive the story of how it all began.
Sounds like there will be many more tales of Derek to come.
I wrote to tell the stories I couldn’t find in other books.
At least 3 more Derek tales. 🙂
That’s a good reason to write. It’s a bit like, if you want it done, do it yourself. I like it.
I’m so glad your mom is doing OK. I hope she continues to heal well, and quickly!
I wish I had such clarity as you do. I don’t have one specific person in my head, just a general feeling that there’s so much inside me that I need to express in words somehow. I sometimes think that if I knew exactly what that stuff was – if there was a voice and face attached, for example – it would be a lot easier to know what to be working on!
Ah, but having a face and voice attached can be limiting too. For example, working on The Seven has been extremely difficult for me. I can’t get a grasp on the voice because I don’t know those characters inside and out, like I do Derek. Pros and cons of each way, I suppose.
Glad to hear your mom is doing good. And just as happy to hear you have lots of stories still to tell.
Thank you!
I’m glad your mom is recovering well. That had to be a rough ride home for her. I only had a sprain once and had to be driven home in my own car for 3 hours. Not fun.
Derek sounds like he compels you to write. I know what you mean by the story still existing anyway. Yup. Uh, huh. Happy Wednsesday. 🙂
Compel is a gentle word. 😉
Yeah, I totally get what you mean about your character not leaving you alone. I’ve been living with my current MC for about five years now. Still have some more of her story to get down on paper. I don’t have to write it, but I really want to. 🙂
Yep! The really want to is definitely right.
Amazing how real the characters become and how relentless they can be…nudging you constantly while you’re driving, mowing the lawn…whenever. They are there and want to tell their story!
Yes, and Derek is relentless. But I love that about him. 🙂
Loved hearing about your writing. I tend not to write to much about that either. I write ’cause it’s kind of fun and I love a good story and want to share mind. I don’t have voice in my head– cause that would be crazy (teehee).
I think the quote is, “I don’t suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it.” 🙂
I am so glad I tagged you, lady! I love this. Derek has a story, therefore you write it. Yes. So much. At this point in my life, fiction has taken a back seat to my nonfiction (out of sheer necessity and for my sanity) but I miss fiction and when I write it, I feel like you do about Derek.
Looking forward to checking out the writers you’ve tagged and seeing The Seven progress.
Happy to hear about your mom recovering.
I’m glad you tagged me too!
I took a peek at a few pieces of your fiction at the Carrot Ranch. Very good.
Great to meet you at Julie’s blog. Most of my characters leave once their stories are written. If I don’t write them, they hang around forever and cause a ruckus. Then other characters hang around after their stories are told. I think they have more stories to tell.
I’ve noticed that the early stages of Derek’s life don’t pop into my head as often as the later ones do. Maybe it’s the same way for me.
I’m glad your mom is doing okay and enjoy time with her grandbabies.
After reading your post, I really want to meet Derek! He sounds like a great, fun character. 🙂
I write because I love it and because my characters are always clamoring to get out of my head. And because that way I can have a story that’s exactly the way I like it.
I’m glad your mom is doing better!
I absolutely have voices in my head. They mostly belong to my characters.
Interesting to know that Derek used to have a younger sister. =)
I’ve heard and seen, Knee surgery is rough. Good Luck to your Mom’s continued healing!! Characters of books stick in my head too. Actually they come alive and won’t leave us alone, that must mean there’s more to tell….
I tackled this topic when I did a who, what, when, where, how, and why series of blog posts in the early days of my blog. I’ve always written as a way to help myself make sense of my world and to bring order to my thoughts. Maybe that’s why I’m feeling more success with creative nonfiction as opposed to fiction. It seems like it’s been forever since a character got inside my head and demanded I get their story own on the page.