Of Creative Claptrap September 22, 2009
Posted by Jen in : General Shame, Journal, Novel , trackbackCrumbs, I’ve been ever so busy lately. Busy sleeping; busy becoming friends with new people; busy not writing short stories. I have, however, started writing my second novel. I know, I know, I said I wouldn’t. But there you go, I’m fickle like that. You wouldn’t think anyone in their right mind would leap out of bed with a novel title and whole new genre based on a random, early-morning text about porridge, would you? I scribbled down the first few hundred words which somehow completely grabbed the essence, the feel, of how it might be. ‘Breakfast Under the Bodhi Tree’ will be on the shelves under… um… philosophical comedy. Nope, it’s not a genre. Not yet. But you get the idea. Of course, after the first morning’s wheeeeeeeeeee I kind of ground to a halt and put the whole thing down to a hangover. But no. It bubbled away, fermenting. And those always turn out to be the best ideas, don’t they, the ones that won’t go away. Unlike my usual dive-right-in tactic I assume for everything in life, I’m actually plotting, making notes; ploughing through Plot & Structure which is the best book I’ve found so far on such things. It’s rather exciting, having fun with possibilities and character sketches before the actual writing begins. I wish I’d done this with the first novel.
I must confess, this philosophical flim-flammery is not quite a direct result of the Mindful Living/Creative Writing course I signed up to. The class is… um… different. There are only 6 of us and the teacher man is very calm, very quiet. Sometimes he’s quite funny, even though he is An American. The writing exercises we do are basically freewriting – taking the prompt and scribbling mindlessly mindfully for 15 mins with whatever comes. No right or wrong. Just going with the flow (man). Easy, yes? Oh, yes, very easy until it transpires that you have to read the piffle out loud to the others. With your mouth. *Sigh*
Sitting around the pushed-together tables, we went painfully round the circle. I listened to the others’ words, in which we had to introduce ourselves in a way we wouldn’t usually. They were all quite normal. Needless to say, I had to go last. All the better to make a mockery of myself. The lady before me explained how she had battled and conquered cancer with homeopathy rather than chemo so that she could conceive a child. Cue all eyes to the super-cute kid in the corner, playing angelically. And me?
‘I am not a lion-tamer,’ I announced, trying to make this sound like a revelation. Spiritual. Trying to think that I should make something up instead of reading the utter tripe that included the tragic ‘I am photographer of weeds and commenter on bendy biscuits’ not to mention the cringeworthy ‘I am the invisible sea spray that leaves a taste on your lips’… Oh, God, the utter, utter shame. I didn’t go to the second class. I pretended I’d been eaten whole by the untamed lion.
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Awh, Jen, you should go back – I would love you in my class!! Good luck with novel 2 x
I knew A363 wouldn’t really put you off forevah
Sounds hilarious. One of the groups I go to, the woman who runs it is either a) really bad at writing or b) really bad at reading out her own writing. or reading her own handwriting at all. Either way, it makes everyone else feel TONS better about reading out their own, as she always goes first. Would be nice if it was deliberate, but I suspect not.
I agree with Mandy, you should totally go back!
I bet the rest missed your presence.
There is nothing wrong with being the invisible sea spray that leaves a taste on your lips – so long as you clearly inform people how much of the recommended daily allowance of sodium you represent. x
I read this, with both my eyes, and neither could believe you didn’t got back! Which part of “Hippy” are you not living up to. Hullaballoo would go with you and talk convincing rubbish mixed with wisdom. I think you should do the same. Philosophical Comedy needs to be born, and how better than by ritualised group humiliation?
Sounds great, you should definitely go back. Even if you’re not keen on what you are producing in class (tho photographer of weeds etc sounded pretty cool to me) who knows what creative doodahs its opening up that will splurge out later (eg philosophical porridge).
Disappointed you are not a lion tamer tho, could be ever so useful if/when society collapses and wild animals roam the land
I’m with everyone else!! You should so go back…fodder for novel two!!
C x
Oh I love that your second novel has come out of a random text message. That’s definitely the best way…
Go back to the class you wuss!
Well, Jen, you could have blurted out that it’s all about sex and winning. That’s how I make friends
Much hope for you and Novel 2. My muse and I are living separate lives right now.
I wish you’d gone to the second class. Was the one in the pub? I could get all spiritual over half of Snake Bite with you.
So,so glad about the novel. Don’t you go wasting your talent on lion taming.
I’m a lion (rrraaarrr) so tame me ;o)
Good to hear you’ve picked up the novel once again.
Oh I want to join. Where is it. But as long as you go too.
Best of luck with novel 2.
You should definately go back. It sounds like the class needs someone like you to liven things up a bit and make it a little more fun and interesting.
I think we should all go. That’d scare them!
Eek, sounds scary but if anyone can shake ‘em up and teach them a thing or two.
Also, good news on the novel front. Chase down that hangover whimsy and make it come up with the goods.
Philosophical comedy. Me likes the sound of this very much indeed. Can I reserve my copy now, signed by the authour of course. Go back to that course and rock the boat! Oh, did comedy die laughing? TFx
Seems to me you have to go back to the class, there will be a ton of fodder for novel number three. And good luck with novel number two.
Someone should invent an ice breaker along the lines of ‘tell us something boring about yourself’ – I’d be great at that. Who can be entertaining when forced into it at short notice? Not me. But probably you. Not a lion tamer sounds good to me.
Go back! I demand it! Its hilarious!
I’ve been away for a while, mad busy, though not anywhere as exciting as you! Its good to be back in blogland and as always your post made me smile. Fx
Don’t give up Jen…it’s tough being an artist!!
Robin x
Mandy – I did. I went back. I did!
Beth – So what you’re saying is that they should make me go first?! Am quite recovered from A363 now – next course about to start! Are you doing another?
DOT – Are you saying that I might be bad for one’s health, Sir?
McBobo – I did go back, of course I did. Group humiliation is my new thing, doncha know?
Jumbly – It’s amazing what can be produced on the spot, actually. It’s actually a really good class. But that wouldn’t make a good blog post, would it? Now, where did I leave my whip?
Carol – Hmmm, yes, tempted to centre Novel 2 around something similar…
JJ – I have a surfing, porridge-munching muse. You don’t get many of those to the pound you know.
Mike – Hello! Your sex and winning spiel impressed me, I still giggle at it as an opening introduction! And I see you have made a blog. Go you! Shall I add your link or are you ‘doing it’ in secret?!
Fia – Yes, it’s the one in the pub! How can I resist?!
Cap’n Black – Nah, you’re a pussy cat…
Poetess – There’s a link on the right hand side… courses in Mayfield but some day workshops on in Lewes too. We could go togevvah?
Debs – Thanks for the luck – I’m enjoying giving the new novel a little tickle and getting to know it. This is maybe the best part of writing a novel, apart from typing ‘The End’!
Helen – Oh my God, how ace would that be? Can you imagine?!
Tam – Hangover whimsies should never be ignored. It would be terribly rude.
TF – Comedy died laughing? Oh, I like that. I really do intend that this novel will find its way into the real world. Consider yours signed!
Sheepish – You know, the best thing about the class is the amazing honesty that the others write with. I couldn’t plunder it. I’m just gonna have to make stuff up!
Honeysuckle – I’m not sure that it’s a good thing people are always laughing at me? You are sooo not boring. We’ll have less of that talk, ta!
Fionnuala – Yay, how lovely that you’re back in Blogland!Looking forward to hearing what you’ve been up to.
Robin – Hello! Ah, I never give up. It’s quite nice to have a little moan now and again though! Besides, you are most proficient at your artist-ing!
that wasn’t what I was saying AT ALL! maybe the others are jealous of how you write anyway
Second novel, hurrah! I too thought that ‘plot and structure’ book was ace. The author blogs here http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/ every Sunday, if you’re interested, and he has some useful stuff for writers on his own website too.
I was sure I’d commented. Something silly about being sicked up by the lion Must have dreamt it …
Great news that you’re cracking on with the second novel though – just hurry up, I want to read it
)
philosophical comedy sounds like a perfect genre!
Beth – Oh yes. Jealous. That must be it
Queenie – Ooh, I hadn’t known about that blog, thank you.
Karen – Maybe the lion ate your comment whole? Hmmmm… I wouldn’t say there was exactly much ‘cracking on’ in the novel dept. But it’s fermenting. You know?
Hilary – Ooh, hello and thank you! I’ll add your name to the petition when I’m trying to find a publisher. I must confess, I do rather like the concept. But then, I would say that, wouldn’t I?!
That cartoon is mine.
I am strenuously resisting following up your link to the book about plot and structure. I know myself too well to really believe that it could by magic implant a bone in my body that would be any good at writing creative fiction.
The lion tamer declaration is wonderfully gnomic, I reckon.