Monday, April 17, 2017

When The End Is Just The Beginning - Journey To Walhalla Entry 1.

It never ceases to feel special to me, whenever I type the words "The End" on a writing project. 

For my latest work in progress, a romantic fiction novel that carries the working title "Walhalla", I reached that milestone yesterday - and I almost couldn't believe it.


I've spent just short of a year working on this one, if you include the time that I spent *not* working on it because of some health challenges, and it was because of those health challenges that this milestone feels all the more sweeter. 

When I lost my voice after I had surgery on my throat and vocal cords, I mistakenly believed that I would actually throw myself into the project during my enforced convalescence at home. In truth, I lost all motivation for writing. My writer's voice had become just as silent as my physical one and there were times when I thought I would abandon "Walhalla" completely. I grew to hate writing and I grew to hate myself because I hated writing. 

What pulled me out of the hole I found myself in?



She... (image credit Lucasfilm Ltd.)


Carrie Fisher's death in December of last year had an impact on me. Apart from the fact that she was my most favorite "bad-ass princess" throughout the now 40 years of Star Wars, Fisher was widely regarded as a brilliant writer and script doctor - able to weave complex narrative tapestries and turn the most parlous of screenplays into something special. And she did all this while waging a none to secret battle with mental illness. In the ensuing obituaries and reflections on her life, I guess I received something akin to a kick in the pants from her. 

Somehow, I clawed my way out of the hole and I recommitted to this story. I realized that I actually loved it. For this is a story that I think will likely be my most personal one.


"Walhalla" is set in a little mountain town in Victoria, Australia - a place I have known and loved my entire life. Steeped in history and the site of one of the biggest gold rushes in 19th century Australia, Walhalla has refused to die - even though it was thought many times that it would. Somehow it has endured and is undergoing something of a renaissance, thanks to a renewed interest in its history and the opportunities afforded to it by tourism. 

For me, Walhalla serves as the setting for what I hope will be an engaging love story between a Doctor who has returned to his home town after the failure of his marriage and a Baker whose tragic past has instilled her with a steely determination to succeed with her nascent business. Walhalla - the story, like the town - is filled with a cast of quirky characters, all of whom are derived from people who have been a fixture in my life and I hope their presence will leap off the page as I develop the story further.


Because, even though I have typed the words "The End" on this first draft - it is really just beginning. 

Editing is a process that I love. It is challenging, frustrating and rewarding all at the same time. Once I have completed my first pass over the manuscript, I'll have a team of people to whom I will pass a second draft onto to get their insights, advice, criticisms and recommendations. I will incorporate all of those into a third draft - and then I'll be at a stage where I hope to submit it to my publisher.

I hope you might like to join me on this journey. I'll keep you updated - not too frequently - about my progress and I'd like to share a little bit of ephemera about the actual town Walhalla and how it has influenced me over all these years. 

DFA.

12 comments:

  1. I love the sound of this book, Dean. History, quirky characters and romance. All things I enjoy in a book. Only you can make it work! All the best. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Darlene! I certainly hope so. Romantic fiction is not nearly as easy to write as many believe it to be.

      Likewise, editing is this fantastical beast that inspires joy and anxiety and complete emotional breakdown - all at the same time.

      I'm loving it!

      Delete
  2. Very excited, Dean. The real Walhalla has always been special to me. Beautiful, mysterious somehow and in need of someone bringing it to life in a book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dani! Yeah, Walhalla has been pretty special to me as well. I can't visit home without spending some time up there. It fills my cup.

      I hope to do Walhalla justice with this story. We'll see how it pans out.

      Delete
  3. Personal and medical issues are so difficult to overcome and can really out a dampener on the creative process. Well done in breaking through and finishing the first draft. I am intrigued by this story. Good luck with the next phase!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ashleigh. I mistakenly believed that during my recovery at home, I would just magically want to sit at my computer and madly type away - create, create and all that. The rare times that I did actually sit at it, I just stared blankly at it. At one point, I even put the partial manuscript in the recycle bin. I hated it and writing so much.

      This new story is a return to the style of The Hambledown Dream - without the paranormal touches. I've explored quite a lot if themes in here too. Relationships, domestic violence (that was challenging) and the beauty of the Victorian mountains which, of course, remain very dear to me.

      I'm about half way through a first pass edit as I write this. Fortunately there is plenty to work with because I have certainly been harsh in cutting. It's been fun though.

      Delete
  4. Loved reading this update, and hopefully I'll get to read the book too?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad I took to you to Walhalla as a little tacker all those years ago
    Regards Dad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! Yes indeed Dad. The notes I've made on those memories alone would fill another book!

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete