Weather, Writers, Writing, Dore & The French Revolution

It is a clear crisp afternoon, the sun bright though the air remains cool and the steady breeze from the North West causes the chimes outside to perform their calming, at times, hypnotic song.

Discovered an entire network of SF, Horror and Fantasy writers, published poets and novelists that communicate through their respective “live journals”, commenting, criticising, encouraging, revealing current projects – all have a viewpoint on the creative/writing process; and as BLOG writer’s, continue to keep all informed about their day to day lives.

Contrary to the popular belief that a novelist is a Romantic figure, living for their art form and meeting extraordinary people, that a writer is somehow different to the rest of us mere mortals, could not be more from the truth. It is difficult work requiring a tremendous amount of discipline. One of my favourite writer’s BLOG, one who has been compared to Edgar Allen Poe or H.P. Lovecraft, has had a terrible week, describing the writing process as tedious. Granted, she has a lot going on, an on-line magazine where she writes most of the “vignettes’” and a collaboration with another writer on a story that continues to expand, and, of course, the day to day grind of her current novel. The poor woman has not taken a day off in months and is currently toying with the idea. I guess what I’m attempting to describe is that writing for a living is no cake walk.

My short story in my last entry, “The Consequences of a Dabbler”, was an interesting exercise from the writer’s perspective. I had a day off from school last week, because of a heavy migraine the night before; feeling much better by 2 that afternoon, and decided to write a short story within the length limit of 1200 words. I had no idea what the story was going to be about; sitting down at the computer, letting the mind clear, and the words began to flow. I love the works of the 19th century artist and illustrator, Gustave Dore. He illustrated Dante’s Inferno and Milton’s Paradise Lost. Dore’s drawings are truly captivating, and the image from Milton’s Paradise Lost came to mind of the Arch Angel Michael, expelling the rebellious angels from Heaven. Having this image in the minds eye, the story almost seemed to write itself. It’s an average story; however, the big win was checking the word count at the tales end to find it just under 1200 words.

The work week ahead involves reviewing the French Revolution with my Year 12 class. We’ve been immersed all semester in the Russian Revolution, thus the task is not an easy one. I also have to re-write their final test on the Russian Rev as last years is not up to standard. There is only a few weeks left before they sit their state-wide exams, determining their fates as to any future in the world of Academia. Australian standards are quite high, thus the stress that the serious student experiences at this time of year borders on the tortuous.

Despite everything, I’m bound and determined to work on my novel this week as it is seriously close to the end. Discipline, discipline and more discipline…

Emotional State: Determined, Anxious & Hopeful

Note: Above illustration is Gustave Dore’s interpretation of Poe’s “The Raven”