And the joy of discovering what you don’t
Last week, I had a couple of a-ha moments around the revisions I’m making to my upcoming novel (technically my previous novel that I put aside to publish Little Pink Houses). Ever since attending Courtney Maum’s fabulous workshop on plotting at the WFWA Retreat in April, I’ve been chewing on the question of what my protagonist, Kaya, wants.
Now, I’ve been living with Kaya for about four years now. I know she wants to find her grandparents. She wants a better relationship with her mom. She wants to figure out if she wants to have kids before her boyfriend, who does, runs out of patience. However, none of these things fulfilled Maum’s advice: Come up with something tangible, an object that can be illustrated.
But that day in the workshop, I couldn’t. Not one to be overly prescriptive, I decided that was okay. I’ve pressed on with my revisions. But because I’m revising to tighten the plot, Maum’s challenge stayed in the back of my brain.
Finally, last Thursday morning while I was reworking a scene, I landed on it. Here’s what I wrote:
What Kaya wants: An art room. Rows of matching boxes and bins and baskets and jars, everything meticulously labeled. There’s a potter’s wheel, of course. And a deep porcelain sink for washing up, and a door that leads outside to a shed where she keeps the kiln.
And then I thought, Shit, that’s what I wanted when I was thirty-two!
I already knew that Kaya is a lot like the younger me. Not exactly me, of course (for one, I have never held one shred of resentment towards my mother). But she has a lot of my hang-ups, my insecurities, my obsessive need to line things up and organize items by hue. For the most part, I’m okay with this, because I believe Raymond Carver’s quote (above) is true. But then I came across another tidbit of writing wisdom from Courtney Maum, in a guest post she wrote for Jane Friedman. This involved tips for fictionalizing your characters. (It’s excellent, actionable advice, and I highly recommend all my writer friends check it out.)
Which got me wondering, Is Kaya too much like me? And if so, is this problematic for my novel? The answers are, Maybe and No. So then I wrote this:
In some ways, Kaya is the OLD me. The things I used to want, the person I used to be. Writing her is like making peace with that, letting her go, so I can move on to what’s next. So I can lose the anxiety around all the “shoulds” in my life. Though can I??? Just writing “lose the anxiety” makes me anxious, and then it makes me laugh at myself for thinking it could be that easy. But maybe it can? I think I just need to finish the fucking book and see.
So, that’s what I’m doing. I know it’s a good story—I had enough people tell me they loved the previous version to know it’s worth publishing. Meanwhile, I’ll keep seeking advice from other authors, taking workshops, and staying in conversation with the writers I know. But as Little Pink Houses continues to sell and garner positive feedback, I’m getting more confident, learning that advice is just that—advice. I think the best way to put it is, I’m finally taking it to heart that there is no one right way to do this. Every writer is different. Every book is different. That’s what makes this art.
Though I already have a concept for my third novel, the characters are still very embryonic. But I’m confident they will emerge as their own highly individualized people because I’m growing as a writer. Though I did give Cole a few of my peculiarities, at her core she is very different from me. I think that’s why writing her was so much fun.
The truth is, it’s impossible to write anything you don’t already know. So yeah, every character has a bit of the author. But the fun part, for me, is making shit up.
WHERE TO CONNECT WITH LISA
Sat, Aug 29: The Eureka Room, 1012 N. Main Street, Cottonwood, AZ. Try some amazing Arizona wines, learn from the amazing and talented tasting room staff, and check out a few locals authors! Time and other details TBA, but I’m super excited about this “mini bookfair/wine event”. Hoping to get a big crowd, so book your hotel room asap!
Thu, May 28: Yes, that was last week. But I’d be remiss not to mention Kathleen Kelly, who chose Little Pink Houses as her May book club read, and invited me to the meeting! A wonderful group of women (including—surprise!—my friend Brenda, who worked with me at the Ingleside library eons ago. We shared some great conversation (including some actual talk about the book, lol) while sipping some lovely Arizona wines.
CALLING ALL BOOKCLUB MEMBERS! I’d love to speak with your group! Reply here, or visit my website for more info.
What I’m reading: I recently finished Saints For All Occasions, by J. Courtney Sullivan, and wow. I cannot believe this is the first of her books I’ve read. Beautiful, multi-POV, dual-timeline narrative that examines some of my favorite topics: family dynamics and the damaging power of secrets.
Pair with: Page Springs Vino Barrio Blanca. Literally translated, Vino Barrio means Neighborhood Wine. This refreshing white blend is a crowd-pleaser, perfect for summer parties (and book club meetings!) Crisp and citrusy, with just a slight hint of floral on the finish. And in case you can’t get up to Cornville, it’s available at Total Wine (in Phoenix, at least). If you aren’t in Arizona, look for a Portuguese Vinho Verde for an easy-to-drink, hot weather sipper.
Cheers!
Lisa
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