“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” ~Albert Einstein
I had my book party Saturday. It was fun. It would have been even more fun if all of you could have been there the way Lavon was. It was so neat that she and a friend were able to come hear me talk about my books.
I started out talking about what inspired my new book, A Chance for Kallie Mae. I shared about the Moonlight School history in the story that led to the chance for so many to learn to read and how that must have changed their lives. That came about because of one determined woman, Cora Wilson Stewart. I wrote about her in my last post, “The Power of a Determined Woman.”
Other of my books also were inspired by strong, determined women. Some of them were historical people. Others were my characters. I like making my main character a strong, determined woman – at least somewhere in the telling of their stories.
But as I always say when I talk about having the privilege of talking about my books and writing, the part at the end of the talk where I invite the people, who have so politely listened to me talk probably for too long, to ask me questions. That’s when a talk becomes a conversation.
Those at my book party did their part by not being too shy to speak up. They asked some good questions. One of them was “Do you know the ending when you start writing?”
Sometimes, a question can be hard to answer in a concise and simple way. I do know where my story is headed when I set off down a story trail. Sort of. But the trail can be a meandering track with many side roads to travel or interesting sights to catch my eye and slow the trip on the way. While I know that I want things to turn out well for my main characters, I don’t know how that will happen. The story dips and swirls in its trip as unexpected obstacles arise. Not only unexpected for my characters, but often for me, the writer, as well.
So, my best answer was that I simply know the direction I’m headed but I don’t have the route completely mapped out. I’m walking down that story road with my characters, a flashlight in hand, and I keep on walking as far as I can see on the path in front of me. But then when I get to that spot, the flashlight still in my hand is lighting up a new stretch of story road. Step by step I get the story told to an ending that probably didn’t happen the way I imagined when I wrote the first sentence months before. It could even turn out to have a different ending than I imagined initially.
After I finished talking and answering questions, my brother-in-law came up to share with me that he had heard an Stephen King interview where he talked about knowing his endings before he wrote them. He said that once a terminally ill reader who was reading his Gunslinger series contacted him. She feared she wouldn’t live to see his next and perhaps last book in that series be published. She asked him to share the ending with her so she could know what happened to the characters. He said that he might have done so except he didn’t know the ending since he hadn’t written it yet.
While I don’t have King’s fame or fortune, I do write toward my ending, whatever it turns out to be, the same way he and many other writers must do–one word, one paragraph, one scene at a time.
I think that is sometimes hard for a reader who isn’t also a writer to understand. There is something almost magical about sitting down at a keyboard and letting words spill across a computer screen as you write a story. It’s hard to answer exactly how that happens. I just know I am blessed to be be able to come up with the right words for my stories and I am forever grateful that the Lord gave me that ability.
In other posts I’ll share some other questions I answered at my book party Saturday or any questions you might have about my writing or my stories.
What would you have asked if you had been at my book party?
Comments 9
I’m sure you have discussed this before but I don’t remember! My question is- do you have time to read other books since you are so busy working on your own?
Author
Great question and one I was asked on Saturday. I don’t have as much time to read as I’d like, Kris, but I do keep reading while I’m writing. Of course, I usually have to do some research reading, but I don’t think that counts when we are talking about reading for entertainment and joy.
I do have to be careful about what I read while I’m actually doing the writing. It can’t be something very like my own story. It can’t deal with the same history I’m trying to include in my story. If I’m listening to an audio book, I have to be careful the narrator’s voice doesn’t get stuck in my head until my characters are talking like the characters in the audio book. But yes, I loved to read. I just need an extra day a week to read even a portion of all the books I want to read.
I think it would be interesting to ask you, out of all the books you have written which one would you like to go back to the time in that book to live and experience life for a little while, providing that you could make your way back out.
Author
That’s a great question, Connie. Such a great question that I might just make my answer my next blog post. Thanks.
We had a wonderful time! Your book parties are always fun and I enjoy little road trips. It’s always fun to meet other people that love to read. I’m looking forward to returning to Sourwood Mountain in your next book. It’s one of my favorites.
One question I didn’t ask was when will the new book be available? 😉
Have a great week and enjoy this beautiful summer weather.
Author
That one is easy to answer, Lavon. At least, I think it is. I believe the book will be available sometime next May. No worries, if that isn’t right. I’ll be shouting out about it when the time draws closer. I do have a title. I plan to share that in my next newsletter.
I’m so glad you and your friend enjoyed the road trip and my Hometown Book Party. Always great to see you.
I did comment but for some reason, it wound up in an email instead of here. I hope you did receive it anyway.
Author
I’m not seeing the email, Lee, but maybe it will eventually surface. Always good to hear your thoughts.
Here’s what I said, in case the email is lost.. When you start a new story, do you already know who all the characters will be or do they just pop up as you go along your story’s path?