Good morning, Readers!
So, I'm a bit all over the place this morning. I have just finished watching a video of a young man who stood on the street blindfolded with a sign that reads: "It trust you. If you trust me, hug me." And he just stood there with his blindfold on and his arms stretched out. And people hugged him, and it was silly and joyous and touching and for some reason, I cried a bit. Don't ask me why that made me so emotional. I don't know.
Also, that young man was fined by the police for disturbing the peace because he had attracted such a large crowd. If the comments in the video are to be believed, this was in Turkey.
It seems I'm a little bit emotional at the moment. I suppose it's the holiday effect... or something. Or maybe my wires are crossed funny. I'm opting for the latter, as my thoughts have been all over the place for the past few days... all right, fine... weeks.
Ahem.
Moving to another thought, writing has stalled; not because I have hit the dreaded wall that is writer's block, but because it's the holiday season, and there are parties and things that need my attention. Also, it's the holidays.
I don't feel bad for taking this break away from tapping away at my keyboard. Because it's the holidays.
Did I mention it's the holidays?
Also, despite not actually sitting down to write, I am still working on the novel. A lot of writing is done internally, in the mind, away from prying eyes. So often when a writer is sitting or lying still, or merely walking around with that dazed expression we so often wear, we're actually working hard. Our minds are turning over scenes, examining them, finding the best perspective, working out the dialogue, the emotionality, the players, characters and motivations.
For example, I met a character yesterday. He's a lovely young man; a Roman born in Gaul who has an unhealthy obsession with the 'barbarians' who live around him. He is such a sweet, eager boy, the kind that watches the world with a sense of wonder, and feels that everything foreign is magical. He is now a pivotal character, without whom my heroine will not get very far. He does some really heroic things and I am so very fond of him. I met him in one of the quieter moments, when I had some time to erase reality and disappear into 70 AD Gaul. I'm really pleased to have met him.
Also yesterday, and a little bit this morning, I sorted out the motivations of another character, a Batavian (Germanic client kingdom in what is now The Netherlands) man who had formerly fought for Rome as one of the Germanic Auxilliaries attached to the Legion XIV Gemina. The Batavian Auxilliaries, by the way, were the crack team of the Roman armies. They were badass.
I've done my research, y'all!
Anyway, this character is a good man, son of a good man )who was twice arrested for treason against Rome (falsely as far as we know)). The saying 'the world quakes when a good man goes to war' describes this man's father absolutely.
In any case, I was having trouble with this character, because the Batavians were proud members of the Roman army, holding positions of great honour. Thanks to the appearance of not working, I've managed to get it all straight.
I suppose it's hard for people who like to look busy to understand that moments of stillness are times of intense work for most creative types. They are, trust me.
Right. I've babbled on long enough about nothing in particular, so I should leave it here and go dream some more. It's a half day here at the office, being Christmas Eve and all, so I'm off at midday. That means no writing today either.
What? It's the holidays!
Ciao!
So, I'm a bit all over the place this morning. I have just finished watching a video of a young man who stood on the street blindfolded with a sign that reads: "It trust you. If you trust me, hug me." And he just stood there with his blindfold on and his arms stretched out. And people hugged him, and it was silly and joyous and touching and for some reason, I cried a bit. Don't ask me why that made me so emotional. I don't know.
Also, that young man was fined by the police for disturbing the peace because he had attracted such a large crowd. If the comments in the video are to be believed, this was in Turkey.
It seems I'm a little bit emotional at the moment. I suppose it's the holiday effect... or something. Or maybe my wires are crossed funny. I'm opting for the latter, as my thoughts have been all over the place for the past few days... all right, fine... weeks.
Ahem.
Moving to another thought, writing has stalled; not because I have hit the dreaded wall that is writer's block, but because it's the holiday season, and there are parties and things that need my attention. Also, it's the holidays.
I don't feel bad for taking this break away from tapping away at my keyboard. Because it's the holidays.
Did I mention it's the holidays?
Also, despite not actually sitting down to write, I am still working on the novel. A lot of writing is done internally, in the mind, away from prying eyes. So often when a writer is sitting or lying still, or merely walking around with that dazed expression we so often wear, we're actually working hard. Our minds are turning over scenes, examining them, finding the best perspective, working out the dialogue, the emotionality, the players, characters and motivations.
For example, I met a character yesterday. He's a lovely young man; a Roman born in Gaul who has an unhealthy obsession with the 'barbarians' who live around him. He is such a sweet, eager boy, the kind that watches the world with a sense of wonder, and feels that everything foreign is magical. He is now a pivotal character, without whom my heroine will not get very far. He does some really heroic things and I am so very fond of him. I met him in one of the quieter moments, when I had some time to erase reality and disappear into 70 AD Gaul. I'm really pleased to have met him.
Also yesterday, and a little bit this morning, I sorted out the motivations of another character, a Batavian (Germanic client kingdom in what is now The Netherlands) man who had formerly fought for Rome as one of the Germanic Auxilliaries attached to the Legion XIV Gemina. The Batavian Auxilliaries, by the way, were the crack team of the Roman armies. They were badass.
I've done my research, y'all!
Anyway, this character is a good man, son of a good man )who was twice arrested for treason against Rome (falsely as far as we know)). The saying 'the world quakes when a good man goes to war' describes this man's father absolutely.
In any case, I was having trouble with this character, because the Batavians were proud members of the Roman army, holding positions of great honour. Thanks to the appearance of not working, I've managed to get it all straight.
I suppose it's hard for people who like to look busy to understand that moments of stillness are times of intense work for most creative types. They are, trust me.
Right. I've babbled on long enough about nothing in particular, so I should leave it here and go dream some more. It's a half day here at the office, being Christmas Eve and all, so I'm off at midday. That means no writing today either.
What? It's the holidays!
Ciao!
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