This was the day

My ideas usually come not at my desk writing but in the midst of living. Anais Nin

Today was the day. Today I wrote the opening paragraphs. I'd thought to spend days (weeks, really) drafting an outline, creating character sketches, compiling resources, delving into research. I knew, unlike the short stories I’ve written, I couldn’t pants a novel. Especially not historical fiction.

All those things await me. I know they must be done. I’ll work better within the comfort of structure, with direction and goals. I’m a Virgo after all: I emerged from the womb with an outline clenched in my wee fist. Of course, the ink was smeared so I have no idea what that outline contained. Hopefully I haven’t skipped over anything important. Sucks about the piano lessons. That was out of my control, anyway.

But damn if Virgos aren’t always working from a plan.

And that’s always been part of my problem. I worry too much about the how of the thing, instead of getting on with the doing of it.

So on this warm and glowing July day I sat myself - laptop in the spot for which it is named - at the base of a tree on a hill overlooking Elliott Bay. In fact, here’s the view, recorded and presented for the sake of posterity:

And I wrote. I wrote what I thought might be the beginning. I wanted to introduce myself to one of my principal characters, the woman who is going to carry the main thread of the story. I got her started, but then another central character started tapping a toe, suggesting his storyline would be the better one with which to begin. So he got a few paragraphs. Then I realized the real beginning was several miles away and months earlier. The page breaks accumulated as the first chapters shook out. Word count? Not so much. Racing brain? I pounded out the miles. Full throttle joy.

And there they are. My characters. Alive. Centuries apart from each other and an ocean away from me, but they are breathing. And heaven help me, I’m terrified. None of us has any idea what we’re in for.

I’d been tossing around three ideas for a novel for some time. I’d put off examining any of them seriously until a) I’d finished my wine certification program. Well, that ended in May. I still have no idea if I passed. But I’ve mostly stopped analyzing to bits every glass of wine I meet. And b) I’d finished my writing program. I mailed my final story June 21 and hit the road the same day to attend the delightful Chuckanut Writers Conference in Bellingham, WA.

Then life turned to custard. I'm working on that proverbial reclamation of mojo. Mourning is an ebb and flow of anger, grief, peace and acceptance; sometimes you are drowning, other times you are stranded. What you hope for is to prolong the times when you are just riding the waves. If you aren't a regular follower of my blog, I'm referring to this post: The Scariest Thing.

But at that conference I had the first inkling I could shape at least one of these ideas into something resembling a story. The ideas battled for attention, each presenting a sound argument why theirs was the one I should pursue: one wouldn’t require research, one would be the most commercially viable, one would be legit literary.

So I asked myself, “WWSKD?” And my self replied, “Stephen King would tell you the same thing he told everyone in his most excellent On Writing. ‘Write what you love to read.’ So, if I follow that astute piece of advice, the choice comes down to Jamie Oliver cookbooks, which are already written by Jamie Oliver, and the story which now has its own folder on my hard drive. It even has a title.

I started a ~~story~~ novel today. Check in with me in ten years. I’ll let you know how it’s going.

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Comment by Yvonne Watterson on July 15, 2012 at 10:41am: Julie

Thank you so much for the good wishes,Julie. And to you as you write out your Scary Things.

Blooming at all is the important thing, right? I need to find that forum ... I know only enough about social media to be just a little dangerous ;-)

Yes. I am a veritable Virgo-magnet. Anytime I lose my Aries mind, I just take and breath and ask W.W.A.V.D ;-)

Comment by Julie Christine Johnson on July 15, 2012 at 10:33am: Yvonne, what a gift your writing is. I wish you peace and healing as you face down and work through your own Scary Things.

I wish now I had turned to writing sooner as a way to explore the hurts and further the healing, but perhaps I wasn't ready- perhaps my voice and my heart were still circling the universe, in search of each other (thank goodness for the Blooming Late forum here- at least I know I'm not alone!). If anything, coming to the page so "late" makes me even more grateful for the joy and satisfaction it brings.

I pity you being surrounded by Virgos. My poor-long suffering husband.... :)

Comment by Yvonne Watterson on July 14, 2012 at 10:17am: You Virgos!! I'm married to one, my best friend is one . . .

Julie, I visited your Scariest Thing and was broken by it. I am sorry. The thing about scariest things is that as they're happening you can't imagine anything more scary happening again. Ever.

I was in the middle of a life being lived when a scary thing happened, and so now I'm writing it out (or riding it out depending on the day!) I'm trying to take the time to consider the lilies as my blog title proclaims, but get sidetracked occasionally by Scary Things.

Will be following you -

Yvonne

Comment by Julie Christine Johnson on July 14, 2012 at 9:07am: Daphne- I found you and I'm following!

Many, many thanks, Peggy, Monica and Susie, for the words of encouragement. Peggy- I am so delighted for you. What an accomplishment- I can just imagine how it felt to have that proof in your hands- to know that soon other readers will be exploring the world you have create. Congratulations! I look forward to following your success!

Comment by Peggy Strack on July 12, 2012 at 6:34pm: Hi Julie,

Congratulations and keep going. I had an idea for a novel four years ago. It took me one year to stop thinking about and start writing it. It's finally ready for publication. The proof copy came in the mail a few days ago. What an incredible moment. Keep going, one word, one edit, one change at a time. You will get there. All the best ~ Peggy

Comment by Daphne Q on July 12, 2012 at 4:11pm: Julie:

Oops... gave you the wrong website... it's daphneq.com... sorry!

Comment by Susie Klein on July 12, 2012 at 10:56am: wow, this is wonderful, inspiring and so beautifully written that I felt like I was there in the grass right next to you! Congratulations on a great beginning!

Comment by Julie Christine Johnson on July 11, 2012 at 6:15pm: Thank you, Daphne! I'm so excited for you and your journey. I would love to follow your blog- can you repost the link? daphne.com brings me to a floral import site. It's lovely, but I'd much rather read your writing ;)

Comment by Daphne Q on July 11, 2012 at 5:30pm: Hi, Julie:

Really enjoyed your essay. Love the photo. So important to have a good scene to look out upon when writing.

I've been writing for months now on my first novel. Almost done with the second draft. You're right you can't "pants a novel." Love that phrase.

If you're interested, I've been writing a blog about my journey. It's at daphne.com

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