Signs of fall:
~Rich buttery sweet kabocha and butternut squashes and crispy caramelized cauliflower roasting in the oven
~Charlie romping through the woods, stirring up the spicy-earthy smell of fallen leaves
~Thick mists coiling over the river valley under the morning sun.
~Our scarecrow (who we have named Fiyero, for those who get the reference) propped jauntily in front of the house keeping watch over the mailbox.
~Apple Pie gelato. (Even more delicious mixed with Ricotta Brown Sugar).
Fall always feels like new beginnings to me, probably a remnant of that going-back-to-school feeling. So it’s a nice time to be starting a new writing project. The trick (for me) is not to rush into the writing too quickly. I can get impatient, want to start actual drafting before I’ve let the characters and plot and mood develop fully in my mind. It’s kind of like the tea eggs I attempted to cook this weekend. I didn’t let them steep long enough (or maybe I didn’t put enough soy and tea and spices in the marinating liquid to begin with) so they came out pale and only slightly marked by the patterns of the cracked shell.
This new idea may feel shiny and exciting, but if I don’t let it marinate long enough, it’s going to come out flavorless and bland. A plain boiled egg.
In the meantime I’ve been enjoying fall, getting excited for our upcoming vacation to Western Ireland, and reading. Some recent reads:
The Book of the Maidservant by Rebecca Barnhouse
This one pulled me right in with the engaging character of Johanna, maidservant to one of the most aggravating fictional (though based-on-a-real-historical-figure) character I’ve ever read. I almost had to stop reading because it was making me so upset to see how Johanna was mistreated by her mistress as they undertake a religious pilgrimage to Rome. Fortunately I persevered, and was able to cheer the ending and Johanna’s own arc as a character. I found the Barnhouse’s notes on the real historical context fascinating, and am looking forward to reading more of her work.
Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
A slim but lovely fantasy that pulled me in with the characters and the fascinating relationships between them. I adored the romance and the overall mood of the book. Fanciful and yet grounded in real emotion. I am very much looking forward to the sequel (and to Dolamore’s next book, which has mermaids, yay!).
I’m also currently listening to the audiobook of Erin Bow’s Plain Kate, which is particularly effective as the book is chock-full of lovely poetic language that I might not appreciate so well if I were reading (more quickly) on paper. Sometimes with reading, as with writing, and tea eggs, it’s best to let the words and the story steep into you slowly!
I hope fall is bringing all of you bright colors, tasty food, and good books as well!
Tags: reading, writing
OMG- if you named your scarecrow Fiyero it means one thing- WICKED! One of my favorite books and musicals of all tiime!
The book wasn't quite to my tastes but I adore the musical. And I love discovering that other people love it as much as I do!
I hated the ending of WICKED the book- but I LOVED the ending in the musical. We got to see in London – which was delightful!
Deva – it's interesting to hear your process – the idea of letting your new story ideas marinate. For me – it does percolate in the back of my head – but if I don't start writing I forget (sad, but true!) and I never figure out the story until I start writing. Though I swear it would all be so much easier of I could write a dang outline!
and Western Ireland!!! Wow! So exciting! When are you going? I've actually been dreaming about a trip there myself. Share some details!!
I feel the same way about the two WICKEDs. Plus, I love the broadway version music itself! How cool you got to see it in London!
It's really really important, I think, to figure out one's own process. I've definitely messed up books by starting too soon, and delayed books by starting too late. I still don't know if I'm always on target but I think I'm getting better. It's really good that you know your own process and when to start to avoid forgetting/losing the idea!
Re: Ireland. We're going Oct 9-17, flying in and out of Shannon and sticking to the West coast (Cliffs of Moher/Doolin/Burren, Connemara, Dingle). I'll definitely post some highlights here, and a link to my full trip report with all the details, which I will probably put over on slowtravel.com (I tend to write overly long trip reports, as evidenced by my last trip report: http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/tripreport.asp?tripid=... )
OMG, I've been up the Dingle Penninsula in Ireland- absolutely breathtaking. I would do it again a million times. Okay, I'd let someone else drive (those cliffs are scary, especially driving on the OTHER side of the road), but seriously, gorgeous- the landscapes, the water, the houses, the churches…I could go on and on. Plus all the signs are in Gaelic first and then English, which is so cool.
We went to the Blarney castle and kissed the Blarney Stone- that was awesome too.
And, I did like the ending of the musical Wicked way better than the book too. AND, I saw it in London too, Kiki.
I must admit the driving is the thing I am most worried about regarding the trip — we're renting a car, and neither of us has driven on the other side before. But hopefully if we take it slow and stop when we need to we won't end up driving off any cliffs!
I'm excited to hear how much you loved Dingle, Abby!
Oh you should be fine driving- I'm sure you'll pay attention way more than my brother-in-law (who was driving) did. And he didn't run us off any cliffs. There are lots of pull-off places too, so its easy to get out and take pictures and stuff. Have fun and good luck!
Thanks, Abby, it is reassuring to hear that!