Because of the way I write – I am not a planner and nor do I write outlines (I’ve found if I write an outline that one of two things happen: I lose enthusiasm for the story for I’ve already told it, or I simply don’t keep to the outline therefore making it a waste of time) – there is always a period at the beginning of a new novel in which I am finding my way.
It was like this when I began The Gathering. In writing the first chapters I introduced myself to who would hopefully be my main character, and felt out who they were and what were their circumstances. Several chapter in, I realised that the woman, Sarah, was not who I needed for the story.
That was how I found Erin, and she fit far better the story I knew I was trying to tell. I wrote happily, discovered Morghan and Ambrose, was satisfied with them. I met Stephan, who upon that first meeting I was sure would only be such a minor character that he would appear only in the one chapter. I met Winsome, who likewise I considered would only be known in that one initial meeting.
This is how I work. I write in a linear fashion, from the beginning of the story through to the end (I’ve heard other discovery writers pen chapters out of order then fit them together like a marvellous puzzle) and while I work, I hold an idea of what I want to achieve with the story, and the general feeling or atmosphere I want to evoke in the reader.
The rest is all a surprise. Indeed, most of the time, when I’ve got past the first 20-30 thousand words and the story is flowing, I feel more that I am excavating a story that somewhere, somehow already exists, rather than laboriously making it up as I go along.
I was however, 50 thousand words into The Gathering (to give you an idea, the finished book is 145 thousand words) I discovered that I didn’t like Erin. She was angry in a way that felt at odds with the story as it wanted to be. So, delicately, I went back and cut or changed all the scenes in which she appeared, and the result was the character you all know today.
The next two books (The Belonging and The Rising) flowed well from the start, quite likely because I was continuing a story already begun and I knew everyone, and I knew what they wanted. The Singing caused me a little consternation, because I felt as though the story might have been finished in The Rising, brought well enough to a natural end that I did not know what The Singing would be about. Not even an inkling. But, it was already out on pre-order, and I’d decided at the beginning that I would write four to begin with, so it had to be written, no matter that I did not know what it would be about.
So, I began, with one idea in my mind: what if Erin’s mother turned up in Wellsford? I wrote, I set the scene for that idea, and then the story took on a life of its own, and flowed and I transcribed it onto the page. I’ve always felt like story-writing is a bit of a peculiar thing. They have a shape and a weight of their own, a form and a function that I’m unaware of giving them, and so to me, it feels as though I discover them, rather than invent them.
Right now, I am working on an as-yet untitled (I’m pretty lousy at titles) bonus novel. My plan was to write about sacred wells and springs and to put it into the form of a short 30-40 thousand word novel (about the size of The Threading), in which a young, seventeen-year-old Morghan, just arrived at Wilde Grove, would learn about them.
Which is what I started writing. Twice. I got as far as 20 thousand words, and then realised that I wasn’t writing the story that wanted to be written. So, I started over, using perhaps three of the previous chapters and throwing away the rest. (I don’t really permanently throw them away; they just get moved to a trash file).
So now I am working on a bonus novel that will be much longer than I had planned, and tell quite a different story. Shall I tell you a little more about it? Be a tease? Morghan is still seventeen, new to Wilde Grove, and Selena is training her. That much is still the same. There is still mention of wells and springs also. But for the rest, the story I’m uncovering is not one I expected to be telling at all.
I’ll have it finished in April, and available soon after. It still won’t be as long as the rest of the books, I think, unless Selena decides she needs her own storyline in it. I don’t think that will happen, but hey, what do I know for sure?
Only that I’m enjoying myself enormously.
This does mean that Wilde Grove Book 5 probably won’t be launched until July, a month later than I’d planned, but I don’t think you’ll mind too much, will you? I think you’ll enjoy yourself with this bonus book right along with me.
One more thing! I listen to music while I write, a habit I began back in 1995 when I first tried my hand at writing a novel. I have a playlist for these Wilde Grove and Selena novels, and I play it over and over and over. Hearing it tells that part of me that needs to know, that it is writing time. The music quiets that part of my mind that wonders what the weather’s going to be like and all the other irrelevant things, and lets me relax into storytelling.
If you’re interested in the Wilde Grove playlist that Valerie put together for me, you can listen to it here.
Katherine Genet is the author of the Wilde Grove mythic/visionary fiction series, as well as complementary non-fiction. She has been walking a pagan path for 30 years and is a shamanic Druid, spirit worker, and priestess of Elen of the Ways.
No we wont mind waiting at all , we most certainly will enjoy it with you.
That is wonderful to know! Thank you.
The music is lovely thanks for sharing. I love how similar the Scandinavian countryside is to ours. I am assuming you have snow on the mountain tops as we do xx
We do indeed have snow! This area is gorgeous all year round, but somehow these mountains really come into their own with the snow. This morning they are frosted on top with a collar of thick cloud. Beautiful.
No we wont mind waiting at all , we most certainly will enjoy it with you.
That is wonderful to know! Thank you.
The music is lovely thanks for sharing. I love how similar the Scandinavian countryside is to ours. I am assuming you have snow on the mountain tops as we do xx
We do indeed have snow! This area is gorgeous all year round, but somehow these mountains really come into their own with the snow. This morning they are frosted on top with a collar of thick cloud. Beautiful.
I really enjoy reading about your writing process. This was very helpful. I wrote what was supposesld to be a short story in highschool (way too many years ago lol), and my teacher said it was much more than a short story, and that I should work on it and get it published. Over the years I’ve made many attempts to re-write it. I deconstructed and created a “proper outline”, but it always felt wrong and I would stall out. I eventually just gave up on it, assuming I was not meant to publish. I still write occasionally for my own pleasure and therapy but having read about your process I think I might take some time to revisit and do it my own way. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.
I am glad to have been some inspiration. When I began writing novels I’d only had instruction in crafting poetry and short stories and know nothing of the longer forms. I think this was a good thing as it never occurred to me that an outline might be done first. I went by instinct and that told me to just begin the story. The couple times I’ve tried outlining I never wrote the story because it felt like I’d already told it and it no longer interested me. I have to have that urgent feeling of discovery. Perhaps you are the same ????
I really enjoy reading about your writing process. This was very helpful. I wrote what was supposesld to be a short story in highschool (way too many years ago lol), and my teacher said it was much more than a short story, and that I should work on it and get it published. Over the years I’ve made many attempts to re-write it. I deconstructed and created a “proper outline”, but it always felt wrong and I would stall out. I eventually just gave up on it, assuming I was not meant to publish. I still write occasionally for my own pleasure and therapy but having read about your process I think I might take some time to revisit and do it my own way. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.
I am glad to have been some inspiration. When I began writing novels I’d only had instruction in crafting poetry and short stories and know nothing of the longer forms. I think this was a good thing as it never occurred to me that an outline might be done first. I went by instinct and that told me to just begin the story. The couple times I’ve tried outlining I never wrote the story because it felt like I’d already told it and it no longer interested me. I have to have that urgent feeling of discovery. Perhaps you are the same ????
I am obsessed with the Grove playlist!!! I am listening to it every morning to get my Heart and Soul a jump start to my days… The first time I listened to it I got a very visceral/physical response deep in my Heart chakra… perhaps a past life in a Nordic country? All I know is this music really speaks to me. Thank you for sharing… xoxo
Perhaps a past life there indeed!
I am obsessed with the Grove playlist!!! I am listening to it every morning to get my Heart and Soul a jump start to my days… The first time I listened to it I got a very visceral/physical response deep in my Heart chakra… perhaps a past life in a Nordic country? All I know is this music really speaks to me. Thank you for sharing… xoxo
Perhaps a past life there indeed!