Echoes Series

Mental Plotting

2008-09-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

Soon I will start my next novel. But not yet. First I had to recover from a bad cold that hit me out of nowhere. (The cough is nearly gone now.) And this weekend I'm moving back into my basement office, which my third son recently vacated. He still lives at home, but he moved to a different part of the house. I have missed my office!

So when I'm sette led I plan to sit down and write a new novel that has nothing to do with Joshua Adams and his family. My new protagonist is Nina Weston. She's tough and determined and I'm looking forward to working with her.

But not yet. I never start a new novel after Tuesday because the weekend comes too soon and I get very little writing done when my kids and husband are home on the weekend. So far now I'm busy plotting away.

Nina already has a story. In fact, I already wrote it once, two years ago, as my NaNo contribution. But she's grown quite a bit in the last two years and many parts of the old story simply don't fit any more. I can see her now. At night while drifting off to sleep I write whole paragraphs in my head. I'm almost ready.

On Monday I'm going to the eye doctor for the first time in about seven years. It probably is time for a new pair of glasses. But on Tuesday I will sit at my laptop and begin to paint Nina's life on the pages.

I can't wait!

Another Book Finished. . .well, almost

2008-09-03T19:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time. I keep trying to become more regular around here. One day I'll make it.

About three weeks ago I completed writing and revising my latest book, Silence. It still needs to be read by the editor and I know there will be changes. In fact, sometimes during the day I think of something I should have included. But my publisher warned me not to touch the manuscript until the editor has had a go at it. So I'm behaving myself.

I do have another project in the works. Last night, as I drifted off, I wrote the first couple of pages in my head. But I woke up with a bad head cold and I'm in no shape to tackle a new novel right now. Give me a few more days. After my sinuses open up and my cough abates, there will still be time.

Writing is harder these days because I'm obsessed with the 2008 presidential race. I'm deeply disappointed in the recent VP pick--she's speaking now as I type. Not impressed. I plan to vote for the other guy. The one with the funny name. The one who will work to reform the policies of the last eight years and rebuild our economy, among other things.

So that's where I am these days. I hope it won't be too much longer before I get back here with an update.

Endings

2008-08-01T18:41:00.001-07:00

I'm back, and this time I hope to be more consistent. Tomorrow is my birthday so I thought it would be a good time to resume.

The last time I wrote, I think I was working on Silence. I still am. I finished the first draft and have gone through some revisions so I was ready to call it finished, or at least ready for the editor. But during a recent rereading I hit a snag.

Something happened in real life that related strongly to my story. The solution in the story was neat and tidy but the real life results were painful. I looked at the ending of Silence and realized I wasn't finished at all.

First I changed the ending. But I reached a dead end. That's when I knew I would have to go back to the beginning to make my new ending work. So that's where I am. I have a good 200 pages or more before I approach the ending, and I'm busy building up to that point.

I hope that, when I get there, the ending will work. This is the problem, of course, with writing by the seat of one's pants.

But I still think it's more fun that way.

A Time to Read

2008-05-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

I meant to post earlier this week, but it's been busy. This was the week of the Kentucky presidential primary and I spent the first two days canvassing for the candidate of my choice.

I've spent the last two days reading about politics. Today the blogs and websites were full of controversy. I actually became tense at times. Then I went to my candidate's blog to read more hopeful posts. That helped.

There is a time for everything, they say. For the last few weeks it has been my time to write. Now it's time for me to read. Articles, essays, blog comments, and the occasional novel. As long as words are involved, it's bound to be stimulating.

Fighting the Addiction

2008-05-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

Today was my third full day without writing. Oh, I penned some emails and, of course, I'm posting here. But that's been it. No characters. No plots. No thinking about clever ways to turn a phrase.

I miss it.

After putting my family (and my body) through marathon writing sessions during the last month (on one day I wrote 30 pages) I certainly need the break. But I don't think I can go cold turkey.

I've had a plot in mind for some time now. I even wrote a couple of pages. Tonight I opened the file. Now I've begun thinking about where I can go with this.

I won't do any marathon sessions--at least not until I'm further along in the book. But I can't just stop writing. It's not natural.

Out of Focus

2008-05-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned yesterday, I have spent quite a bit of time working on my next book. For weeks I did little else. My to-do list lengthened (mental list, that is--I was too busy to actually write anything down) and my house got messier. On some nights I didn't go to sleep until 3 a.m., especially toward the end when I was sure "today would be the day" and I would finish. My characters generally had other ideas, dragging me deeper into a never-ending story (which did finally end) that began to resemble the Democratic party's primary race.

Yesterday I took a well-deserved rest. Today, I thought, I would wake up and tackle life. That is, until I opened my eyes. I was more tired than I had expected and the sky was a dismal gray. So I slumped through the day, catching up on emails and reading nearly every post in the CNN blogs.

I thought I would get back to life tomorrow, running long-postponed errands and jumping into spring cleaning, but they're predicting rain all day. Not only rain, but thunderstorms. We know that April showers bring May flowers and Mayflowers bring Pilgrims. The question in Kentucky these days is, What do May showers bring?

I crave sunshine. Really, I can't go long without it. That's a major reason why we moved to Kentucky. They say this weather is unusual--just like the countless snow days this winter. That doesn't encourage me.

This is the grayest May I've ever seen. While I was obsessed with writing my book, I could try to ignore the gloomy weather. But now what do I do?

Tomorrow I'll keep reading emails (I fell very far behind) and watch my soap. I'll try to do something productive. But I'm tempted to reopen the file of my book and start reading from the beginning again. I lived with these characters so long. I miss them. And even when something sad happens, it's better than looking out at the gloomy gray sky.

I'm Back!

2008-05-13T15:54:00.001-07:00

First, I need to apologize for being gone so long. Back in March, when I last posted, I said I would be back much sooner. But for the last five weeks I've been snowed under.

What was I doing? Frolicking in Florida? Watching the soaps? Eating bon bons?

Of course not. (Though frolicking in Florida does sound nice.) I was writing.

And, as of last night, I have completed a new book. Silence, the final book in the Echoes Series, is done. And I'm relieved.

Today I didn't frolic but I did take time to do not much of anything. In the morning I napped and read. In the afternoon I caught the latest installment of my favorite soap (I've watched it off and on since college) and then put in a Fred Astaire/Audrey Hepburn movie. It's been nice.

Tomorrow I'll have to get back to work--starting with my desk. I haven't flipped the page on my planner since April 23. And my planner is under a pile of mail and snack wrappers. I'll unpack my suitcase--from my trip in March--and do some laundry. I'll rejoin the human race.

My manuscript weighed in, finally, at 450 pages. You know how a 30 minute sitcom becomes a two-hour series finale. It's kind of like that. Later I'll drop a few clues (maybe).

I am back. I plan to post here regularly now, insha Allah. If I slip up, feel free to call me on it.

See you tomorrow!

2008-03-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

How is everyone?

I stopped writing for a couple of reasons. One, I often felt that I was writing into a void. Two, my internet program was giving me so much trouble that I couldn't make any changes to the blog without losing my internet access.

My son solved my internet problem a couple of weeks ago. And I've heard from some readers who said they missed my posts. That was all I needed.

I'm out of town now. Insha Allah, I'll be back home this weekend. Tune in for a new update.

And thanks for the encouragement!

Back to Writing

2008-02-18T22:04:00.000-08:00

Are you writing?

So am I. Silence is shaping up. This book is taking longer than any other and I hope that means it will be better. Of course, that remains to be seen.

Oops, was I plagiarizing? I'm thankful writers aren't held to the same standards as politicians because there really is nothing new under the sun (oops, I did it again!).

Choosing Wisely

2008-02-04T16:42:00.000-08:00

I've decided to depart from my usual discussion of reading and writing. There is a book review, sort of, in my message today. But my concentration is on the man who wrote the book.

Tomorrow millions of Americans will go to the polls or caucuses and vote for a Democratic presidential candidate. Unfortunately I won't be among them--our primary isn't held until May--but I will be watching closely to see what happens, especially in my home state of Missouri.

I'm doing what I can to make sure voters know about Barack Obama. He's more than a few nice slogans and campaign rallies. Much more.

I just finished reading Obama's first book, Dreams From My Father. He wrote that book when he was in his 30s and already by then he had vast experiences that prepared him for leadership.

Most people know that Obama attended school in Indonesia when he was young. I've always laughed at the concerns about the 'madrassah'--the main reason being that Indonesia is very secular and even their Islamic schools would be considered liberal compared to Islamic schools elsewhere. I've been to Indonesia and visited Islamic schools.What Obama did learn was that people can live vastly different lives and still have the same basic concerns. That lesson was reinforced by the time he's spent in Kenya with his relatives. Unlike other politicians, Barack Obama didn't travel to Indonesia and Kenya as a foreign dignitary, being greeted by the leaders in ritual ceremony. He lived among the people. He knows how people live in different parts of the world.

After eight years of "with us or against us," don't you think it's time for a leader who seeks negotiation over confrontation, someone who understands that people are people whether they live in brick mansions or grass huts?

And don't you think it's time for a leader who reaches across boundary lines of race, ethnicity, and party politics? We've had enough division in this country these last few years. How much more partisanship can we sustain?

I've read Senator Obama's policy statements and listened closely as he's outlined his positions in speeches. He provides a balanced approach--health care that is provided but not mandated, international relations that start with negotiation while leaving force as an option, economic solutions that start from the bottom down instead of the top up. (We've done that for 28 years and it still hasn't worked.)

Yes, he provides excitement and that's great. As a former social studies teacher I think it's wonderful that young people are buying back into the democratic process. He also provides hope. Most importantly, he will come to the White House with well-developed plans to raise this nation from the depths and help us reach our potential.

For all these reasons and more, I hope and pray that Barack Obama is the next president of the United States.

Silence

2008-01-28T20:03:00.000-08:00

First, I'm sorry for my own silence on this blog. Sometimes I simply don't know what to say. I thought a vacation might help.

I am working on Silence, the final book in the Echoes Series. So far, I've written three or four different versions of this book and I'm still not quite satisfied. I'm working on Silence.6 now. It's coming along. I'm trying to keep my own opinions out of the book and let the characters tell me where to go. Trying to force the plot doesn't work for me.

I do think this latest version is the one you'll read. The others may pop up sometime, somewhere as short stories or novels with other characters. I like the ideas and I've saved them. They don't fit the Joshua Adams family, however.

In my last post I mentioned death. I know for certain one character who will die. I can go ahead and say that I won't kill Joshua. I thought about it but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I have been working with Joshua since 2002 and he's nearly a member of my family. When the series is done, I know I'll miss him.

Maybe that's why it's taking me so long to complete Silence. It's like sending a kid off to school the first time.

Be sure that I am working to make Silence worthy of my readers and good enough to carry the Echoes Series distinction.

What Do You Think About. . .

2008-01-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

For the next few posts, I plan to ask you, the reader, what you think about decisions writers make.

My first question is: What do you think about the death of a favorite character?

This has been a topic of discussion on a couple of my writers' groups. Among the writers I know, there are different opinions. Some fear they will lose readers by killing a main or a favorite character. Others contend that death is part of life and our work should reflect that.

Imagine that you're reading a book and everything is going well. You like the style and you can identify, especially, with one of the characters. Now imagine that character dying--maybe from an illness or from an accident. How do you feel? Will you keep reading? Will you read the next book that writer produces or will you turn to more pleasant stories?

Some of my characters have died throughout Echoes Series books. The first death, in Echoes, was very hard to me to write and I actually mourned that character for sometime afterward.

I have been considering killing off a well-loved character. I've planned his/her (I won't give it away) death a few times but the story becomes bogged down. Maybe he/she shouldn't die.

What do you think about that?

2008!

2008-01-07T19:08:00.000-08:00

I'm sure we all have plans. I hope 2008 will be a better year, for me personally as well as for others. I have the feeling it will be, though only Allah knows.

In March, if everything goes according to schedule, my publisher will be releasing the next book in the Echoes Series. Ripples, the fourth book in the series, is primarily about the next generation. Brad, Chris, and Isaiah are older. Their children are marrying and having children. And it's time for three of those children to take center stage.

The main characters of Ripples are Brad's son Kyle, Chris's son Isaiah, and Joshua's daughter Jennifer. They're all near the same age and have had similar experiences while growing up but young adulthood presents a special challenge to each of them.

Kyle must deal with limitations and loss. Isaiah confronts his father in a battle of faith and will. Jennifer navigates the challenges of a multi-cultural marriage and struggles to define herself.

In 2008 I also plan to attend more book fairs and Islamic conferences, insha Allah. Maybe I'll see you at one of them!

What are Your Plans?

2007-12-17T19:10:00.001-08:00

Will you be writing for the next two weeks, or will you enjoy a break and a time with family? Maybe a little of both?

I'll be taking a break and family time, which means no more blogs for the next two weeks. While I'm gone, I sure would appreciate some suggestions on where this blog should go. I started out with a clear vision but sometimes I feel I lost that along the way.

Keep writing. Stay warm. Be safe.

I'll see you next year, insha Allah.

Progress

2007-12-13T19:25:00.000-08:00

I read through and revised parts of 17 pages yesterday. Not a milestone, but progress.

Rome wasn't built in a day and books aren't written that quickly either.

I think one of the major differences between a writer and a non-writers is that a writer is too stubborn to give up even when common sense says she should.

Page by Page

2007-12-12T18:44:00.000-08:00

I have been working on this one book, Silence, for about a year now. At least five times I have started writing. Twice I finished a complete draft but I wasn't satisfied. Now I'm going back once more.

The early pages and chapters work well. I know where the story breaks down. I simply haven't found the magic tonic yet to bring it all together. I'm working on it.

I've decided to create a new file. I copy and paste a few pages, maybe a full chapter, at a time. I read through that chapter carefully, finding ways to express myself better. I delete some sentences and add more for clarity.

I'm sure it will be a slow process. This time I'm determined to get it right. I know the dangerous curves in the plotline lie ahead of me. I hope I can negotiate them smoothly this time.

Just Blogs and Emails

2007-12-11T20:24:00.001-08:00

Not a single word or a single sentence today. Unless you count blogs and emails. It's not writer's block. It's merely the knowledge that I have many things to do and I can't afford to spend my time enjoying myself at the keyboard.

Oh, and we had a very, very nice day today. Around 66 degrees and sunny. Who can work on a December day like that?

Hmm. I wonder if more novels are written in cold climates.

Reading and Writing

2007-12-10T18:50:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I read a book. I was tempted to review it here, but I'm afraid I was in such a hurry to finish the story that I missed much of the symbolism. This is the sort of book I should have read when I was younger and more keenly aware and analytical.

Life of Pi. Is it simply a story of survival? I don't think so. I really would have to read this book again to get the full meaning. Not now, though. Sometime later.

I was surprised at the references to Islam. They were, for the most part, accurate. But no one could call this an Islamic book.

I would have to say that if you're looking for something to read and you're in a deeply analytical mood, you might want to read Book of Pi.

And as for writing? I always write. No new progress to report today, but there will soon be, insha Allah.

Still 'Falling'

2007-12-06T19:35:00.000-08:00

I'm getting there. The plot is probably 2/3 done. I keep thinking about Silence and how much I want to work on that story.

So what should I do? Keep writing the story I'm on and finish it, at least, so I can come back later and at least have a full novel to revise?

Or abandon it and begin working on Silence?

I think Falling will be a good read, once it goes through some heavy revisions. But my heart hasn't been in the story for the last six days.

It's the age-old question. Go for excitement or go for commitment?

Islamic Fiction

2007-12-05T17:50:00.000-08:00

I'm a member of www.shelfari.com. Shelfari is a great site for bringing together readers, and often writers, from throughout the world. I've made many cyberfriends through this site.

There are many groups on Shelfari, most of them dealing with a particular genre or maybe a certain author. This last summer I started a group for Islamic Fiction.

A few members trickled in. I started some discussions but there were few, if any, responses. After about six weeks I decided I should close the group. But I have a hard time quitting anything, even a lost cause, so I kept it open and didn't visit too often so I wouldn't get depressed.

Suddenly, members are flowing in and Islamic Fiction is revived. Last night we had twenty-six members. When I checked about an hour ago the number was up to thirty-nine. Discussions are going on that I didn't have to jumpstart. The group is alive.

Storytelling has been going on throughout the Muslim world for hundreds of years. In the last few decdes some Arab novelists have emerged. Now a dedicated group of writers is working to establish Islamic Fiction in North America. There are opposing forces, and some losses, but there are increasingly more victories.

Some Muslims contend that writing a story is like lying. But when a reader picks up a book of fiction, he or she knows the story didn't really happen. There are other reasons for telling a story, from entertainment to a way to impart universal truths.

I like what Mark Twain said about fiction. "The difference between fiction and non-fiction," he said, "is that fiction has to make sense."

Falling or Dragging

2007-12-04T19:11:00.000-08:00

I thought I would be finished with my NaNo novel by now, but it continues to haunt me. I haven't yet reached the conclusion and I can't stop until I get there.

I'm not writing much these days, though. There are so many other things to do. And I'm not talking about Christmas. I've bought Eid gifts for my family. I do need to send a package to my granddaughter. But I don't have to worry about decorations and parties. We'll have a simple Eid and a lot of family time during winter break. Nice and easy, insha Allah.

Still, my to-do list is long every day and I almost never complete every task. And I need to write. I must finish Falling.

The novel is dragging these days. I do think it will make a good story right now. But I'm ready to set it aside and move on to something else for a change. I've developed a middle-age case of ADD.

Have you ever felt dragged down by a project or manuscript? What did you do about it?

A Short Achievement

2007-12-03T18:24:00.000-08:00

I finished polishing a short story today and sent it in for a national contest. It's probably hubris to think I'll win anything, but I like taking the chance.

Short stories don't come easy for me. It feels very good to be able to accomplish this.

Now I need to finish writing Falling so I can get back to Silence.

So Many Projects

2007-11-29T17:41:00.000-08:00

NaNoWriMo 2007 is over for me. Now I have another writing assignment. I need to finish writing the story and start revising it.

I would also like to work on the story I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2006. And I need to revise Silence, the fifth book in the Echoes Series. Plus I have a few other new projects I'd like to starts. Two books, one short story, and at least one article.

I wish I didn't have to sleep.

The Day After

2007-11-28T17:51:00.000-08:00

It was nice to wake up this morning knowing that I'd already accomplished my 50,000 word goal. Soon after I woke up, my 18-year old joined me in this achievement.

Unfortunately, I have written nothing today. My document is open, waiting for me. I'm sure I will add to my word count before I sleep, insha Allah. But for now it's enough to "rest on my laurels."

I did it!

2007-11-27T21:20:00.000-08:00

Tonight I finally reached 50,000 words. I downloaded my count and I'm officially recognized as a winner (though my first download recognized only 49,999 words--talk about frustration!).

This is my second year attempting and completing the NaNoWriMo challenge. I have two great novel ideas and first drafts. I made a feeble attempt, a few months ago, to turn my first NaNo work into a full novel. That character needs a little revamping though. She's strong, but not quite likable yet.

This year's NaNo will be easier, I think, when I go back to revise. First, though, I have to finish writing the story. I probably have another 25,000 words to go.

I have always dreaded autumn. The trees are brown or bare. The skies are too often gray. The air is cold. But all that has changed with NaNoWriMo. Now I can hardly wait until next November!

Day of Feasting on Words

2007-11-22T19:52:00.000-08:00

We didn't have a turkey this year. No one came to our house and my husband's not that crazy about turkey. But we did have a day together as a family.

And I had a wonderful time writing. So far I've added 3000 words to my NaNo novel. I have at least an hour of writing before I need to think about sleep. I've had quite a feast.

Surprise!

2007-11-21T20:48:00.000-08:00

I introduced a new character today. I hadn't planned on him earlier but he just sort of worked his way into the plot. And once he was there he made sure I magnified his role. A simple extra has become a major supporting character. I'm still not where he came from. But I do know that now he exists, he's not going away.

That happened with my latest book too--Ripples, which will be published in March. I introduced a new character, intending for her to be only temporary. The trouble is that she wouldn't leave. Now she's an integral part of that story.

I dread unannounced company--especially at times like this when my living room is disheveled. But I love having characters who drop in, especially the ones who decide to stay.

Only 30,034?

2007-11-20T18:16:00.000-08:00

I like my main character and, overall, I'm comfortable with my character. But right now 20,000 more words might as well be 20 million. I know I'll make it, insha Allah. I can do it. Just write a little over 2000 words a day and I'm there. And this time next year maybe this novel will be polished enough to submit.

But right now I'm questioning my sanity. Why did I so enthusiastically sign up for NaNoWriMo? must have been crazy.

It's kind of like childbirth. I'm looking at the pain and suffering ahead of me before this novel is finished and I'm swearing I'll never do it again. But in two weeks I'll look at my finished novel with pride and relief. Childbirth is more difficult and the results are more rewarding, but you get the picture.

I think I can. I know I can. I'm over halfway there. . .

28,000 Words and Counting

2007-11-19T18:45:00.000-08:00

I'm putting on a little steam in the NaNo challenge, though I don't think it's possible for me to catch up with my son, who has something like 35,000 words. At least I'm not out of the game.

I'm not sure this is the best way to write a novel. The problem is that I concentrate too much on the word count. My story is shaping up, however, and I think it has potential. It's better than the one I wrote last November. I like my main character better--even though she has some major flaws. Who doesn't?

One of the best things about the NaNo exercise is that it's given me time to rethink my efforts on Silence. Ten days ago I was ready to scrap the whole novel and start over again. Now I can see better what to keep and what to delete. In December, I'll be ready to finally complete that book. I've done so before, but I could never print it off because I was always changing the plot.

November is a good time to do something different and strive for the goal. And in a year or two I may be ready to introduce Laurel Bremer to the world.

May I. . .

2007-11-15T16:45:00.000-08:00

brag a little?

I've said this before and I'll probably say it again, though I will try to say it in a slightly different way. Three of my kids are writers, and I am really happy about that. (The youngest three. The oldest three are not writers, but one has writing potential and the other two have a real gift of speech--they could sell gun control to the NRA.)
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About thirty minutes ago my 14-year old (who wants me to call him a 15-year old, which he will be 15 by the end of year) asked me to read through an analytical paper he wrote for his English class. It's not perfect, but it's a whole lot better than what I was able to write when I was his age. Look for works by S. A. Jitmoud to hit the bookstores sometime in the next ten years. (Yes, he has already decided on a pen name.)

And my 18-year old is doing the NaNo thing. He won't tell me the plot or even the genre, but I do know he has over 25,000--leaving his mother in the dust (I hope to pass 19,000 before I go to sleep tonight). This kid is a perfectionist and I appreciate NaNo for giving him permission to write without worry. He's on his way too. (But he hasn't decided on a pen name yet.)

My youngest, at 12, is constantly coming up with stories. At this point I'm not sure if he'll be a writer or just a really good storyteller--and you can't knock the oral tradition. He certainly has an imagination, and he knows how to string together sentences too. We'll see.

I am proud of all of my kids. It is satisfying, though, to see some of them follow in my footsteps--and I'm sure these three will all pass me up. I don't mind.

'Falling' Into a Habit

2007-11-14T17:37:00.000-08:00

I started with a title and a simple premise. Laurel Bremer is Falling, in more ways than one. Every day I see her taking shape on my screen, her life and her personality developing in front of me.

I'm more than 16,000 words into my NaNo novel now. It's time to put on the steam. Still far from halfway but I can see where Laurel is heading. While I wash dishes I write whole passages in my mind. Now I just need to type them out.

I'm always amazed at the evolution of a novel. It starts with a word, a simple idea, and grows. If carefully tended, it may mature into a published work--a bestseller even.

I can dream, can't I?

Two Thousand Words

2007-11-13T17:58:00.000-08:00

I was beginning to lag far behind in my NaNo effort. This weekend put a real dent into my ambitions.

I've had a good day of writing, though. Two thousand words and counting. I'm still a little behind, but I'm not worried. Not yet.

Meanwhile, and most importantly, my story is taking shape. This is probably the most frustrating point for me in writing a book. I know where I want to go but I can't get there fast enough. There are only so many hours in the day and, like it or not, I must take time out to sleep and do other meaningful tasks.

I think I can. I know I can. Insha Allah.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. . .

2007-11-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

Three people in this household signed up for NaNoWriMo this year. One, my 14 year old, dropped out early due to homework. My 18 year old, on the other hand, is going strong. He's exceeded the recommended daily word count and really flying.

I have a little over 10,000 words. Not as much as I should have at this time of the month. Last week was incredibly busy. I was out of town over the weekend. I did manage to crank out maybe a thousand words in the last few days. This morning I was too tired to even think about writing.

Tonight before I go to bed I'll take a stab at producing a page or two. Of course, once I get started it will suddenly become much easier. But sometime soon I'm going to have to put on some serious steam. I made it last year. I hope to do it again.

I think I can.

Website

2007-11-08T20:26:00.001-08:00

Check out my new website. It's still a work in progress, but I think it's ready to go public.

www.jamilahkolocotronis.com

NaNo Progress

2007-11-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

I have been working on my NaNo novel for a week and I should have somewhere around 12,000 words by now--if I were trying to meet the minimum daily recommendation in order to reach 50,000. But I'm not there yet. I have cracked 8000, and may surpass 9000 before going to bed tonight.

It was the same last year. Worse, actually. I started very slow. My first day's count didn't even pass 1000. But I made it by day 28 or 29. So I'm not worried.

The plot is forming in my mind but I'm too busy to put it all down into words. That's okay too. Sometimes plots come out better when they're given time to simmer.

I haven't posted an excerpt yet because everything I've written so far is really just introduction. Well, I am about 300 words into the meat of the story.

The important thing is to keep on trucking.

Time to Write

2007-11-06T18:09:00.000-08:00

Today I worked on my NaNo novel in between parent-teacher conferences. By the time I came home I was too tired to write.

I still am. I hope my life settles down soon. I hate to leave my characters waiting. (Last night I stopped when a character was in the middle of labor. That's how tired I was.)

Good night.

Solidarity

2007-11-05T18:29:00.000-08:00

The two news stories capturing my attention right now are the dire political situation in Pakistan and the writers' strike.

I've commented before about Musharraf. He's a petty dictator who acts in his own interest, not that of his country. He needs to be removed. He should have been taken out of office years ago. Now the climax. Arresting the opposition--1500 is the last number I heard. Shutting down the Supreme Court. Declaring martial law. He sounds like a desperate man. I hope the current chaos will lead to the death of his leadership. Pakistan deserves better.

The writers' strike captures my imagination because I am a writer and I feel solidarity with those whose work is being exploited. I know the feeling. I can do without the late night talk shows. If necessary, I can do without my soap opera. :-) And the truth is I won't even miss the primetime shows. I rarely watch TV in the evening.

Pakistan is working for the rights of the people to have truly democratically-elected leadership--not a third-rate dictator who has been propped up by Western support. The writers is working for their right to be paid fairly for their work and retain the economic rights to their work. Writing is not as easy as it looks and, considering the amount of work going into each piece--whether it's a novel or a TV screenplay, writers almost never get paid enough.

There are other people whose rights are being trampled, from Guatanamo to Myanmar. This is a beginning.

Reading and Writing

2007-11-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

Two of my very favorite activities. And right now I'm immersed in them.

I started my NaNo novel before going to bed last night. It's coming along. I have the plot. All I need is the time to write. Tonight much of that went toward making a 7th grade social studies test.

And I have so many books on my reading list. Library books, bookstore books, books I want to buy--and one of my own books, or manuscript actually, which is now with the editor.

Sometimes I wish all I needed to do was read and write. Wouldn't it be wonderful?

Almost Time!

2007-10-31T18:42:00.000-07:00

According to the clock in the corner of my laptop, the time is now 9:43 EDT. In two hours and 18 minutes I will write the first words of my NaNo novel for 2007.

Of course, I have no idea what I'm going to write. I've had a few stories in mind, but none of them seemed quite right. I hope that in two hours and 17 minutes I'll have a burst of inspiration.

I won't stay up all night, though I'd like to. I'm a teacher again--part-time, anyway. I can't while my days away in my t-shirt and sarong. And tomorrow night, at the latest, I have to make up some tests.

Life goes on in November. But I fully intend to complete the challenge.

Now if I just had a character and a plot. . .

Still Good Advice

2007-10-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

I'm very tired tonight, so I'll keep this short.

Read. Read. Read. Write. Write. Write.

(I can't remember which famous author said this. I'll have to look it up. But not tonight.)

Unpleasant Choice

2007-10-29T19:02:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned the recent plot twist. The problem is, I couldn't see exactly where it would take me.

So on Saturday I asked my 21-year old. He's not a writer and he doesn't like to write but he does read and watch movies. He knows plots.

I went through the story with him, exploring every turn. In the end he persuaded me I had only one choice. I was trying to avoid that. Innocent people will die, in a literary sense. But it was the only one I could go ahead with the story.
.
This choice will lend additional drama to the plot. But I want my readers to remember that when writers kill our characters, whether major or minor, it's often a difficult decision. (The movie, Stranger Than Fiction, definitely resonated with me.) But whether we like it or not, sometimes it must be done for the good of the story.

I killed one of my favorite characters in Echoes. I didn't mean to kill him, but he simply became too sick to live. That was my introduction to character death. In Silence, as in Turbulence, death will be one of the themes. And I feel that I don't have any other way.

P.S.--I am a literary killer, but of course that is as far as it goes. How do other writers feel about fictional murder?

In a Holding Pattern

2007-10-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

In six more days I can start my NaNoWriMo 2007 novel. I have one strong idea, and a few I'm still considering. I'll decide when I sit down to write on November 1.

I'm still working on revisions for Silence. But I think I need a break. I don't know if I can go six days without writing. I've rarely tried it.

I am reading another novel. I won't give anything away yet, but it's good. When I'm finished, I'm sure I'll want to review it here.

So I'm waiting. Until I discovered NaNoWriMo, I never knew November could be exciting. It's a great way to spend an autumn day.

It's Time for Nanowrimo!

2007-10-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

And most of the people say, "What?"

Next month--next Thursday, to be exact--the challenge begins. Will you be one of the thousands to complete a 50,000 word novel during the month of November? Come on. I know you can do it.

This will be my second year. I can hardly wait. I don't have a firm story in mind yet. Only a couple strong possibilities. When I sit down to write on November 1, I'll know which one I'm going with.

I've persuaded two of my sons to join me this time so it will be extra fun. I hope they don't give up part way through. We'll see.

Are you ready to Nano?

Satisfying Moments

2007-10-23T18:36:00.001-07:00

I mentioned the plot twist I came up with at the bathroom sink. Today I put my plan into motion. And it works!

I'm very excited, and if you're a writer I'm sure you understand. The old way just wasn't working. It was okay, but it wasn't good enough. This is just what my story needed.

Let's hear it for those "Aha" moments.

Inspiring Places

2007-10-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

The Grand Canyon? The Appalachians? The Painted Desert?

No. I'm talking about my bathroom. The bathroom sink, to be specific. I was washing my hands there this past Saturday when suddenly it came to me. I knew what I was missing in the book I'm working on. It came to me with perfect clarity. For the last two days I've started writing in the plot change, and it works beautifully.

It's happened to me in the shower. It's happened while I was driving. I may be washing dishes or waking up from a nap. Suddenly it comes. Inspiration. Total clarity.

The Grand Canyon is wonderful, but if I ever get stuck in my story I think I'll just take a trip to the bathroom.

Gotta Sleep

2007-10-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

I've read that some inventors and other "famous smart people" slept very little. I won't quote the names here for fear of being wrong, but some, it is said, had only 2 or 3 hours of sleep every night.

Ah, I wish that it were so for me. Alas, I do need my sleep. This is troublesome, because my creativity flows most freely in the middle of the night.

When I can get away with it, I go to bed sometime between midnight and 1 a.m. I would stay up longer but I can't get by with a nocturnal lifestyle. I have family and obligations. So I reluctantly shut down my laptop and find little tasks to complete before eventually climbing into bed. I fall asleep very soon after my head meets the pillow, though I try to read--until the words begin dancing around. I sleep soundly. In the morning I'm amazed at all the sounds I didn't hear.

But I can't stay up all night. I can't live with only 2 or 3 hours sleep. To sleep. . .perchance to dream. Hey, maybe I'll get another idea for a story!

The Statement

2007-10-15T19:20:00.000-07:00

When I was in school, I learned how to write a research report around a thesis statement. I knew that once I wrote that first paragraph and that crucial sentence I was well on my way to finishing my report.

Writing fiction does not include a thesis statement. Not exactly. But a good story can be written around a statement. Maybe a quote.

I've written quite a bit in this blog about my book, Silence. I have the plot, the characters, the twists. I've revised the manuscript twice so far. But something was missing.

Last night while I was browsing news articles I found a quote. This particular quote is exactly what I needed. This is the statement I can use to keep my story grounded and focused.

The Statement. That's the missing piece. Now I expect this story to really come together.

Well. . .

2007-10-11T20:33:00.000-07:00

It's been a long, busy day and I'm tired.

So. . .Eid Mubarak!

In the Name of God

2007-10-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading a young adult novel titled In the Name of God, written by Paula Jolin. Both the title and the front cover--a girl reading the Qur'an--attracted me when I came across this book in the library.

I looked at the ratings for this book on Amazon. All readers highly recommended the book. I noticed too that all readers, like Ms. Joline, were non-Muslims.

As a Muslim, I had a different response. The book made me very uncomfortable. The story is of a 17-year old Syrian girl named Nadia and her anger at the U.S. over treatment of Iraqis and Palestinians. Step by step she becomes involved in a plotting a terrorist attack, though her intentions are often far from religious. In the end she must make what is, for her, a difficult choice.

Ms. Jolin did show Nadia's progression toward terrorism, but I still don't understand how a serious, religious school girl can change so quickly. The triggers were there, but I'm not sure they were strong enough.

Nadia's main fault, as I saw the book, is that she is very self-righteous. This continues also until the end. It was annoying--but would she volunteer to become a suicide bomber?

The author and I both have strengths and weaknesses in approaching this story. Her strength is that she has lived in the Middle East for several years. My strength is that I'm a Muslim and I see events through Muslim eyes. Maybe her portrayal of a young girl in Syria was right on the mark. I've never been to Syria so I can't say.

But, as I said, this book made me uncomfortable, and probably for the same reason I always squirm when I hear the word "terrorism." Religious Muslims are usually blamed. But as a Muslim I know that those of us who follow our religion strictly would never offer to kill innocent people.

Writing in Layers

2007-10-09T18:31:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned that I'm working on third draft of a novel. Yet that's not completely accurate. In some places, I'm still working on the first draft.

I write in layers. First I get the story down on paper. Usually that's not much more than the bare bones of the book. I simply need to write down all the twists and turns while they're fresh in my mind. That first draft is the most intense.

Next I read through what I've written and begin to make changes. While looking through the manuscript again, I make some changes but leave some things alone, even if I know they'll need to be changed later. I'm not ready yet and I don't want to rush it.

Now, in my third draft, I'm perfecting some sentences and deleting others. I'm also finding places where content needs to be rearranged and/or the story line needs more flesh.

So I'm writing the first draft of a significant dialogue. Sometimes I cringe. I know I will change many of these sentences later. But first they need to be written. I have to put the thought of revision in the back of my mind as I forge ahead.

This dialogue will go through a few more drafts. Meanwhile, the next time I read through the manuscript I will probably find another essential change I haven't noticed before.

To me, a well-written book is one in which all of the layers come together seamlessly, not betraying the work that went into making them flow.

Getting Stuck

2007-10-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

I am envisioning a wonderful scene, full of rich dialogue. I've written some of it. Now I'm stuck.

Or is it procrastination? Uncertainty? Self-doubt?

The scene isn't the most crucial in the book, but it is significant. And the dialogue I envision is so perfect that I'm having trouble writing it.

I was much too busy today to write anything. I thought about writing, but until 8:30 p.m. I had very little time to sit down and write at all. By then my mind was too tired. I lacked the concentration to produce the insights I imagined.

Tomorrow will be busy, but much less so. Maybe I'll wake up in the morning and know exactly where to go with this conversation. The words will flow from my fingertips.

Well. . .it could happen.

Making Time

2007-10-04T20:10:00.000-07:00

Every writer knows this one, and can talk about it for hours. There simply is not enough time to write.

This is especially true for the full-time worker--whether toiling in a factory or raising small children. But even those of us who have (nearly) grown children and no outside jobs find trouble find time, I'm sure.

It's the little things. The phone kept on ringing. Two people I wasn't expecting appeared at our front door. I ran a quick errand which took longer than I expected and produced fewer results. I went to the library with a 14-year old who decided to use that time to browse every single book (or so it seemed). Then there was a dinner invitation from a really nice couple and I just couldn't refuse. (And she has the same name as mine!)

I did manage to write a few paragraphs today in between phone calls and doorbells. At this rate, the book will be finished by 2012--if the phone doesn't always ring this much. It's already 11 p.m. But the house is quiet now and I will probably stay up for another hour or two so I can feel a little more productive.

When I was teaching full-time I dreamed of how wonderful it would be to claim my time as my own. My life is much easier now. I can't deny that. But there's always something.

Memory

2007-10-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

We went out tonight, which is why I'm blogging much later than usual. During a quiet moment in the restaurant, I wrote this blog in my mind. Now I can't remember a single word.

It happens too often. Walking into a room and pausing, having to retrace my steps. Starting a conversation and forgetting what I wanted to say. Writing in my mind and forgetting to put the words on paper.

This is beyond the use of mnemonics (I've always liked that word). This takes extra measures.

Many writers carry journals or small notebooks with them wherever they go. That sounds like an excellent idea. I can find something small enough to fit into my purse. Though I'm always losing pens. Maybe I could wear one around my neck!

My memories of the past help me write. Now if I could just remember what it was I wanted to write about.

"Devil's Advocate"

2007-10-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

I like the meaning behind this phrase, though not the phrase itself. Unfortunately, I can't think of any substitutes.

Have you ever done this with your characters? I'm in the middle of doing this to one of mine.

He's a young man. A very sincere Muslim. He's grown up fairly protected by doting parents. But he's on his own. And he has found an ally in a very unfriendly world. The problem is that the ally proclaims himself to be an atheist.

How can our young Muslim learn to communicate Islam with this man? How can he hope to convince him?

The old man plays "devil's advocate." Along the way, the young man learns. Islam is more than rituals and phrases. His faith deepens as he works to teach the old atheist.

I enjoy writing dialogue. And I'm getting a lot of satisfaction from this particular story line. I especially like watching the young man mature into a stronger faith.

How Long Does it Take to Write a Novel?

2007-10-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

This question may be as enigmatic as the old, "How many licks to the center of a Tootsie roll pop?"

Many will say years, or at least months. Of course, we need to define what we mean by "write a novel."

I wrote the first draft for Rebounding in only two weeks. But it took me another year to complete all the necessary revisions. My typical time for writing a novel is a month, give or take a week. But again, the revisions take much longer.

When I write the first draft of a novel, I concentrate on it completely. My family muddles by without me. I have no life away from the keyboard. I dream of my characters. Plot twists come to me at the oddest times. I am totally immersed.

It's a wonderful experience, in a way, but it is so intense that I can't keep it up for much more than a month. And there are times when I deliberately will not start a novel because I know I have something coming up which needs my attention. For instance, in two weeks my mother, sisters, and two of my nieces will come to visit. I couldn't possibly start a novel now. If I did, I would have to completely ignore my family when they're here.

So how long does it take? That's something each of us has to answer.

P.S.--Speaking of writing novels. The sign-up for the privilege of completing a novel in the month of November begins today. 50,000 words. Can you do it? If so, go to www.nanowrimo.org.

It's a Mystery

2007-09-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

Two people have asked me recently if I'm interested in writing a mystery.

I like to read mysteries. But I'm not sure I'm able to write one. I admire the way a good mystery writer builds suspene, strewing false clues along the way. I enjoy the twists and turns.

How is a mystery written? How does it all come together in the author's mind?

That's something I'd really like to know.

A Delicate Balance

2007-09-26T15:39:00.000-07:00

I don't have a book review for today. I need to catch up on my reading first.

Today I have spent most of my time revising, once again. (Was that an oxymoron, or just a really close call?) I'm still working on Silence. And I'm looking for the delicate balance.

Because this is the last book in the Echoes Series, I want to go out with a bang. But I want to keep the mood positive. But I want to shake up the world of my characters. But I don't want to be sadistic.

My first revision was a simple read-through. Now I have to get down to business. I'm in the process of moving whole paragraphs and trying to decide where to relocate them. I'm adding some narrations and getting rid of others. I was too heavy-handed in my early drafts, creating a world of simple black and white. But nothing is ever that simple. Now I must add in the shading.

I know where the story is going, but I'm not completely satisfied with the way I got there. I need to soften the roads a bit--not too much--and intensify the journey.

A very delicate balance indeed.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

2007-09-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to read this book for months. I bought it soon after it came out, but I waited. I wanted to find just the right time so I could savor the story.

I read A Thousand Splendid Suns over a two or three day period last week. It was hard to put down, but I had to sleep and do a few other essential tasks. And when I finished reading this book I wished I hadn't.

Mariam is the star. A humble woman with a lowly upbringing, she suffers terribly throughout her life. And yet she perseveres. I understand what the author did with Mariam in the end. But that doesn't mean I like it. I wanted so much more for her.

Then there was Laila. I had mixed feelings about this character. I felt for her, but she never measured up to Mariam in strength and purity. While I read Laila's story, especially in the beginning, I kept wondering, What about Mariam?

Khaled Hosseini did a wonderful job once again of weaving Afghanistan's history into the lives of his characters. In that respect, I think he wrote a much stronger book than The Kite Runner.

This was a different story. More subdued. Sadder. And still excellent. I highly recommend A Thousand Splendid Suns. But I also think you should make sure you have two or three days to truly savor this book.

Review: A Boy from Makkah

2007-09-24T15:35:00.001-07:00

I read two Islamic novels last week. This week I will review them, beginning with A Boy from Makkah.

I bought this book years ago, hoping it would inspire my sons. Unfortunately, being the teenagers they were, they didn't want to read anything I had recommended. So this book sat on the shelf, except when I packed it up to move with us from Kansas City to Worcester to Milwaukee to Lexington. After this last move, I decided to read the book even if no one else would.

As a writer I was a little disappointed. Many scenes were rushed, told with sweeping overviews and only minimal conversation or description. Years passed on a single page. I wanted more detail. But as a writer I'm overly critical.

As a reader I enjoyed this book. It told the story of a young man, brought to Makkah by his father because the family needed him to work, and his life as a servant. I became involved in the young man's story because the characters were portrayed well. I was able to envision the Makkah scenes, though I've never been there. The story had the feel of a real story, though it was fiction.

The author wrote this book after 9/11 to help people know more about Islam and have more positive feelings about Muslims. Through his narration of the journey of this boy as he grew into manhood, I think the author, Dr. Muhammad Abdu Yamani, succeeded.

Keeping it Simple

2007-09-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

I filled out an interesting application today in which I was presented with in-depth questions. The instructions stated that I needed to keep each answer to 500 characters or less.

Not 500 words. 500 characters. I didn't do an exact count, but I'm sure each answer was within the allocated limits. It wasn't easy though.

Writing is about managing words. Sometimes the writer uses broad strokes to describe a summger day or an abandoned house. Other times the writer must be concise, economizing words without flourish.

Being a writer means knowing how to use the tools well.

Revisions: Caught Up in the Cycle

2007-09-19T19:15:00.000-07:00

I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my writing. I'm also pretty sloppy with my rough drafts. That means I must commit myself to months of revisions.

I finished reading through Silence today. Sometime tonight, or maybe tomorrow, I'll begin reading through Silence again. And again. As long as it takes until it's in shape.

I have other projects I could be working on. I need to seriously write my next non-Echoes Series novel. I started. It was a rough draft. I was dissatisfied. I left it.

Silence is too rough, anyway. It needs many more revisions. Each time I read, I find a new way of looking at the story. I haven't looked closely enough yet.

My revisions don't continue in an endless cycle. I take breaks. In November I plan to write a another NaNoWriMo novel. I don't know yet what it will be about or what I'll do with it after November. Right now it's enough to have a general plan.

And I have other things I need to work on. But I'm concerned about Silence. It has the makings of a good story, but it is so far away from where it needs to be.

I once went to a writers' critique group and shared a few pages of a rough draft I'd recently written. I've never done that before, and I don't intend to do it again. I don't care if you find clutter in my house when you drop by, but you will not be allowed to see the clutter in my story. I'm not finished cleaning. Come by later.

Sometimes it feels like it will never end. But it does. And sooner or later I have a nearly (but never quite) perfect and nicely bound manuscript in my hands. Otherwise known as a book. One I wrote. What a feeling.

Writing to Make a Difference

2007-09-18T19:02:00.000-07:00

The United States prides itself on its freedoms, as promised in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: the right to worship, the right to free speech, the right of the press, the right to assemble, and the right to petition the government. It has been said that these five rights distinguish the USA from other countries.

In some places, at some times, writers have been imprisoned or even executed for voicing unpopular opinions. It happened in the USSR. It happened in colonial America. The question is, could it ever happen here again? Or has it happened and we just don't recognize it?

Public debate and humiliation are the usual modern-day punishments. A book will be panned. A columnist will become the butt of jokes, and may even lose his job. But has anyone ever been imprisoned or died, here in modern-day America, for the right of written expression and the right of free speech?

Not that I know. But some are concerned. The Patriot Act looms, threatening harsher punishments. Executive orders have been signed. The threat is real.

I believe we still live in a free country, more or less. And I believe it is our right, in this country and everywhere else free expression is allowed, to write for a difference. Not just for entertainment and to make a buck. Write to leave something valuable behind and change society a little bit for the better.

That's just my opinion, of course.

Writing Silence

2007-09-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

I've written the first draft. I actually wrote five first drafts. I've finally written one which feels comfortable enough. Now I'm working on the second draft.

How do you write a book that is, in some ways, a compilation of a series? My greatest challenge right now is the characters. There have been so many, and the majority are still alive and active in the final volume. Not only that, but I've introduced a few new characters. The spouses and the children. Brad, Chris, and Joshua grew old and their children grew up. Most of them are married and have children of their own. Some of these grandchildren--Umar is a great grandfather--make their own impacts on the family. And some of the children have grown to take their father's places.

That's one of my challenges. There are too many characters, but this is the last book and I can't eliminate anyone who hasn't already died. There are deaths in Silence, but death is never trivial, is it? Characters who sprung from my mind must be disposed of properly and with dignity. Or at least with feeling.

I hope to have the last book ready for publication in 2009. It seems far away, but I know how quickly time passes when a manuscript is due. If I delay, I'll be staying up nights in 2008 and exasperating my publisher with my procrastination.

The end. I think it works. Or it's beginning to. There are still miles to go. . .

A Very Friendly Distraction

2007-09-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

I have three writing tasks on my to-do list, along with various other chores and pastimes. But I didn't do any writing today.

It started when my 12 year old woke up coughing, wiping his stuffy nose. He didn't fast today and he didn't go to school. We spent the day together.

Out of all my sons, my youngest is the most compassionate. I hope that won't change after he hits puberty. Sometimes I was tempted to follow my usual daily routine, but he kept me connected most of the day. And that was a good thing.

He has a great idea for a new story he's writing. He's reading an interesting novel, too, but he can't read it at night because it's too scary. Right now he's lying on the floor near me, waiting for me to finish my blogs so we can talk some more.

I didn't do a single bit of writing today. I had someone important to share my day.

Time to Get Serious

2007-09-12T18:56:00.000-07:00

Ramadan has begun, at least in much of the world. There's a mood change in the air. Trivial matters seem too trivial to pursue. Matters of faith have gained extra significance.

In our household, the TV will be turned off this month. Okay, to be completely honest, I will watch one show during the day when the kids are in school. It's a soap opera (horrors!) and unfortunately I'm a little hooked, especially since Marcie found out that. . .forget it.

Other than that one little hour every weekday, the TV will be turned off. I will concentrate on listening to nasheed rather than other types of music. And even though I will do some reading simply for entertainment--at least the book I checked out yesterday and thought I might be able to finish by now--I will more conscientiously seek out more worthwhile books also. And, of course, I'll read the Qur'an every day.

My writing won't stop. I'm sure it will slow. But I think Ramadan may be the perfect time to work on this last Echoes Series book. This volume is weightier than the rest, and it needs an air of restraint to bring it to maturity. Ramadan may be a very good time to work on this.

The air has changed. Do you feel it? Everything else should change too.

Writing 9/11

2007-09-11T18:16:00.001-07:00

9/11 was the catalyst to move me out of the classroom and push me toward pursuing my dream of becoming a novelist. Of course, the first novel I wrote had to be about 9/11.

Innocent People was my most difficult novel, not only because it was my first, but because it was laden with so many minefields.

When I wrote the first chapter, telling about the 9/11 attacks, I cried. It was more than a year later and I felt the emotions all over again. After that first chapter, though, I was careful not to let my emotions get in the way of the story.

I didn't want to present evidence for or against the 19 alleged hijackers. I didn't want to condemn anyone, except those who had done the act--but I didn't say precisely who they were. As I wrote, I strove to portray many innocent people--the dead and wounded in the attacks and their families, Muslims who were wrongfully accused, and the American people who lived in fear. Also the Afghanis whose country was bombed in an attempt to wreak justice.

This book was a balancing act. I wanted to portray American Muslims sympathetically, but not at the expense of other Americans. I used many real life examples, from my experiences and from the headlines. I wanted to convey a lesson out of this mess.

Innocent People isn't my best-written book. It was my first, and it's rough in some places. It was, however, the book I had to write. And Innocent People presents an earth-shattering time in history to young people who can't remember 9/11.

Time to Read

2007-09-10T18:34:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I finished the Ripples manuscript--the fourth book in the Echoes Series. Now all I have to do is wait for the editor to give her feedback.

I can't begin another book project right away. I need to take a few days to relax. I have two projects in mind, but I can do only one at a time and it will have to wait until the end of the week.

Now I get to indulge in first favorite literary activity: reading. As it turned out, I picked up a virus somewhere and spent the last two days not doing much of anything. A perfect time to tackle my newest library books.

I won't discuss any of the books here. They all fit in the genre of chick lit, though one has a more serious subject--presented in an offhand manner--and another is very serious. I don't think they'll expand my universe too far, but they're enjoyable. Great for these days when I need to relax and get past this virus.

I've read two books within the last week. I have one more to go, and I started that this afternoon. By the time I finish this last book, I think I'll be ready to get serious about writing again.

One-fourth of American adults haven't finished a single book in the last year. Amazing. I know people have busy schedules, but reading is great activity--and free if you go to the library. (Though, as an author, I do recommend that you buy at least a few books for your shelves. Preferably mine, of course.)

Not read? Impossible.

Any Suggestions?

2007-09-06T18:23:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I talked about marketing. This really is a weak spot for me. No matter how much I like a product, and believe everyone should have one, I have trouble selling it. That holds true whether it's my own books or Pampered Chef (I was once a consultant).

I know some people seem to be born with a knack for connecting with other people. My husband has it. So do some of our sons. Others are like me--cautiously poking their heads out of their shells and unable to do more than that.

So if you're not born with it, how do you learn it? What do you need to do to strengthen your selling skills?

Unfortunately, that's a reality for writers these days. It's not enough just to hide in a corner somewhere and write.

Marketing. How?

2007-09-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

I love to write. I could do it all day, every day.

I dislike trying to sell my book. I'm naturally shy and most of the many marketing tips I've read don't seem to suit my personality.

But I want people to read my books. I hope they'll actually benefit from my stories, just as I've benefited from most of the thousands of books I've read.

So what's the solution?

How do you go about marketing your books?

A Different Voice

2007-09-04T19:14:00.000-07:00

The Echoes Series is coming along well. The first three books--Echoes, Rebounding, and Turbulence--have been published. The fourth book, Ripples, is finished and nearly ready to go through the final process. Silence, the final book, has been written though it still needs work.

I'm ready for something else. Last November I wrote a novel for the NaNoWriMo challenge. A few weeks ago I opened the file and took it out of storage. I read it all the way through--congratulating myself on some parts and cringing at others.

Off Balance, my newest novel, is still in the very early stages. I've begun writing the beginning--after realizing that my NaNo novel was really just the middle of the story. I know where I want to go but it will take me a long time to get there.

When I ran the plot by my son, after he heard me read the first few pages in a critique group, he said it didn't sound anything like me. But it's nice to try something different sometimes, isn't it?

Writing the Future

2007-09-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

In my Echoes Series only the first book, Echoes, takes place in our time. The others go progressively further into the future. The last book is set in either 2040 or 2044--I need to study my timeline and decide between these two years.

In each of the books, I attempt to predict the future. The last book, Silence, is more futuristic than the others. I try to imagine the social life, the inventions, and the shapes of our cities in distant years.

Tonight I finally watched "Children of Men," a futuristic drama. Except for the unnecessary cursing and the overdone violence, I liked the movie. And after it was over I remembered how many stories predict a gray future, one devoid--or nearly devoid--of hope.

Nineteenth century writers imagined a wonderful future, full of flying machines and explorations. When and why did writers become so morose?

Living and Learning Creatively

2007-08-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

About an hour ago we came home from the open house at my son's high school. I chose this school before we moved to this city because I saw enough, through their website and a spring visit, to be impressed. Three weeks into the school year, I'm more impressed.

My son is a freshman at an IB high school. His teachers have taken the IB concept and run with it. The emphasis isn't on harder but more challenging. There is a difference. And, whether or not the teachers used this word, I heard and saw creativity in every classroom. Learning Spanish grammar through conversation. Learning physics by devising and performing experiments. Learning algebra from a teacher with a sense of whimsy (have you ever seen a backwards clock?).

With all the emphasis on test scores, creativity is often neglected. In some workplaces, it's hard to find anyone with an appreciation for the creative. But where do books, plays, artworks, symphonies originate?

Even some writers take a paint-by-the-numbers approach to their craft. That may be fine for some, but I think we need to open our minds and let in the sunshine.

Books and Censorship

2007-08-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

Last night my 14-year old gave me a note from his English teacher. The teacher plans to have the students read a book which he knows might make some parents uncomfortable. He discussed the book and offered an alternative.

I'm nearly done reading The Bluest Eye, the recommended book. It is very well written and full of symbolism. But I don't think I'll let my son read this book. Not yet. If he wants to read it later, when he's 17 or 18 or 19, I'll support him. But he's not ready for this book. He has lived a sheltered life, and the realities presented would be, I think, a little much at his age.

The alternative offered by the teacher is A Lesson Before Dying. Tomorrow I plan to thoroughly scan that book--it's probably too much for me to read in a day--to be sure of my decision. Like the first book, it has received good reviews. I don't anticipate a problem.

Censorship is a dirty word. Sometimes, though, it is necessary. I censor myself when I write. In these days, especially, I'm careful to avoid any homosexual interpretations when I write about close friendships between men or women. I also take care not to be politically offensive. And when I present Christianity, or any other religion besides Islam, I do so with fairness.

I've been a parent for 25 years. And that's how long I have censored, to some extent, what my children are exposed to. I don't see how a mother can do otherwise.

Happy Endings

2007-08-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

Happily ever after. That's how we expect stories to end. When they don't, something usually feels wrong and off kilter.

For me, the ending is the hardest part to write. I'm tempted to go on, adding to the adventures and misadventures of my characters. At some point, though, I must give the reader a rest. It is up to me to decide when and how my story ends.

Most of my endings have been happy. One has not--though even in tragedy I tried to leave on a note of hope. I didn't plan that ending at all. I sat at my computer and typed, praying for a reasonable way to finish the story. My fingers took over. I wrote it. I read it two or three times. I asked my son to read it and give his opinion. I still wasn't sure. But I went with it. And the ending is definitely memorable.

In another book, the ending crept up on me. I wrote a wonderful summarizing paragraph. Then I kept on writing, adding more and more to the story. I went back over those last few pages many times until I realized that my perfect ending was buried in the text five or ten pages before I stopped writing. I went back and corrected that, of course.

My greatest challenge was writing the book to end the series. It's done now. There is both happy and sad. I've asked my son to read the manuscript through to the final page. He isn't finished yet.

I'm tempted to just have everyone ride off into the sunset. But I want to make my stories real, and real life is much more complicated.

A Part of Life

2007-08-27T18:32:00.000-07:00

When I started writing Echoes, I had only a basic premise in mind. I didn't know how the book would be shaped, and I had no idea that it would become the first in a series.

I also hadn't realized that one of the main themes throughout the series would be death. In each book, someone dies--a main character or someone else who has an impact on a main character. As in real life, death is a constant presence.

I was reading my draft of the final book, Silence, to my husband yesterday. He thought it interesting when Joshua said that death is a part of life. It sounds odd, but no one can deny it.

As a writer, I'm careful in how I handle death. It must be a natural part of the plot. I don't have gratuitous violence, and I don't enjoy stories containing that. I show different types of death and different responses from those who survive. As in real life, there are many ways to die and many ways to mourn.

Because of the deaths, I've been teased that I'm writing a soap opera. I'm not. People live. People die. What I want to do is accurately portray life. Sometimes a family will go for years without a single death. Then there may be two or even three or more in close succession. And death is always present. Muslims are told to remember this, and not to fear death.

We have a life before birth. Then we have the life we know. Something comes later. No one has returned to tell us how it is. This is something we must each learn. And it is absolutely a part of life.

Genres and Passing Fancies

2007-08-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

Today I learned I wasn't invited to the Meet the Author event at the ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) convention this year. I've participated in this program for three years now, so it was a bit of a letdown.

I looked at the list of authors and books that were included. I believe they were all either history or political science. Not a novel in there anywhere.

I know history and political science are hot topics these days for Muslims. I find this interesting. I wrote my only non-fiction book, which encompassed both history and political science, in the 1980s. It was published in 1990. That was long before PCs and internet connections, so the book sold slowly. It's still available. I hope to revise the manuscript sometime in the next few years.

When I wrote my book, it wasn't a hot topic. Now it is very hot. Meanwhile, I've moved on to Islamic fiction.

My mother always told me I was at least 5 years ahead of my time. I think she's right, and it's very frustrating. By the time Islamic fiction becomes popular, if I'm still alive, I wonder what I'll be writing.

There is a plethora of magazine articles instructing the writer how to cash in on the latest craze. But I always remember the words of a scholar I once knew--he's been dead for several years now. "Don't imitate. Initiate."

That seems to me to be the more honorable way to go. Though there's not as much money in it.

Far From Perfect

2007-08-22T18:04:00.000-07:00

I mentioned yesterday how many different ways Brad found to mess up his life in Turbulence, before he repented. Brad was quite a sinner, but none of my characters is perfect.

Do you know anyone who is perfect? Is there anyone who always does the right thing in the right way at the right time with the right intention? Is there anyone who doesn't mess up?

We're not angels. The angels actually asked Allah why He would make us, claiming we would bring mischief. They were right, weren't they?

Fiction should mirror life. Life isn't perfect. People aren't perfect. Characters should not be perfect either. And I don't even go for the "Whoops, I sinned so I'll be a good Muslim for the rest of my life." It's more like, "Whoops, I sinned. I'd better stop. Whoops. I did it again."

When I was young I learned about original sin and I pledged to be the person who would break the curse. I no longer believe in original sin, but I do know that I mess up. I will never be perfect. It's useless to try. But I should try anyway.

And that's how I write my characters.

Does Islamic Fiction Sell?

2007-08-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

I am a writer because I must write. In 2002 I decided I would write stories about Muslims. My stories show the humanity of the Muslim and the devotion of those who follow Islam. They generally fall under the category of Islamic fiction.

Although I love writing, I would be lying if I said I didn't hope to make a living from it. Many do. The problem is that I must sell books. Who is my audience?

Most of my readers are Muslims. At least that's the impression I get from the feedback I receive. Some eagerly devour my stories. Others aren't quite as enthusiastic. I know I lost a few readers with my latest book, Turbulence. This book appealed much more to Muslims, even though the central characters are Muslims.

What's the problem with Turbulence? Well, the main character--Brad, Joshua's oldest brother--is not a saint. But who is? He commits adultery--can you tell me no Muslims do this? He drinks alcohol--don't try to tell me all Muslims don't do this. He lies--I know from experience that many Muslims do this. And he repents. How many Muslims do this?

Islamic fiction is a new genre, especially here in the U.S. I will always have at least one Muslim character. He or she will face difficulties and probably succumb a time or two. But faith always wins.

Does it sell? Not yet. But I think my biggest readership is still in high school and college. Give me another ten or fifteen years. By then I expect to be joined by many more authors, insha Allah.

This writer is. . .

2007-08-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

. . .restless.

I've had a busy summer in terms of writing. During the month of June I attempted a stage play. It didn't turn out as well as I'd like, but I might still be able to go back and salvage it one day.

After the stage play, I wrote Silence. the final book of the Echoes Series. This one took me six weeks. Rebounding, the second book in the series, took me only two weeks--the first draft, that is. Silence kept me going, wondering exactly where and how it would end. Overall I'm satisfied with the ending. It will need some tweaking, but it's a very good start.

Now I've started my first novel in years which is not part of the Echoes Series. I have a new cast of characters, a new setting, everything. Off Balance features Nina Weston, a very determined woman. I first wrote this story last November as part of the NaNoWriMo challenge. Last weekend I read through it. Now I'm starting fresh, including more back story, and giving Nina a sassier tone. She may be almost as much fun to work with as Joshua has been all these years.

I've been told I should be writing articles, or at least short stories, to get my name out there. That's good advice, but I just can't stop writing these novels.

Hmm. By the time I'm finished with Off Balance--first draft, that is--I'll need to start thinking about NaNoWriMo again. I wonder who and what I'll write about this year.

All Writers Must Absolutely Know. . .

2007-08-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

. . .how many words is enough.

As a reader, I strongly dislike wordiness. I break my own rule a little here on the blog, but in my books I work to make sure that every word counts.

So, in the spirit of being concise--have a nice weekend!

A Writer is. . .

2007-08-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

. . .only human.

We get tired, hungry, and even occasionally cranky. Those who love us have to put up with our moods. Most do.

And the greatest pitfall any writer can fall into is to forget his or her humanity.

A Writer Should Be. . .

2007-08-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

. . .inspired.

Not all of the time, of course. The expectation of inspiration probably leads to writer's block more than anything else. Sometimes the writer must plod along, writing words and sentences.

But at some point, it all comes together. The spark of inspiration gives the words meaning beyond their dictionary definitions. The characters, the plots, everything meshes to create a true literary experience.

A writer should find that spark in every book, story, or poem writen. That's one ingredient of a true writer.

I can't think of any author who isn't. . .

2007-08-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

. . .curious.

It amazes me that some people are satisfied with what they already know. They're not driven to seek new knowledge and gain new experiences. It must be an easier way of living. I can't imagine it.

Writers are curious people, but that's another topic. Writers are curious. We want to know how things work or the history of things. Or maybe the future. I sometimes pick faces out of the crowd and wonder where they're going, what they've done in their lives, and how it has affected them.

Non-fiction writers are just as curious, producing tomes about topics which some people don't even bother with. Many of us would not write the books, but we're happy to find them on the libary shelf when we need the answer to a burning question. We're lucky that someone else thought of it first.

I don't think that someone who is contented will make a very good writer. A writer should be restless, wondering, and never quite satisfied.

A Writer Certainly Should. . .

2007-08-09T19:12:00.000-07:00

. . .have a good vocabulary. And a decent thesaurus.

By decent, I don't mean sophisticated. When I was younger, I thought a good writer often used words such as indeed and therefore. That's not the case.

My stories center around the dialogue, and I base the dialogue on the personality of the speaker. The lawyer, Walter Thompson, does use larger words and more complex sentences. His language reflects his profession. Joshua, on the other hand, uses slang and lazy grammar. Even after he graduates from college, his speech patterns don't change much. They're part of who he is.

In Echoes I wrote a short scene in which Joshua is trading one-liners with his friends, and he uses heavy slang. I wasn't sure of the slang of the day, so I consulted the experts--my teenage sons. They helped me write the scene.

While a writer doesn't necessarily have to use "big words," he or she should be aware of synonyms rather than risking repetition. I have a few thesauri I consult. One is my favorite. Another is electronic so I can use it when I'm traveling. If Joshua shouted in the last paragraph, maybe in this paragraph he should yell. Not all synonyms are that easy to find, by the way.

We are wordsmiths. Words are our tools. When describing a scene, I look for the word which fits the mood I'm trying to create. Is crying as powerful as sobbing, weeping, or bawling? What do you think?

A Writer. . .

2007-08-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

. . .pays attention.

If I'm outside of the house and I have some time to kill (this is a great airport game) I watch the people around me. I try to find someone who resembles a character I've written. I also observe people to give me ideas for new characters.

I find that when I'm writing a long-forgotten memory will return through the mouths of one of my characters. I'm able to pick up the details of life, both recent and "ancient," and add them to my story.

You might just say that a writer is nosy. But that doesn't sound as nice. We pay attention, that's all.

A Writer Must Usually. . .

2007-08-07T18:40:00.000-07:00

. . .be very creative.

I've noticed that there are basically two types of people in this world. Many of us fall squarely into one camp or the other. Only a few gifted souls are adept in both areas.

There are the practical people. The Marthas of this world who, like the woman in the Bible, reminds us that the food must be prepared and there is much work to be done. They approach problems head-on, with facts and figures at their disposal.

Then there are the creative people. The Marys who, like another woman in the Bible, prefer to listen to an inspirational talk rather than bother with simple menial chores. They see the world through different lenses, and often contemplate the nature of what they see. Facts and figures sometimes come in handy, but those types of matter are far too boring to think of often.

I'm a Mary. Since childhood I've viewed the world in my own unique way. While riding in a car with my parents, I would look at the other cars and wonder where they were going. Sometimes I would imagine one of the cars crashing into another. A story developed in my head of the accident and its aftermath. Meanwhile, my father drove safely down the road.

Most of the people who are close to me are Marthas--including both my mother and my husband. They concentate on what needs to be done. They dream but they never daydream. They easily handle worldly affairs such as car insurance and mortgages. They have trouble understanding why the few Marys in their lives are so slow and dreamy.

The world needs both. But I contend that the best writers are those who live inside their imaginations.

A Writer Must. . .

2007-08-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

. . .be able to work in isolation.

Writing is generally a solitary activity. This is especially true of fiction. The writer creates characters and settings, problems and solutions. Often writers are fortunate enough to have "writing buddies" who will provide feedback, but the actual writing must be done alone.

Non-writers who live with writers say we sometimes become dazed, tuning out of the real world and focusing on the story. This must be true. I sometimes think about my story when I'm at the bank or the grocery store. If I have a breakthrough in my plot, I want to share this with everyone I meet. Sadly, they wouldn't understand. What would you think if a stranger rushed up to you and said, "Do you know what happened between Larry and Nina today? You're not going to believe this." We definitely cannot go around sharing with strangers.

Even with family members, discussing the plot may be discouraging. If my husband walks in and says, "How was your day?" I can't cry on his shoulder because I had to kill someone, even though I didn't really want to, because it moved the plot along. He would nod and mutter, and go to another part of the house.

The writer must be able to think alone and write alone. Until the book is published, that is. Then she must become a social butterfly, flitting from one promotional activity to another.

I never said writing was easy.

What Makes a Writer

2007-08-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

Many people write. Students write reports--a skill also required of many professionals. A large percentage write emails and, at one time, used to write letters. Some write letters to the editor. Others write articles for the local newpaper or the church newsletter. Some dabble in poetry. In certain occupations, essay writing is a necessary skill. And many, many write blogs.

So what makes a writer? Why do some go the extra step and transform writing from a necessary task or a pleasant hobby into a vocation?

Over the next several blogs, starting next week, I'll begin discussing the characteristics of the writer--the person for whom writing becomes a lifestyle. If anyone out there has other characteristics or suggestions to add, I will be very happy to hear from you.

Writing Death

2007-08-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

I don't like killing my characters. I try not to do it too often. Sometimes, however, it becomes necessary.

I agonized over my first death, back in Echoes. I liked that character very much. Initially I only intended to make him sick. I researched the condition and wrote enough to place him in the hospital. But it turned out I had gone too far. His illness became irreversible and his death was inevitable. I still miss him.

I ended one of my books with an unexpected death. I didn't intend to write the ending that way. I wasn't sure, actually, how I would end that book. I just wrote, and the death appeared seemingly from nowhere. I didn't much like the ending, but it worked. I decided to keep it.

I haven't killed many people in the last book of the series, but there are a few deaths. Each has a purpose. The first was suggested to me by my son. I resisted, at first, but finally saw the wisdom in it. The other two deaths were very natural outgrowths of the story and I really can't imagine it going any other way. One of my characters has a slow death, which he decides to "own." He won't let anyone else tell him how to die. It's all on his own terms. (Maybe I shouldn't use a pronoun here, but there are several "he's" in my books.) His death is actually the best I've ever written, I think.

I love to hear when my books make someone cry--because they're moving, not because they're so badly written! I often cry, too, while I write.

Gaining Momentum

2007-07-31T18:40:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned earlier, I started working on a book--the last book in the Echoes Series--at the end of June. The rough drafts of my recent books have taken me only two or three weeks to write, but this one isn't done yet.

I'm on page 237, and I can feel the story drawing to a gradual close. It may take another week, but I'm getting there. In the beginning of this book, I felt the story dragging. I didn't go back to liven it up--I don't do that with first drafts. I just made mental notes here and there of passages which need to be changed or eliminated.

Suddenly, somewhere after page 150, the story picked up. It drew me in. The action is moving quickly now. I can't wait to see--exactly--how it ends. I have some strong ideas about the ending, but I haven't yet written the final pages, the closing paragraphs, the last line.

It will be hard for me to go to bed tonight. I want to keep writing. But, then, even a writer needs to sleep.

My Bridges Interview

2007-07-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

Was anyone able to watch the interview last night? We don't have cable TV and I don't think we can get Bridges where we live, anyway. I will receive a DVD of the interview soon, and I can't wait to see it.

So, did anyone watch the program last night? How was it?

"Weird People"

2007-07-26T21:27:00.001-07:00

Tonight my husband accompanied me to a local writers' meeting. I asked him to come because the meeting started late and I have difficulty driving at night.

While we waited for the other writers to arrive, my husband said he would recognize them because they would be "weird," just like me. That's not an insult. It's the truth.

A writer develops an entirely new world, creating lives of people who have never been born and throwing obstacles in their way. A writer considers the weight and connotation of every word. A writer observes the outside world, looking for new ideas to use in a story.

And when a writer is "in the zone," inspired and caught up in the writing, no one can easily get his or her attention.

I accept the label of "weird" and wear it proudly because a writer is who I am.

Too Tired to Write

2007-07-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

For too many nights I've stayed up until 1:30 or 2, writing after my family has gone to sleep. They seem to settle down later each night. It's now 11:18, and they're wide awake.

But my schedule is catching up with me. I can barely put two thoughts together.

After they quiet down, I hope to write for a little while. It helps me sleep. And as nice as it is to write in a quiet house in the dead of the night, even the most inspired writer must sometimes rest.

Spinning a Tale

2007-07-24T20:19:00.000-07:00

For more than three weeks I have worked on Silence, the final book in the Echoes Series. Earlier attempts descended into a maudlin mess. This time I think I've found the formula.

But I still don't know where the story is going. It has twisted several times until I don't recognize it anymore. Just like a reader, I'm anxious to find out how the story ends.

There's Muhammad. I mean, he could. . .or he may just. . .Then there's Joshua. There's never any telling what he may do. I've thrown in a couple wild cards to keep things more interesting. And after I've finished with the rough draft I plan to weave in one or two more minor storylines.

I won't let you know how it ends, when I do finally reach that point. You'll have to learn that on your own.

My TV Interview

2007-07-23T18:25:00.000-07:00

Last April I was interviewed for a segment to be shown on Bridges TV. The interview will air on July 29 at 8:00 p.m.

I hope if you have access you will tune in!

Writing Instruments

2007-07-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

My 14-year old was in agony this evening because he can't have his own laptop yet. Not only that, we expect him to share the desktop with his brothers. He wanted to know how he could build his writing career without a laptop.

When I was 14, I bought my first typewriter. I'd had a summer job working as a day camp counselor, which brought in $100 for the summer (at $1/hour--minimum wage in those days). I spent $25 on a small typewriter. And I typed on that thing day and night. I wrote poems. I wrote stories. I wrote plays. I even wrote a book. (Though I never thought anything was good enough to be published.) My mother said that after I left home for college, she still imagined hearing the clackety-clack of my typewriter late at night.

I wish my son could also start on a typewriter, but they're not as practical these days. Ribbons must be impossible to find. And I imagine it would be very hard for a computer kid to get used to the earlier technology.

He may be able to upgrade my old laptop, but it's at least ten years old. It still works. I'm not sure if it has enough memory and speed to compete in today's world.

He will get his laptop eventually. In a couple of years he'll get a job and work for it, just as I worked for my typewriter. The computer he buys will be so much more special to him.

For now, he's writing his new story by hand. There are many choices for writers. We simply need to be open to them.

Problem Solved

2007-07-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

What I've through in my writing in the last three days confirms my belief in writer's intuition.

I introduced a plot twist withour any idea of how I would resolve it. I wasn't sure I should write it at all, but my intuition told me I should.

Yesterday I began working on a solution, butI still didn't have a clear idea of where to go.

It came to me today at around 2 p.m. while I was washing up for the midday prayer. Suddenly I could see the entire plot clearly in front of me. I can't wait to finish writing it.

Some of my best ideas occur when I'm dousing myself with water. I wonder why.

At an impasse

2007-07-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

It happened to me last night. I thought of an intriguing plot twist. I didn't know how I would resolve it. So I decided to shut off my laptopl and go to sleep. By morning, surely, I would have an answer.

That was almost 24 hours ago. I'm still stuck. I don't want to give up on my twist. I know if I'm persistent enough, I'll find the answer. But I don't have it yet.

That's the trouble with writing by the seat of your pants. Sometimes it can carry you into dark, dead-end alleys with no sign of escape.

This isn't the first time I've had this problem. It's always resolved itself before. I'm sure it will again.

I hope. . .

Is anybody out there? . . .

Help!

So many books to read. . .

2007-07-16T18:43:00.001-07:00

. . .and so little time.

My copy of A Thousand Splendid Suns arrived on Saturday. I can't wait to read it. But I have other books already in my queue.

On Saturday evening I finished an amazing book about new cures for cancer which do not include chemotherapy. I thought I would pick up A Thousand Splendid Suns then. I had another book which needs to go back to the library soon, though, and I hadn't touched it yet. A few pages wouldn't hurt, I thought.

I'm nearing page 100 of this 500-page book. I want to peek ahead and find the ending, but the author didn't make it that easy for me. I have to keep going.

I have four other library books to read. I got one, though it's a novel, mostly for reference--the author is from, and writes about, a city I'm including in a future book. Another is a collection of short stories. That still leaves two very interesting looking novels.

For now, A Thousand Splendid Suns sits on a table in my bedroom. I want to read it. I can't wait to read it. But what about the other books?

Maybe I should set aside a week just for reading.

Writing as Catharsis

2007-07-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

I was talking recently with someone who writes horror. He said he must write horror to help him purge his own fears and visions. The stories he writes are bold and often bloody--too strong for me to read. I never would have guessed the secrets he harbored.

I have a character who is great fun for me to write. She speaks boldly whatever is on her mind, with no apologies. She has been known to march into a room or a house and demand an explanation, usually at the top of her lungs. And sometimes, after an outburst, she does calm down and become quiet--even sweet.

Heather is my alter-ego. I wish I could be like her. I could say what I think without worrying about later repercussions. I could demand that people meet me on my terms. I would hold my head high and never offer an apology.

Writing is very therapeutic. My friend exorcises his own ghosts through his gruesome tales. I create characters who act as I never would dare. All of us writers create worlds where our imaginations run wild.

I write, therefore I am.