Novel Outline

 

I have had over the course of several decades, had a variety of "ideas" for novels I would imagine myself writing.  I actually have an old notebook where I have many of these different ideas written down.  Some of my ideas are for "science fiction" genera works, some are for "dystopian fiction/science fiction" works, a few "youth science fiction" ideas, a few "detective fiction" ideas and I even have a few ideas for "romance fiction" in this old notebook.  

Because novels are longer pieces of fiction writing, I have always felt rather stymied at the thought of the "organizational" aspects of trying to write a novel.  I do like writing, and I have written a fair number of (non-published) short stories when I was a much, much younger professor.... simply because it was fun and a pleasant way to write that was very different from my daily non-fiction writing I do as a scientist.  My writing of short stories way back then faded away as family needs became more pressing concerns for me (a great deal of it was related to helping various relatives as they aged, and then of course my father's health went into decline, then other relatives, and so on). 

Just a brief aside when I look back at the last sentence or two, I "realize" more fully just by thinking it through in a linear fashion, that I have been a "caregiver" for most of the entirety of my adult life.  While I knew this at some basic, visceral level.... stating it like I did in the above has made me more cognizant of  how MUCH of my time has been (and still is) related to me giving care and support to others, especially those in my family (both immediate of course, but also quite extended family as well).   I think perhaps I should think about this a bit more when I have some time.... because it SEEMS bigger than I even typically recall.  

But, back to writing.  I really WOULD like to take a REAL stab at writing at least ONE novel-length bit of writing.  And, I think I have found a tool (a book, more accurately) that I am (crossing my fingers) will help me.  As all of you know, I can yammer on about things quite easily.  So, writing is  not a problem.  I also enjoy words, so I have a reasonably sufficient vocabulary to write with.  I have also been TOLD that I can and do (at least verbally) tell "interesting" stories. 

All of this leads to the point of this essay... I have found a book that purports to guide an aspiring novelist through the process of outlining the structure of a novel in such a way that you would create a legitimate "framework" upon which then you (the writer) can then focus on the creative story-telling aspect of the writing.... by gently working through the framework created.  

To me, IF the book I shall receive does guide me successfully to construct a workable framework for one of my ideas.... it could be magical for me.  The few times I have tried to start a novel in the past have always petered out after a few days because, I would lose confidence on where I should "go" at any given time in my story.... usually seeing too many alternative pathways, and the over abundance of paths would cause me to stall like a truck that ran out of gas.  But, if this book guides me in what becomes a logical path for the novel to follow..... who knows?!?!  

• Running - the usual number..... 11 miles (~18km) this morning.  I was not really "into" running this morning.  It felt like a chore today.  I would rather have stayed in bed, and slept until noon.  Part of the challenge was likely having stayed up rather late (for me anyhow) last night.... I read in bed until close to 1:30am... and then my wife came to bed as well.  And, perhaps due to the relaxing and pleasant Thanksgiving weekend, we both were feeling rather awake and also rather amorous.  So, technically, neither she nor I likely fell asleep before ~2:30 - 3:00am.  That also likely contributed to my lack of enthusiasm to clomp out of bed at 5:15am to get to the track to hoof around for 11 miles.  
• PCS = 8...   Maybe it is the Winter?  Though technically Fall, in my neck of the woods Fall is rather brief and we have already had a fair amount of snow (a brief warming trend melted it, thankfully.... but very temporarily). I have gotten lost in thought about my pipes and pipe tobaccos with tremendous frequency the last several days.  I was watching a movie with my wife, and part way through the damn thing, I realized I had drifted off into my own "world" where I was remembering and imagining me very heartily smoking my pipes and could not recall much of any of the plot of the movie.  While at my wife's brother's house (my BIL) on Thanksgiving, while the great masses were hooting and hollering about the (American) football game that splayed across the gigantic, wall  mounted television he and his wife have..... and all eyes of the masses were transfixed and upon the "exciting action" I was pretending to watch the television, but my mind was back in my memories, reliving old times, and the memorable tastes, textures, aromas and flavors of pipes gone past.  And, with chagrin I even admit to drifting into a beautiful pipe dream during the Homily at Sunday Mass.  I am ashamed to realize I do not remember anything about what our priest spoke about in his Homily.  Although not an appropriate substitute, I will strive to listen especially intently to the Capuchin Monestary Mass for this past Sunday when finally available during my run tomorrow. 

PipeTobacco