...or should that be, runs well with others?
Whichever it should be, they both bring to mind the current writing activity in which I'm involved. More of that in a moment.
When I think, or certainly thought, of writing, a solitary time at a keyboard, typewriter or pad and pens are images that spring to mind. Ideas, words, worlds welling up and flowing (or trickling sometimes - blood-from-stone-like) onto the screen/paper/page.
And so it's been mostly. Me, a pen (or several), a writing pad (or several) and away I scribble, long into the night. The results have not been bad. Sometimes, even, they've been good. And once or twice, only a few times, they have astonished me.
Of late, there's been something else. Absolutely. She who signs herself, Absolutely*Kate, and who writes and showcases writing at At the Bijou tapped me on the shoulder (virtually that is - and on my virtual shoulder at that) and suggested a duet, a sharing of the writing task.
*Kate is fond of my writing style and it is to understate it to say I am enamored of hers. *Kate has a fluidity with language that inspires - and makes me laugh (when it's not making me envious.)
I had an opening scene with some strong characters, sent it to her and got by return mail (e-mail, that is) this impassioned plea to be permitted to play with these characters. I am many things, stupid isn't one of them (mostly), and so I said "Yes".
We've traded stanzas of this evolving story back and forth between us - all the while maintaining a correspondence covering/suggesting back story, time and place, and about whom the story will finally be (that's still on-going, I'm not sure the characters are ready to tell us yet).
Characters have come bounding out of the woodwork to take a twirl on the dance floor (there was an actual dance floor in the 2nd and 3rd stanzas).
What is surprising to me is the in-tuneness that *Kate and I share about the story. I had thought two of the characters would need to talk, only to find that the meeting was set up by *Kate in her stanza - without discussion on the point between us. There have been other such serendipities.
This collaborative (co-laborare - to work together if I have my Latin correct) approach is new for me. We moved the home state of some of the characters and shifted time back some thirty-odd years - all without a hitch. We're still hunting around for the thrust of the story, which promises to grow to quite a serious length, but are piling up potential - the discharge of which will provide a very satisfying plot (I think).
I do not recommend this approach to anyone - because I do not recommend any approach to anyone. I don't know enough to make recommendations (other than to write - for that is what writers do, write, and we short-change ourselves when we don't.)
But, should some collaborate in a similar or dissimilar way - I can only wish that you enjoy it as much as *Kate and I are enjoying it.
I found this a very interesting post. I can't imagine sharing my characters with anyone yet, not even for them to read, never mind play with. I will obviously, eventually relax this stance, but I'm not confident enough to do so yet. I love the way you feel you can work fluidly with Kate. Wishing you lots of luck with it!
ReplyDeleteRebecca - Until the moment I sent *Kate the scene of Carolina Beatrice Templeton (how I do love that name) and the other characters with her, I couldn't imagine sharing my characters with others before they were all well turned out and in a completed story.
ReplyDeleteSo, in a sense, I wouldn't do it till I did it. It is in the doing we learn, and we stretch. And, it does help to have a writing partner of the artistry of *Kate.
Sounds like you two are having great fun with this. It's a wonderful thing to work with someone you are simpatico with. You two really seem to gel.
ReplyDelete~jon
Thanks Jon. Yes, *Kate and I do seem to be having a ball with this. Luck of the Irish.
ReplyDeleteI can see you and *Kate blending that certain flair for words into a swelling symphony of novel proportions!
ReplyDeleteNaturally you two would have fun together!
ReplyDelete@Laura - I'm just chasing after *Kate's flair, I can assure you. But it's fun!
ReplyDelete@John - it's impossible not to have fun writing with *Kate.
Collaborating can be fun or frustrating, depending on the interaction between people. I'm very, very happy for you and *Kate to have had such syntony in your writing project. :D
ReplyDeleteSounds like this process has been a huge sucess. Its great to find a person that is similar to you, but also bends and circles your thoughts as well. Wish you both the best with this endevour!
ReplyDeleteHi there Kevin! I have a little something for you back at randomities. ;) http://bit.ly/award_verstl
ReplyDelete@Mari - this collaboration is great fun and not at all frustrating. I am very fortunate to be in this dance with *Kate. Thank you for the award - I'll go back through your interview questions for me and see if there's anything I can salvage for "things to know about KjM" :-}
ReplyDelete@Lara - thank you, yes, the process is going on really well. *Kate certainly knows how to bend and circle - and weave. I'm just hanging on for the ride!