Hello, friends. Today, I thought I'd share with you another snippet from my work-in-progress, Monsoon Season. This scene takes place in November 1945. At this point, the Second World War is over (Japan surrendered in August 1945) and the British have resumed their control over the colony of Malaya. The temporary government is called the British Military Administration (BMA), but it's more … [Read more...]
On historicity
Hello, friends. I'm at a critical point in Monsoon Season - about 70% through a first draft - and things are starting to come together fast. I'm at that amazing, terrifying, highly adrenalized point at which I start to think about the novel ALL THE TIME. Even when I shouldn't be. And I still don't know how it's going to end. One of things I've been turning over in my head is, Am I willing to … [Read more...]
Arrogance and folly
Hello, friends. Earlier this month, I started writing Part 3 of Monsoon Season. I'm trying to be less secretive about my work-in-progress, so today I'm posting an excerpt from this week's work. It might make the final cut; it might not. The speaker is Chen Liling, a young Chinese Communist guerrilla in Japanese-occupied Malaya. April 18, 1945 Here is a measure of how long we’ve been in the … [Read more...]
Alchemy
Hello, friends. Last week, I spent two nights at Small Pond Arts, an artists' residency in rural Prince Edward County, Ontario. It was all I'd hoped for and more besides. I walked, I practised yoga, I shared meals and fascinating conversations with other artists. But mostly, I did this: I wrote about 7000 words while I was there. More significantly, I mapped out and began … [Read more...]
Away
Shall I tell you a secret? I am presently away. Specifically, I left for a Secret Writing Destination yesterday and will not return to my regularly scheduled life until tomorrow. I've never done anything like this before and am so excited I could drool. I'll be working on Monsoon Season, wrapping up Part 2 and starting Part 3. My focus? Writing Like the Wind. I'll be back next week … [Read more...]
A scene from Monsoon Season
Hello, friends. This is hardly breaking news, but I'm still bashing away at Monsoon Season, aka the Novel that Might Never End. It's supposed to be in three parts with a frame narrative. Part 1 is 50,000 words long. I'm now midway through Part 2 and it's sitting at 43,600 words. I really must do something about this - and I will, soon, but not until I've finished Part 2. Having spent some time … [Read more...]