I
need to have a few ‘bones’ to hang my story on; a few events, like signposts on
a highway. A happening or two I can work
my way toward, travel past and on to the next signpost. Sometimes while I’m
writing a good idea will pop up – or the dialogue pouring out of my fingertips (I’m
a touch typist of old), the smart repartee between characters will introduce another
character or create an event I hadn’t thought of, until then. At other times I
will get an idea and to use it I have to write a whole chapter to justify one
paragraph with the idea planted there, more for my own satisfaction than the
reader’s amusement.
This
happened in my latest novella “A Stellar Affair”, a futuristic romance. Stella
is at the airport with her grandfather. They
have ‘jumped’ to a corner in a service passage and as they exit the corridor to the main concourse Stella has to avoid the suitcases
that are following their owners, or rather following an electronic signal
coming from either the wrist or belt of their owners. Oblivious to other beings
they trundle faithfully upright, close behind. The cases have safety locks to
prevent theft, which If forced causes them to wail like a baby. People become emotionally attached to their
suitcases, paste stickers, noses, eyelashes on them and give them names.
The
idea of the suitcase ‘pets’ came to me watching the new upright suitcases, at
the airport about a year ago; being pulled along by their owners, tucked beside
them, held close. Suddenly I could picture them as faithful pets and the
methodology of how and why was worked out in minutes. I had to write a whole
chapter just to fit in an airport scene to use the suitcase idea. A fan
commented the other day about this latest story. She loved the story, but
wanted to talk about the suitcases. She thinks everyone should have one and in
the future everyone might now that I’ve put the idea out there. She also thinks
I should contact Samsonite – but I haven’t.
When
this happens it’s just great to be a writer - the deliverer of ideas and
secrets. Yesterday I had a fabulous title pop into my head. I wasn’t even thinking about writing.
Actually, (and I know I shouldn’t use an adverb) I was cooking peanut brownies
at the time. I had to rush off and write it down. Now I’ll have to write a story to fit the title.
If I don’t hassle it I know my brain will come up with some ideas, probably in
the dead of night and keep me awake.
Meanwhile I’ll hug it tight and ponder on different plot lines I could
use. It has to go through the ‘hatching’ process.
My
latest Young Adult: 'A TASTE OF GOLD' ((by Deryn Pittar) has acquired, unplanned, two Taniwha. They definitely
weren’t there to begin with, but have snuck in and now insist they are worthy
of keeping. I’m inclined to agree with them. I didn’t know Taniwha could be so
persuasive. Their size could have something to do with that. I keep looking
over my shoulder to check they haven’t followed me home. Now I need to think of
another adventure in which I can travel New Zealand and find other Taniwha.
I’ve been to the local library and although there are a few legends involving
these mythical creatures it appears to be an open field for me to play in.
My Taniwha are brave, loyal, intelligent and keepers of the land's treasures (gold, silver and diamonds). Guess who causes the earthquakes in this country?
