*Oil painting by Leah Kristin Dahlgren, “Silver Pitcher.”
I’ve been thinking of the writing process lately and what a mysterious things putting words on paper is. Where do these ideas come from anyway? How is it possible to create a character you know so well they seem to live and breathe? Why do I feel so smitten by my heroes ~ and they don’t even exist? Why do I find myself wanting to write rather than eat and sleep? Why do I often have to force myself to STOP writing and attend to other things?
When I was in Scotland May 2014 I wanted to take a break from writing. To be honest, I was exited to be there but worn out and weary. It had been a long winter with some unexpected twists and turns that I wasn’t weathering very well. I’d finished Ballantyne Book 3 and needed to let it rest so I could look at it, flaws and all, with fresh eyes once I returned home in June. My brother, who lives in Spain, met me in Glasgow. After arriving in a pouring rain he prayed for sun and the sun came out and stayed out the entire time. We hiked in the Hebrides and took trains and taxis and ferries all over, ate our hearts out (he’d brought a list of Scots foods he wanted to try :), and ended up in Edinburgh for more adventures. I began to feel full, inspired, enriched, overjoyed, overflowing. Green pastures and still waters, indeed.
I had brought a blank notebook and supply of pens thinking I wouldn’t use them. But somehow between all the hiking and walking and sightseeing and eating, I began scribbling a new story. I filled up one notebook and by the time I reached Spain I needed another. My pens had all run dry. By the time I left Spain I’d filled up another notebook. This was a story I’d been wanting to write for years and is set in my favorite century, the 18th. It didn’t matter where I was, or what I was doing, or if I was in a taxi or bus or whatever, I JUST HAD TO WRITE. It was wonderful to feel that overwhelming passion for words again. I’d nearly forgotten the JOY of it. It was God’s gift to me in a rocky place.
When I came home I transcribed all that scribbling I’d done on vacation to a Word file. Since I never count words (too much like counting calories!) I was amazed when the numbers showed 40,000. My books are normally 100,000 and it takes me a year or more to write just one. The Frontiersman’s Daughter happened over a ten year period. This time I’d written almost half a book in a 2 week time frame on that month long trip. This was, of course, a first draft, and needed work. But it’s truly a story of my heart and that’s what matters. And it shows that a very slow writer like myself, when inspired, can pour out a story of substance in a short time, all because I, in a desert place, met the River of Living Waters who never fails.
So there you have the story behind the story of The Mistress of Tall Acre.
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This is so beautiful, Laura…I’ve wondered some of those same questions you mention myself! It’s such a mysterious process, this writing thing…I don’t really understand it very well! 🙂 But thank you so much for sharing this “story of a story” with us, reminding us of God’s goodness in restoring our souls when we need it…and the tantalizing hint of another story birthed from your heart to come! Very exciting. 🙂
May He continue to bless you and pour His stories through you.
Kiersti, You DO understand very well :). So thankful for you and your thoughtful comments. God is so good at giving us green pastures and still waters. Love the word ‘tantalizing’ – I so hope this story of my heart reaches yours!
And I pray the same for your writing and even for this weekend – that you’ll feel His presence in fresh ways!
Laura
Thank you for this glimpse. It will make reading this future book all the more special.
Ive always longed to write. Ive learned that I dont have good attention to detail and I have horrible follow through. I think those are the 2 most important things a writer should have. I have learned to just be content reading. 🙂
Cindy, You have a BIG writing bone in you – even your emails are beautifully worded and I’m always struck by the depth of your thoughts/emotions. That’s a true gift. Not everyone feels or thinks as you do. I was looking through my Morrow scrapbook yesterday and came across your first email last Feb. I’m so thankful you found me – a miracle almost as you’d picked her story up on Kindle. And thankful you’ve stayed with me since I left the frontier. Lord willing, I will be back!
Yes, attention to detail and follow through are very important for writers, the detail for historical writers especially. As for follow through, I have more than a few manuscripts stuck in drawers that are only first drafts. I never really polished anything in the old days, nor did I finish everything. But now I have to polish and finish – or else ;)! Thrilled you’re just content reading. That’s plenty!
I love getting a peak at your future writings. I so wish you could have come to Virginia for some research. Hmmmm maybe there will be a story from Southwest Virginia that just needs to be told.
Oh, how you tempt me, dear Cindy! I have a terrible hankering to come to Colonial Williamsburg AND historic Lorton and see you, too! I’d give anything to see the Draper homestead, also. Virginia is special to me since my granny was from there and also my grandfather’s family settled there before coming in to KY with Boone, etc. So glad we can talk books here, current and future!
Oh Laura, although I am a ‘reading’ friend only I SO enjoyed learning about your journey last May and how the Lord refreshed your soul and restored your creativity. Writing is such an amazing craft to me and it’s so interesting to see how words in a notebook can become a novel. I know we have to wait quite a long time to read Ballantyne #3, but I am waiting on pins and needles to see what is coming next. Can you give us a hint, please?
Your ‘reading’ friend,
Georgianne 🙂
Oh Georgianne, You always make me smile – and I love your questions!! Would you believe I just turned in Ballantyne book 3 yesterday :). One dear reader recently wrote and said that while she was looking forward to meeting Wren as she was fond of Ansel, she really had hoped the story would be about Ellie and Jack’s daughter. I happily wrote back and told her that book 3 has 2 heroines and 2 heroes! So you’re getting 2 love stories, so to speak, though it’s a rocky road to get there! But since the book is set in 1850 Pittsburgh society the story is very different. I’m about as far from the frontier as I’ve ever been but hope you love the story and characters as much as I enjoyed writing about them. BTW, Ellie and Jack’s daughter has the most beautiful name. I’m so temped to tell you here but don’t want to spoil it for you!
Thanks for listening to my humble ramblings here. Sometimes the transparency of struggles makes me squirm but I so wanted to share how the Lord refreshed me in a rocky place. Honored to be making this journey with you!!
Laura, now you really have my curiosity up about book 3!! How shall I ever wait…. 🙂 I know I will be re-reading the first two before then.
Is it too soon to ask you to share a glimpse into what you are currently working on? Back to the frontier, or Scotland perhaps??? (Sorry if I’m asking too much!)
Oh, never too many questions, Georgianne! That book that poured out in Scotland is actually my next one due to release in fall of 2015 (boy, does that ever sound far off)! It’s set in Virginia in 1785. THEN I hope to return to the Kentucky frontier for the next book. I’m also working on a proposal for a Scottish-early American story set in the 18th-c. after that. I even have the first pages of that one :). Not much but a strong start as far as plot and the main characters in place, or so I hope!
I so wish I could hand you Wren’s story right now. A year is a very long time to wait between books. Publishing moves very slowly at times. Thanks for your thoughtful questions. Always a joy to talk books with you!
Thanks for sharing this with us Laura! I am happy that you take your time with your writing. I think it shows in every one of your books. I am glad that you gathered such inspiration from your trip. God is good and always seems to show up when we feel weary and dry. And, I am glad that you got to have such an adventure with your brother! I love a good adventure with a beloved sibling. I am looking forward to reading many more of your future novels, dear Laura. And I am sure I will treasure each one until I am old and gray and can no longer see! 🙂
Oh Emma, such kind words :). You always bless me. I hope that I can keep writing till I’m old and gray – which will be much sooner than you! Love when you said “God is good and always seems to show up when we feel weary and dry.” Amen to that. I feel so blessed taking that trip with Chris. I only have one brother and no sisters but he’s the best! And younger than me, to boot. Hope this weekend brings you rest and time with a good book! Praying for you and work and all else, dear Emma!
Miss Emma, I forgot to mention that my heroine in the Virginia book goes by the last name of Menzies, thanks to you! I remember you saying you liked that name once upon a time :). Of course you’re welcome to come back here and say you didn’t say anything of the sort, lol. I DO get my dear readers AND my characters mixed up some times!
Ooooh, that was me! I am so excited! Thanks so much for letting me know. I will be bragging to all my friends and family about it! I am honored that you would even consider a suggestion by little ol’ me, but to actually use it…you are too sweet. 🙂 Wishing you a blessed Sunday!
I promise to thank you in the book’s acknowledgements, too! You’re such a dear, Emma. I love the name, too, and it fits so well with her first name. But no spoilers for you :)! Have a blessed Sabbath!
Laura, can’t wait to hear the title of this new book–or when it’s coming out! I’m assuming there’s no plans for that yet.
I’m going through a bit of a dry spell myself but for different reasons. It’s good to hear I’m not the only one that deals with that and that the dry spells don’t last forever.
Sally, So good to hear from you. No, thank heavens, the dry spells don’t last forever – and sometimes are followed by a flood :)! I guess that’s what makes it so interesting. You’ve been working hard on your own ms, I know, this year so maybe you’re just in need of a little reprieve.
I so wish I could hand you a title for this poured out piece! It actually won’t be titled till fall of 2014. Seems a world away. Meanwhile I’m up to 66k on it and hope to finish it by spring.
Have a blessed week!