The past month has been a hectic period for me, what with assessment going on. Even as I write this, I am midway through my first teaching placement. The joys of being a preservice teacher!
Of course, that does not mean I have neglected my literary career. Far from it. I will be the first to admit I am finding difficulty with finishing Crow as it is. I had planned to have the entire story done by mid-April, but the difficult and complex nature of the final chapters have ensured I am running overtime. However, I will say it is not lack of content that is forcing me to delay the end of the first draft, but rather the complexity of what I am writing.
One curious thing any writer, aspiring or established, should take note of is how difficult it is to transfer ideas onto the page. To find the right words is the goal of writing, and that is no small feat. What you envision in your mind is not always the best way to go about something, for what goes on the page must reflect several things:
- The tone and feel of the scene.
- The message of the novel.
- The style and views of the writer.
Sure, some writers prefer “Purple Prose,” characterised by unnecessary and over-elaborate description. That is fine. I indulge in that sometimes as well. But the heart of writing should be in getting a message across. The message defines everything about your writing. If you make that take a back seat to colourful language and fluff, then you’ve violated the sanctity of what makes writing engaging. But, that could also be an artistic choice. All I can suggest is be smart with how you incorporate “Purple Prose”and story integration.
Which is something that consumes my time as I write the end pages of Crow.
Fenrir's Lair 