2/15/10

Church of Wandering Thoughts

I try to be a good church-going catholic. Really I do. I sit, kneel or stand in the appropriate places. I know the prayers by heart. And I listen to the readings.

But when it comes to the homily where the priest steps up to the mic to relate the readings to everyday life--well, my mind goes bye-bye. It could be because priests tend to be a little out of touch with the world, or it could be because every priest that I've listened to has a well-modulated voice--i.e. monotone and 'soothing'.

Instead of getting sleepy, my conscious mind takes all my sub-conscious writerly-type info and goes to town. Usually, I channel different scenes, some from my current story and some from stories down the road. But last Sunday, I really got some good stuff.

Several years ago, I wrote a story called THE LEPRECHAUN CONNECTION. Though I pimped it everywhere I only had one real bite, but it was eventually rejected for being too diverse with numerous fantasy elements. So I shoved it under the bed.

Or so I thought. But this story preyed on my mind as I wondered about the back story of my main character. Plus I had introduced so many characters and situations that it was a shame for them to go to waste. How had things in Celestia gotten so bad?

Names have been changed, but the main character in Leprechaun IS my protagonist in my MG novels only this time I'm writing her back story in real time.

I started wondering about how evil half-blood trolls managed to get enough knowledge to rule Celestia, and now I know--the answer is in MG novel #3, FOR WHOM THE BELL TROLLS, but first I have to finish THE FAST AND THE FAERIEOUS.

Oh, and remember those early readers that I wrote about Peter the fly? They won't go to waste either as I have rewrites planned for all of them.
Oh, I may not sell any of these stories, but I'm having fun writing, or should I say rewriting, them!

So, remember, dear author friends, characters and scenes from books shoved under the bed are still fodder for your fertile mind. Make good use of these, and remember . . .

Recycling is good for the soul.

Write on!

10 comments:

  1. Oooh, good post, Margaret!
    I used to be a good church attending Lutheran. sigh"""
    I have a story that I want to rewrite and may someday.
    Yep, I've fallen victim to the sermon snooze. Plotted out a great scene in FROM THE SHADOWS. Ended up not using it though. :-(

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  2. I love your titles! I'm having a really good feeling about your books. You're on the right track.

    About the sermon... At least you don't write erotica. Just imagine what you'd think about during the sermon.

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  3. Jeez, Edie! I never thought of that! I'm glad I don't write erotica!

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  4. Some people have a bad experience with a horse and never ride again. I had a bad experience with organized 'religion' and will never go back again!

    MY fondest memory of a church is your wedding, Margie, the day after the big tornado that took out all the electricity!

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  5. At least you have some fond memories of churches, Jody! :-) Few people realized the electricity was knocked out DURING the wedding--it was when we crowded in the parish hall that the heat finally hit you. I remember doing the unladylike fanning of lifting my dress and fluffing air up my legs.

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  6. Great post!!

    My mind doesn't wander too much during the sermon at church, only during worship. I try not too, but it does.

    I know you're on the right track with your MG novels. I love the titles, too! I think MG fits your voice really well.

    I'm with you on recylcing. As you know I'm doing that with TEMPTING FATE. Like you, I think it will be worth it!!

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  7. Thanks, Ash! I'm stoked--I wrote actual words today! 2086 of them! I'm baaacckk!

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  8. Good for you! Keep writing! I do the same thing in church too :)

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  9. Glad to know that I'm not alone, Christina! Thanks for stopping by to visit.

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