I meant to take two days off at Christmas but didn't quite manage it. I ended up working until 1 pm on Christmas Eve. It seems I am consumed by all things connected to writing, and once I begin something, I cannot let it go.
In this
case it was quotes. For those of you who have followed my blog, you already
know that I have a thing for quotes. Sometimes the quote is my prompt, but more
often than not, I am off searching for one that fits what I have written. That
approach spilled over into Love Denied, and since I like continuity, it will be
part of the entire series.
While there
were moments during the search for quotes for Love Abandoned that I wanted to
do a head slap, more often than not I tunnelled down the rabbit hole and happily
rolled around in the words of Shakespeare and Wordsworth, of Keats and Byron.
They paint images of the natural world, explore love and hate, happiness and despair,
and probe the depths of what it is to be human. Their cadence, their rhythm
call to be read aloud, and I would find myself whispering, lost in the music of
their poetry.
However, I
include them in my novels, not simply to share their beauty, but to enhance each
chapter. And in doing so, I centre my own writing. As I review and revise each
chapter, I look for its purpose. What role does it play in the story? Does it
reflect the overarching theme? Do we gain insight into a character? Does it
focus on a developing emotion? Is it a plot catalyst or a resolution? If I
cannot name its goal, then it must be revised or eliminated. When I can name
it, I know the essence of the quote that is needed and go off on my treasure hunt.
My husband
says he skips such things when he reads. I suspect many do. Still, I am hopeful
that I am not alone in enjoying the bards of yore or in looking at connections
between pieces of writing—in this case, my chapters and their quotes. I hope like-minded
souls enjoy them as much as I do.
