Sunday, September 10, 2006
Making Progress
I just finished a first draft of Little Whiskey and the Dancing Cave. Originally, I had it in mind to title it, Little Whiskey and the Cave of Life. Still not sure what the title will ultimately be.
About a week ago I had this idea pop into my head that I couldn’t begin to formulate. At least not verbally or in an outline form. In fact it didn’t take shape until after I started putting the words down. I still can’t explain it, but now that the first draft is down it does, amazingly, make sense.
The drums sounded faintly with an ancient, tribal rhythm, and a chorus of what sounded like thousands chanted distant accompaniment. Errol opened his eyes and saw shadows flitting across the light of the moon that filtered into the cave. He sat up and looked at the glyphs and they began to shift, move, and dance. Oh, how they danced.
It’s a short piece—for me—at only about 1500 words.
Each time I write something I seem to learn something and come up with new questions. I wonder how common it is to have a complete notion of a story in mind yet not be able to verbally formulate it or explain what it is about even after you write it. Although I can’t explain it, it does make since when I read it.
