This month’s round robin is the first I’ve had the opportunity to join for some time. Life became a little overwhelming in the spring when I had RNA and EWC responsibilities, a serial to finish and some wonderful expeditions to go on. The committees are now in the past. Can’t believe I’m saying that. When was the last time I wasn’t helping with something?
This elegant setting is in The Chinese Pavilion in the grounds of Sans Souci Palace, Potsdam. Our generation did not invent the afternoon tea. Potsdam was one of the expeditions.
So, dragging myself back to the topic in hand Why do you ‘write or feel compelled to write even through the difficult parts?’ Did Rhobin mean the difficult parts in the story or the difficult parts in one’s life. I’m going for the second as I feel the first is rather obvious. If you don’t write the difficult parts, who will? It’s your book.
The difficult parts of life come to everyone. Be you a bus driver or a neuro-surgeon, life will throw things at you and you just have to get on. Perhaps writers have a wee advantage here in that we’re used to exploring characters’ minds and can maybe stand aside and take an objective look at our own.
Well, maybe. I lost a very dear younger relative, last year and for a goodish while, I did not write. I went to bed early, I dealt with the business, I continued to put meals on the table, but I did have to have a meaningful break. So, in fact, I did not continue to write through the difficult part.
I’m back to it now. I know the first few things I produced weren’t that good, but there have been one or two successes since and writing feels back on track.
I’ve completed a short serial for People’s Friend and I’ll be sharing details of that nearer publication date. However, they are publishing a story I wrote for a Scottish Association of Writers’ competition in the main magazine dated today, 23rd June. I called it Woman, Invisible. They’ve gone for What Lies Beneath. I think it arises out of last year’s trauma.
Anne
Other writers exploring this topic are here:
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1gQ
Marie Laval http://marielaval.blogspot.co.uk/
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/
Aimee) A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Victoria Chatham http://victoriachatham.blogspot.com/
Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com
Novels Now 
I think when major trauma hits our lives, all of us go underground for a while. Be it weeks or months, sometimes even years, the soul needs a chance to recuperate, adding this newest loss to the fabric of our being.
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Hi AJ that was all too true. thanks for dropping by. I’ve now managed to attach the list of contributors. anne
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I always try to leave any topic open to interpretation, Anne, and I liked your post, because you write the truth: family, business, and events happen that take everyone from their goals. However, the event that led you to stop writing was tragic and I’m sorry for your loss, but glad you are back writing.
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Hi Rhobin, it’s great to have things ‘open to interpretation’ as it always prompts an array of opinion. I feel I’m seeing light at the end of the tunnel, now. Anne
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“If you don’t write the difficult parts, who will? It’s your book.” Oh, wouldn’t it be convenient to subcontract some bits to someone else!
I’m bursting with admiration that you have published in the People’s Friend. I wrote a story I thought was exactly their style, submitted it, and got the reply I should read the stories they publish to see what they want…
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Hi Bob, I know what you mean. I thought I’d read every M&B going when I was trying for them and got a reply along the same lines as yours from PF. It’s a mystery. Anne
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I can see two ways for a writer to go with dark moments in our own lives. One is to escape into our writing where the endings might be happier or more satisfying. The other is to be lost to writing for awhile. That happened to me when my little 18 month old grandson was killed in a freak accident at a park. I had a pitch appointment for a book already written a month after his passing and couldn’t even pull myself together to make the pitch. My writing languished for months. Eventually I returned to the book, made the pitch via email and sold the book and every book since has had a Philip in it somewhere.
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Oh, my dear Skye, I am so sorry. It’s a really lovely thing though, to put Philip into all of your work. Anne
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I’m so sorry to hear of your loss, Anne. This was an interesting take on our topic. I’ve also struggled to write after tragedy, but kept myself manically busy in other ways. Now I like to write (and read) books with happier endings.
I love your photo from the Sans Souci Palace. I really wanted to go there last time I was in Berlin, but we ran out of time. A reason to go back!
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Thanks, Helena. The busy-ness does help. Sans souci was magical and surreal in many ways. The main builder, I think he was Frederick ll, married his wife under protest, but lived at Potsdam, without a care, where he created these amazing palaces. The Queen was in Berlin where she did all the diplomatic business: an inverse power share. Anne
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I’m sorry for your loss, Anne, but congratulations on being published by People’s Friend. I’m like Dr. Bob – PF told me much the same thing!
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Hi Victoria, thank you. I did sell PF a story about a hundred years ago and then there was a decades-long hiatus. Maybe you should give it another go? Anne
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I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. Some of us throw ourselves into work, anything to escape the pain; others need to hibernate. There is no wrong way to deal with grief, really.
I’m happy to hear you’re writing again.
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Hullo Marci, You’re absolutely right, there’s no wrong way to deal with grief. It’s so unexpected that we’re quite often shocked. Fresh writing is coming along, thanks. anne
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