Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Inspiration for an Interlude

This is a strange thing for me to say, since my problem is usually verbosity and not brevity, but I don't actually have a whole lot to say today.

I know, I know; peel yourselves off of the floor, dear readers. Miracles can happen.

This unusual pithiness - although I'm not sure anyone who uses the word 'pithiness' should be allowed to call herself pithy - is a direct result of the transitional state I'm in in my Work In Progress, aka WIP. I've settled on the bare bones of a plot for my Ancient Greek lifetime; I have lengthy and detailed psychological treatises on my three main characters; and I have a very, very general idea of where this lifetime might fit into the action of the book as a whole.

All of which means...it's time to leave Greece. I'm having a difficult time tearing myself away - this is what happens when you sink yourself into the slippery sand-trap of character, time, and setting - but I'm managing it. I cracked open a book on Tibet.

And...I'm reading. Yup. Researching. Very preliminary. Fascinating, huh? I could go off for a while about the obvious imbalance in the amount of time American schools spend teaching about Ancient Greece vs. Ancient Tibet, and hence my own sad lack of knowledge of Tibet's religion, culture, and history, but I'll hold myself back, and just read about it for now.

So in the meantime, for this week, I'll just give you one of my favorite inspire-me-to-write quotes, in the hopes that it helps you get to your own work today, whatever that work may be:
“Creative fantasy, because it is mainly trying to do something else... may open your hoard and let all the locked things fly away like cage-birds.”
- J.R.R.Tolkien
That might seem like a strange inspirational quote for someone who mostly writes literary fiction, but I love fantasy. I always end up with little whiffs of it in my writing, anyway, no matter what my genre may be. And that quote above is one of the big reasons why.

Have a great week, all.

42 comments:

  1. That's exciting that you are moving into Tibet now and new lifetimes for your characters. Quite the epic you are writing. Enjoy the process. And I love that Tolkien quote.

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    1. Thanks!! I know, it IS epic. I'm crazy, I think ;)

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  2. Dude, your book is sounding better every time I read something about it. I love other cultures and I love the fact you are researching them.

    Excellent quote too. :)

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    1. Thank you so much!! I hope it lives up to my hype ;) My main concern at this point is how long it's going to take to write...

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  3. Hey. Half the fun is in the research. Good for you. :)

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  4. I love research. It's so much fun!!

    I also want to echo the sentiments over how awesome your book sounds. I'm really looking forward to reading it someday.

    Great quote!

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    1. Thank you so much!! I really appreciate that :)

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  5. Fantasy lovers unite! As long as your story is moving to Tibet, and not you. That would be a shivery place to live methinks. =)

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    1. haha, probably yes! But a lovely place to visit...

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  6. Viva Nepal!
    Sorry, line from a movie. Always wanted to say it.
    I bet Tibet will be fun to research.

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  7. Love the Tolkien quote. And, yeah, that's what good fantasy should do -- open the reader up to new ways of looking at the ordinary.

    Enjoy your research on Tibet. :)

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    1. Thank you! I know, the man was a genius, wasn't he?

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  8. That was a short post for you. I've enjoyed reading about your research and learned quite a bit. Tolkien is always good to aspire to.

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  9. Great quote, I like the imagery it inspires- birds flying away free! I've always wanted to have a bird or two, but changing out poo trays in the bottom of the cage...just don't think I can do it. Sorry! That was random! =)

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    1. LOL!!! I totally now have that image in my head ;)

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  10. I did notice this seemed like a much shorter entry than usual. :P And since I collect quotes and have added yours to my collection, here's one in return:

    "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one." --George R. R. Martin

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    1. I love that one - I'll add it to my own collection! Thanks :)

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  11. Enjoy your research into Tibet--sounds fascinating! :)

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  12. From Greece to Tibet sounds like its own book:) And I love that quote.

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  13. J.R.R. Tolkein was a really great person. He has a lot of inspiring quotes. Thanks for sharing.

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  14. I definitely have a hoard that needs to fly away. LOL!
    Have fun with your research!

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  15. Let those caged birds fly. And enjoy Tibet.

    Have a great weekend!

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  16. I can admit it: I know virtually nothing about Tibet. I should set my next story there and learn as I go... Great quote -- keep plugging away, Liz.

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    1. You should, and we should both travel there. Just as soon as I win that lottery... ;)

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  17. That's one of the best things about being a writer--we never know what we'll get to learn about next!

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    1. That's so true - and a great way to look at it!

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  18. Fascinating. I wonder where your research will take you next.

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    1. Most likely I'll be in Tibet for a while... but then yes, I'll be off to another part of the world!

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  19. I love research, but man, it can get me distracted and off on some tangents.

    I think the imbalance of Greek v. Tibetan is that our culture is mostly derived from the Greeks—their language, traditions, etc., however, it would be nice to teach more eastern traditions.

    M.L. Swift, Writer

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    1. You're right, of course - and I still wish we learned more about it, anyway! I had one class in high school, an English class, where we studied the literature of Eastern religions, and I loved it. That was an awfully long time ago, though...

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  20. On to Tibet!! This is fun to share in your findings without having to do the work. Thanks for that! lol!

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  21. That was quite a trip in Greece! I'm sure Tibet will prove to be just as interesting :D

    It is tough to pull yourself out of research mode after a while, so kudos for being able to get out!

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    1. LOL, I'm so stuck in it! But someday, yes, I'll drag myself out :)

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