In Its Totality
A brief update on my new novel idea, and the joys of writing with friends
As the storm rages outside our flat, Francois and I are huddled in blankets at the dinner table, candles burning and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban playing softly. Francois is sketching in his new notepad, and I am — in between exclamations of fright and delight at the creepiness and nostalgia of the movie — writing this post.1
I have been slightly terrible at posting on here, but that is not for lack of inspiration! I have, in fact, had an abundance of inspiration these past few weeks, which I have been pouring into my new novel idea instead. It has been the most refreshing, novel (haha) experience — finally, to have the writing flow! To write 1000 words in an hour! To giggle giddily as I make my characters do the most embarrassing things, and whip out my phone every day to jot down thoughts or ideas for dialogue or observations of the city around me, and to procrastinate doing other things (eg. write this Substack, tihi) just to smash out a few hundred words here and there for the book.
Random examples of my notes, under the imaginatively titled note New Novel:
Black grapes sold on the road side
The scent of him, held in the palm of her hand
“You should have just lied to me.”
The movement of gulls’ wings in the sun like shimmering fish scales — cold, white winter sun
Though I very much still intend to write my first novel idea, and continue to think about it on a semi-regular basis, this second idea has definitely taken centre-stage, and has been a completely different writing experience to the first book. Firstly, the plot came to me more-or-less in its totality, whereas I am still struggling to make the structure of the first book work. I still have some tweaks to do, of course, and some of the secondary characters and plot lines will need fleshing out, but the main idea feels far fuller and established in this second novel. It’s therefore also just easier to write, because I can always find a scene to dive into.
Beyond the practical, however, I wonder whether I don’t find it easier to knock out words for this novel because there is less pressure to create something ‘good’. This is no longer My First Novel, and it doesn’t have the same complex themes and challenges of perspective, so I feel a freedom to write simply for the fun of it, without having to prove anything. The stakes are lower, and so I no longer overthink every sentence.
Another reason for my creative productivity has been the beginning of a bit of a writer’s community in Cape Town. Writer’s community may be a slight overstatement, as it is still quite small, but I have met up with friends such as Tiaan La Grange, Sarah Uheida and Myrn Devaney to spend afternoons in cafés, writing on our separate projects in each other’s company. This has been so wonderful — not only the accountability and inspiration that comes with working across from someone equally engrossed in their writing, but also the joy of sharing ideas and challenges with fellow writers, hearing what they are working on and how they soldier on through the trenches of the craft. I intend to continue this practice throughout the winter and spring months, and see what comes of it — the first draft of a novel, I hope.
Let it be known, however, that I usually do not Substack and watch movies simultaneously like this, but seeing as I have watched the Harry Potters countless times already (Francois and I were quoting scenes aloud), I believe it to be excusable in this case.
It's a joy writing (and yapping) together. Can't wait to read all the novels