A dream close to realisation

I think I've mentioned before on this blog that often that when I'm not blogging much it's because I'm too busy writing other things.

That is very true at the moment.  My blog is getting more and more bare but that doesn't mean i'm not doing much writing.  Writing has become my life!

Last week I printed off my novel as it stands at present.  It is still not finished, but there is something about having it in your hand as opposed to seeing "number of pages" listed on the bottom of a word document.  I was singing to myself based on the old hymn "This is my story, this is my song, Praising my savior, all the day long", though instead i was singing "This is my story, this is my novel".  Hope that's not too heretical :)

It really feels like a novel.  And even as I read through it, rather than seeing major holes in the story, I just see little sections that need filling.  You could actually read it, and even if you wouldn't necessarily enjoy it yet, you would be able to understand the plot and the story.  Jotted all the way through my hard copy are words like "Describe character more", or "Need to put in an explanation of X" or quite commonly "That sounds so silly Belinda you really need to learn how to write better!".  Whereas the last time I printed it out it was much more likely to say "Work out how the story could have gotten from this to that?"

Writing a novel is like solving a puzzle.  At any stage I have a certain number of pieces already in, bits of the story that are already figured out.  But I need new pieces to put it together and make it all work and fit.  But rather than looking for pieces that exist, I just fill them up with my own home-made pieces.  I love the illumination of finally figuring out a piece.  So much of writing for me is coming up with an idea, and then working out how it is possibly viable within my story.  And sometimes my favourite plot twists, characters, and concepts were created just because my story didn't make sense without them.

And now I have a confession.  You might wonder why I don't write anything about my novel, except that it is a novel and it's a fantasy story.  The truth is, I'm worried someone will steal my ideas.  Yes, I know how silly that sounds.  That someone would come to my incredibly popular blog, followed by a whopping 10 people, and steal my novel ideas.  But I can't help it.  It's my story and I love it, and even if it isn't any good, it's mine.  And I don't want anyone knowing about it or reading it until it is beautiful and ready!
Which might be soon than I imagined :)
love B