Secret Stanzas

What does 1 author do after dedicating 30 straight days to writing 50,000 words in a very rough draft of part 2 of a trilogy?

Other normal writers will nap. Or watch Netflix. Or perhaps actually READ a book. I have found myself to attain these humanoid qualities upon completing a massive writing project. But this time...

My characters simply will not leave me alone!

Writing my first novel was the biggest thrill of my writing career. "Watch City: Waltham Watch" is dramatically different from my previous publications. My books of poetry, short stories, and memoir have introduced me to a community of writers and readers who have welcomed me with friendship. The gritty, adult-only content of these volumes reached people in our society who have since expressed their gratefulness. For words! Everyone needs a voice, everyone has a story to tell, and it is a beautiful miracle of community when we can find our stories within others.

Choosing to challenge myself into escapism opened up new worlds of writing for me. "Waltham Watch," the first book of what is becoming the "Watch City" trilogy, became more than a steampunk adventure novel. It escalated in power, creating waves of knowledge and rivulets of fantastical energy. Creating the setting, characters, and plot convinced me to make this pretend story into a real story. I wanted fact in the fiction, to make it believable as well as fantastical.

Researching for a sci-fi/steampunk/fantasy novel was one of the most rewarding experiences of my writing career. Secret doors of history and mystery revealed themselves. Truth proved stranger than fiction as I discovered the weird and absurd practices in everyday life that were part of my community barely more than a century ago.

People in my city were vital in their assistance with my research. Librarians, historians, museum curators; they directed me to vaults of informational treasure. They provided the opportunity for me to give credence to the incredible in my novel.

My greatest treasure in my research though, were the interviews, lessons, and fish-tales that were imparted to me. By nature, I am not a fan of mathematics or logic. Writing a steampunk novel, which in itself alludes to both of these characteristics, prompted me to try. I needed to understand the technical language my characters spoke. Hands-on lessons from tradespeople, including how to use tools from the Victorian era, measuring and calculating distances with hundreds-years-old methods, and looking to the stars as a map of time, all shone light into unexplored caverns of my brain. The friendships that grew from these experiences are the most precious part of my research.

Friendship and community are two pillars that firmly stand in all of my publications. This novel was no different. "Watch City: Waltham Watch" has become my own personal fable of strong women banding together to empower each other and build up their community. The characters who have been borne of my brain now take up residence in my heart. Their attributes - physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, interpersonal, and motivational - are each uniquely theirs. Inspired by admirable souls in my life, my characters are at once imaginary and real to me.

With the publications of my first three poetry books, my multi-publications in "Lucidity Poetry Journal," and having one of my haiku exhibited on the "Art on the Minuteman Bikeway" installation, I immersed myself in the vibrant local poetry community. Months of attending workshops, readings, open-mics, and poetry book releases, prompted me to dare myself. My goal was to at some point read one of my poems out loud to an audience.

That opportunity to dare myself came accidentally. Writing my name in what I thought was a guest book for a gallery, I signed myself up for open-mic. Oy vey!

I keep my phone handy, with my notes section full of prose and poetry and random thoughts. Armed thusly, I walked from the very back of the room to the very front of the room. I chose a short, quick, simple poem. I started off strong. I couldn't believe how clear my voice was at the end of the first stanza. Stanza two, my words continued to run steady. In stanza three, the dam broke, and a tightness in my throat warned me of the torrent about to burst. Stanza four, the end. I made it. My voice cracked and trailed off and I walked blearily back to my perch. I did it. It was horrible but whew! Got that off my list!

A few months later I joined a local poetry group for a night of featured poets followed by open mic. The vibe was accepting and fun. Somerville Poet Laureate Gloria Mindock warmly encouraged me and welcomed me. I decided, on a whim, to give it another go.

I did not want a repeat of a near-emotional-breakdown. So during a lighthearted intermission, I scrolled through my handy dandy notes section, and pulled apart snippets of dialogue from "Watch City: Waltham Watch," which was yet unpublished in in the third rough draft phase.

I took two viewpoints from two opposing characters, and spliced them together to create a poetic story. The two voices were my superbly evil villain (I just love her dramatic dastardliness) and my heroic supporting character (who I have a secret crush on).

As I stepped up to the mic, I adapted a Johnny Cash swagger, willing confidence into my performance. It did become a performance of sorts, as I subtly acted the parts with my voice, imagining my characters within my words. I am not saying it was great, but I FELT great afterwards. No teary eyes or wavering words. I felt like my strong tough characters.

When "Watch City: Waltham Watch" was published in autumn 2018, I was eager for feedback. Every author hungers for this! (Please yes right after reading this go to Amazon and Goodreads and write a one sentence review of the last book you read!)

Feedback is starved for, but praise! That is the holy grail. Especially when it is from another author who you admire. Caroline Walken, author of Nowhere on the Map, Ell's Double Down, Reggie's No Limit, and Behind the Fan, took the time to write a review of my novel! In her review, she states, "Using her natural poetic quality was the perfect marriage for this genre!" That sentence, the understanding of who I am as a writer, and the respect for my writing style, clung to my heart.

I continued my steampunk journey and collected data for part two of the Watch City trilogy, Subton Switch. I took breaks to play with dialogue, and transpose the prose into poetry. This is fun for me. Because. That's me.

And so, after doggedly writing a jumbled mess of a first rough draft for "Subton Switch" (hooray!), I found myself in a writing hangover. When hungover, so I have been told, one may find comfort in a day of sleep and a large portion of greasy food. Or you can partake of hair of the dog, which is to say, keep at whatever gave you the hangover. I chose to do both.

Half of a cheese pizza with Tabasco and a determination to remain in pajamas: it was on!

It is now my pleasure to introduce you to my unexpected new baby, "Poetry in the Prose of Watch City: Waltham Watch." It might not be perfect, it is not the most beautiful book on the shelf, but it is real, and it is mine. This 90-something page book of poetry is my gift to my characters, and now I can share it with you!

Each chapter is devoted to an individual character. By reading their words, you will gain understanding and empathy for who they are. Maybe you will even fall in love with them as I have.

All my Blog Buddies With Benefits will receive a free copy, as a gift from me. Thank you Readers, for your time! We are stronger together!