Lately, I have not been writing here as often. I have been shaping a lot of what I write about on this blog into a coherent manuscript about Colombia. You can read excerpts here.
Joan Didion said, “Writing nonfiction is more like sculpture, a matter of shaping the research into the finished thing. Novels are like paintings, specifically watercolors. Every stroke you put down you have to go with. Of course you can rewrite, but the original strokes are still there in the texture of the thing.”
As I put down strokes, there was this:
But then, the material was not gelling. As Joan Didion also said, “Once I get over maybe a hundred pages, I won’t go back to page one, but I might go back to page fifty-five, or twenty, even. But then every once in a while I feel the need to go to page one again and start rewriting.”
So, it came to this:
I take comfort to know this is part of the process.
Joyce Carol Oates said, “‘A Fair Maiden’ existed in notes and sketches for perhaps a year. When I traveled, I would take along with me my folder of notes – ‘ideas for stories.’ Eventually, I began to write it and wrote it fairly swiftly – in perhaps two months of fairly intense writing and rewriting. Most of my time writing is really re-writing.”
Talking About Colombia 
Really like your blog so good luck with the manuscript!
By: Kalm Travels on October 1, 2014
at 10:14 pm
Aw, thank you! As I sit here, back and forth, from page one to 25, to 235… your words make me happy! Gracias.
By: Paula Delgado-Kling on October 1, 2014
at 10:17 pm
You’re welcome! It’s going to be great! I work with editors so I completely understand your ‘pain’.
By: Kalm Travels on October 1, 2014
at 10:24 pm
It’s a fun pain, non? I have learned loads — about writing/ re-writing, about Colombia’s history, about what editors may be looking for. Pain and all, I am good!
By: Paula Delgado-Kling on October 1, 2014
at 10:35 pm
Yes, when it’s something you are passionate about it most definitely is a fun kind-of pain. Will this manuscript/book be available for the public in the future? I’d really be interested in reading it.
By: Kalm Travels on October 1, 2014
at 10:49 pm
I hope it will be a book out there soon! When I know, I will let you know. I will let the world know! So close. And so far!
By: Paula Delgado-Kling on October 1, 2014
at 11:05 pm
Awesome – can’t wait!
By: Kalm Travels on October 1, 2014
at 11:54 pm
🙂
By: Paula Delgado-Kling on October 2, 2014
at 12:31 am