Tarot and writing

[machshefa]

I'm working on the next chapter of "King of Swords" and thought it was about time that I went back to the very first Tarot spread that I threw for Hermione before writing this story.  This spread was thrown approximately 2 1/2 years ago just as I was starting this story as an almost brand-new writer.  I never did write out a full interpretation of the spread, but took the story's title from the final card in the Celtic Cross, which was, of course, the King of Swords. 

I just sat down to do a more formal interpretation of the spread to be sure that I can integrate those elements back into the story.  This is 17 chapters and 30 months later.  I have chills.  I wrote the story of this spread.  The history, the core conflict, the surrounding elements and the ultimate direction--it's all there.   I have no idea how in the hell that happened.  I figured I'd at least be able to genuinely pull a few themes here and there and make it work.  Yeah, it works.

Yes, I'll be showing the spread and its interpretation in the upcoming chapters (not unlike the Ogham spread and its interpretation).  

See, now, if I can trust the unconscious this much, maybe I can write a non-fanfiction novel one day.  Maybe.

*eyes the unconscious warily

*waves to Jung

Geesh.

Comments

[aurette.livejournal.com]

Here's my experience so far, and being a noob, I might sound naive...

When we write fanfic, we know these characters. We know how they tick, because it's already been spelled out for us. When I write o-fic, I can often come up with a good plot, but then they story lurches to the side and slams into a wall. The reason is that I don't know my own characters as well. I just plugged along depending on the intuition, and it was there, as far as it could be, but the fact that I didn't have a precise idea of what even the minor characters preferred to eat for breakfast, was usually why it failed. For me, I've realized I really have to create everything from the ground up before I start to play. When I really know them and how they think/react/respond, then intuition takes over and the characters start to not just play, but more or less stick to the script.

This might not be a problem for you, but you will have other problems.

I say write. Just come up with a feel you like and a nice 'what if' and have at it. You won't know what your failings are until you go for it. Don't go into the first one expecting to be published, go into it for the fun and the experience. Have at it. Then learn from it and try again. You will have a much better understanding of what comes natural, and what you need to concentrate on.

For me, dialog comes naturally, but I fail at description. I've learned to just go for it, and then go back and describe the texture and colors and weather later, rather than twist myself up trying to get it all at once.

The desire is there, learning you're not a match for it is not a big deal once you get an idea of 'why' you feel you might not be up to the task. Then you know where to concentrate your efforts. Being intuitive means you know there's a problem ahead. But until you jump in, you don't realize you can overcome it.

[machshefa.livejournal.com]

This makes good sense to me. I'm not sure how to get to know the characters you're creating, but I guess just writing them and slamming into the wall... and backing up and trying again might work :)

I think that I set my sights far too high, and then feel like a failure if I can't achieve that vision. It's a backwards approach, and it's something I know I need to work on. I've come a long way since my first story three years ago (fanfic), but I do think that the barriers I set for myself are probably going to be similar for ofic, so I'm hopeful that I've learned something already in that regard.

Unlike others, I don't tend to get a plot line in my head or the urge to tell a specific story. It's more a feeling about something that takes shape and starts whispering in my ear. Maybe about a character, maybe a relationship, maybe a deeper theme (like for "Tree of Life" and "King of Swords."). Some of those elements tug on me in a larger way, wanting to be explored out of the HP verse. So, we'll see, I guess :)