Sunday, December 6, 2009

Sometimes We Dream, Sometimes It Snows


As a night owl, it's a rare occasion that I go to bed by 9 pm.  Last night, after a long week, I couldn't resist.

My cozy bedtime routine includes reading by my little stained glass lamp which sits on my night stand, an antique book sellers table that houses my Bibles. So I snuggled up with A Measure of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling.  Some time later I put the book down, turned off the little lamp, and prepared myself for sleep.

After some prayer time my thoughts turned, where else, but to my writing.  I've a novel that I've been striving over for a very long time.  It is entirely out of sequence and cannot seem to manage it.  I've been praying lately for a breakthrough so that the characters would reveal to me what has led them up to a pivotal point in the story.  I drifted into slumber, hoping to work it out in my dreams. 

At 1:30 am  I shot out of bed.  It came to me.  I saw my protagonist crouching by a stream looking at her reflection.  There was snow.  This was a very important element to the story.  After writing for about an hour and a half, I found my way back to bed with the peace only a satisfied writer knows.

I awoke this morning to an early day of travel with my son and the remainder of it visiting with my mom.  My mom asked me to help her with her computer and showed me her new desktop wallpaper.  She had taken the photo herself, not so far from her home, a few years ago and had rediscovered it.  There it was.  My snowy stream.  I could imagine "Rachel" by the water's edge, and a canoe coming around the bend.

It snowed this afternoon.


Photo taken Joyce Buckley (mom) -  Panther Run, Raymond, ME

   What special places do you imagine in your writing?

31 comments:

  1. Carla, I can't wait to read Rachel's story. Just the barest breath of it here sounds delightful:) I'm so partial to snow scenes myself. But for me I always circle back to Kentucky in any season up in the mountains.

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  2. That's a lovely picture, Carla.

    I sleep so deeply now that I don't think I have dreams. If I do, I hope it will be of something as beautiful as your mom's snowy stream.

    Carol

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  3. nice blog and nice pictures, found you through Lara's site


    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

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  4. Laura, I had a funny feeling you'd say the mountains of Kentucky! I can't wait to read Rachel's story either! LOL! She really keeps calling out to me to share the hope she discovers during the year there was no summer (1816). The working title is Hope Springs Eternal.

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  5. Carol, I heard that deep sleepers still have dreams, they just don't recall them. It makes me wonder if they influence our imagination anyway.

    Thank you both, Carol and Edna, for the compliment on the picture. I'll have to tell my mom.

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  6. Yesterday, we had our first snowfall of the year. The picture reminded me of the winter wonderland I saw last night.

    Inspiration often shows up in my dreams or a conversation with a friend.

    Blessings,
    Susan :)

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  7. Hi Susan,
    Isn't the first snowfall wonderful? Yesterday was our second of the season. I found myself driving back home with snow flurries blinding my hour and a half long ride. But my thoughts were flurrying around in my head so it wasn't so bad.

    There is nothing like a conversation with a friend to incite writing inspiration! :)

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  8. I find myself daydreaming about sunny spots a lot lately. The snow has just arrived here in NY! :O)

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  9. What a beautiful picture! I'm in Manitoba where snow is very common, but this year it has arrived late, and I found my self getting impatient. Finally we have a beautiful white blanket.
    Lately my writing has taken me back to my family home and all the memories that go with it.

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  10. What a beautiful post! I like that you actually got up and wrote! I usually avoid that but then forget everything in the morning. ;)

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  11. What a beautiful picture. Here in Colorado Springs we had an early start on the snow season. We had our first measurable snow in September. Today we have about 6 inches on the ground. I got some great pictures of a Buck in our backyard.
    Diane

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  12. It's fun hearing when everyone is getting their snow. I love the snow, but I know it won't be long, like you, Diane, before I'm dreaming of sunny spots, too.

    Snow in Sept. Diane (need more words), wow! I just love seeing deer. Love it when they come close to the house. Such majesty. Glad you got a picture of the buck.

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  13. Deborah, are you writing songs about your famiy and home? What a great source of inspiration.

    T. Anne, I usually do just sleep right through, I'm very neglectful of my characters that way. But this time I just couldn't help it! I've been on a roll since.

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  14. The middle of the night is a good backdrop for creative thought. I've often awakened to the same type of stirring; I've learned to keep a pen and pad of paper at the ready, sometimes writing in the dark before a thought leaves me.

    Perhaps the nighttime, the quiet and the dark, gives our hearts and minds enough room to think and process our words; the days are meant for distractions. The night for deliberations...

    Thanks for visiting the blog. You are welcome there anytime.

    peace~elaine

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  15. What an amazing picture! How fun that you had a revelation in the night and followed through with it.

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  16. Beautiful photo, Carla. So peaceful. Thanks for sharing it.

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  17. It’s an interesting thing that has been happening to me. I love to read. I mean love it. I have my favorite authors and genres, but now that I’m writing, I’ve been reading blogs, lots of blogs. Writings are rather inspiring by and I’m hooked on reading what others are writing about their writing. I’m so ready to read their books, this one included!

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  18. I enjoyed your story; I love snow and live in the desert.

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  19. Biblically, there are many stories of God speaking to people through their dreams. I think He still does; we just don't always recognize the process.

    This sounds like a really interesting story!

    On a side note-thanks for your comment on my blog and for your prayers!

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  20. Southpaw, I know what you mean! I read blogs so much to learn about writing and get to know everyone. I also read, read, read, to learn how to write (and enjoy of course)!

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  21. Saleslady371, I so wish you could have snow. I do hear that the desert is very nice though. It must be a different kind of Christmas there.

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  22. The quiet of the night is a good time to write for me. I do keep a pad and pen by my bed, Elaine. And Shauna He does speak through dreams, but I usually don't get this type of inspiration. This time is was special.

    Thanks all for visiting and your all entered in the Christmas blog candy giveaway!

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  23. Isn't it awesome when you have a breakthrough with your writing! Mine seems to come just as I'm about to fall asleep or like you it wakes me in the middle of the night. I believe some of my best writing happens at 2 AM!

    Love the pic. It's so tranquil.

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  24. Thanks for the comments on my blog. I am now a faithful follower of your journey!

    A confirmation! How wonderful is God that in way He works? What a beautiful image, the snow and water and quiet. Can't wait for more?

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  25. Is this a new site? If not, I guess I've been interrupted too long! Love it, btw!

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  26. I love that photo! And so happy to hear about the breakthrough in the story. Just this morning as I had my quiet time, you came to mind, and began to wonder what sort of novel you were working on. Like Laura said, this little glimpse is delightful and only makes me more curious.

    And I get cranky if I don't get to bed by 9pm. Morning girl here. :)

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  27. Ah yes, reading further down the comments I'm reminded you are writing a story set during 1816. I read a book this year set in western NY, during that summer. A YA the title of which escapes me at the moment. It was quite an eye-opener. Somehow I hadn't stumbled across this bit of history (the year without a summer) until this year.

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  28. Hi Gina, yes, WTD is a new blog. Just a baby at only 3 months old. I'm having a ball with it and enjoying so many great visitors. Glad you came by!

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  29. It's wonderful to have a breakthrough in writing, no matter what time it is! I'm such a visual person, the picture just reinforced it for me. Don't you just love it when you can "see" you characters? It was so cool when it really snowed that afternoon.

    I'm going to have to share with you all more about my novel. I'm kind of reserved about talking about my WIP's, but I'm trying to get out of my comfort zone. It helps to practice courage.

    Lori, I'd love to know the name of that book. Thank you for thinking of me during your quiet time.

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  30. I love moments like that, when so many seemingly little things come together. Beautiful photo!

    Carla, thanks so much for visiting my blog (Something She Wrote) today. I'm glad I came for a visit, because I love your blog!

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  31. I woke up around two-thirty and ran to the computer and wrote for an hour and a half. I'm dragging today, but it was good stuff. Funny how that happens sometimes.

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