Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Elephants, novels and earthquakes

Possibly my favourite writing quote:

"Writing a book is like washing an elephant: no good place to begin or end and it's hard to keep track of what you've already covered." - Anon

I am incapable of finishing any sort of container. I don't know why. It drives LOML crazy. I just can't bring myself to empty any bottles of sauce, packets of pasta or jars of jam - I have to leave a little bit in the bottom. This means that I open the new milk bottle when there is still quite enough for my cereal in the bottom of the old one. It is a very annoying habit but when I force myself to finish a container I feel anxious and not-quite-right, as if the universe has subtly realigned itself at a funny angle. We have about five bottles of ranch dressing in the fridge, all but one of which have about an inch of dressing in the bottom.

Finishing novels, on the other hand, is a habit I have cultivated. I finish what I start compulsively, largely thanks to a series of articles I read online a few years ago - Finish Your Novel by Timothy Hallinan. Tim started this series and instilled this habit of finishing after his house burned down, destroying several incomplete manuscripts. Thank goodness he wrote all his advice down, so that other writers don't need such a dramatic wake-up call.

Anyway, I started thinking about this again today because Timothy Hallinan's The Queen of Patpong has been nominated for the 2011 Edgar Award for Best Novel! I am so thrilled - this is so well-deserved. Congratulations, Tim!

P.S. ANOTHER earthquake in Christchurch today. It seems never-ending. Take care, everyone in Christchurch! We're thinking of you.

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