I may have been silent and-or insipid on this blog the past couple of weeks, but I have good excuse. I decided to role with
Au Contraire and have been up to my elbows in research and plotting. Exciting thing is, I tried a new method of plotting because plot-strength is something I've made a goal of recently. The method? After I had the bare-bones idea of
Au Contraire (The basic plot outline), I went through and named all the chapters, devoting a certain amount to each phase of the plot. From there I researched historical events along the time-line of the story and plugged them into the basic plot, then built further plot twists and arches along those historical under-pinnings. I'm really really excited about this, and feel more prepared than I have for most of my novels. I have 3 detailed pages of outline to my name which will definitely keep me on track when I feel uninspired. Of course there is wiggle-room for plot changes, new characters, etc, but I think this method is going to prove extremely helpful. Would you like a sneak-peek of this novel via the chapter-names?
Oui?
I had hoped so. I will tell you not to put too much stock in what the names mean--I purposely did not title them obviously. But do they pique your interest?
1. Parlor of Patriots
2. "A bas les aristos!"
3. The song of Marseilles
4. Flicker-by-night
5. Ring-around-the-Rosie
6. A Death of ideals
7. Guilt-gems
8. Visage of Offense
9. The Gulf Torn
10. Nor Hell a Fury
11. The Hound
12. Self-same Dust
13. Tete-tete
14. Ruse de Guerre
15. Belly to the Ground
16. Vive le Roi
17. Doubt Thou the Stars are Fire
18. Vogue la Galere
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11 comments:
Doing historical research is hard, but also enjoyable. It has always been something I've liked. I hope yours is fun.
Ooh! To be honest, 'Au Contraire' had piqued my interest more than I had let on way-back-when you had mentioned it. :) It sounds terribly interesting! Only trouble is, I am rather ignorant when it comes to French... ;)
This looks impressive. I write fiction but if I were to ever write a historical fiction {I love reading it so I might one day}, I would definitely have to follow your example and plot it out more thoroughly than usual before I actually start writing it. ;) Good luck on your novel! Btw, have you heard of NaNoWriMo?
The chapter sound interesting!
Ack, you have quite piqued my interest!
J'ai une question pour toi: Tu parles Francais comme moi? Ou la France est-elle simplement un intérêt pour tu?
Avec amour,
~Bree, ton amie francophone. ;)
Jack: I am enjoying it so much! There is a lot of inspiration to be found in the delving-into history.
Emily: Haha! So I've caught you? Bon!
Elaine: I have heard of NaNoWriMo but haven't been overly interested in pegging myself down to it. :P But I so much admire those who have the fortitude to do so.
Bree: Google Translate bids me say this to you:
Malheureusement, il est juste un intérêt, mais je veux apprendre.
:}
Oh, what an interesting way of doing research chapters :-) Your chapter-names sounds very powerful. They wake up in my heart: expectation and curiosity.
I smiled when I read your French conversation in this comments here. So funny. I love 'google translate' but, I first try to write my Dutch words in the right sentence structure, according to the English grammar. That's because your language is so different than Dutch. Google translate sometimes makes a terrible mess.
Lieve groet en veel schrijfplezier.
Aritha: thank you so much for your comments. Your English (because of your efforts in organizing your words) is so good I hadn't even known you are Dutch! :) It is a pleasure to have you reading my blog. Thank you! I know Google Translate can mess everything up. I can't depend on it. ;)
"Lieve groet en veel schrijfplezier" to you too! :)
I know less French than my wee sister who commented above, but I have a burning interest in both the language and the history of the French Revolution. I'm amazed at how quickly you dive into projects, Rachel; it seems like just yesterday you were introducing the characters of Fly Away Home, and here we are with another morsel of your literary genius at our fingertips! I can't wait until you share some excerpts of Au Contraire . . . it sounds just splendid.
Well, Elizabeth, it just so happens that Au Contraire has been an idea for a very very long time. I wanted to research thoroughly though, so I bought The Oxford History of the French Revolution and made my way through much of that, then finished certain other easier, already-begun projects before plotting out. You know how you feel you are finally ready for an idea? That's how Au Contraire feels right now. It's time for it. :)
Oh, really? Now that you mention it, I have seen the prospective French Revolution historical fiction on your page titled My Scribbling for some time. How addlepated I must have been to forget. :P Either way, it's a wonderful idea for a book — dare I say my favorite of your ventures yet?
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