It’s a cold and snowy outlook from my desk as I look at my winter garden, and a fire is exactly what I need to cheer me up and warm the cockles of my heart. I have a very old fireplace in my dining room-my workplace-that’s probably antique now. Sometimes it looks pretty ugly and worn, but I can’t bear to rip it out and replace it. Though today I’m getting a niggly feeling about a new and different kind of fire. A germ of an idea is forming in my head for a new novel. What’s it going to be about?
This is how my Work In Progress planning should go. But does it? Not exactly… but maybe kind of close.
I’m rolling up those paper spills for the fire – not too tight or they won’t catch alight, and not too loose or they’ll burn far too quickly and they’ll have fled like a lost spark up the chimney. I’ve laid the groundwork, but not one that’s too tight or rigid. It can expand or contract, warm up or cool down, as I need. I might even want to ditch bits of it before the match is applied, or place them somewhere else in the grate. Of course I know that paper alone burns too quickly, giving off instant heat, but it has no lingering nourishment or substance.
So what now? It needs some of that kindling that catches alight easily; stripped wood that will help to keep the initial flames going till the fire really gets going. I’ve got that kindling applied now and it’s looking pretty neat.
But I’m not quite there. It’s got no character, none of those individual warm bits that give off emotion and light. Aha! Got it sorted. I’ve added some nice solid and gritty coal, yet it’s also sparkling with personality in those little jagged bits. But it’s a bit wet- I did say it was snowy outside -and might be wet around the ears till I get the pieces nicely warmed-up, and feeling cosy. Later on they’ll maybe shift about a bit like coal does when the burning paper and kindling bed down into the grate. I’ll get that coal placed really carefully though before I launch onto the hot seat!
What’s next? The match. To make that coal come alive – I need to spark it up. Showcase the coal’s personalities and get the mood going. I’m ready to strike now! It has to be done sometime so…off I go!
Tap, tap, tap…crackle, spark. A little bit of heat’s appearing, though I need some more to get the action really going. There’s a great bit of light shining which will shed some lovely illumination on the setting. It’s going nicely now. I need to keep that fire stoked, and feed it up when it’s flagging. Throw it a little more fuel at regular intervals.
Presently it’s roaring away, and it’s got all those interesting details around the fire. The pace burning brightly, especially with those added light embellishments. Not too messy: not too tidy.
What did I want to achieve. Lots of warmth, comfort, a lovely feeling of becoming well-rounded and successful.
Aha! One candle has burned out. What does that mean? It’s time to let the fire begin to die down and let it come to a natural conclusion. By the time the second candle is burned out, and the fire too, the end will have come and I’ll be thinking of the getting the next one started!
A different kind of fire is central to my Celtic/ Roman Britain (A.D. 71) historical novel -The Beltane Choice. In that story Nara, of the Celtic Selgovae tribe, has a dilemma of finding her lifelong partner, and lover, before the fires of the Beltane Festival burn brightly. But can she do that when the mighty army of the Roman Empire descends upon them? The Beltane Choice is a story of war, tribal amity, and different kinds of love.
How about your Writing in Progress? Which fiery stage are you at just now?
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Wishing you all happy writing this weekend!
ps – I’m very conscious of the global warmong aspects of the use of coal and oil, but with temperatures of minus 2 or 3 deg celsius outside I need to use something! The author freezing in the garret doesn’t quite appeal!
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Wonderful analogy – beautifully worked through. As you know, we have a woodstove that is never allowed to go out – which is exactly like my WsIP – constantly tended, left to simmer, made to flare up, and always with several pans on the hob at once!
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Glad to have you with us Alisa. Sounds like your stories are coming along nicely. Cher’ley
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I agree with Ailsa, fabulous analogy. I liken my WIP to a new relationship — seeing someone you like, flirting (oh the lovely flirting) right up to walking down the aisle/making a committment. But I like the fire idea. Right now, my WIP is in the early flirting stage, when I’m not actually quite sure whether it’s going to take off 🙂 Great post Nancy, I hope your fire brings you warmth, hope and happiness 🙂
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I love the way you think, Nancy. And as I loved The Beltane Choice, talks of more in the series make me smile. Keep those fires burning!
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Oh, that sounds so good, Ailsa. Sadly, my fire eventually goes out every time I use it. We don’t use our coal fires every day – sometimes the central heating is more practical. So the analogy continues with me…start…stop etc…
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Brilliant post. You just keep getting better, Nancy, and I feel privileged to have been around to watch and learn.
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Aww! That’s so nice of you, Alethea. You’re the one who recommended Wranglers and I’m, very glad you did!
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I feel all warm and toasty now! I miss a fireplace, but there’s definitely no need for one where we are in Mexico. Nice analogy – the place I’m at? Burning to edit, ha! Thanks Nancy!
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Go for it! It’ll be great! I’m 50% through Inzared right now! 🙂
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I love my fireplace, even though it’s not a primary heating source and I’m glad of that. I have a WIP in each of the stages of fire, and now that I have read your encouraging post, I will switch to my other laptop and getting busy on the one that several of my readers are anxiously waiting. Cher’ley
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Good plan!
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Brilliant and beautiful.
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Thank you, Doris.
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Lovely post, Nancy! We have a woodstove in our home (and at our cabin!) It’s wonderful to write and to read when the home is toasty and warm!
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My husband always makes fun of me whenever I build a fire in our woodstove. I get impatient, wanting to dump a heavier log on the delicate flame. I smother it. After many attempts, I’m getting better at chopping up a little kindling and letting the flame get some oxygen before I add more kindling, and then stepping it up a notch with smaller logs. Nothing more comfy than a warm fire on a chilly night – add a glass of wine and you’ve got pretty near to perfection.
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Hi Gayle, avoiding the ‘red’ leg sydrome, of course!
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Very nice! Yes, the home fires keep us going!
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