Phoenixwriter: Blog

"Karate Bitch Saves a Life- Maybe Two" is a story a wrote in the last year based upon locations I know well and a "What if...?" story idea. I've known people involved in karate and people named Terry and Beth. I was reluctant to post this since I thought I disliked Terry and everything he does.

After proof-reading it and doing editing I grew to understand it is NOT a story of WHAT IS, but it is a story of What becomes. I have known women I dislike and yet desire, but pushed them far away from me never to see or hear about again. I chose to believe people CAN and DO change either through strength of will or other factors beyond their control as happens to these characters. I was reluctant to give these characters a chance, but as I read it I saw I liked them and what they stood for; most importantly who they chose to become.

Nobody's perfect or always does the right thing at the right time; not even for the right reasons. Sometimes doing the wrong thing at the wrong time can turn out alright in the end. I'm a sucker for happy endings, although not all the stories I'll write do or will have a happy or pleasant ending. Life is not all happy endings, but I can hope they will be.

Off to write more of a large trilogy I'm writing as I race towards the ending with many important things in the trilogy to tie together and wrap up. Lots of fun in the sun for my characters as I endure snowstorms and sometimes -15 C temperatures in Southern Ontario.

A few nights ago at 4 am I woke experiencing a mild manic episode of my bipolar 2 mental illness. It seemed like a vivid dream which I sometimes get when writing and manic. This was the first time it was a clear memory from almost 30 years ago; minus the woman's name though. I could smell Lake Ontario mingled with her perfume and hear her voice; even feel the wind as it blew her high, fluffy "80s hair". I used the photos I took as a reference and reminder of the dream.

What I didn't say in the story was that at the time I was a 19 year old virgin and was incredibly shy; having only been on a single date before I met her. This should give you the reader a more accurate perspective about my behaviour and why I remember her so clearly. She was one that got away or a relationship which was not meant to be. Maybe mental illness distorted the depth of her feelings for me? I'll never know. I've had plenty of women reject me, but none in the way she did or any with reluctance as she showed towards me.

Now nearly 30 years later I'm married to a woman for almost 21 years whom is a far better match to me than she ever was. I'm sure she's out there happily married with more children or even grandkids by now.

I've not been goofing off and plugging away at my trilogy with another year and a half to the end of the story in their timeline. Some very important events are getting close and need care in writing them. Mostly it is wrapping up the destinies of my characters setting them on a path into the future.

Hope you enjoy my latest story. I may have a new one soon once I proof read and have it edited. The 41 000 word and 119 kb story has characters who are rough around the edges and not sort of people I normally would want as friends, but they have a good heart. Off to proof read "Karate Bitch Saves a Life...or Two".

I'm still a somewhat new writer and not one of those who can write hundreds of pages in a week or even a month. I'm writing a trilogy based upon central characters travelling mostly in south central Ontario, Canada. It is a pivotal point in time of their lives as they establish the foundations of a great life together.

I have written part one and might make a few minor style changes. Part 2 is done and HUGE by my standards. Part 2 is 354 pages which clearly means it needs editing and at least a read through; possibly cutting some scenes or adding a little here and there to make it more readable. I'm a firm believer that challenges, struggles, crises, death and births shape who we are. They are certainly subtle shaping my characters. Food, water and aviation are themes in this trilogy. My last part is water centric and roughly a quarter done. I am so into my characters and so eager to see the end of my largest story ever at roughly 600 pages partially edited that I keep rolling along.

In the story and in real life I'm often reminded of the limitations of time and what is possible in those constraints of time and space. I never have enough time to write and my characters constantly have the responsibilities of daily life intruding on their fun. There are so many other story concepts and starts which I read in my doctors waiting room which I would love to explore and write complete stories.

One thing I am sure of after writing stories during the past 2 years and now writing over 300 pages; I will NEVER say a Tolkien or a Dune novel are too long. SOMETIMES a story needs all those pages to tell the full story and tell who the characters are. To other writers, keep writing and writing until the COMPLETE story is told and remember that the true art of writing is in the editing.

I grew up learning grammar before texting, pagers and cell phones. I have NO CLUE how to depict it in a story. Here's how I have been doing it.


I texted Emily, "Parents arrived safely. At Airport now. Meet us for lunch at our favourite fish and chip place in Peterborough in fifteen minutes?"


Emily replied, "Just finishing up with a client and then some paperwork. I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Is this the CORRECT and CURRENTLY ACCEPTED way to do so? I need help from those with good grammar or grammar NAZIs.

If it helps, the male texting is twenty-three and Emily is twenty-four. Thanks for the speedy comments thus far.
Derrick

It is ironic that today being the coldest day of the southern Ontario, Canada winter that it helped me find a glaring error in a story I am currently writing. I originally had my characters spending 3 days in Marseille, France in the first week of January until I checked the temperature of that place early this morning my time which made it afternoon Marseilles time. It was 12 C there and DEFINITELY NOT BIKINI weather! Now Marseille becomes the more affordable Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Surprisingly this works out better and my characters can have twice the vacation for the same amount of money. Montego Bay is also a balmy +27 Celsius while I shiver in -17 Celsius on the coldest day of the winter. The perfect day in southern Ontario for a hot coffee, a roasted chicken and lots of writing; dreaming of Montego Bay.