let the writing begin

It’s official; with the entrance of 2019 I am writing my fourth novel.  The first three novels are a series, The Irish Troubles Series, and follow the journey of Ian Murphy to cleanse his soul from his role in the Irish Republican Army.
My fourth novel will be radically different.  My first step in writing a novel is the “idea”.  As usual the initial inspiration is external.  I was driving and listening to a story about Pack Horse Librarians on NPR when I realized it was the perfect subject for a novel.

I wasn’t sure about the topic so I queried two of my writing teachers and received rave responses from both.  Based on their reaction I began initial research into the Pack Horse Library Project to make sure I found it interesting.
I found the topic very interesting and could imagine a fiction work about a woman desperate for work after her husband dies in a coal mining accident.  Not a bad inciting incident.

I worried that the setting needed to be eastern Kentucky that I’ve driven through but am not familiar with the culture and the detail landscape.  To solve that our summer vacation will be to visit eastern Kentucky, stay at a state park and roam the Daniel Boone National forest.

My writing has three regular parts.  First, I know the first scene in the book and I know the ending before writing word one.  Second, I “see” each scene before I commit to paper.  This is the reason my writing is called “cinematic”.  Finally, I research and write at the same time.
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I’ll be taking a special writing class in April from Dr. Laurel Yourke and I need to turn in 4 pages by February 15th.  I need goals to work and establish a pace for myself.  I plan on having a draft scene one by February 15th.