Spark and Process, writing Abstraction

If I’m going to tell you about the spark and process of writing Abstraction a few words of backstory are needed. I’ve been a songwriter for nearly forty years. I have written songs, recorded many of them, performed many more of those songs, and even had a couple of them recorded by other musicians.

One day in 2010 I began prodding at the idea of writing something that didn’t rhyme every other line. I had a fantastic working title, which I’m keeping under my hat in hopes that I will still use it. While doing farm chores, painting, and playing guitar I was always thinking about the story. That story got shelved one morning when I awoke from a dream. I had dreamed the entire story line of Abstraction. I was pretty sure this was a once in a lifetime deal, and I was happy to take it. It was a story about a painter. Yes, I am also a painter, so this felt like something I could handle.

I began the work by giving each character and geographic location a column on two 16”x20” cardboards. I wrote a detailed description of each character (eye color, hair, scars, tattoos, quirks and habits) on 3×5 index cards. I also wrote cards with details about the physical locations where action took place. These cards were then tacked to the 16×20 boards. I prefer using 3×5 cards rather than the computer for this part because when the boards are set on my desk leaning upright against the wall I can see the information I need instantly. Perhaps I’m old fashioned, but I think it’s more that I like the physicality of it. The world of ideas is so ethereal that having a few physical realm connections like keyboard touch, pencil, pen, index cards somehow allow me to touch the story.

The essential map of the story was now laid out in front of me, and this is where I encountered an interesting problem. The point of writing song lyrics is to create an entire movie with a soundtrack and generally cram it into four minutes. Now I had to allow myself to stretch and write in a more spacious, less distilled way.

This was going to be fun. And it was quite liberating. I learned another interesting thing while writing Abstraction. I’d always read about authors saying that the characters take on their own lives and start saying things and doing things without the writer’s help, or permission.

My response to that was something like, “Nonsense.” I now publicly retract that foolish response. These folks got away from me, in the best possible ways. Without warning I found characters saying things that I would never think of saying. But if they had not become the people they developed into we would have all slipped into a boredom-coma. Is that a thing? Let us never experience it if it is a thing. The other dandy thing is knowing I will never go to prison for the actions of the characters who committed crimes at the end of my pen. Writer’s Immunity.

One of the most frequent questions I am asked is about where I do my writing. This goes along with its tag-team partner, “How many words per day do you write”.  I don’t keep track of words per day. Frankly, I don’t keep track of anything in my life. This has horrified my tax attorney for years, and he did eventually train me to keep a handle on the most important figures and documents. But, words? That’s never going to happen. I have friends who treat the creative process like a job, whether it is writing, painting, sculpting, or music. For me, once something becomes job-like I am done with it. I do it because I love doing it and it needs to be done. I suspect that my early discipline regarding guitar practice since age seven has made this all a bit simpler. If you want to get better at anything, just do that thing. Every day, even if it is only a short bit of time.

The more interesting topic regarding the writing of Abstraction is where I wrote the book. Abstraction is set in the maritime Pacific Northwest, specifically the ferries and bridges of Puget Sound, the areas around Southworth, Silverdale, Port Townsend and parts of Seattle. It is an area of such beauty that it possesses the qualities of being yet another character. I started writing the book there at my very tidy desk in my house. At one point I took the tiny travel trailer my spouse and I owned and camped at Fort Worden Park (picture the film An Officer and A Gentleman).

A magnificent setting. I found myself strolling along the edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, watching people eating at picnic tables, realizing I needed a croissant and a new pillow for the couch and a new bicycle. Was I wasting time? No, I learned that some locations make it difficult to focus. It was at this time that my Father-in-law became ill and had to move. My spouse and I went to Miami to prepare the house for sale. We rented a small place on a wonderful canal in Key Largo. This is where I completed the book, writing mostly at night in a dark spare bedroom. 

   Like Darwin said, survival of the adaptable.

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Sam Weis is an accomplished abstract painter, a 12-string guitarist/recording artist, and an award-winning songwriter. She grew up in Eastern Iowa and studied Fine Arts at The University of Iowa. Sam has toured as a guitarist with two rock bands and enjoys a successful solo music career. Sam currently lives in Iowa. Abstraction is her first novel.
For more information, visit www.samweis1.net.

ABSTRACTION

Trip-inducing paintings, an amphibious tour bus, and assorted donuts.

With the lush Pacific Northwest as a backdrop, a famous artist abruptly changes her painting style and finds her art has an eerie impact on people. Wren Willow Hendrix’s new work provokes inexplicable personality changes in those who view it, with often hilarious results. All too soon, Wren finds herself the center of unwanted attention.

With Homeland Security hot on her trail and a hate-spewing cult preacher gunning for her, Wren needs all the help she can get. Unfortunately, her best friend has hatched a plot of her own—one that will not only put her in the line of danger, but will pull Wren onto the stage of world events. Will the dubious protection of a meddling journalist, a battle-scarred veteran, and a reclusive pot farmer be enough to keep Wren out of the clutches of those who would abuse her art—or worse?

Abstraction is a quirky, fast-paced story of artists, villains, and accidental heroes.

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Tags: featured, women writers

Category: On Writing