Thursday, May 23, 2013

Writing Inspired by Atrocities

Yeah, maybe that doesn’t sound very inspiring or like I’m a horribly morbid person, but atrocities were what I needed to help me work on revisions this week.

 The Devil’s Orchid, my WIP, is set in a contemporary Vermont city. I suspect most people’s image of a Vermont city is a large town with loads of picturesque old homes, tons of green space and quaint farm-folk and maybe some artsy-hippy types. This is true to an extent, but more true of Vermont in the 1970’s or 1980’s. To depict it as such in 2013 would be to leave out a vital element: atrocities.

 I’m not going into a history lesson, but over the last two decades the face of Vermont has changed because of several waves of immigrants. In my story Mallory, the main character, is staying with an aunt who over the years has been instrumental in revitalizing her neighborhood as a safe haven, particularly for Ugandan refugees.  Read More


 
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This setting is not only a more correct vision of contemporary Vermont, it’s an element I had firmly in mind when I came up with my story. But this idea had faded a little as I dashed through the first draft. As I revise,  I’m having to think once more about the atrocities the citizens of Mallory’s neighborhood have lived through.  It’s not the story’s main thread, far from it, but it is part of the story’s inspiration and something I can’t neglect.






 Thursday's Children Blog Hop is open to all. Simply post about what inspires you and then add your blog to the link below! 









18 comments:

  1. Wow, sounds like an interesting book indeed! There are relatively large groups of Sudanese and Somali people in some Maine cities (Lewiston/Auburn, Portland) and there has definitely been friction between these relatively recent immigrants and the existing white population. My teen daughter also got pretty seriously involved with the Kony activists a year or so ago (speaking of atrocities).

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    1. Yeah, what's going on in other parts of this world are pretty mind boggling. Bravo to your daughter. It sounds like she might get along quiet well with my main character.

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  2. I think Vermont is also home to that camp (whose name I cannot recall to save the life of me) that brings Palestine and Israeli children together in an effort to bring about peace on the West Bank. We have a much bigger immigrant population here in Charlotte than I ever imagined before I moved here. Lots of sources of inspiration there. Great post. Your book sounds awesome!
    ~Dannie @ Left to Write

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  3. Thank you. I suspect it's going to take a number of revisions before I figure out exactly how to get the setting and the plot to work in harmony. But even posting this has helped me catch a glimpse of things I need to pay more attention to.

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  4. Oh wow, this is so interesting, Patty! I'm totally guilty of thinking of VT as a sleepy, small-town sort of state, so I can't wait to read what it will be like for Mallory to live this. (I'll get to read it, right?!?!?)

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  5. Actually, I've been thinking of asking if you'd like to take a look at the first 50 :)

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  6. As a teacher of English Language Learners, your story excites me. I love stories about immigrants.

    http://otherworlddiner.blogspot.com/2013/05/inspired-by-beginnings-thirteen-things.html

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  7. It's not as much about the immigrants as individuals, but their presence shapes the community and what happens when a new horror threatens. Man, is that cryptic ;)

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  8. Fascinating. I left the East Coast in the 90s so I'm very intrigued by your story. Can't wait to learn more.

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  9. I live in the boonies, and life here is pretty much the same except we finally are getting high speed internet. Well, in some places. Things change faster in the 'cities' ;)

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  10. Love the title of your WIP. I agree that atrocities are a catalyst for story premise. Some of us write so that we can make sense of what we can't control.

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  11. What's interesting to me is the ripple effect of atrocities. Thanks for stopping by.

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  12. I agree with the others about an interesting sounding story and it has a fantastic title.

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  13. This story had different title when I was drafting. But when I was brainstorming a story element with my husband, he came up with the title. He amazes me sometimes. Often, actually :)

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  14. I'm so intrigued Pat! And I had no idea...you hit the nail on the head with my perception of what Vermont looks like (hippy/artsy/historically preserved).

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  15. Don't feel bad, there's all that stuff too. It's just a lot more complicated like any real place :)

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  16. That sounds fascinating! And I totally know what you mean about certain things getting lost in the whirlwind that is the first draft. But then, that is why we revise...

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  17. Yup, revision is about a ton of things, including rediscovering.

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