THINGS CHANGE
Several years ago, I started a blog called Grandpa’s Gone Again? As the scribe for my varied adventures, I realized I actually enjoyed the writing process. During my work life, I wrote snooze-worthy budget narratives, project proposals, and bid requests (boring even now).
Later, I thought to try writing fiction. You mean I can make stuff up, wow. So, I wrote a murder mystery short story for my mother, a true murder mystery fanatic. Since then, I have written two novels. I’m an experiential learner, so I figured what better way to learn than to write. Neither of those novels is much to read, but they taught me a lot about the process. I came away with a need to focus on a specific reader and genre and follow proven story structures.
Then came the ah-ah moment, that glimmer every writer gets handed to them through their own imagination or as suggested by someone else. A few years ago, while backpacking with some friends, the idea for a fantastic story was suggested by Mike A. He had listened to my (endless) stories about trekking the Camino de Santiago and of my fondness for writing.
Mike said, and I paraphrase: “Why not tell a story about a fifteen-year-old girl who, through a tragic event (no spoilers here), walks the Camino de Santiago on her own?” She must sort things out, learn as she goes, and overcome self-limiting personality traits. My brain went into spin mode, and it has been working on this story ever since. Its working title is Camino Child.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have drafted two novellas as I developed the backstory of this girl’s life. She is now a very familiar person in my life. I’m beginning to know her as well as myself, or, actually, better, because I know all of her flaws, where they came from, and how she will overcome them.
In the future, I will shutdown Grandpa’s Gone Again? and focus on BrienCrothers.com. Subscribers of GGA are automatically subscribed to my author site. Please stay tuned.
CLICK HERE to follow along as Summer Darling discovers the world. Please share this information with others who may be interested in my posts or books.
I’ll be posting a series of Stories Behind the Story pieces from Camino Child here in my blog. Don’t miss them, CLICK HERE.
#caminochild #caminochildbook #briencrothers
