Inspiration

[katyfriday]

I returned to an old haunt today - the country house which I used as the model for my story North Country. I was just pondering how different the atmosphere was from when I visited before and how that could have affected the outcome of the story. I knew what I was looking for when I went the first time, but came away with entirely new ideas. The

Comments

[madeleinestjust]

How would North Country have turned out after this visit - darker? More subdued? I'm curious!

I think the best stories, or scenes, come from a flash of inspiration: a line in a book, an image, a personality in real life. There's always something tangible to return to, if the story loses direction, and a purpose for writing; unfortunately, I usually only have the inspiration, and can't think of how to pad around it!

[katyfriday]

I'm not entirely sure! I think it would be less intimate. When I envisioned the house I wanted I really only saw the people I wanted to write about (mostly Percy and Marguerite, obviously). My previous visit was while the house was being renovated and there were hardly any visitors, which re-inforced that for me.

When I returned this week it was very busy, there were children all over the place (summer holidays must be longer than when I was at school!) I had a few ideas strike me for if the Blakeneys have family... But it wouldn't have worked for the honeymoon kind of feel I was aiming for.