Lögberg-Heimskringla - 10.03.2006, Side 4

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It’s funny, but, despite the fact that I have written free-lance for years, I’ve never
done as much writing in my life
as I am right now. You might
think that after talking to peo-
ple for story leads, interview-
ing them, discussing articles
with all the volunteer writers
who submit to L-H and edit-
ing everything on these pages,
one would be a little tired of the
printed word at the end of the
day. I certainly am!
However, when I come
home and Bronwen and I have
eaten supper and had a chance
to unwind a bit, I like to take
an hour or so and, um, do a bit
more writing.
Currently I’m plugging
away at a novel. Aside from
the joyous fact that there is no
deadline, the best part is that
I’m not at all sure how the sto-
ry’s going to end.
The first thing people ask
when they hear you’re writing
a novel is “what’s it about?”
Not what the inciting incident
is, or the parallel structure of
overt and implicit themes, or
the moment of dramatic rever-
sal, or even who the characters
are. No, the meat-and-potatoes
question for any potential read-
er, or even polite conversation-
ist, is “What’s it about?”
Fair enough — it’s what I
want to know when I pick up a
book, too.
At this point in my novel,
the answer to that question is “a
guy who is trying to stop an old
friend from making a big mis-
take.” In the story, as in life, this
is proving very difficult for the
main character to do.
I wrote one novel previous-
ly that I don’t think I will ever
publish. It took years to write
and by the time I had gotten it
to its fourth draft, I realized it
still wasn’t working and that I
had lost interest in the story. It
would have made a good novel-
la or even short story, maybe.
On this new one, I can’t re-
ally talk about it because the
first draft isn’t finished yet. Ev-
ery time I sit down to plunk out
a few more pages, I have a plan
for what is going to happen
next and a vague idea where it’s
ultimately headed — but that’s
it. It’s as if I’m driving an un-
familiar highway at night; I’m
only sure of what’s directly in
your headlights. (I know I’m
stealing that metaphor from
someone). The destination is
something I’m not sure how to
get to, but I know I’ll get there.
So as I write, I follow the
characters, give them problems,
and see what they do. If I had
planned everything out, they
couldn’t surprise me with their
novel solutions. Sometimes
those solutions are a bit hare-
brained, and if they still seem
that way when I rewrite, they’ll
probably have to go.
Sometimes people ask
whether I get writer’s block. I
don’t really believe in it — as
Tchaikovsky put it, “I am at my
desk at 9 o’clock every morn-
ing, and my muse has learned
to be prompt.” There’s always
something to write, and if it’s
no good you just rewrite it or
throw it away. Again, as with
driving: every bit gets you clos-
er to your destination. You may
hit some dead ends, but the next
time you’re trying to get from
A to B you’ll avoid the trouble
spots by cutting them out en-
tirely.
So I could mention more
about what I think this novel
will be by the time it’s finished,
but as I’m still getting my feet
wet with this length of fiction
— and since the last novel
changed so much from draft to
draft — I’ll wait until I’m near-
er to the end to talk about how I
got there. In the meantime, I’ll
just enjoy the adventure.
Dear Editor:
Years have gone by since
my mom and dad passed away,
and now, as I am in those gold-
en years, I want to find out just
who he was. I need help to find
the family of Jon Thorgrimson
(Thorgrimsson).
I knew him as John but
many people called him Harry
and Walter. He was born in ei-
ther Gimli or Hecla in the year
1904. He could have had five
brothers and sisters, one of
which was named Solburg. Her
married name was Johannson
and the family, I believe, still
live in Winnipeg. The family
was deserted by their mother
in the winter on the streets
of Winnipeg, left to fend for
themselves.
I have tried many ways but
just can’t get anywhere. Dad
moved to Kenora, ON and mar-
ried my mom Elizebeth Cutler.
They lived on Falcon Island
and made fish boxes for the
markets in Kenora.
My address is john.
margret@shaw.ca if you can
help.
John Thorgrimson
Ponoka, AB
* * *
Dear Editor:
I would like to see more
continued stories, which I en-
joyed.
Gudjon G. Olafson
Ste. Rose du Lac, MB
While we occasionally re-
ceive requests for longer sto-
ries, we have generally heard
from readers that they prefer
shorter pieces. Part of the dif-
ficulty in running a continued
story is that readers have to
wait two weeks between issues.
Another is space — there is so
much going on in the Icelandic
community that it is very diffi-
cult to tie up pages in every is-
sue for a continuing story. We
have made exceptions to this,
such as the recent “Path to
Gimli” series, but generally we
have opted to run longer peices
on our website, as we did last
year with Wes Wilson and Elma
Kozub’s story on Cully Wilson.
For those seeking longer,
in-depth articles, I strongly
recommend subscribing to the
Icelandic Canadian Magazine
— you won’t be disappointed.
— Ed.
* * *
Dear Editor:
I am enjoying everything in
the paper. There is such a vari-
ety of articles. The addition of
the puzzles is great!
Jonina M. Adamcewicz
Regina, SK
* * *
Dear Editor:
I do enjoy L-H, although I
am tardy in renewing this year!
I am a war bride from Brigh-
ton, England, a city by the sea
(English Channel). I arrived in
Vidir 60 years ago this May.
My late husband Albert Vic-
tor Holm was the eldest son
of Ludvig and Fanney Holm.
Albert was in the Canadian Ar-
moured Corps during the war.
We met as a blind date!
I belong to Fálkinn here in
Brandon and was involved in
the recent winter festival, Ice-
landic pavilion.
Jeannette Holm
Brandon, MB
Getting there is half the fun
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4 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Friday 10 March 2006
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Corrections
Last issue, in the article
“Blind is the bookless man,”
the author of Sigfusson’s
Roads should have been
named as Svein Sigfusson.
Svein’s son Skuli attended
the Lestrarfélag meeting. We
apologize for this error.