How it begins.

[mrissa]

I forgot to say: I figured out how Sampo should begin, as opposed to the way it actually does begin. I can never write the beginning of a book right on the first go, so I just don't worry about it any more; it comes out a draft or two later. I should actually have figured this out sooner, since it's similar to the way The Mark of the Sea Serpent begins, only completely different. My new secret to beginnings is: skiing at night. All books from here out will begin with skiing at night. "Metaphorically?" says markgritter with some small hope. No. Sticks, boots, snow, stars. Skiing. Night.

It's good stuff. Snow noises, crisp smells. Who doesn't like night skiing? It's almost an REM song. "They cannot see me naked" -- well, no, because only idiots and the very desperate ski naked.

Hmmmmm.

All right, no. It was a thought, but -- despite the presence of idiots and the very desperate in my books -- not a very good one. But you have to give me the skiing.

Let's play a game. Who can spot the tired mrissa?

Maybe this is not a hard game.

I'm totally right about the skiing, though.

Comments

[apis-mellifera.livejournal.com]

I see a tired mrissa! Go to bed!

(I do like the very funny mental image of naked skiing, though. All those bits...bouncing about. For some reason, I'm imagining a naked Michael Stipe skiing naked...)

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

All my fault. Well, mostly my fault; I cannot be said to advocate any naked Michael Stipe imagery under any circumstances.

[apis-mellifera.livejournal.com]

If it were a time-travelling Michael Stipe from 1989-ish, that I could deal with. Current Michael Stipe is sort of frightening, though. I'm trying to figure out what his deal is and am rapidly coming to the conclusion that his deal is that he's a freaking weirdo.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Yes, I declare it Not My Job to figure out Michael Stipe.

[ckd]

Nightskiing...deserves a quiet night
I'm not sure all these people understand
It's not like years ago,
The fear of getting caught
Of recklessness and frozen water
They cannot see me naked

[pameladean]

The only book of mine that now starts where I started it is Tam Lin. I'm glad you've found the beginning of your current work. I think my equivalent of night skiing is probably somebody reading a book but not quite letting the dinner burn. I'll contemplate that.

P.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I had a moment about a year or two after I moved out of my parents' house, when I was standing at the stove with a book in one hand, stirring the soup absently, leaning against the counter, right leg bent so only the ball of my foot was on the floor. And suddenly I looked at myself and realized I was being my mom, top to toe. Down to which leg was bent. So I don't think I'll ever start a book that way unless it's specifically for my mom.

[pameladean]

That makes perfect sense.

If I were to write a book specifically for my mom, it would begin with somebody's getting fed up with the local aesthetic status quo and making a whirlwind of changes in six hours, after which there would be iced tea.

P.

[alecaustin.livejournal.com]

Finding beginnings is hard.

If the night skiing thing really works for you, I say go for it.

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

"only idiots and the very desperate ski naked."

Didn't that happen in an Alistair MacLean book once? Thanks for the first thing that's made me laugh in days.

And will they all end in fiery deaths?

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

No, I think ice is also great and would suffice.

The good Olympics are coming up, you know. The ones with the Icy Death Potential, which is what Olympics are all about, in my way of thinking.

[ksumnersmith.livejournal.com]

Oh, lovely. Now you have me singing and changing the lyrics as I go.

Night skiing deserves a snowy night,
Though I'm not sure I can see to stand.
The fear of falling down,
The slipperiness, an ice patch,
They cannot see me snowplow,
These things they go away
When skiing in the day,
Night skiing ...

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Considering how musically suggestible I am, I don't feel the least bit guilty when I suggest things to other people.

[talimena.livejournal.com]

I think night skiing is a perfect beginning for a book. Of course I'm tired too, so I'm not sure I'd take my word for it.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I wasn't really kidding that that's where Sampo will begin. I was kind of tired in how I put it, but that's really the scene I'm writing for it.

[mkille.livejournal.com]

because only idiots and the very desperate ski naked

What about those with the ability to do magic, so as not to be cold?

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

1) extremely wasteful
2) still does not address other issues with nekkid exercise, such as bouncing, squishing bits you'd rather not squish, etc.

Kung fu and Kalevala

[(Anonymous)]

Thought this may amuse you:

http://www.ses.fi/en/film.asp?id=674

Aet

Re: Kung fu and Kalevala

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! Hee!