#376 Inside the Emotion of Fiction “When the Wildflowers Bloom Again” by Donna Jo Stone
What is the date you began writing this piece of fiction and the date when you completely finished the piece of fiction?
This particular novel was a long-term project. When I started this story (in 2009 BELOW), I had written plenty of short stories, articles, and essays, but had not tackled a work of novel-length fiction. It took me a year to complete the first draft and at that time it was nowhere near novel length. I entered it in a first chapters contest and received positive feedback, and even queried agents. Of course, I was querying too early and did not get an agent. I put it away and went on to produce other novels, yet Marigold’s story kept drawing me back. It was expanded and reworked several times. I entered more contests and continued to receive favorable feedback. Between the time that I first started writing When the Wildflowers Bloom Again and publication date was well over ten years, probably closer to about fifteen.
Where did you do most of your writing for this fiction work? And please describe in detail. And can you please include a photo?
Most of the writing for this book was done on various computers. When I first started writing it, my goal was to write one chapter a month because I was a member of a local writing club that met monthly. At the time, I was homeschooling four children and very involved in community events. This left little time to devote to writing, but I would spend at least two weekends working on my chapter and carried on this way until I had a draft with a story arc. My determination to finish the book was spurred on by me knowing my children were watching me. I wanted to be a good example and finish what I started.
In reworking and expanding the draft into a novel, I had a goal of writing five hundred words a day. I’ve always had health issues off and on through the years, so made small goals. Of all my books, this is probably the only one that I didn’t dictate at least part of the story.
What were your writing habits while writing this work- did you drink something as you wrote, listen to music, write in pen and paper, directly on laptop; specific time of day?
My writing habits changed during the process of writing this novel. One thing that remains the same is setting a reasonable goal and sticking to it. I do most of my writing on the computer, although there are times when I want to write something very descriptive or meaningful or even if I’m stuck, I will use a pen and paper.
I don’t have a specific writing time of day, and don’t listen to music while I’m writing, although I use music while outlining or thinking about my story.
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Please include just one excerpt and include page numbers as reference. This one excerpt can be as short or as long as you prefer.
Aunt Melissa took Momma by the elbow and lifted her, unresisting, from the chair.
I moved closer and slid into the vacated seat. Warmth from Momma’s vigil clung to the molded plastic, but it began to cool before she’d taken more than a few steps.
They left without a backward glance, Momma bowed down carrying the weight of the world, and Aunt Melissa coaxing her along.
Under closed lids, Daddy’s eyes roamed back and forth. Was he in pain?
I spoke in a hush. “Are you asleep, Daddy?”
Spit dribbled out of the corner of his mouth. A box of tissues sat on a small table beside the bed. I took one and dabbed at his mouth. He didn’t stir.
This could not be happening. I needed Daddy strong and whole. I pictured his hands gripping the axe when he chopped at the stumps in the backyard and the way his muscles corded when he worked. Now his thickly veined hands lay on the top of the covers as unmoving as if they’d been carved of wood themselves.
I slid my hand under his, willing his fingers to curl around mine and squeeze the way he used to when I was little.
“Daddy.” I put my mouth next to his ear. “Daddy.” My lips barely moved. “Daddy, I’m so sorry.” A hot bubble of regret and pain rose from the bottom of my soul, expanding until it lodged in my brain like some kind of dreadful, infectious fever. “I should’ve listened to you.”
Something happened. Something bad.
I huddled over him and touched my forehead to his. “I need you to be well, Daddy.” I sucked in a hiccupping breath. “Please.”
When the Wildflowers Bloom Again, Chapter Seven Page 50
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Why is this excerpt so emotional for you as a writer to write? And can you describe your own emotional experience of writing this specific excerpt?
For this particular book, it was very difficult for me to choose one scene. There are many deeply emotional scenes in Marigold’s story.
The future is never guaranteed. We always think we have more time. To me, the scene resonates because it is steeped in regret. Adding to that layer of emotion, Marigold’s fear kept her from confiding in her father and now she will never get to. Her losses are many. Loss of agency when she was assaulted, loss of innocence, and in this scene, loss of the chance to confide in her father, the loss of her father‘s protection, and the loss of the relationship. It is a point of no return.
Of course, when you’re writing the scene, as an author you don’t realize all of this. You’re simply telling the character’s story. It’s much more emotional to read the scene now for me than it was while I was writing it.
Were there any deletions from this excerpt that you can share with us? And can you please include a photo of your marked up rough drafts of this excerpt.
When the Wildflowers Bloom Again went through plenty of rewrites. I don’t recall anything that was deleted. Because the project spanned so many years and I didn’t keep everything, I don’t have any marked-up drafts. I do remember one of my writer friends wrote across the top of an early version “Like Mary Demuth” and it made my year.
Donna Jo Stone is an award-winning, multi-genre author. She writes Southern Inspirational Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Young Adult Contemporary. Many of her novels are about tough issues, but she always ends her stories on a note of hope. Finding the faith to carry on through hard battles in a common theme in Donna Jo’s books.
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