Novel

When I start making a song, for one second I see an amazing view—and in that instant, it cracks and falls to pieces. Then the rest of the process is trying to put the pieces back together. So when it feels familiar, when I see what I saw in that moment the song was conceived, then I know it’s done.—Utada Hikaru

Today's blog entry is going to be about my novel. I didn't work out this morning. I had to get to my second job, and now get ready for my main one. I was stressed, but my mood has changed again. It doesn't seem so daunting once you work on things instead of continuing to worry about them.

I had some trouble getting time to write/inspiration lately. I know now it was partly due to the fact that I was trying to force myself to go a way in which I did not wish to go. Writing, I know, is a gift. Especially this novel. The story was so powerful that it demanded to be written. I write it in different pieces. I know the order, but write only what I want. That way the verses have a better chance of staying perfect as when they first come to mind.

I know that can be a hard concept to follow, but I found a saying from Utada Hikaru that summed it up best. It's my quote for today. It's obvious that she is my absolute favorite artist. The way she writes and sings speaks to my heart, and many of her lyrics inspire my novel.

I don't know if I should say too much, but I'll at least say this. The novel I'm currently working on is called "Lycoris Radiata". It's written in the style of a memoir about a fictional character in a fictional time in this world. It revolves around some themes such as the conflict between the traditions of old and the innovations of the future and the nature of happiness.

This is a Japanese influenced novel in many ways, and one of it's main pieces is that it uses the Hanakotoba, or the Japanese Language of Flowers. The chapter titles are all after types of flower and in return, mean something else. There is garden and flower symbolism/imagery throughout as well as blatant use of flowers by certain characters in order to explain themselves.

Wow, I think I've said too much. I'll just leave off with the prologue.

There is a legend that goes with the Red Spider Lily, or as it is scientifically known, the Lycoris Radiata. It is said that they grow in hell. Yet they guide the dead to the next reincarnation. The most famous legend is of two spirits: Manju and Saka. Manju’s job was to guard the flower while Saka’s was to guard the leaves. They were forbidden to ever guard the flower together and were never to meet each other. However, they defied their fate and met each other. They fell in love at first sight. God became angry with them for their rebelliousness and separated them with a curse to forever punish the couple. From then on the flowers of Manju would never meet the leaves of Saka. And so, when the flower blooms, the leaves fall and when the leaves grow the flower wilts. I associate best with this flower. This is my story.