In The Flow of Time – May 14, 2025 A funny thing happened at writers’ critique. I’m cranking away on the plot for Part 2 of this story about Marie Laveaux. The process has its ups and downs, and in fact to a degree I’m struggling. It is what it… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – May 10, 2025 The Catholic church picked a new Pope the other day. It turns out, he has roots in Creole New Orleans. Friends who know what I’m writing immediately asked if I’d seen this news. Yes indeed. I’m writing 50-100 years before his… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – April 27, 2025 So it works like this. I’m writing Part 1 but plotting the 2nd part of the story. I’m weird, I want (to the extent possible) the fiction to be based in fact. In Part 1, a young woman named Robinette is… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – March 24, 2025 In 1806 Louisiana, recently purchased, became a US territory. A significant percentage of the population were free people of color. Free except they couldn’t vote or hold office. Free except… The Black Code of 1806 said… “free people of colour ought… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – March 23, 2025 Marie Laveaux was a dancer. That’s for real, but I’ve made that a core element of the character’s personality. I’m working on this chapter, then I think I’ll take a significant break until Part 2 is fully plotted and the muse… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – March 17, 2025 “In the Flow of Time” refers to the history as it appears in fiction—in this case antebellum New Orleans. It also applies to me writing this story. 🙂 My own time flows. I’m a plotter, not a pantser (as in writing… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – March 11, 2025 About the practical mechanics of writing. I have a map of 1837 New Orleans covered with annotations about who lived where when, locations of significant scenes, etc. etc. For me it’s invaluable, and irreplaceable. There are dozens of notes, over the… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – March 6, 2025 In a scene, an older Black woman gives a white American man shit. And in the process, he is shamed into being polite. And my fellow-writer feedback, “In 1820, no white man would ever be polite to a Black woman.” True!… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – February 19, 2025 I’m crafting the scene for the next chapter. A young sociopathic entrepreneur is meeting with the Governor-elect. The entrepreneur will become the central antagonist. (Aside: he is fiction, but modeled after and inspired by a historical figure from the period.) I’m… Continue reading
In The Flow of Time – February 17, 2025 The question: what did Benjamin Latrobe’s bell tower look like? Built in 1819-1820 on the church in New Orleans. The scene I’m working on is in July 1820. It’s a christening in the church. I have pics of the church before… Continue reading
