The Somme

I’ve just returned from a trip to the Somme. It was an incredibly moving experience. Not only was it research for the novel but also family research; my grandfather served in the RAMC. In terms of the memorials and cemeteries, it didn’t matter how much I had read and seen on the internet there was no substitution for actually being there. Particularly those cemeteries that mark advanced dressing stations where my grandfather worked. The scale of the losses is really brought home when standing at Thiepval or the Pozières Cemetery. There has been an impact on my writing in several ways. Firstly, there are some minor changes to be made in terms of the plot – visits to various museums highlighted some things that my protagonist just would not have or could not have done. Secondly, the novel has come alive for me. Although some of the villages I visited were completely destroyed, some of the towns further back still retain some buildings that my protagonist would have seen. But it’s more than that; there is something about the essence of the place. Finally, I am aware of the responsibility of writing about this period. There is a fine line between story, memory and memorial.

Talismans

In every issue of Mslexia (a writing magazine), one of the featured writers is asked to describe their writing method. I normally read this section out of curiosity rather than a need to find a method to employ; everybody is different. However, the writer featured in the latest edition – Mary Hoffman – drew my attention more than most. For the first time I came across someone who I can relate to; “you wish you could find an expert to consult for every aspect,” “...you compulsively check e-mail and Twitter, sometimes mid-sentence,” “you find blue ink disturbing,” etc. She mentions something else that applies to me and that is having a talisman that represents the book that I’m writing on. On my desk I have a WW1 postcard with a scene that represents the central scene and title of my novel. I also have a number of photos that I have collected via e-Bay which are close to hand whenever I want to be reminded of what my protagonist is likely to have looked like. Does anyone else have a talisman related to their writing project?