A little while before The Red Book was released last year, Jodi Cleghorn and I befriended each other on Twitter. She told me about the project that she and Paul Anderson were spearheading and it caught my interest right from the get-go. How great would that be? I thought, to be involved in such a unique and challenging project? I’d never imagined that Jodi and Paul would actually invite me to be a part of their 2010 Yin Book adventure, so when they did I jumped on it! And I was thrilled. Before Chinese Whisperings I’d only been involved in one other collaborative project, but that one was part of a non-fiction leadership training manual: a genre far removed from the delight of creating fictional characters and scenarios.
The icing on the cake for me, really, was having the opportunity to work alongside Dan Powell. Dan was my Yang opposite and we immediately tried to figure out how we could make our stories connect. Once we found our common ground it was almost effortless to weave those portions of our stories together: It was as if our characters were destined to meet. Getting to know Dan’s “Mother” through the eyes of my “Mildred” was an enormously entertaining experience.
Claudia Osmond’s “The Other Side of Limbo” is the fourth story for The Yin Book. You can read more about the creation of “The Other Side of Limbo” on 2nd September and the first 750 words will be available 30th September.
Chinese Whisperings invites you to kick back with your favourite beverage and Take Five with Somerset writer Emma Newman, creator of Heartache.
The Red Book, Audio Trailer
Seeing your take on Mother as you wound her into your story was the high point of my writing fortnight. Your use of her certainly helped me see Mother in a fresh light which has helped my redrafts no end. And Mildred is a charming character. I really enjoyed seeing your drafts over the writing weeks.
Oh…..and great title for your story by the way.
Thanks Dan for giving me a [Fiction] Friday idea about taking someone else’s character.
It was a highlight of this year’s project to hear Dan talk about working with you Claudia – the fact it happened so naturally and was something you both really enjoyed. If I ever question the merit of forcing writers together into the same space to work… here’s the answer.
Just so you know Claudia – you were a bright light of enthusiasm for me last year – often in the depths of night and doubt about the vialibity of the project. You were a natural choice to ask… it was almost like a weird kind of debt owed. You’d helped me through (never doubt for a moment the power and impact of just one person taking an interest in what you are doing?!) and I wanted to share some of the magic of CW with you. I’m thrilled it was such a wonderful experience for you.
Thanks, Dan. And the title is yet another result of a collaborative effort – Jodi helped me out with that one!
Jodi, I had no idea. And all that time I thought I was just keeping you from getting to bed, seeing how we’re on opposite sides of the clock! I’m so glad CW has moved ahead and is bringing people together. I will always remember this experience and the people I’ve met along the way.
Thanks for sharing, Claudia! This is so interesting, being able to read each person’s thought process about the project.