Recently, someone asked me how I came up with the idea for
the Colors of Time. I thought if one person asked, other people might be
interested as well, so here’s the story.
When I first began writing Screwing Up Time, I thought Miranda was a ghost. But it didn’t take
long before she told me that she was a traveler through time. Immediately, I
began to wonder how she traveled and what her experience would be. Since
alchemy, which seems strange and mystical to us, was the science of Miranda’s
day, it seemed only natural that an elixir would transport her.
And then, I wondered what the physical experience of traveling
through time would be like. So I closed my eyes and became Miranda. I felt time
passing me, its touch against my skin. And I saw the seasons pass in white winter,
green spring, red summer, and orange brown autumn. But the colors weren’t just
visual experiences of light, they had tremendous intensity. And I began to
question what they were like. Did they have being? Volition? What if they were
violated? How would they express their anger? What would restrain them?
And the colors of time were born.
I love the colors. I love the dimensionality they bring
to the setting. Anything is possible. But writing the colors of time is
difficult. Creatively, it’s very demanding because of the intensity of the
experience, which needs to be different every time.
In writing first drafts, I give the scenes with the colors
only a cursory sketch. When I go back to edit, I find all the colors of time
scenes in each book I’ve written and make sure the new sketches are fresh.
Then, I close my eyes and go through the colors with Mark and Miranda. And
then, I share their experiences with you.
Book 3 Update. I’m almost 20,000 words into book 3 of the Screwing Up Time series. Most first
drafts that I write are usually 50,000 (with final drafts ending at 75,000 to
80,000 words). So I’m almost halfway. Though the Christmas holidays will
probably cut into my writing quite a bit.
