Striking Out

The character I was assigned for this challenge was Gorhendad Oldbuck, the founder of the Brandybuck line, first Master of Buckland, and builder of Brandyhall. In 'the Tale of Years,' Tolkien writes "2340: Isumbras I becomes thirteenth Thain, and first of the Took line. The Oldbucks occupy the Buckland." From internet sources I learned that, prior to 2340, Oldbucks had been Thain. Tolkien does not link the two events of that year; that was my idea.

I tried to break type for this challenge by, as Viv would have it, renouncing my ‘pantser’ ways and fully embracing my inner ‘planner’. And I discovered something important about myself: I’m a panster, through and through. I can plan and outline all I want, but the story at some point will take on a life of its own. With this story, I tried to break type by first outlining the story I thought I wanted to tell, and then by writing a story about the story being told. None of it got me anywhere, until I started to let my mind wander and listen for the story in my head, told by the muse, as it were. That’s what works for me … end of story.