Checkpoint

Heya! 

I realised that I haven't said anything here since 2025 began so here I am to say Happy New Year! It's almost Lunar New Year so there's going to be another round of distractions coming right up. I hope I'll be able to chart more progress before then. 

Just so you know, I have still been working on the novel, though the amount of time I devote to it each day varies. But I think I have been returning to it pretty consistently, and it's like I would have at least reviewed something I've written every day or added some new material to it. 

My ghost main character (MC), Chen Hao's story arc has been challenging to figure out in many ways. First of all, I am not really that clued in with regards to what's typical/accepted/expected of characters who are ghosts. I am also not that knowledgeable about Malaysian folklore on supernatural beings such as ghosts. So I've had to delve a little into these things and hope that good old Google will not fail me.  

I also wanted to be a bit careful about how deeply I dived into anything spiritual/superstitious since I do have my own set of personal beliefs about these things. Although this is a fictional tale, I guess I didn't want to veer too far off from what I am personally okay with. However, for the sake of a good story, I'd also not want to ignore or leave something out just because of my own inhibitions. So it's been a fine balance to keep. 

Another thing I'll still need to review/refine about Chen Hao's part of the novel is that it was meant to be more humourous/lighthearted compared to the somewhat sombre themes that Audra and Radhesh carried in their respective story arcs. This started off fine in the opening scene for Chen Hao, and it did carry over into several other scenes, but I found in the later ones that my mind wasn't as focussed on making something entertaining/funny. Maybe that's because it's been hard enough as it is trying to iron out plot points and make everything believable and engaging enough for you guys to read. 

Ah. I still fret over what you all will think of these whimsical spaces I've created for Chen Hao. I've done what I can to relate real-life incidents/superstitions/lore to the story I wrote for him so that it feels authentically like an experience that a Malaysian ghost might have had, assuming such beings exist in the form that we ascribe to them. 

All in all, writing a story about a ghost in this manner is definitely a first for me. So I suppose I shouldn't be too harsh with myself on it. 

I certainly hope you will grow to love Chen Hao and relate to his journey of coming to terms with who he is and how seemingly commonplace things can have an extraordinary impact. 

Okay, I've still got some time to spare right now and I'd like to devote it to actually working on the novel rather than chattering away here. Haha. See you again real soon! 

Research

Writing fiction sometimes brings you to search for some really random things online. To give you an idea of what that looks like, here's a sample list of 20 keywords/phrases I've googled while writing Intersection: 

1. Last wishes
2. Power/energy rationing
3. Primal instinct
4. Anatomy of a lamp
5. Can emotional pain cause physical pain
6. Parts of a camera
7. Not Chinese enough
8. Trees in Selangor
9. Hindu funeral rites
10. Sound that a walkie-talkie makes
11. Concept of letting go
12. Sambar recipe
13. Wind movements
14. Dementia in the elderly
15. Follow the light
16. Name for pathway in front of shops
17. Scents and memories
18. Characteristics of a whirlwind
19. Describing hands
20. Are vampires considered undead

Update

 I've got some significant progress to report, guys! 

I think I'm finally (x 1,000) wrapping up the story arcs for Radhesh and Audra. I've faced so much dilemmas with regards to both their stories, and it's been really tough figuring everything out. But I think I've finally sorted out most issues by now. 

And and and... 

I think I've also decided on the ending paragraphs for this novel. It's a little different from the original way I'd concluded things in the version I submitted to Fixi Novo in the past, but I think I'm happier with this new version because: 

1. It has hope in it, and this has always been a major theme that I feel strongly about. You will see it peeking out from nearly everything I write. 
   
   
2. It contains some reflection in the narration, and ideally, that's what I'd like to direct my readers to do.
   
   
3. It rounds up the theme of memories nicely, which is the main topic that this novel is zooming in on. 

I feel extra excited now that this is in place. I can't wait to let you read it. 

There's still plenty more to add/remove/review/revise for this novel, but it feels like more things are taking shape lately, and I'm glad. 

On another note, I noticed lately a fellow contender of mine from the Fixi Novo contest has already gotten his novel published. I am so envious! But of course, I'm sure it's a huge accomplishment for the author concerned and he deserves every bit of the success that he can now enjoy. 

I only hope that I will get to the same point too, and hopefully soon!

Just yesterday, I saw a post on one of the Facebook writers' groups that I'm in where someone posted about her book appearing in the shelves of Staff Picks in a bookstore next to other famous authors and how she felt about it. Such a huge moment for an author. 

I wish that I could reach this point too. 

But I know that even when I do, it's another thing altogether whether anyone will actually pick my book off the shelf at all. And that will be another source of anxiety in itself.

Nevertheless, just the chance of getting published, and having a novel to my name is such a thrilling thought. 

An old friend of mine asked me in the past once whether I like sharing my writing with others. I do sometimes, and yet, I also don't. So I'm still afraid you're all going to hate my novel, but well, I'm still at it. 

And hopefully someone, some of you, somewhere, will like it.