The In-Between Spaces (My Style of Writing)

Not too long ago, I was introduced to the concept of “In-Between Places,” not to be confused with the books by several authors who detail the progress one’s life can take.

I’m talking about places that exist between reality and spirit. Personally, I’m not a profoundly spiritual person. I don’t follow any organized religion, but I have, in my time, assigned that label to places that transcend the normal and mundane and spark the imagination.

My first experience of this in my writing journey was in writing “The Jonathan of Bracken Manor,” my short story in Scout Media’s “A Haunting of Words” anthology. I was inspired to write the piece after my husband surprised me with a Valentine’s Dinner at Vanderbilt Grace, a luxury hotel in Newport, RI. The moment struck me when I was trying to find the bathroom of all places, and stumbled into the basement swimming pool/spa. “This would be a great place for a story about a boy who haunts a mansion.” And so… I made the story.

The next? We were on a trip to Edinburgh. I got as sick as a dog but still managed to drag my husband to see the Real Mary King’s Close, an underground street buried beneath the city’s Royal Mile. The story struck me, and the setting, characters, and villains for “Steamtown Chronicles 1: The Dark Market” took shape.

On that very same trip, I was inspired to scope out the story, “Beyond the Fairy Pools,” on a trip to the Isle of Skye.

During our engagement trip to Maui, I was compelled to write a story that culminated in a fateful conflict atop Haleakalā.

I’m not suggesting everyone must travel broadly and see more of the world to be a better writer. It helps, absolutely, but physical location doesn’t limit one’s imagination, so I set out to find these “In-Between Places” a bit closer to home.

I struggled for a while to do this. It’s hard to incite one’s imagination with the routine and, often, mundane. But slowly and surely, I was able to stumble into these places — a walk over a steam-crossing bridge, looking up through tree branches on a sunny day in my driveway, finding a food I’ve never seen before at the supermarket, hiding in an unoccupied corner of my public library.

Stories are everywhere, and it’s our job as writers to pull them out of the air and put them on paper.

So I got to thinking. I’m anchored at home by two small kids, and the prospect of air travel to parts unknown with them in tow freaks me out. I set out to create my own “In-Between Place” out of my home office.

I’m writing this now with an inexpensive projector shining stars and the moon on the ceiling, sitting at a desk that can also be raised to a standing one, with an old, beat-up leather couch behind me and art on the wall that genuinely speaks to me.

I can have the sun shine in, or not. I can make the room warm, or not. I can play all sorts of music, or not. I can light a scented candle, or not.

I feel like I have finally hit my groove now, where I have turned my own little corner of my house into an “In-Between Place” where I can close my eyes and, after thoughtful meditation, pull stories out of the air that feel right.

Anyhow, thanks for reading my little Sunday night rambling. Until next time :-)

-RJ