Any historical study of Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee is likely to turn up references to rafting goods and in particular logs down the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers to Chattanooga. This practice prevailed from mid-nineteenth century even into the first two decades of the twentieth. I have been attempting to write what is to be either a short story, a novella, or a short-short story depending upon the number of words I can string together in a cogent manner to tell a story I want to tell.
In the introductory chapters (meaning the first three or four pages of work) I was having a character sign on to work as a hand on a rafting expedition down the river. This is all within keeping of the time and setting of the story. But then I found myself relating a circumstance that centered around a drought in the area, and I brought myself up short, so to speak. "Whoa," I said. Would the Clinch support commercial traffic in a time of drought?
So I shut down the writing and go to the research. I have two very large loose-leaf notebooks related to my family history and genealogy. I recalled that therein someplace I had an article about the floating of logs down the Clinch as it seems that some of the Morrells and Palmers were engaged in such activities. From that I went to the internet to garner more information if available. All this to insure that a fictional tale made sense in a non-fictional world.
Now I am beginning to appreciate a bit better the efforts my sister engaged in to write her recently-published novel, Child of Desire*. (btw, Sis, I am not attempting to replicate your effort. Couldn't do it even if I wanted to.)
At any rate, the story will hold together so long as I make sure the protagonist made his trip in the winter, not in spring or summer, for the logging operations took place during the dry summer-fall season, logs being stacked along the riverbanks in preparation for the swelling of the stream in the winter. A completed raft would be up to 225 feet in length. The crew would consist of a steersman and six to a dozen hands. Following delivery of the goods, the crew would return home via rail or on foot.
*Powers, Verla Lacy. Child of Desire, Tate Publishing Company, 2011.
8 comments:
Bravo for writing your novel, and another bravo for ensuring its accuracy. Look forward to seeing it come to print. Also congratulations to your sister on her novel. You all are a family of writers!
Ah, the journey of learning that happens on the way to a written piece. Which do you enjoy more, the learning or the writing?
Thanks, bro, but you are the superior writer in this family - and an incredible editor. So glad I had you in my corner to point out some inconsistencies and glitches, specifically related to your knowledge of old cars and Southern expressions! (You are very good with conventions, also.)
Researching was an enjoyable part of my writing. Railroad schedules in the 1930's presented the most challenging research task. I finally found a document room in the downtown library that had extensive Colorado history information. I had to leave my credit card with the desk in order to take documents to the copier. Fun times! Maybe I need to start again. :)
Shelly, it'll be much, much less than a novel, unless less really is more. My sister is the writer.
Jim, tough question. The learning sometimes distracts me to the point of going down roads I never planned to explore, thus interfering with the time to write!
Vee, you are too kind by half, and modest, too. My writing shall never rise above the level of "hobby." You, on the other hand, should start again, for Child of Desire is crying out for a sequel.
This sounds fun to read! I can't wait until it is avasilable for all!
Nancy, while it may never be widely available, I'll share it with you, if it is ever completed.
Even the mighty Ohio would dry up in the summer before all the water control projects were built.
Shark, the Army Corps of Engineers have tamed the waters!
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