Cassy’s Corner- Where to Begin?
I’m starting a new book. The last one needs revisions, but I need a new story. I’m not running away from my dear friend whose words are almost completely memorized, rather, it’s time to start something fresh. And, I’ve decided to push myself in different directions.
This has led me to thinking about how one begins a story. Who are the characters? Where does it take place? What are the journeys each person has to endure? Why does the story even happen? Oh, the list is long. I’m in the middle of it all now.
As a self-proclaimed plotter, I’m also trying this book a little differently. I’ve thought it through, but I haven’t mapped out the scenes and arcs as I usually do. Nope. I’m writing. I do confess, as said above, I’m not without a plan, just not the details I dearly hang onto.
So, it’s a crap shoot.
I’d love to start a conversation about what draws you into a new story. I am taking about writing one, not necessarily reading one. When and how do you decide “that’s” the book?
I have just returned from a few days of lovely time with my husband—long overdue. Over dinner our practice is to catch up. Conversations range from the silly to the serious. This time a fair amount of minutes were spent with me as the subject. “Tell me what you are working on.” “I’d love to read something on……that you could do.” “You know so much about….write it.” Yeah, okay. I love the support, but the truth is, we don’t want to write all that we know. We want to write about what draws us into the moment. What captures us, the writers as well as the readers.
Today my words on the page are different than the ones I’ve done before. They are more revealing, more “me.” I don’t know if they will appeal to the mass market. But, they need to be typed out. I’ll then decide if I hit the delete button or let them live on.
Chime in. How do you start a new project? How do you pick and choose among your “children” when each is screaming to be heard?
10 comments:
Great post, Cassy, and good luck with your story.
I pick a genre that interests me, and then I see what is out there. Once I see what has been done, I try to think of something that hasn't been done. And then I choose something that excites me that I want to know more about.
I'm with you. If you write what you know, it can bore you. If you write what you "want" to know more about, then research is fascinating, and you get excited to write about it.
Excitement in a project shows through to the reader. You have to be passionate about it, or you'll never reach "the end."
Kari: I think you are so right about this. It's an interesting balance between going into the comfort zone and pushing yourself. Well, this one's a ride. Who knows??? Thanks for your comments, they are always right on target.
With me it usually starts with a question. The book that I’m currently almost finished with revolves around geocaching. I knew nothing about geocaching. A friend at work is really into it and that’s how I learned about it. Basically, it’s high tech treasure hunting using a handheld GPS. The question popped into my head, what if there was an extreme geocaching competition where the competitors are the one who are actually being hunted?
Once the question pops up, my mind fills in the characters. This can be exciting and frustrating because I’m usually working on another book when this happens. As my current wip nears the end, the characters in my head get louder and louder. They know their time is near.
I hardly ever plot out a whole book. I’m very much a pantser and love the ride. But I do know the turning points of the plot but not necessarily the relationship arcs. I, instead, spend more time on character development and that usually determines how the story goes.
Good luck, Cassy, with you new story!
Congrats on trying something new!
I'm not yet published but there are now 5 complete manuscripts in a bottom drawer and the last one had lots of requests and comments so I think I'm almost there...
What I'm trying to say is that I'm no expert, but I've been in the place of deciding what the next one will be and have a few ideas.
I keep a file labeled Characters and Ideas. When something new pops into my head and doesn't belong in the WIP, I open this file and let my fingers tap on keys. Sometimes it will only last ten minutes, other times much longer.
Then, the next time I'm ready to start something new and I'm not sure what I want to do, I read through that file and see if something grabs me. Then I stew on it for a day or two until it begins to grow... or not.
I also agree with Kari, and tend to go in directions that allow me to research something that excites me rather than what I know.
It's hard starting a new book, but it's exciting too. Awaken started with a dream, but I also had been thinking of how cool it would be to have a warrior found buried but not dead.
When I first started writing, I would think of a really compelling scene, and a story would be born. Most of those stories only got about three chapters because I met Christine (thank God) and she knew that I needed to focus on Awaken.
Since I'm writing a series it's a little different. I have the characters and the backstory of the series to work with, so I could write the different characters forever. With the mystery I started, I knew the genre I wanted to write, and I thought about what would be fun. I kind of had the main character figured out, and I went to what I love: Buried treasure, mystery, hidden things. I figured out how to bring these into play, and now I have a story that even if Christine doesn't sell, I still love it. :)
I think the main thing is to write a story that would knock your own socks off as a reader. What would just have you on the edge of your seat with excitment or emotion? Then play what if?
Good luck?
Tiffinie: How fun for you. I too love to delve into something new and something refreshing. I know nothing about geocaching, You are now the official authority.
Katt:My multiple finished manuscripts can talk with yours. I need extra drawer space. But, to our credit, we keep writing and keep exploring new topics. Good for you!! Stay in touch. It's great to hear from you.
Anita: You always have such great things to offer. I love your posts. I think you make a great point that writing a series and writing stand-alones are different problems. Can you talk some more about how that feels?
Maybe you folks who are in the midst of series but have also written the one-at-a times can pick up on that in a future posting??? I'd love to learn more.
Cassy, sometimes I feel like I'm an "idea magnet". I think I'm minding my own business, and then all of a sudden a scene appears in my head. So then I have to investigate, trying to figure out who they are, and why they're in this spot, etc. I typically put it in a doc and then come back to it later when I'm looking for something to work on.
I'm not sure it's the most efficient way to do things, but it entertains me!
Cassy, I'm with you. We've always been told to write what we know. But if I want to write about what I know really well....well, it's boring with a capital B.
But for me it's starts with a rough idea, that usually comes out of the blue. Then I think about the hero and heroine and run through names until something sticks. They usually talk to me once we are all in agreement and the story takes off from there!
Good luck with your new venture.
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