I’m gearing up to throw myself into my fourth Brava. The itch is getting itchier and in my free moments, I find myself thinking of scenes that I’ll use when the time comes.
This is how my odd creative process works: I think up scenes in my head, usually conflict and highly-charged emotional scenarios, and then I “pants” my way between these scenes to write the book. So take the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. I would have:
- the sword fight between Sparrow and Will
- the scene with Elizabeth on the Pearl fighting with Barbossa
- the scene with Sparrow fighting Barbossa
That’s it. There’s my story.
Then I’ll write the entire book around those scenes. When I begin, I have no idea why Sparrow and Will are sword fighting, but I’ll think of possible reasons. Are they fighting over a girl? Something stolen? Are they best friends? Enemies? Who’s the better swordsman?
From this, the characters are created. Eventually, the things they do will lead me to that first sword fight, but I won’t know what that is until I get there. Same with the other scenes. This is why I can’t write a synopsis. I have NO idea what’s going to happen.
Occassionaly, I wish I had a clear plan when I start, because sometimes I get stuck for days. My cp Annette has told me that it’s usually because I goofed somewhere. Someone did something out of character, or something is missing, and usually reading through the previous couple of chapters will strike a chord. But then sometimes, nothing works besides waiting for inspiration to strike.
Jack London said, “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” And he’s right. I’m thinking it’s not possible to seriously, balls-to-the-wall ‘pants’ a story like I do while juggling multiple deadlines.
Something else I’ve been pondering is why so many of my books feature heroines with issues. These types of stories, I’ve been told, don’t do as well as those that feature tortured heroes. My next Brava, the one I’m getting antsy to write, features a woman who is almost a villainess. And the hero is not quite a good guy either. I think it’s going to be great fun to write, and, as ever, I am grateful to my wonderful editor who doesn’t ask me what’s next or where I’m going or what I’m doing.
This isn’t the case with any of my other publishers/editors and somehow, I’ll have to balance their need to know against my inability to answer. 
I much to prefer to write the way I do. Then things can just happen the way they happen, without me forcing it to happen because the outline says it’s supposed to.
If that made any sense at all. :scratch:
It made sense, Sylvia, but I think it’s because I write kinda the same way you do.
IOW, we are both crazy.
I write in almost chronological order, and fit in those Inspired Scenes where they belong.
by MayThis was so neat to read. The last couple of days I’ve come across a couple of other people that do ‘a part’ of how I write — write in the same way. Which was really, really awesome to hear, being I’m an unpublished author and wonder at times if ‘my way’ of doing this is ‘wrong’.
But in reference to your post today - that is exactly how I do it do. I have a couple of scenes that I type out with passion and then write the story around them, up to them and beyond them. And of course as that happens more ’scenes’ appear and so forth. And I was extremely relieved to hear that you hit that same stumbling block - the something isn’t quite right block.
In my book that I’m currently trying to sell, I will definitely admit to seeing the flaws by writing this way after I wrote my synopsis. The synopsis is obviously not something that I enjoyed writing but it turns out to be an awesome tool for finding one’s strengths and weaknesses in their book. At least it was for me.
So, thanks!
I don’t feel so ‘weird’ about my ’style’ of writing now!
Cole
by Nicole Reising February 25th, 2006 at 4:48 amwell that’s interesting! since I don’t write I always thought writers literally started with page one and then went from there. I didn’t know you worked the novel around a few scenes. I think it’s cool.
good luck in writing the next one, I’m sure it will be great indeed :hug:
by Mailyn February 25th, 2006 at 11:34 amYay!! :dance: I’m not the only one. That’s such a relief. Since there’s so many of us that write this way, I betcha there’s a name for this style of writing. Anyone know if I’m right?
Thanks, Mailyn!!
It’s kind of weird to think about writing this book, knowing that I have two more coming out before any readers will see this one.
by SylviaSylvia, I just wanted to thank you for the time you took to chat on the Divas. I really got a lot out of it and I really look forward to the “Show, not Tell” workshop.
by Jen February 26th, 2006 at 11:00 amThanks again.
Jen
Fourth? What is the third? Off to comb the website.
LOL screw the writing stuff I want the book info :angel:
by sybilDamn, The Stranger I Married comes out 1/2007 and you already have it turned in? You go with your badself. Is A Familiar Kind of Magic turned in as well?
Love the side bar with the count down, links and titles. Very nifty.
by sybilLOL! Sybil. I turned in TSIM last month. I can’t wait to see the cover. I’ve been told my future covers will follow along the same vein as ASK FOR IT’s, so I’m excited. :bounce:
No, A Familiar Kind of Magic is only halfway done. I meant to finish it and then the Brava story just excited me so much I started writing that instead.
I tell myself that I’ll stick to writing one story at a time, but I just can’t do it.
I’m glad you find the sidebar countdown handy.
by Sylvia