This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Actually, an IDEA always comes first.
Most writers don't realize that. You see, a word, phrase, headline, or anything can trigger curiosity that sets the imagination into pondering "what ifs" until a story blossoms. That initial story dump of information might be a character sketch, the idea for the plot that then needs characters, or it could be a scene with character interaction over some situation or looming problem.
Once I stopped trying to fit the mold of a Pantser and understood my imagination (which pigeonholes me as a Foundation Type of writer), it ceased to concern me whether character or plot mattered.
As a Foundation writer (see the note at the end about getting a free copy of "10 Types of Writers"), my imagination will work on an idea, then give me a full blown scene with characters dealing with a problem or facing some sort of danger. That scene might be ten pages or a hundred. Then there is nothing more. That's because everything I need to know about the story is in that dump. All I have to do is figure out the rest and ask more questions of my imagination so it comes up with answers that fit the character or the plot and story's theme. For example, in HEARTS AKILTER, the initial idea (which I entered in 1996 to my Bits & Pieces binder, where I keep all my ideas or stuff that would trigger a possible story or novel, was— What if a robot thought it was having a heart attack?
From time to time while going through the Bits & Pieces book, I would read that line and wonder how it could be made into a story. The hang-up was this: The robot is small. It is full of micro and mini pulleys and gears, hydraulic systems, etc. There is not much room inside for anything else. So, what can cause the heart attack that runs from where a human heart might be inside the robot down his left appendage? Obviously the first thing to come to mind is a short circuit, which is just too trite. And then, in 2008, it came to me— there is a bomb inside the robot. Which led to asking a series of questions:
* What is the maximum size of a bomb, say plastic explosive, that could be put into such a robot?
* What is the maximum explosive power of such an explosive? Here's where I spent a long afternoon online looking up various explosives and their boom. With all the searching, I figured Homeland Security might even come calling or put me on a watch list. At any rate, I discovered a few explosives that had potential and tweaked the power and range just enough to work in the story and be believable.
* Who was the target of the bomb? And why?
* Who put the bomb inside the robot without anyone else knowing about it, not even the robot itself?
* Who was the best person to disarm the bomb? Of course, the answer is a bomb expert.
* Who could discover the bomb? Obviously a maintenance technician, one who worked on such a robot's inner workings.
Basically that's how HEARTS AKILTER - http://tinyurl.com/HeartsAkilter-Amazonlink - evolved into a lighthearted sci-fi romance novella published by The Wild Rose Press.
As you can see, the original idea contained a character (a robot) in need of the right plot.
Do you keep a file of story ideas?
NOTE: For a free download of 10 Types of Writers go to http://www.writerscheatsheets.com/free-writers-cheat-sheets.html
A first draft holds the possibility of what will be a great story. Revision turns that rough diamond into a spectacular gem worth a reader's money and time.
Writers are individuals but to be a producing writer means creating a system to revise and polish a work so the reader thoroughly enjoys the story. REVISION IS A PROCESS is a guidebook for writers and authors that shows how a simple 12-step process can be tailored to eliminate the most common and chronic maladies of writing genre fiction. This valuable guidebook contains secrets, tips, practical advice, how-to's, and why-to's for taking the frustration out of self-editing.
Read an Excerpt from Section 7, Show Don't Tell - What to Cut or Change:
One rule of fiction is to show more and tell less.
What does that mean?
A very simple example is that saying it's a flower is telling but to say it's a white rose, its petals edged with a mist of ruby-pink is showing.
Showing means providing an instant, vivid image so the reader sees in their mind what was meant.
Yes, showing requires more words than telling, but how much detail is too much detail when showing?
Keep in mind that readers will stop reading and skim over sentences and paragraphs of details in order "to get to the good stuff" of drama, action, and something happening of interest. So it's best to choose all descriptive words carefully and keep the passages succinct.
Now— Go through your manuscript and highlight all descriptive phrases and passages so you can see how much of the total text is description.
If using your word processor's highlight feature, pause to zoom down to view entire pages and look at the end of pages to see how much carried over to the next page.
If you have exceeded three sentences (20-60 words) of description or explanation at any spot, that may be overkill. Determine what needs to be cut, pared down, rewritten, or reparagraphed for visual effect and immediacy, and what is too lengthy, mundane, or bordering on boring.
It's also important, when revising such areas, to remember that the replacement words should be in keeping with the story's or scene's narrator—and not you, the author, stepping onto the page with your voice, (that's a type of Author Intrusion that readers hate).
About the Author:
● Hub Website: http://www.CatherineEmclean.com
● Website for writers: http://www.WritersCheatSheets.com
● Writers Cheat Sheets Blog: https://writerscheatsheets.blogspot.com
● Linked-In: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/catherine-e-mclean/7/70b/372
● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.e.mclean.5
● Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/CatherineMcLea7
● Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/catherinemclean
● Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Catherine-E.-McLean/e/B00A3BVG6I
● Link to buy REVISION IS A PROCESS at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0988587440
● Link to buy REVISION IS A PROCESS at Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/revision-is-a-process-catherine-e-mclean/1126295618
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteI was really enjoying following this tour, thank you for all the great blog posts and excerpts!
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Nikolina,
DeleteMany thanks for stopping today. I also thank you for following the tour and enjoying the posts and excerpts. I wish you success in your writing and luck in the raffle. Have a great day!
Good morning! Thank you so much for featuring my guidebook for writers today. I'll be stopping by periodically during the day to answer questions or comments or just chat about writing or what makes for a good reading experience.
ReplyDeleteI do keep a file of story ideas, but none come close to your robot having a heart attack. My best idea came from my husband. After he'd read an article about Joe Hutto and his turkeys, my husband said, "Here's the first line of your next story. 'Meet me at Dairy Isle at ten p.m.'"
ReplyDeleteHi, Janet,
DeleteOoooo, I like that opening line! Sounds like a delightful story will follow.
Thanks for dropping by. I wish you all the best in the raffle and with your writing and storytelling.
I wonder if I am a foundation writer. I often get flashes of interesting ideas, but then I don't know where to take them. I have trouble knowing where to go from there, and then actually finishing, so using those flashes as the base for "real" work didn't seem productive!
ReplyDeleteHi, Karin,
DeleteIdeas are not a story, but they do lead to a story, or a story dump. If you are a foundation writer, it's a matter of puzzling out what was given to you by your imagination. When you ask "what ifs" and "why that" you give your imagination permission to produce answers that work for a story.
Thank you so much for stopping here today. If you entered the raffle, may luck be with you. Have a great day!
I enjoyed getting to know your book; congrats on the tour and I hope it is a fun one for you :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Lisa,
DeleteThank you for dropping by today. This is the last stop on the tour. It doesn't seem like three months have gone by, but they have. It's been great meeting you at the different blog stops. Good luck in the raffle.
Yes, I do keep a file of story ideas. I generally start with my characters and the plotline comes from them. Since I am an organizer, I need to make an outline and complete character sketch before I can begin writing the book. It keeps me on track even when I change an aspect or two of the plotline. Good luck with Revision is a Process Catherine!
ReplyDeleteHi, Diane,
DeleteIt was great that you stopped by today. Sounds like you embody "structured creativity" in your writing process. Any organization is a boon, especially if it is flexible.
Have and great day, and I wish you all the best with your writing and storytelling.
I guess I'm the exception to the rule. My characters come to me first. Usually it happens in that half awake time of early morning, I hear them talking, sometimes I see them, fully formed in period dress. In my first book, it was Brendan. He kept saying, "Meggie, me back hurts." Since it was my first it took years to flesh out an idea for that one. In my second book it was Johnny, saying, "What the hell do you want now, Lawman?" It took ten years to write that one and a long time before I knew Johnny was a girl. Ryder MacKenzie was a lurker. He hung around in the periphery of my mind, in shadow, his hat pulled low. He didn't say a word for the longest time. That's my process. Once they tell me their name, I start asking questions and the story evolves from there. My idea file is a list of names for characters that have spoken to me, what they said and wore. I work on the next story based on who yells the loudest.
ReplyDeleteHello, Kathy,
DeleteI envy you getting such a complete package - character name, what they look like, and what they say. And I can easily see the mystery is figuring out what their up to or what predicament they're in.
Many thanks for stopping by and sharing how your stories form. If you entered the raffle, I wish you luck. I also wish you success with your books and that next story you're writing.
P.S. I have enjoyed reading your books.
I've really enjoyed following the tour for Revision is a Process, it's been very informative and helpful. Thanks for sharing all of the great posts along the way!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Victoria. And I thank you for following the tour. If you entered the raffle, may luck be with you!
DeleteCongratulations on the book. Thanks for hosting the giveaway. Bernie Wallace BWallace1980(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHi, Joseph,
DeleteIt was good of you to stop by today. If you entered the raffle, I wish you luck! Have a great week.
Great post. Thanks for the insight.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kim,
DeleteGlad you enjoyed the post and its insights. If you entered the raffle, good luck to you. Have a great week.
The hour grows late, the day comes to a close, as does this 30 book blog tour. I sincerely thank my host for featuring Revision is a Process today. I thank all who left comments. And to all who entered the gift card raffle, may Fortune smile upon you. As always, I wish readers a good book to read - and to writers, may you write and tell a story well. Good night.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed the tour thank you.
ReplyDelete