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Welcome to It's Raining Books. How do you develop your plot and characters?
When I develop plot and characters in my writing, I typically start with a single idea that captivates me—a concept, theme, character, or setting that sparks my imagination. From there, I delve into creating my characters, fleshing out their backgrounds, motivations, and goals. Once my characters are established, I outline the main events or plot points of the story, but I remain open to changes and developments that may arise during the writing process.
As I write, my characters often take on a life of their own, influencing the direction of the plot and leading to unexpected twists and turns. This organic development is where the magic of storytelling happens, as characters grow and change, and the plot becomes richer and more compelling. My ultimate goal is to create a story that resonates with readers.
What has been one of the biggest challenges you've faced as an author?
For me, finding an audience has been a challenge. It's tough to stand out among established authors. Building a platform with a website and social media presence has felt overwhelming. Marketing and promotion are crucial but challenging, especially with limited resources. The publishing industry is incredibly competitive, with thousands of new books released each year. It can be frustrating trying to get your book noticed. Sometimes, I just want to shout, "Give my book a chance!"
But, after reading some positive reviews, I'm confident that my audience is out there; I just need to find them!
How do you approach the beginning of a story?
I try to approach the beginning of a story by engaging the reader with a compelling hook that grabs their attention. I then introduce characters, setting, and tone while establishing the central conflict. I also try to create intrigue and set the narrative early on to draw readers in.
How about the ending?
When I wrap up my stories, I focus on a few key things to make sure the ending is satisfying. First, I resolve the main plot and tie up any loose ends. I want readers to feel a sense of closure. I also show how the characters have grown throughout the story.
I try to avoid abrupt endings and make sure the tone matches the rest of the story. Whether it's happy, sad, or bittersweet, I want the ending to feel right.
I like to leave some parts open to interpretation to add depth.
Before finalizing the ending, I always get feedback from my writing group to make sure it works.
How did it feel when you became a published author?
To be honest, I was filled with such doubt that it took me seven months before I submitted my manuscript. After submitting it and receiving several rejection letters, I finally received the "Yes! We'd like to publish your manuscript" response. I felt such validation. Someone actually wanted to publish my story. What a great moment.
Along with the surge of excitement, there was a sense of accomplishment. But along with that excitement came a bit of nervousness and a touch of fear. Would readers connect with my characters? Would they like the story and my message?
Once my book was published, those emotions intensified. There was the thrill of seeing my book in print, holding it in my hands, and knowing that readers were going to read the story I created. But there was also vulnerability, as my work was now open to criticism and interpretation. I felt a mix of excitement, pride, and anxiety as I waited to see how my book would be received and I’m happy to say, so far so good!
Overall, it was a deeply rewarding and humbling experience, a wonderful moment in my life.
Read the Blurb
Transformation, empowerment, love and music come together in the book, Beautiful One.
Elizabeth Ryan is a beautiful, shy, naïve high school senior. Having never dated she meets the boy of her dreams, Aidan Mitchell. Despite his history of womanizing Liz is drawn to him. Soon Liz becomes the envy of all the girls on campus, when they become a couple and her dream boyfriend sweeps her off her feet and into the dating world that is all too new and strange for her. When other guys start to take notice of Liz, Aidan is troubled with fits of jealousy.
Elizabeth then meets the ruggedly handsome, Spencer Hayes and they quickly bond over their passion for music. Liz begins to struggle with the feelings that spark between them. In the end Elizabeth finds herself torn between helping Aidan overcome his jealousy and anger and giving into what her heart truly wants.
Read an Excerpt
“Elizabeth.” My heart leapt as I opened my eyes, and my breathing stopped for a second. My eyes roamed over his handsome face. His jaw was slightly swollen and bruised, but other than that, his face was untouched. His grey eyes were unusually light from the angle where I sat, and his dark hair was tousled in a way that made me ache to run my fingers through it.
“May I?” He motioned to the bench next to me.
I was still surprised to see him, so I just nodded.
Spencer sat and shifted his body so it was facing mine. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Didn’t you get my calls?”
In my rush to see Aidan, I had left my cell phone at home, so I shook my head no.
Spencer gave me a ghost of a smile and softly chuckled. “Are you gonna talk to me or just nod your head?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just shocked to see you.” I shifted my body so it was facing his.
“After last night, I wanted to make sure you were okay.” His soft gaze traveled from my face to the length of my body. When he saw the bruises, his jaw clenched before he frustratingly blew out a breath of air. He gently lifted my arm to examine it further. I could sense he was trying to rein in his anger. “Did he hurt you anywhere else?”
Spencer reached to place a stray lock of my hair behind my ear.
My eyes didn’t leave his. I whispered, “No.”
About the Author:
Website: https://www.marycopeauthor.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/marycope_author?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw==
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryCope_Author
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557161136038
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ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good story. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a book that I would really enjoy.
ReplyDelete