What Does It Take?

Several people that I have come to meet has asked me the same question... How do you come up with the idea's for a story and how do you write them? Well, the answer to this question can vary depending on what author/writer you ask. I feel there are no right or wrong answers to this question either. So, I'll tell you from my perspective.

First and for most, writing is a complex world. There's always something new to learn. Most of the time, when ideas come to me, I write them down and over time these ideas can be put together in a book. So, I take two different ideas, from two different times and place them together. Do I map out the plot? No, I don't. I write as I go. Some may say this isn't correct and some may agree that there's no right way to go about writing a book.

I begin with the rough draft. I keep writing not worrying about anything else. Once the rough draft is done, it's time to read it through. (Sometimes I read it more than once) After the full read through, I go back and do my edits. I changes places where I feel the plot isn't smooth or if I used the wrong name on a dialogue tag. I check the spelling, grammar, and comma usage. Once I polish this manuscript up, I contact close family and have them read it. They eventually find issues that need fixed that I didn't see because I'm too close with the story.

Once my feedback is final from those I know, off to a professional editor my manuscript goes. Although I had a great, close friend as the professional editor, I'm looking into finding an editor who does it for a living and paying for the services. Once I get their suggestions back and make my changes, I format the book for the file type, in my case it's an ebook and print copies.

You may ask, well, if you've written books where can I find them? At this moment in time, they are still on a thumb drive I have in my computer right now. I had them out there for the world to read but I found some errors within both books, I decided to take them off the market to do some improvements in them. Once they are revised, I'll put them back out there for the world to read.

So, my idea's I get I guess you could say just come to me. I don't think about them too hard. Sometimes I get inspiration from a dream or even riding down the road. It's hard to tell when an idea will hit me. My best suggestion for those who want to write is to write from the heart. Always write to express yourself rather than impress others. This is what makes each of us unique. Lastly, never and I mean NEVER give up.

If you find yourself in doubt, step back and ask yourself.... Why did I want to write this story to begin with? Once you can answer this, take a few days and think about it to be sure. Afterward, go back to your manuscript and try again. You can do it. You are good enough!

Inspiration

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I would love to hear what inspires you. I've got several interesting replies to this and I would like to take a moment to share some with you. Enjoy. :)

Neil Low:
What inspires my writing most is reading about historical crimes that have either had a strong local or national appeal, like the Lindbergh Kidnapping, which touched the hearts of people around the world. Reading about the case, using my veteran cop experience, I was convinced that more people were involved in the kidnapping, the investigation was shoddy, and many of the trial witnesses were hungry for headlines. So of course I wrote about the case and expanded what might have happened. I've also been drawn to Seattle stories that gathered national headlines during their era, like the disappearance of an aging heiress, shortly after her marriage to a much younger man. The local police did a fantastic job solving that murder, but no one remembers the case today. Then there was the murder of a police officer during Prohibition, his body found inside a locked garage with two bullet holes to his face and another wound on top of his head. Despite the suspicious circumstances and other defensive wounds, the death was ruled a suicide by the Homicide Commander. As a modern day Homicide Commander of the same department, I had access to what was left of the original case file, and I didn't like what I read. This dubious finding makes for great material for me to write about and explore with my own theories. My current story involves the death of a young woman near a north end lake in Seattle. Evidence suggest sexual assault and points towards her father, a disabled war veteran, but is this an unfair character assassination by sensation seeking reporters? Again, there is more to this story that begs to be told. I love writing about cases like these where you know there is more to the story than we were told. I particularly like fictionalizing sketchy historical accounts, because I feel this is the best way to get at the deeper truths in life and explore the motives that drive people to do what they do. That's what makes a great story.

 Karen:
Nature inspires me a lot. I love being a passenger during car rides because I get to stare out the window at the scenery. I'll take my camera out with me and just take pictures of trees I find interesting, or one time, a Cadillac graveyard I stumbled on while hiking. All of it stores itself in my brain and eventually inspires, or just finds itself, in a story. 


Camille Griffiths:

 When I started writing, I got all my inspiration from the way I wished movies or books would have turned out. Now, I get a lot of it from life experiences, dreams, daydreams, and my daughter. =)

Calling All Authors,Writers, and Readers

The Writing World wants to do something different to include everyone. So, in hopes that this will be successful, I am asking everyone to share something with me. I'll choose a few out of the entries I get and display them on the main page.

Here's the question: What inspires you the most?

I get my inspiration from the world around me. Plenty of idea's actually came from my daughter saying something. I've gotten inspiration from sitting in my reading corner looking around the room. Inspiration comes from quotes I find online at Goodreads.com. (Which are posted to the right panel).

If your interested in submitting your unique ways to get inspiration, please use the contact form above and share those thoughts. If you're chosen, I'll send you an email announcing your entry will be displayed for all to see.

Good luck but most importantly: HAVE FUN!!!!