A man with a deep voice is softly telling me his story. "You can't substitute one obsession for another. I know. I've tried."
That's how my stories start. I hear a voice. The whole process is so woo-woo that I hesitate to discuss it with non-writers. Generally I'm delighted to hear that voice. It means I'll be going on a journey with new characters.
But this isn't a good time for me. In fact, it's a terrible time to start a new story. I just limped through the finish line with my last novel and my husband is recovering from open-heart surgery. Did I mention I'm in a fibromyalgia flare? Yup. Fibromyalgia is one of those illnesses that rears at totally inconvenient times making you ache and giving you insomnia.
My new character thinks I should listen to him during my sleepless nights. At 2 AM he says, "Let me tell you about my brother. He sort of looks like Prince Harry without the naughtiness. I'm the dark one. We are color coded for our respective personalties." He asks, "Aren't you intrigued yet?"
I tell him he sounds kind of creepy and is about as welcome as an alligator at the door.
He laughs. "You need me. You know."
I can't argue with that. I am a writer -- a scribe -- and to turn down a story is unthinkable. "All right," I tell him, "let me go get a pen."
10 comments:
Hmm, is that like hearing music what isn't there??? But that's another story! For me, it's usually how the hero and heroine meet that gets me writing. :)Their goals and motivations and the conflict inherent. In Heart of the Wolf, I wanted the hero and heroine to be in love, yet they deny that love because the pack leader claims the heroine. :) In Don't Cry Wolf, the heroine is investigating a pack leader over her sister's death and gets herself in lots more trouble once she meets the hero. :) So for me, it's the meeting....
What a great post, Kathy! Sorry you're not feeling well but I've got to admit I love it that you're hearing voices...it means we readers will get another one of your great stories.
Don't let that gator in, LOL!
Hugs!
Terry, That's fascinating that your stories start with a meeting. I bet so much of the plot is revealed there.
Thanks, Sarita! I hope this is the beginning of a fun story. This character is a little darker than normal but maybe redeemable if the right woman comes along. I'm looking forward to getting to the meeting that Terry mentioned
Sounds like your imagination is as overactive as mine! Sometimes I hear a sentence, and go from there - but anything can set off a story in my head. A lyrical caption under a newspaper photo. Reading an outstanding story. Any idea, expanded with "what if...".
Hope you and your husband are on the mend!
Not sure how I ended up as Anonymous - the previous was me, sorry! My technical skills are still in the 80s, I think...
I usually see my characters first, lurking on the periphery of my mind. When I have time to pay attention to them, they show more of themselves to me and I can see them dressed as a Civil War Cavalry officer or as a cowboy, I start to ask questions. First they tell me their name then I ask about their goals and dreams. The plot takes shape from there.
Cate, Glad you didn't remain anonymous. That's neat your stories start from so many different catalysts. Reading jogs my imagination too.
Kathy, You must write historicals. I love reading them.
Hey Kathy, Great post and what a wonderful response you have had. I think we writers are a strange lot, at least to non-writers, I mean hearing voices, seeing characters, but it is all so wonderful to us.
Can't wait to read about this guy with a Prince Harry lookalike brother. I am rather partial to Prince Harry, the naughty one, rather than the older brother. Wonder if that will happen when I read your book?
Margaret.
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