Sorry it's been so long since my last post, but it seems like things tend to get away from me during the hot summer months. Luckily, I've still managed to get a fair amount done. I'm happy to say I've wrapped up edits on my manuscript, Devil on a Sparrow's Wing, and have now moved on to a new story-- a story I'm crazy excited about.
I had this idea for a story a few years back, but every attempt to write it immediately fizzled out on the page. I didn't quite know why. It was a great story idea (No. Really!!), but once I sat down to write it, time and again the words would slow and stop.
About six months ago, as I started to give the story some more thought. I knew the idea was a good one, but it was missing something. I changed the time period from modern day to Victorian. That certainly helped things, but it was still the same story and I worried that when I sat to write it once again, I would have the same problem.
Then it came it to me. As I discussed the storyline with a few critique partners (can NOT live without them!) the story took on a new life, morphing and evolving as the ideas all fell into place to form a new story. Something unlike anything else out there, though it was an old story told from a different perspective. It still had the original story idea at the heart of it, but with a new twist--an incredible twist!!
Perhaps my muse had kept me from writing the story all along, knowing it had not yet evolved into what it needed to be. And this time, when I sat to write it, the words flowed effortlessly. All the pieces fall into place.
Now granted, this is still the honeymoon stage for me-- the first 10K words are always the easiest and the sweetest. Just like that first kiss, when everything is new and shiny and exciting. I'll eventually come down off the clouds around 20K words, but that's ok. I'm in it for the long haul.
Do you have a method you use to try and brainstorm your story ideas? For me, jotting down notes helps, but talking and writing out the story concept is where I'm most successful in working things out.
