By
Starla Kaye
Where
do you start when you’re thinking up a new story to write? For me it’s a matter
of reining in my too wild imagination. I never have a shortage of story ideas.
What I suffer from is wanting to write them all at the same time. I’m always
working on new stories for my various publishers and I’ve learned how to keep
my story types different for each one.
At
the moment I’ve got a new story for The Edge series contracted and in editing, Acceptance. And I’m working on two other
stories: a sequel for The CEO and The
Cowboy and a story for the Challenge series. But I’ve wanted to write
another story for the 1 Night Stand series as well. That is the one I’m most
actively working on at the moment.
I’ve
discussed in other blogs my basic writing process from A (very beginning) to Z
(submission). This time I want to share a few more details about how I come up
with a new story for a specific publisher’s line.
Okay,
first I look at the guidelines for the series, mainly to see if there have been
any changes from the last time I wrote for the line. I have previous books in
the 1 Night Stand series (Maggie’s Secret
Wish and Starting Over). So I
have a basic idea of how the line works and I read a number of stories in the
line to keep up with what is working in it.
Next
I come up with my title, which guides me to what kind of characters I will use
and a tie-in with a certain setting. This new 1NS story’s title doesn’t really
reflect the setting, but it does hint about certain elements. Cowboy Dreamin’ is about a heroine and
her fantasy longing for the white-hatted cowboy to ride into her life and sweep
her off into the sunset for a HEA, although that isn’t what she wants in
reality. The hero, of course, has to be a cowboy. But I’m using two cowboys,
all the better to fulfill her fantasy, right?
After
I know what my series line needs to revolve around and have my title, then I
focus on creating the necessary main characters. For this story I wanted a
heroine who is crazy stressed, has no time for serious romance, but dreams of
romance and a special man to at least burn up the sheets temporarily…enough to
let her endure her hectic and unromantic daily life. Kendra Barlow with her
purplish-brown hair, enthusiastic personality, and out-of-control schedule came
to my mind. She begged me to tell her story, find her someone who can give her
at least one night of escape from her crazy life and give her something to
remember.
Since
I, too, have a secret love for cowboys, I wanted to help her out. Except I
didn’t find one such man, I found two
very special cowboys lurking in my mind’s treasure trove of possible heroes.
They are ranching partners, friends, and, yes, even occasional lovers. Shane
Carter and Carson Donnely both need some tender loving from a unique and hard
to resist woman like Kendra.
After
I know my story title and characters’ names, it is time to begin learning more
details about the characters. I don’t do a lot of background build-up, but
some. I need to have an idea of part of their background/history to understand
their needs, wishes, etc. And it is good to have a hint at their previous
relationships. Most of this stuff I learn as I start writing the story and they
reveal these things to me. I keep an ongoing Story Basics list that I pull
whatever I’ve learned in the actual story to, so I am continually discovering
exactly “who” each of these people are.
That’s
it…that’s all I’m sharing in my writing process. Each writer works differently
and I love learning about what works for this person, what for that one, and
what is a “tried and waste of time” thing. Believe me, I have plenty of those.
CONTEST:
I
love doing contests and giving away one of the many little fun items I collect
over the year especially for this opportunity. Leave a comment about your
favorite Decadent series to write for or to read. Or comment about a story line
or series that you would like to see in Decadent’s house. One randomly chosen
winner will win a fun gift I found in San Antonio: Texas Bandana and 33 Ways to
use It (complete with a bandana). The contest ends April 14.
Oh gosh, I can't pick just one. I've written for and read books from three different lines, plus, I'm starting to read stories from the Prepper line. The new Tease line looks exciting, too. Though the 1Night Stand line will always hold a place in my heart, because that was the first Decadent line I read from, and where my first story was published. :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Starla!
Jessica, thanks for stopping by and commenting. I understand how hard it is to pick a favorite line at Decadent. There are so many anymore. Like you, I like writing for different ones.
DeleteI love the Ubuntu line because that's the one I've written for. I enjoyed reading one of the 1Night Stand stories and am keen to try a prepper romance.
ReplyDeleteIt was fascinating hearing about your process in starting a new book. I'm busy trying to start a new book at the moment but struggling to come up with an idea. I wish the ideas came to me fast and furious. I normally ponder them for weeks. I usually start with the characters and a trope. Occasionally, an idea just strikes me and I'm inspired. Lately, that's been rare.
But once I have an idea, I'm buzzing again. I love having a writing project.
Kathleen, thanks for stopping by and commenting. It is always interesting to me to see who likes what and who writes for what line. I haven't read anything in the Ubuntu line yet, but I need to do that.
DeleteGood luck with your next book.
I pretty much always have a little scene fragment. Then I'm all like "what can go with this" and "where is this going"? I've just started what I think will be my next 1NS -- and I don't have a name for the hero!!! That is very unlike me. As soon as I see that germ of a scene fragment (it's pretty much always the hero and heroine) I tend to know their names!
ReplyDeleteI hope you come up with his name soon. It would be bugging me to death not knowing the hero's name.
DeleteI am not a writer, but do enjoy learning how the stories I like come about. It is always interesting to hear how ideas begin. It does help me be a better teacher in that it helps me direct my students in their ideas.
ReplyDeleteMel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
I love hearing what readers think about writing and writers. Be sure to emphasize to your students that we writers aren't really crazy when we talk about "hearing" voices in our heads.
DeleteI love the 1Night Stand series. The story behind the visit to Madame Eve intrigues me every time. I enjoyed reading about your imagination and process. lisagk (at) yahoo
ReplyDeleteYes, I also enjoy learning about the many different ways Madame Eve gets involved in the stories. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteWow you are organized!! I do try for a title before I start writing - though often fail - but I just sit and hope for the best then. It's a minor miracle I ever manage to produce anything coherent.
ReplyDeleteI try to look and sound organized. Sometimes I'm not quite as much that way as I would like to be. But eventually I finish the stories I start. I think a lot of writers rely on those "minor miracles" to get the book done.
DeleteMy randomly chosen winner is lisagkendall. Congratulations!
ReplyDelete