Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Dreaming Up a Story Line



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.


13 comments:

  1. 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. :)

    All the best Starla!

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    1. 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.

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  2. I 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.

    It 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.

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    1. 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.

      Good luck with your next book.

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  3. 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!

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    1. I hope you come up with his name soon. It would be bugging me to death not knowing the hero's name.

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  4. I 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.
    Mel
    bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

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    1. 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.

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  5. I 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

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    1. Yes, I also enjoy learning about the many different ways Madame Eve gets involved in the stories. Thanks for stopping by.

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  6. Wow 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.

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    1. I 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.

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  7. My randomly chosen winner is lisagkendall. Congratulations!

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