A question a lot of authors get asked (and I'm no exception ::g::) is: Where do you get your ideas?
When someone asks this, I'm never sure they really want the answer, 'cuz it's involved, yeah? I did a whole series on it on my Amazon plog, but I think most readers, reviewers, interviewers mean, "Where do you get your ideas for the plot of the book?" when they ask the question. I think maybe because a lot of people assume the plot comes first. And for some writers, it does. But for me? The characters always come first. And somehow the plot develops from them.
That could mean that the plot is a natural progression from the place in life my characters are at when I meet them. It could also mean that I look at the characters and ask the question, "How can I cause them the most trouble?" I mean a book that has no conflict for those characters you come to love is pretty boring, right? So, I set out to cause them trouble...or facilitate them causing each other no end of complications.
But I think people want to know where the idea for those complications come from...and the answer is everywhere, but mostly some kind of imaginative morphing on a theme from reality. You've heard the adage that truth is stranger than fiction and well, it's an adage because it's right!
I'll read a newspaper story, hear someone talking in the mall, see something on the news, read an interview or article in a magazine and my imagination gets sparked. Something like, "Oh, wow...I can so see that happening to Jillian (my heroine in my current WIP)." And thus a plot or scene is born.
The plot or plot elements often come from research. When I went to Vancouver B.C. to research their film industry ('cuz that's where Jillian is working), I came away with tons of ideas to complicate my plot and develop a more intricate story. The same thing happened in my merc trilogy as I researched Army Rangers and mercenaries...comments my interview subjects made sparked entire storylines. Very cool, you know?
So, the answer is that I get my ideas by spinning real life through a very fertile imagination. You may never recognize the germ of actual happening in the story I write, but maybe one of the reasons so many readers have said my books feel so realistic is that deep at their heart, the stories are real.
There is nothing imagination can conjur that can compete in sheer fascination appeal with truth.
Hugs,
Lucy
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4 comments:
I can see that. I have this one funky idea going on in my head, but i want to make sure it is original or I didn't imagine it in another book. LOL
Nice to *see* you, Lucy!
Hey Lucy, great to see you here. Sure do miss you.
I just think the whole process is interesting. I applaud you all that write. Kudos
I things it's fascinating how differently authors approach writing, whether it's plot, characters, etc. I love that so many different elements can trigger an idea. Thank you for bringing us such amazing stories to enjoy and revel in :)
Thank you Lucy for your amazing stories. The thing about this blog is that I just finished The Real Deal for the second time. And I loved Jillian in it.
There is something about that book that drew me back to it, although I had already read it and a couple of books since........I had to go back and reread it. I picked up a couple of things that I had missed in the initial reading so that is good. Not that I haven't enjoyed your other books (and I have all but one of your contemporary books now)but this one is just special to me.
So glad that you are going to give Jillian her own story, now I wonder if this is where the motorcycle guy comes in..........**sigh** will just have to wait and see..........
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