My first post at GenReality goes up later this morning. It’s intimidating being first, talking to a new 
audience. Over here, I’m comfortable opening a vein and bleeding all over the blog. I know you guys won’t mind the mess. I’m talking there about respect, but in the middle of the post that went on forever, I mentioned my writing process. I started to spell it out, but was already at 1500 words; adding my steps for crafting a novel would’ve exploded things before the group got their say. So for those of you scared off by my tome, but who want to see my process, here it is in 4 easy steps.
- 1) Establish Premise
Think of your premise like a “what if” scenario. “What if an SG-5 operative arrived at his long-abandoned Louisiana home to find an international spokesperson for a fragrance empire in his kitchen wearing nothing but rubber waders and a push-up bra?” That was exactly how I started NO LIMITS.
Or try a logline. This one from Rob Gregory Browne’s article, Anatomy of a Logline, is for THE FUGITIVE. It’s simple, but effective, covering character, conflict, and plot in 24 words: After he’s wrongly convicted of murdering his wife, a high-powered surgeon escapes custody and hunts down the real killer, a one-armed man.
- 2) Develop Characters
I don’t do worksheets. I do only two things. Well, three things. I’m very visual, so I find pictures to represent my characters. I don’t use actors. I need unknowns. But the picture thing is just a quirk of mine, and not as important as the other two. So, the real #1 is establish goals (internal & external) and #2 is establish motivations (internal & external). Here’s a table from my The Complete Idiot’s Guide on Writing Erotic Romance (Yeah, it’s a writing book, not a sex writing book. *g*):
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Ext Goal
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Ext Motivation
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Int Goal
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Int Motivation
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visit old hometown
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look up old friend
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seek friend’s forgiveness
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lost valuable friendship
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give up gambling
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financial security
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regain father’s respect
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failed his expectations
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take on new identity & go undercover
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expose corporate corruption
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clear lover as suspect
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prove self worthy as mate
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enter bull-riding competition
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win money
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keep bank from foreclosing on ranch
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protect inheritance
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- 3) Structure Plot
This is where I use Syd Field, Chris Vogler, and Jo Leigh. I take the premise I’ve established, and the characters I’ve developed, and add the obstacles that will keep them from getting whatever it is they want, and do so in logical, believable steps that fuel forward motion. (Click the various links then ask questions. *g*)
- 4) Ready, Set, Go!
Now I write. Considering the above things, I figure how best to start, and then I polish as I go. I don’t like to come back and do editing and revision passes. I always do at least one for clean up, but because of my prep work, when I hit the end, the book is pretty much done – until my editor gets her hands on it and tells me what to change!
That’s it!
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This is a great and simple way to get started. Often I get lost in the process when I should be writing!
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Nienke – I find it gives me a good foundation, and when I flounder, going back to my original plan usually puts me back on the right track.
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Great post… good luck with GenReality! :)
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Good luck with Genreality!
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Thanks for sharing your process.
I’ve just started writing my first romance, so I’m still figuring out what kind of planning and outlining works best for me.
I think I’m definitely going to see if I can pick up a copy of your “Idiot’s guide…”
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Just to let folks know that the GMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict book is still in print if you want to explore that concept. Just head over to the publisher’s website.
http://www.GryphonBooksForWriters.com
Don’t pay the high prices at Amazon!
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Debra Dixon! I recently looked for a copy of your book online (since who the heck knows where mine is) and thought it was all out of print! Thanks for stopping by and setting me straight.
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Very interesting. Those are some great tips. Good luck with GenReality!