Recently, I joined a few hundred others–and at least that many gnats and critters–along the banks of the Arkansas River to watch the annual Fourth of July spectacular. And it was…well..spectacular.
We arrived early with comfortable chairs, cold drinks, mosquito spray, and our patience. Anticipation of the big event kept us swatting bugs, checking our phones, and watching for the first pop and bang that signaled the beginning of the show.
For me, writing is a whole lot like this. When a book is in the planning stages, I spend a whole lot of time getting ready for the actual writing. I get comfortable, fill my mug with a nice cinnamon apple iced tea, and then I swat bugs (real life interruptions, ideas that don’t work, etc) while I await the big show (an actual synopsis I’m happy with). Or I skip the synopsis and just start writing. Somewhere along the way I begin to love the story and the characters. In short, the fireworks begin.
Are you a writer? If so, what does your writing process look like? At what point do the fireworks arrive?
Maybe you’re a reader. If so, tell me about the last book you read! I want to hear about the fireworks!
Admin: Sorry for the confusion. This post released early then was rescheduled for today.
Bestselling author Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee of fifty novels with almost two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan and certified family law paralegal, she has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award as well a Reader’s Choice Award and several Top Picks by Romantic Times magazine. A member of Romance Writers of America, American Christian Fiction Writers, and a former member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, she is currently a proud military wife and an expatriate Texan cheering on her beloved Texas Aggies from north of the Red River. To find out more about Kathleen or connect with her through social media, check out her website at www.kathleenybarbo.com.
My process has changed somewhat over the years. Now that I sell on proposal I have to know my plot from beginning to end before I write the book. I’ve tried different plot mechanisms and have come up with one that suits me. However, my books always ALWAYS start with the characters. I have the characters first and then let them introduce me to what’s been bothering them.
I’m a reader first and a wannabe writer 2nd. I read all kinds of books. I start stories and get into them and then can’t find a resolution that is in any way realistic or I just run out of steam. I read mostly mysteries, Westerns, Historical and Biblical fiction, detective books, some romance and if I can find it good scifi. I just finished the latest Bluehill Library Mystery from Guidposts but before that I read Steven James’ Placebo. This had followed Firewall by DiAnn Mills, The Dancing Master by Julie Klaussen, Stuck Together by Mary Connealy among others. I have a disease that lets me read more than one book at a time and have a couple of them going now. One is Singularity by Steven James and a couple of other books that I was given so I could review them. One of those is not going well. It has a 9 year old girl using the foulest of foul language and I have problems with that. When I was that age I didn’t know what those words were, hadn’t heard them, EVER. I know it happens now but I like to stick to my upbringing. I quit reading most of the books out now because they have filth in them. I try to stick to Christian fiction. I have a couple of authors that I have followed for a while and I read their books sometimes. So I’m looking for a wholesome, mostly realistic story that entertains me.
I agree, Deb. For me, story emerges from characters!
I think most writers, wannabe or not, began as readers. I know I did. There are so many good clean reads out there. I am so glad you’ve found Christian fiction!