People keep asking me where I get my ideas for books. The truth is, I have no idea. One day I’m driving along, taking a shower, pulling my luggage of a carousel at an airport or sitting at my desk, and then boom some person is talking in my head and having a conversation. And it’s not me, or my subconscious, I know us both well. No, these are strangers who want to tell me a story.
Don’t send in the guys with the white coats just yet.
I’ve learned through the years that this is my creative process – part of the magic that helps me when I have no idea what to write next. My books begin with the characters and then I wrap the story around them. I don’t usually know much about them in the beginning, but I love discovering what they are about as we go along.
I learn these things on a need to know basis. As the story reveals itself, so do these characters and many times in the most interesting ways. I was so surprised when I learned the heroine, Gillian, of “The Demon King and I” was the CEO of her family’s company, as well as the owner of several art galleries around the world. She found such pleasure in art and it was something she was incredibly passionate about. It carried over into other parts of her life whether she was dealing with demons, or trying to solve a murder mystery. Art is a big part of who she is.
The art parts (that’s so much fun to say) are small tidbits throughout the book, but they help define who Gillian is. They show a softer more vulnerable side of her. I was also surprised to see how she interacts with her sisters. I never had siblings growing up and she had this bond with the women in her family that absolutely fascinated me. The little nuances, pet names, rivalries, Gillian shared these things as her story revealed itself.
The funny thing is, not every conversation these characters have in my head ends up in the book. I’ll be driving along listening to my favorite tunes, and Arath (that’s Gillian’s love interesting in the book, and he’s the Demon King) starts talking to Gillian about his brother and those familial ties. For the two hours I was stuck in traffic they had this discussion about family. None of that ended up in the book, but Arath revealed something to me that did. I can’t tell you because it’s a major plot point in the book. I had no idea he felt that way, and it made him more human to me.
There are people who sit down and must know everything about their characters before they begin writing. They even make note cards. I’ve nothing against anyone else’s process, but that would drive me crazy. I usually know their names, but even that can change. But there is one thing in the beginning that I know, and it might help others to do the same. I know why I want to take this journey with this character. There’s a reason I’m climbing on board the Gillian train, so to speak, and she usually tells me right up front what that is.
When I finish that first draft I really do feel like I’ve been on an amazing journey. As I go back do my fluff and puff (revisions) I learn even more about the characters I’ve written and they continue to have conversations in my head. Sometimes I wish they’d go to sleep, and leave me alone. But then that’s part of the magic, and I really can’t wait to see what they do next.
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Hi Candace
Thank you for sharing.
My characters are the same way!
Love & Best Wishes,
RKCharron
xoxo
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You are welcome. Thanks for hanging out.
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Thank you for sharing! Do you have characters that grab you, but who haven’t told you their whole story yet? I have people knocking around in my head all the time, but not always the vehicle for them.
Thanks!!
~Heather
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Heather sometimes that happens for me. I find that if I just sit down and start writing that I can learn a lot about them. Many times they become a part of the WIP, but not always.
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My characters do the same thing to me. They just come out of the blue and alot of time when I’m doing things. I also wish they’d be quiet at times but it’s always fun learning about them.
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Ally, I know sometimes those voices come at the most inconvenient times.
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My books begin with the characters and then I wrap the story around them. I don’t usually know much about them in the beginning, but I love discovering what they are about as we go along.
I’m the same way. It took me forever to just accept that I had to follow my own process. Thanks for sharing, it’s nice to know I’m not alone.
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It’s funny when you find out how other people work. I’d been listening to all these plotters, and I just couldn’t make that work for me. Though, now I do more plotting, it still begins with the characters.
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I have a “book” I’ve been working on for many years, it seems to develop the most right as I am drifting into sleep or when riding on the back of the hubby’s motorcycle. It is amazing the arcs it taking while lost in the ride.
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Ideas to come in the strangest of places.
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I try to write with one character, but there friends always yell at me for something or other. stupid guardians and dragon friends.
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If I sat down to do an outline I would get confused. It would become tedious and I wouldn’t go further. My characters are like your’s, they are there to tell what they want to reveal and it is my job to write it down. Any other way would not work.
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It’s interesting to hear so many other people (including yourself) working the same way I do. When I sat down and started my first novel, the way the story and characters opened up before me was most fascinating (and unexpected!). Like a road you’re driving for the first time, you’re never quite sure what’s around the next bend and some of it can take you by surprise. I was 108,000 words into my WIP when I discovered the supporting actress was actually related to someone we’ve known since the start of the story.