I love shiny things. I mean, who doesn’t? As an author, my favourite shiny thing is a new story idea just begging to be written. A shiny new story idea that is so good it doesn’t need any work done on it…it just needs to...
I read an interesting twitter thread the other day that talked about how writers, more than many other creatives, are the most isolated in their pursuit of success and happiness in a cutthroat business. And it is because we are so solitary...
This morning I typed THE END on the first draft of my seventh novel. That means, in the past month, since I shared about not being able to write any words, I’ve written about 15,000. Ah the rollercoaster ride of a creative. This book was a...
As I sat down to write my monthly newsletter, I found myself struggling to pick a topic. With so much going on in the world, writing just seemed like such a silly thing to talk about right now. But then I thought, maybe that was exactly what I...
![I love shiny things. I mean, who doesn’t? As an author, my favourite shiny thing is a new story idea just begging to be written. A shiny new story idea that is so good it doesn’t need any work done on it. It just needs words on the page, no matter how bad they are. No matter how meandering the plot might be. No matter how shallow the characters might feel. (Can you see where I’m going here?)
Fast drafting a shiny new idea has been my process for the last four books I’ve written. I get a premise or a hook or a scene or a single character in my head and I dive head first into writing the book. The characters reveal themselves along the way and eventually I figure out a coherent plotline.
Each of these shiny books took me 3-5 months to draft and they’re good stories. People I trust and respect have told me that. But they’re not great, and perhaps more telling, they haven’t sold. So this time around, I’m trying something different. The premise for my latest project appeared in my brain way back in September and as of today, I have yet to write a single word of the story.
Instead, I’ve been sitting with the idea. Letting it percolate in my head. Working on in-depth character profiles. Diving deep on setting research. Writing a full synopsis that includes every little nuance of the story including the twists and turns and surprises.
While this idea has been marinating, I’ve also been re-reading my favourite craft books and attending writing webinars. When I attended the Surrey International Writers Conference in October, instead of going to sessions on revision or fast drafting, I picked sessions that focused on themes and hooks. Big picture things. Heart of the story things.
This story is now a living, breathing entity inside me. I know it will be the best book I’ve ever written. I’m confident it will sell and, more importantly, connect with readers. Not only because it’s a good premise with a good hook, but because by giving it time to sit inside me, it has depth and meaning. It is a story I need to tell. One I simply must write.
[continued in the comments…]](https://scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.29350-15/318617994_6069329849744877_8460063925632055090_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=8ae9d6&_nc_ohc=szysA7Xlwj0AX96DsK1&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&oh=00_AfCX7AzU625j1_C25n5gUAvCjP5lU1CdPzm60iWNEIsMeg&oe=6398F36A)
