Since The Innocent is on e-book sale right now for 99 cents for a limited time on Amazon, I found this post written a few years ago for a different blog when the story was newly published. I rewrote the piece to bring it up to date to share how a story can come to life for me.
When I’m ready to begin a new story, I need time to ponder and to watch for the glimmers of an idea to spark out of that mysterious dark center of the imagination where stories are born. At times the glimmers may sparkle but still be as elusive as a sunbeam. You see it but you can’t quite grab it. I’ve been at the glimmer stage for many stories over the years.
When I first wrote about these story glimmers, the story that came to life was The Innocent, my twenty-eighth published book at the time. Since then, more story glimmers have ignited for other books with my newest release, A Chance for Kallie Mae, being my 41st published book. So, I know about chasing after story glimmers to shine some imagination light on them.
But back to when the glimmers were lighting up The Innocent.
Often, the initial glimmers for me are characters. In The Innocent, a local sheriff and a penniless woman seeking shelter with the Shakers stepped into the glimmering spotlight and beckoned me to write their story. But I needed more than glimmers. I had to invite them to come to life in my imagination in order for the glimmers to get brighter and begin illuminating their story.
But even after the story light is strong, I often stall. Am I ready to start? Do I know my characters well enough? Perhaps I should check out more about the historical era. Do more thinking about the plot.
At this stage hesitation can become avoidance. How can I dive into a new story until I catch up on all those other writing related duties? What about those guest blog posts I need to write. Plus, I have posts to write for One Writer’s Journal right here.
What about the pages to review for an upcoming release? That can’t be put off. I can’t forget Facebook and Instagram and sending out newsletters. A writer needs to gather followers to encourage them to give one of her books a try. Then there are those special e-book sales like this one for The Innocent to put out on social media with the hope that it will encourage readers to give the story a try while it’s available for a super low price. All necessary tasks. All writing related. If I’m doing them, I’m surely working. Surely writing.
But the truth is, I might be working, but I’m not writing. Those things do need my attention. The same as meals need to be cooked, floors and windows cleaned, laundry done. Doctor appointments need to be kept. Shampoo the dog. (That’s way overdue for Frankie, and he’s glad about it!) Garden produce to pick and can or freeze. Family to visit. Well, you get the idea. Where’s the writing time in all this busyness?
I have always wanted to tell stories. Always. Sometimes that means not stalling but trusting those story glimmers enough to type Chapter 1 and begin. I can’t let all those other things take the place of writing my stories. I have to step into the story and begin again. I’m right there at that spot for a story now. Researching. Letting the story come to life. Hoping for those story glimmers to brighten the same as I did several years ago for The Innocent.
Even after writing so many books, it can still be a fearsome thing to write that first word. Will it work? Will the story magic happen again? I’ve done it before. I am almost sure the words will come if my characters come to life.
I trust they will after I see them in the glimmers of my imagination, but I still have to put my fingers on my keyboard and begin.
Do you ever feel that hesitation to start doing something you really do want to do but continue to put off the beginning step?