So you went to a writers’ conference where instructors told you how to write.
They gave tips about what to do and what not to do. But what they didn’t tell you is what to write about.
For some people, the answer is simple. There’s a story that’s been burning in your heart a long time and you just need to get it out. For others, though, the desire to write is present, but the subject is vague.
So first, you need to know if you’re going to write fiction, where the characters and story is a figment of your imagination. Or nonfiction – just the facts, ma’am.
Nonfiction is based on facts, studies, personal history, devotions, or Bible studies. For those, your research must be accurate.
But fiction requires a different brain set. You want to tell a story, but not sure how to create one. Some people think of the story line first. For example, rich girl meets poor man, their lives are too different and far apart for them to ever be romantically involved. But in the end they will be together after dealing with hurdles along the way, some of their own making, some put there by others.
Or you can see a person or picture of a person and decide that person has a story you want to tell. So you must learn about this character, who else is in her life, what she wants or needs and how she’s going to get it after trying and failing along the way.
Some authors choose a setting, then “see” the characters who are in the setting and what their story is.
For historical authors like myself, I choose a setting where something significant happened in history, and how my characters dealt with it. So in my book, The Escape Game, the setting is World War !!. There is something created during a specific time during the war which impacts the lives of others, so my characters are those others. How’s that for vague? I do want you to read the book, you know. And although the story itself is fictional as are the characters, the historical setting and events must be authentic.
So which way is right – choosing the story first, the people first, or the setting first? It depends on what works best for you, what makes sense to you. No matter how you formulate your story, you will need to know your characters. You need to ask “what if?” to move your story along, and you need to know where it takes place.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Ah, Marilyn. You make it sound so simple. But the key is that verse you included at the end. Thanks for your thoughts.