When I start writing a new novel, the inspiration does not
just appear like magic. Oh, the story is
in my head. I may know how it ends. I have written some beginning chapters, but
things don’t seem right. The feeling
isn’t there. The darn story is churning away in my brain, but I just cannot get
it out on paper.
Writing is not hard but getting it right is. Creating conflict. Ending chapters in cliff hanger. Developing characters that the reader can
love or hate. These are the challenges of writing.
My latest story that just went off to the literary agent
began at the end of 2010. I envisioned a college professor, working with an eccentric young man, enlisting him to solve a crime. I wrote the scenes and let my writer friends
read them. The feedback was good, but I
didn’t like it. Not edgy. Almost 10 months elapsed before it all came
together. I threw out the first drafts
and started anew. This time it was an
unscrupulous opportunist taking advantage of the disturbed young woman to solve
a murder.
My next story plays out in my head like a song. I can hear the music and hum along. Just haven’t gotten the lyrics right yet.
How do your stories begin?
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