As the new year begins, I think about
beginnings—beginning again after a long hiatus. The past few years were like
winter and now, my spring is coming.
In March my early reader, The Case of the Missing Firehouse Dog,
releases. My second novel is in my publisher’s hands. I’m working on the second
early reader, my third novel, my first novella, and my second nonfiction.
But how do I start a new story? How do I
come up with an opening scene that captivates?
That’s like asking why the sun is yellow
or the night velvety dark. I can tell you the mechanics, but not the how.
Suffice to say: I play “what-if”.
What if a paramedic becomes addicted to
prescription drugs—what pushed him that direction?
What happened to the mystery books for
children that were so popular way back when? What if two friends try to solve
mysteries in their neighborhood, but usually finds themselves learning valuable
lessons in the process?
How would someone feel suffering a
tragedy? What emotions are at play? Who helps them? What is that squirrel
doing?
Get the picture?
I ask a question and then roll with it.
Eventually the snowball causes an avalanche of ideas that soon turn into
stories.
And how do I write that opening scene? I
sit down, apply a lot of emotion, and write. Plus, the best research is to
read. Not to mimic others, but to learn what works and what doesn’t.
The best way—from my experience—to start
a story is to start writing. And it’s okay to plot. You may not stick to it,
but it acts like a map during your penning travels.
I will say this: when I sit down to
start a novel, I don’t worry about comparable books or what the market wants. I
have a publisher, but if I didn’t, I wouldn’t worry about finding an agent or
publisher. I don’t worry about grammar or misspellings. Edits can happen later.
My first thought is: let’s dive in and start finding out what is happening in
my characters’ lives.
As soon as I start, the names come to
me. For the novel that is being perused by my publisher, I choose Scott. But
Scott can be so boring, so I thought about a series of books I adore. One of
the characters went by an alias: Weatherby. So Scott became Scott Weatherby
Wilson. See? I don’t think too hard on names. It is whatever pops inside my
head at the time.
And that’s how you begin. Plot if you
need to but sit down and start writing. Build up around your characters. Don’t
build your characters around a setting. Apply emotion. And then let the words
carry you away. Chances are if the words can carry you away,
they will carry your readers away, too.
BIO:
Daphne Self,
formerly published under the name D.M. Webb, resides in Iowa. A transplant
from Mississippi who
fell in love with the Midwest state, she spends her days writing, editing,
hiking, antiquing,
and planning adventures with her husband and sons. Having always dreamed
of being a writer
she pursues this dream with only one goal in mind: to glorify His Name.
Daphne
is also an avid
reader who devours books in many genres. As a long-time member of ACFW
(American Christian
Fiction Writers), she volunteers her time judging contests for unpublished
and published
authors. She also helps upcoming authors polish their manuscripts.
Blurb:
The Adventures of Wilhelmina: The Case of the Missing
Firehouse
Dog
Beautiful Majesty
has been dognapped!
Majesty, the firehouse dog, is missing.
Willie and Jax are on the case to discover who is the dognapping
culprit. Could it be
their neighbor, Mr. Applebee? Or maybe it is Ms. Thornton?
Join the Pintail Duo, Wilhelmina van der Coup and Jackson
Barnaby, as they follow
the clues to rescue
Majesty in The Case of the Missing Firehouse Dog.
Mississippi Nights:
Two brothers, one death--the bond of brotherhood faces its
greatest challenge against
resentment and guilt.
Can the love between two brothers eventually win against pain
and guilt?
When Firefighter David Boyette's fiancée perishes in a car fire,
he blames his brother,
Sgt. Jeremy Boyette, for
her death. Three years later, David returns home with a dark
and devastating secret. With the help of family, a woman's love,
and small child's
devotion, can David overcome insurmountable odds as he and
Jeremy face the
bitterness that enslaves him? Together the brothers must decide
if the bond of
brotherhood is stronger than resentment and hate.
Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaphMichele
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authordaphneself/
Website/Blog: http://authordaphneself.blogspot.com/
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1 comment:
This book is a must for some little ones in my life who's dad is a firefighter. Thank you for sharing.
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