First Things First (Cheryl Renée Herbsman)
What's the first thing you need when starting a new story? Does it differ from project to project, or is it always the same for you? Do you begin with plot or setting or character? Do you rip an idea from a headline or an overheard conversation? Whatever else I begin with, I can't start a new story until I first find the voice of my protagonist.In beginning my current work-in-progress, I knew that I'd be writing it in order to work through an overwhelm of emotions I'd been dealing with during a difficult time in my life. So I needed to find a character who could take on those feelings. For weeks I toyed with different YA voices, trying to see where I might take a story that would include the healing I needed to explore. And it wasn't working. Ultimately, I realized that for this particular story, I would need to go farther outside the YA lines than I'd ever been -- I'd need an adult MC.
At first, this idea terrified me, made me back away from the story altogether. I like being a YA author. I like the YA community. I didn't want to leave it behind. But as soon as I gave myself permission to think about writing my first women's fiction, the character came to me. And as soon as I let her in, her story poured out of me. So I guess I needed to write it. And although it took me a while to realize it, it doesn't mean I can't still write YA!
The initial steps of the WIP are done. The story is told. And I'm ready to start something new. Only I don't know what yet. So I'm waiting, filling the well, and listening, listening, listening for that first whisper -- the voice of the next character whose story wants to be told.
Do you juggle projects, Cheryl? Sounds like you like to draft a project, then put it aside for some time (even start a new work) before revising.
ReplyDeleteI like to always be creating something new. So when a project goes out to beta readers or my agent, I take a break from revising. But my mind needs a new story to focus on until I get back to the next round of revision.
ReplyDeleteI have had a MC in mind for two years now, and have done the same back and forth on the idea for the same reasons you described. I have written four young adult manuscripts, and see myself as a young adult writer. This idea of mine-this character is an adult idea. Perhaps I will try to write her, even though it terrifys me!
ReplyDeleteFor me the character comes to me first, and the plot follows. I usually dream about my characters.
I say go for it, Trish. The terrifying ideas are usually the best in the end ;)
ReplyDelete