|
Kathryne Kennedy | My Step By Step Guilde To How I Get Inspired To Write
December 4, 2009
Step 1:
Get out of the house. People watch. When they speak, what mannerisms do they
use? What features make them attractive? I often use the eyes, nose, and mouths
of different people to create the image of my character. What color/style
clothing are they wearing? How does it reflect their personality? I let my
imagination run wild, guessing their background, what events in their life have
shaped them, even what kind of day they are having based on their actions. All
of this is great inspiration for developing my characters. Step 2:
Write. My writing often inspires my next book. My upcoming release, My Unfair Lady, inspired my
next few books. But what inspired My Unfair Lady? Step 3:
Read. Watch movies. There’s an old saying that art inspires art, and I’ve often
found this to be true in my case. I will catch a theme, or a character, or part
of a story that captivates me, and give it my own spin. For My Unfair Lady, it was a
theme in the movie, My Fair Lady. Can a woman truly change herself?
Should she do it to please a man rather than to please herself? Do we place too
much emphasis on outward appearance? And this became the inspiration for My Unfair Lady, about a
Wild West heiress who travels to London to hire a sponsor to turn her into a
lady. Step 4:
My favorite book for inspiring my characters is Laurie Schnebly’s Believable
Characters: Creating with Enneagrams. I look for the personality of the
character I’ve already created in my head and study the attributes for
decision-making that defines them. If I’m stuck on a character’s motives, this
always gets me inspired to search for a deeper motivation! Step 5:
Research. This gives me such inspiration, allowing me to step into the
historical world of my characters and to truly visualize their every day life.
My research will also often inspire scenes in my books and help me create
adventures for my hero & heroine. For example, in My Unfair Lady, the English
pastime of fox hunting created several scenes where my heroine’s compassion for
animals was revealed. In the beginning of the novel, there’s a scene where my
hero & heroine rescue a monkey from some street urchins who are torturing it.
This came about from reading that it wasn’t uncommon for young boys to light a
cat’s tail on fire, or stone a dog. It’s awful, I know, and made me so angry
that I had to write a scene where one of the poor creatures was rescued. The
little monkey, India, then became a new character in the book, who often
provides a bit of humor to the story. Step 6:
Bounce ideas off my family. My husband and sons are great listeners, and will
often let me talk my story out loud, which often leads to me solving a dilemma
in the plot. They are careful to listen much, and add comments rarely. What more
could I ask for? Step 7:
Attend my writer’s meetings. Talking to other writers always inspires me to
write. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m in a roomful of other creative people
and we feed off of each other, or if their excitement for the story generates my
own excitement. But I’m always a fiend at the keyboard the next day. Step 8:
Read my saved mail. I’m not sure if other writers do this, but whenever I
receive an email from a reader, I save it in a special folder. If I’m having a
difficult day writing, the stormy kind of ones where I doubt myself or my work,
I read through all the wonderful notes from people who have loved my books, and
are looking forward to my next one. Although I saved this step for one of the
last, it’s probably my most important inspiration, but only used in case of
emergency, on my darkest days. Step 7:
I go back to step 2. And if I get stuck, I repeat step 1, for it always helps to
clear the mind and remind me that there’s a world of characters out there
besides the ones I create. People who I don’t know, but I might have touched
with my stories. How magical is that? My thanks to My Unfair Lady by Kathryne Kennedy—in
stores December 2009! He created the perfect woman...
The impoverished Duke of Monchester despises the rich Americans who flock to
London, seeking to buy their way into the ranks of the British peerage. So when
railroad heiress Summer Wine Lee offers him a king’s ransom if he’ll teach her
to become a proper lady, he’s prepared to rebuff her. But when he meets the
petite beauty with the knife in her boot, it’s not her fortune he finds
impossible to resist... For the arms of another man
Frontier-bred Summer Wine Lee has no interest in winning over London
society-it’s the New York bluebloods and her future mother-in-law she’s
determined to impress. She knows the cost of smoothing her rough-and-tumble
frontier edges will be high. But she never imagined it might cost her heart... About the Author
Kathryne Kennedy is
the author of the Relics of Merlin series, acclaimed for her
world-building and best known for her historical paranormal romances. She has
also written a fantasy romance and this Victorian historical romance. She has
also published nearly a dozen short stories in the SFF/Romance genre, receiving
Honorable Mention twice in the “Writers of the Future” contest. She has traveled
a great deal and has lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S. She
is a business owner and currently lives in Arizona with her husband and two
sons. For more information, please visit http://www.kathrynekennedy.com/
Comments
39 comments posted.
Re: Kathryne Kennedy | My Step By Step Guilde To How I Get Inspired To Write
Kathryne, I love how you get your story ideas! I am an aspiring writer and I got a story idea from a post card my great grandfather sent! What fun! congrats on your release!
(Jane Lange 3:12pm December 2, 2009)
I'm not a writer, just an enjoyer (did I coin a new word there?) of "stories". I too, love to observe people, old young, & everyone in between. Sometimes you can imagine what they are like from their facial expressions & sometimes their actions speak louder than words! Will look for your book..it sounds like a good read.
(Jill Merriott 12:49pm December 4, 2009)
OOps! My daughter's name keeps coming up instead of mine! Jean Merriott
(Jill Merriott 12:51pm December 4, 2009)
I am just an avid reader and I loved your interview. I can't wait to pick up My Unfair Lady.
(Gayle Oreluk 1:37am December 4, 2009)
as a reader it's awesome learning how authors get their ideas. while i'm reading i get totally involved in a story and i don't think about anything else but the characters and such, but afterward I'd be like "wow where did she/he get that?"
(Michelle Santiago 1:42am December 4, 2009)
Kathryne: Thank you for your post.
I think writers should use as their inspiration any method that works for them. What works for one writer might not work for another.
That's why I'm very leery of so-called authorities who tell writers what to write and what not to write. I'm grateful that instead of taking that approach, you offer several suggestions.
In my case, I'm already using some of them. I would use the rest if I could.
For example, your suggestion to interact with other writers isn't feasible for many of us, including me. All the writers I know are busy with their own work. And how can I blame them? They simply can't spare the time to work with unpublished writers.
Even other unpublished writers aren't of much help. I've been trying for months to find a critique partner. It's just not going to happen.
It seems that only after a writer has published a book, and it performs well in the marketplace, can she get help from other writers. And by then, she doesn't need it, at least not as much as she did when she was unpublished. Sort of a Catch-22 situation.
In short, if a unpublished writer wants to get published, she must do it on her own. However, that's not stopping me, or even frightening me.
Keep up the good work!
(Mary Anne Landers 2:03am December 4, 2009)
Your book sound great.I wish I could wright but as it is my spelling is so bad some days that the spell checker does even know what I'm trying to spell.and that is just one of my problems.But I love reading i'm glad i have know problem reading like i do spelling.I just love books sence I was a little girl.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo(dot)com
(Stacey Smith 2:34am December 4, 2009)
Great post, Kathryne, can't wait to read this newest of yours.
Inspirations can come from so many things, sometimes I think the author has an unconscious idea from a number of things she's seen or read, and then that one finally sparks the idea.
(Pamela Pellini 5:37am December 4, 2009)
Loved the blog post. It had lots of good
ideas and information about writing.
(Jo Jones 8:02am December 4, 2009)
I think one of my favorite steps
is number 5 - research. I love
to research! Perhaps too much...
(Margay Roberge 8:32am December 4, 2009)
Thanks for the interesting post. "My Unfair Lady" sounds great.
(G S Moch 8:44am December 4, 2009)
Mary Anne, I hope you come back to read this post, I am curious what you write? Do you attend the rt convention? I have found several very willing published authors to help out aspiring writers there! Also two mentors , who have been above and beyond accomadating, I also had never been able to find a critique partner and found three there! I was having a horrible time finding critique partners! I write historicals but both my partners write paranormal and contemporary. Also RWA has several on line chapters that have tons of help!
(Jane Lange 9:40am December 4, 2009)
I like that your steps focus on positive thoughts and actions and your book looks like a good one.
(Maureen Emmons 10:25am December 4, 2009)
That's alot of steps! I would spend half my day trying to figure out what step I'm on lol
(Willard Wheeler 10:58am December 4, 2009)
Jane: What a great way to get a story idea! Thanks for sharing. :}
Jill: Great new word. An 'enjoyer' of books, it is!
Gayle: Thank you for the lovely comment. I adore readers, myself. :}
Michelle: So glad you found my post interesting.
Mary Anne: Are you a member of Romance Writers of America? If not, I strongly urge you to join, including a local chapter. My group has a chairperson specifically to match up critique partners in our group. There are also on-line critque groups, where you post your work, and the members critique it. I wrote my first book without even knowing about RWA, so it's certainly possible, but, life is so much easier/more fullfilling now that I can share with other writers. I wish you the very best with your career!
Stacey: Again, I adore readers. :} Thank you for the kind post.
Pamela: I absolutely agree! Thx so much for your interest in my books.
Thanks, Jo!
Margay: Err, yes. I have to be careful with the time I spend in research...like hunting for treasure sometimes!
Thanks, GS!
Ah, Jane, we have the same advice, I see. :}
Thank you for the kind comment, Maureen.
(Kathryne Kennedy 11:11am December 4, 2009)
Woops. I must have missed you, Willard. No worries, as these are only suggestions, and what I do. You can use one or all, or add your own. I don't think there's any right or wrong way to create something, it's all within the writer's own vision. Thanks much for the comment!
(Kathryne Kennedy 11:15am December 4, 2009)
Kathryne...I commented the other day about how much I like independent heroine so I'm back today for my chance at winning a copy of My Unfair Lady. The more I read the excerpt, the more it appeals to me. Thanks for the contest.
nbristow at cox.net
(Nancy Bristow 11:20am December 4, 2009)
Loved the blog interview, can't wait to reat my unfair lady.
(Barbara Hanson 11:55am December 4, 2009)
Wow thanks for sharing this with us.
I'm a novice writer, I write mainly for
myself bit it's great to get such
constructive advice from a pro. I'm
taking notes in my journal so that the
next block I hit, your advice might
just help me break through.
(Catherine Russell 12:55pm December 4, 2009)
I too am not a writer, but I love how authors get their ideas! Thanks for sharing! :)
(Colleen Conklin 1:05pm December 4, 2009)
Very interesting blog, helpful ideas. Thanks
(Theresa Buckholtz 1:30pm December 4, 2009)
Thanks for the great interview. Unfair lady sounds like a great book.
(Rebekah Elrod 1:44pm December 4, 2009)
Thanks for sharing what inspires you to write. It is amazing what would inspire me when I used to write poetry. I got to the point that I started bringing a small notebook everywhere I would go just in case I would get sudden inspiration.
(Cherie Japp 5:23pm December 4, 2009)
Nancy: Very cool! I wish you luck!
Barbara: Thx much!
Catherine: So great to hear that I could be helpful. Best wishes with your writing!
Colleen: My pleasure!
Theresa: Thx for commenting. :}
Rebekah: Thank you for the lovely comment.
Cherie: I keep several notebooks scattered around the house, so I know exactly what you mean. :}
(Kathryne Kennedy 5:28pm December 4, 2009)
If I think about something else, usually a good thought appears that works when I write it down.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 5:47pm December 4, 2009)
Good idea, Marjorie! Sometimes it helps to rest the muse.
(Kathryne Kennedy 6:03pm December 4, 2009)
Kathryne Kennedy and Jane Lange: Thank you for your advice. No, I don't belong to the RWA; but based on what you wrote, I'm considering joining.
In response to Jane's question, I already have quite a few short works published in various fields of fiction and nonfiction. But all that really counts is getting a novel published. I'm writing a futuristic romance novel, and have projects planned in other genres.
Once I write "The End", my priority will be finding an agent. Few publishers are interested in unagented submissions from unpublished writers. Except for that big company that just started a vanity press. And I have no intention of taking that route!
(Mary Anne Landers 7:49pm December 4, 2009)
This looks like my kind of read. Thanks for the contest.
(Sherry Russell 8:01pm December 4, 2009)
Mary Anne: I think you'll find a lot of good friends in RWA.
Sherry: My most amazing pusblisher sponsored the contest, so I'll pass on your thanks. :}
(Kathryne Kennedy 8:45pm December 4, 2009)
Thanks for the tips on writing. I always seemed to have a problem in having a mental block since I get intimidated in writing.
(Kai Wong 9:38pm December 4, 2009)
I think that might happen to every writer, Kai. Even multi-published ones. :}
(Kathryne Kennedy 10:07pm December 4, 2009)
Kathryne, I've read all 3 of your "Enchanting" books and they were really good reads. I was wondering when you were going to come out with another one in the same line as those? Look forward to reading My Unfair Lady as well. Keep the romantic, "enchanting" and amusing stories coming!
(Linda Paradis 11:14pm December 4, 2009)
I love Kathryne's Books - keep up the great writing
(Audra Holtwick 10:15am December 5, 2009)
Linda: I've started a new Georgian Fantasy romance series titled THE ELVEN LORDS. The first book, THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER is releasing July 2010 (already on pre-order on Amazon). You can read the history of the world on my website. This series is a bit more dangerous than the RELICS series...just the way my muse was going. :} Thanks so much for your interest in my books!
Debra & Audra: Wow! You ladies rock! Thanks so some for your very kind comments.
(Kathryne Kennedy 12:09pm December 5, 2009)
Thanks so much for sharing these tips with us. I love to get new ways of doing things.
(Leni Kaye 5:51pm December 5, 2009)
I love the title! Great post, I can see ways
to apply your suggestions to other areas
outside of writing.
(Sue Ahn 2:13pm December 6, 2009)
I enjoyed your post. Sometimes for me its going to the movies and the trailers before the movie, besides being so over-whelming, is filled with visual enticements.
(Armenia Fox 2:40pm December 6, 2009)
That's an awesome list of how you get your ideas! Very cool and creative!
Monica
(Monica Schroeder 7:11am December 7, 2009)
I was one of the winners! Thank you so much! I look forward to reading your book!
Happy Holidays!
(Jane Lange 2:28pm December 7, 2009)
Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!
| 
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy