Tag: #Dreams

Where Do The Ideas for My Books Come From #IWSG

  By IWSG
 
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the July 5 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, Gwen Gardner, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre!

July 5 question – 99% of my story ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?

 
I don’t remember most of my dreams. And most of the ones I remember are so scattered that they don’t make any sense. I had a dream that started on a cruise ship (I’ve never been on a cruise) and ended with me running up and down hills somewhere in Italy. (I’ve never been to Italy, either.) I can’t figure out how to turn that nonsense into a coherent story.
 
There is an exception. Wolves’ Pawn, my first published book, got its start from a snippet of a dream that turned into the prologue. The other two books in the Free Wolves series were a natural extension of that story.
 
The rest of my stories? They have a way of making themselves known to me. For example, The Marquesa’s Necklace was originally titled The Ghost Who Loved Me. The characters soon convinced me that my original premise for the story was all wrong and I switched it. What was supposed to be a paranormal romance turned into a whole series of mysteries. The Jake Hennessey stories were inspired by a background character in those books.
 
MY current WIP, The Edwards Agency, is a tribute to a story I wrote over a decade ago, and never attempted to publish. The time just wasn’t right. I thought I’d rewrite it, but soon realized that it needed a total reworking. The new book shares a title, some characters, and a few basic plot points. It has a life of its own, which it deserves.
 
So, where do my book ideas come from? The characters chose the time to talk to me. It’s up to them.
 
Find out where other authors get their ideas by following the links below. 
 
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
 
 
 

Dreams, Nightmares, and the Art of Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

April 25, 2022

Do dreams/nightmares influence your writing? Do you keep a notebook by your bed to write down ideas?

The spring rain had left puddles in the dirt road but she no longer tried to avoid them. Under other circumstances this would have been a pretty ride. The young pale green leaves not yet entirely covering the branches she brushed by glittered in the sun that had finally chased away the storm clouds. Even the fresh scent of the earth moistened by water was unable to mask the smell of the hot motor between her legs. She didn’t know how much longer the bike would last the way she was pushing the engine.

                                                                                                                                             Wolves’ Pawn

That’s the opening to my first book, Wolves’ Pawn, and yes, it was the result of a dream. I had no idea when I woke up where it would lead, but I sensed it couldn’t be ignored. So, I started writing.

Still, I lost part of the dream and had to work from scratch once I got past the opening scene. But that was okay, because the plot didn’t go where I’d anticipated.

“But, P.J.,” I hear you saying, “Why didn’t you write it down?”

I used to keep a paper and pen on my nightstand for just that reason. But the problem is — I’m a deep sleeper. If it’s not time to wake up, I don’t. The pen and paper do me no good. (When it is time to wake up, I’m awake, just like that.)

Most of the time, I don’t even remember my dreams. I might know I had a dream, but not any details. My memories don’t leave enough behind to form the foundation of a story. And boy, do I have some crazy dreams. How about a female PI chasing kidnappers around a cruise ship and up the hills in Italy? Or a wolf taking down a motorcyclist? Wait, that’s one’s a book.

So, I’ve given up on the whole idea of keeping a notebook on the nightstand. I never used it, anyway.

Now, my desk is a different story. Sitting here typing, I can count five notepads within easy reach, all different sizes. That way, I can grab one that’s the right size for the job.

How about our other authors? You can find out by following the links below to their posts.

As I say every week – until next time, please stay safe!

April 25, 2022

Do dreams/nightmares influence your writing? Do you keep a notebook by your bed to write down ideas?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

All I Want And More #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book
 
August 16, 2021
What do you wish you had an unlimited supply of?
 
 
Let’s skip the all too obvious ones—money and time, although I could use both—and dig a little deeper.
 
How about unlimited readers? Well, I guess they are out there if I could find them. Perhaps I should refine the wish. How about unlimited loyal readers? It would be nice to be a best-selling author.
 
Now I’m getting somewhere. Sure, that would lead to the money angle I ignored, but it would also provide me with the more important ego-boost of knowing my work is appreciated. The ego-boost that would encourage me to keep writing.
 
While it’s true that I write my stories partly for myself, I hope that other people enjoy them. But I won’t know that unless they tell me, and not many readers leave reviews. Perhaps if I had a more loyal followers I’d get more feedback? I can wish.
 
But as the old saying goes, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.’ I can wish and I can dream but I’m willing to work for what I want. I keep trying, but I certainly haven’t found the magic formula that draws in an unlimited supply of loyal readers!
 
What do our other authors wish for? You can find out by following the links below.
 
As always, please stay safe until the next time.
 
 
August 16, 2021
What do you wish you had an unlimited supply of?
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter