Writing: Defiance!

Writing. Hmmn… Let’s see. In a perfect world, when I decide to write a book, I pull out a pen and draft a tidy outline – or if I’m lucky a premise – then after momentary thought, I start my first chapter: “Her feisty ways were destined to lead her astray…” Aah, blissful fantasy! In the real world I don’t decide to write a book, the book finds me. That's not meant to imply that it's an easy feat. Not by any stretch of the imagination. Most of the time, guilt brings me face to face with one scathing word that never fails to give me chills; the word I dare not speak. "Outline," she whispers. For the life of me, I just can’t do it. And that's not from lack of trying.

I know it is proper to draw up a rough -overall and chapter by chapter- outline to understand where the story is going and what I intend to reveal at each juncture. A kind of map for myself. Well, sadly my literary world isn’t so structured and perfect. When my characters start talking to me they don’t give a damn about outlines.

In an unintended way, I know my characters inside and out long before their true stories emerge. It has become a vital part of my plotting. In order to understand which way is up, I need to know my main characters likes/dislikes, quirks, desires, family life, thoughts, and most important, their careers. For many writers, it is quite the opposite. Storyline first, then character formation. Though I tried like hell, that ‘proper’ format just didn’t work for me.

Back when I wrote my first novel, it was more a stream of consciousness that led me through the story. I managed to make it through but the editing was way brutal. Of course I learned from that and have developed a moderate structure that works for me. My editor calls me defiant, but I say why tamper with what works? In a perfect world, it would be easier for me if I did follow the “rules” but my way flows much better with my twisted thought process.

A steady flow of ideas are constant in my mind, but my characters? They tend to wake me at 3am, telling me what they do and what kind of life they’re living. I reach for my notepad from the bedside table and jot down everything they say. Desi's burnt out from the hustle and bustle of NYC life. She wants to move and find a new home to launch her catering business and heal. Jason, a single parent, is a news editor and reluctant workaholic dealing with the murder of his youngest sister. Emmy is struggling to launch her clothing line when she falls for a Wall Street stock broker. Eve is an exotic dancer perfectly comfortable living life on the dime of her host of married men. Eddie owns a bookstore he's redeveloping to boost sales, while tending to his high school sweetheart who is dying from a malignant brain tumor. Zippy and Cheryl are twins who share a very deadly secret. My characters all embark on separate journeys, each in their own novel.

These are abbreviated starting points that I build on and work with before I begin constructing the plot. Writing is my joy, and when I began doing it the "proper" way the joy faded and it became just another job. Yikes! Upon completion of my fifth book, an arduous project, I went back to doing it my way, and I’ve been more productive. I won’t deny that an outline is great for most, but it just doesn’t work for me. An outline can set the stage for all things to come and provide a seamless foundation for a complete and succinct work.

Everyone has their own way of doing things. Maybe I am a bit (ahem) defiant, but nine books later, it hasn’t failed me! I try to celebrate my accomplishments and honor my craft. It’s a gift I cherish, cuz at the end of the day, my work is thoughtful, edgy, mysterious, engaging, relatable and entertaining. It’s complete. My characters have stories to tell and I listen. It’s fun. I’m living my dream, everyday. How hot is that?