What a Feeling...

Feelings... some are harder to convey than others. Some are harder to admit... some are impossible to face... Love and lust are two predominant emotions that you can find any number of books both fiction and non-fiction written about.

Why? Why is it that we are so obsessed with the relationship that develops between two people?

In my opinion... it's that feeling... the one you get when someone special walks in the room. That fluttery chest, that magical glow... the catch in your breath.

And not even just when they walk in the room. It's that feeling you get when your phone rings and you see their name on the screen. When a text message comes in and you don't even know what it's going to say but you are so drawn in by the anticipation of just talking to them...

There is magic in these moments. The kind of magic that makes life worth living and the mundane every day hassles seem worth it. Even if you don't believe in magic, in the supernatural, or the paranormal... it's there.

The Roads We Take

I've been thinking a lot about the roads we take and the choices we make. I know that there is no changing the past and the "what ifs" and "could've beens" can drive you crazy... But if you are honest with yourself, isn't there a secret place within your soul that fantasizes about the different directions you could have gone? As writers we have the luxury of rewriting the past. We hold the fate in the pages we write. We can live vicariously through the characters we love. We can write their lives in situations that we were afraid to face or too blind to notice. It's a very liberating feeling. What regrets do you have?

Follow Your Dreams

It's funny the places that you find inspiration. Today, as I'm watching a student business plan competition, I'm amazed that there are so few contestants. I am a believer in aiming for the stars and following your own path and it's very upsetting that so many kids these days do not believe in themselves. Big or small, no dream is too little to put your heart into.

Never underestimate how bright your light shines, because even when you are feeling your dimmest, somewhere you are somebody's star!

Favorites

So I'm not going to lie - as a writer sometimes it's hard not to put some of your own characteristics into your characters. They become a piece of you so it can be complicated giving them a voice that's all their own. It's also hard not to have your favorites. I find myself leaning toward the same character names and descriptions. I have to really work to put something different together sometimes.

With that being said... What are some of your favorite things that you find some of your favorite characters sharing with you? Do you find yourself relating better to a character if you find out they like a particular band or movie? Do you love it when they themselves admit to getting lost in a book?

Here are some of my favorites:

Purple - preferably lavender
Daisies
Springtime
Sunsets
Song - Thinking Out Loud - Lesley Roy (I can't find it anywhere!)
Book - Me Before You - JOJO Moyes
Author - JK Rowling
Shape - Star
Smell - homemade chocolate chip cookies

Which do you like best??

Often times when I am writing I try to think about what the reader would like best. Would they prefer a slower story line with more descriptions or a fast paced character driven plot? While I try to balance the two the best that I can, it seems that my characters become demanding and begin driving the plot at a faster pace. In terms of character development do you think that it happens best when you go slow and descriptive or fast and driven? Or does it matter to you? I know that ever writer has a specific style that they become comfortable with and then known for. As a reader do you also have a particular style that you prefer?

These are the questions that keep me up at night :)

The Question Is...

As a writer I am often asked "Do you come up with the title or the story first?"

In my opinion there is no wrong or right answer. I think that it depends on how the idea comes to you and how you were inspired.

For me, usually I am inspired by one of two things: a Character or a Story Idea. Once I have one of these, the other usually comes pretty quickly. After I let them marinate in my mind for a little while, a title usually comes pretty quickly to me. So for the most part I come up with the title first, then write the story. In fact, I have a list of at least 30-50 working titles at any given time. Some will eventually turn into books, some will probably never fully manifest themselves into reality.

In my personal experience, the only exception to this was a story that I am still revising about military life and the different ways couples and children adapt to it. While it is a work of fiction, my own experiences weigh heavily upon the main character. Also, because I wrote the story first without a title, I am having an extremely hard time coming up with the right title. I've played around with Personal Battles, Wounded, Home Front... but nothing seems quite right. Due to this, I will probably need suggestions for a title when the time comes to publish it. 

For all of you authors out there - what are your thoughts on this?