Bizarre Mysteries: The Writing Process, Part 1

And…I’m back!

After a summer hiatus (because, frankly, if “Virgin River” can disappear for the season, why not me?), I am well-rested (sort of) and raring to go (always!), ready to dive into all things weird! This time, because I get asked about it all the time, I’ve decided to explore the good, the bad, and the ugly, of writing a book! Also included in this short series will be some known and not-so-known tricks, tips, and eccentricities of some of your favorite authors!

It matters little if we look at books that are best-sellers or those who limp along for years, living in obscurity. The truth is that there is always one common denominator—

The idea!

Yes, as simple as it sounds, the very first step in the writing process is to come up with something interesting to write. You could be as polished as the sea after a storm, but a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor! Simply put, if you have a crappy idea that won’t hold water, (pun intended), you’ll never capture your reader’s attention.

My biggest problem? I have too many ideas! They explode in my noggin, oblivious to the time of day, bombarding my brain with possibilities. I know, I know—I should just be grateful that I have ideas.

And a brain.

But, back to the point. Not only do you need a brilliant idea (or at least one YOU believe in) you also need a general direction to take that idea.

Now, I know what you’re thinking…what makes a great idea for a book? Glad you asked, friends!

But first, as promised, here is one of the crazy writer quirks I found. Victor Hugo, author of ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame.,” found inspiration by writing in a comfy chair wearing very little clothing.

I wonder what that chair looked like after years of…oh, never mind.😳

Anyhoo, after the idea for Hunchback came to him in the Fall of 1830, Victor decided to start writing with the goal of completing the book by February of 1831 (no small task, I assure you!) He not only met his goal but exceeded it by finishing it under deadline. How did he accomplish this? By buying a bottle of ink, locking himself in a room while half-naked, and giving his staff strict orders not to release him until he wrote something good.

Wonder whose job it was to decide if his work merited an early parole?

Oh, and, fun fact—his original title for The ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ was ‘What Came Out of a Bottle of Ink.’

Glad he thought twice about that one.

So, what really does make a great book idea? Well, for starters, it has to be original. Don’t get me wrong. Almost every book out there has some similarity or familiarity to another book. For instance, take Fred Gipson’s ‘Old Yeller’ and Stephen King’s ‘Cujo’. Both books center around a dog who gets bitten by a rabid animal and then follow the consequences of that disease on the main characters.

Sure, the books split in different directions, but the core concept began with, well, rabies.

What makes it work is putting a new ‘spin’ on it. So, if you have an idea about a love story involving a vampire and a human, you need a ‘schtick’ that separates that idea from, say, ‘Twilight’ or ‘The Vampire Diaries.’ Maybe the vampire is pure evil, only pretending to love the main character, but in truth is secretly planning to have his/her love interest for lunch—literally! (Although, to be fair, I think if Damon came knocking, I’d fall to the ground and hand him the ketchup.😜)

Or, maybe there is some weird vampire curse in place, making physical contact an impossibility or a catalyst resulting in the ‘vamp’ instantly bursting into flames.

See there? We’ve taken a popular trope, tweaked it, and developed a totally new direction.

Speaking of direction…did you know that Charles Dickens used to carry a compass to ensure he only slept facing north? Now you do! He felt sleeping north helped to improve his writing. Since he was a brilliant writer, maybe there was something to that superstition!

Where was I? Oh, right…ideas!

So, once you have a terrific idea to make your own, what then? This actually differs from writer to writer but I can tell you that, for me, next comes research. I am a Virgo and have been known to research a subject to death.

Like, seriously, by the time I am done— I’m still not done. Ever.

During the entire writing process and beyond, I continue to examine things like scientific studies, photographic evidence of the paranormal, geography and maps, investigative techniques and tips, etcetera, etcetera, and so forth.

Rinse and repeat.

Because, as I always say, I can look stupid all by myself. No sense in proving that point with poor research and incorrect facts! So, in my writing journey, research and note-taking occur right away. After all, how do I know a concept has enough ‘meat’ to it to last the entire book? I’ll give you an example. For my first book, I spent countless hours researching service dogs. I wanted to know if I could provide the reader with more than just a “yeah, this is my cadaver dog. He finds dead bodies and shit.”

Boring, right?

But what if I found out more…like how dog handlers, during mass casualty incidents, will ‘plant’ a live person for the dog to find so they have hope? Or how training differs between search and rescue animals and dogs tasked with finding the dead?

See what I mean? Research is my jam, ma’am.

Sure, it’s fiction, and you could throw anything out there to see what sticks. But I’ve found readers really appreciate knowing a bit more about the subject matter they’re reading. In fact, not to blow my own horn (toot, toot), but a recurring theme whenever fans of my books reach out to me is how much they appreciate the in-depth research I do.

Thank you, thank you. Hold your applause, please.😁

Honestly, it’s one of those OCD things I do. And, while it’s lovely to be appreciated, I’d do it regardless.

So, what now? We have an idea, we’ve done some research (although, to be fair, we’ve only scratched the research surface. Once we get ensconced in the book, more research is sure to follow), and we are, finally, ready to dive into the actual writing.

Or some semblance thereof. There is no shame in outlining chapters, jotting down notes, or plotting timelines. Some authors are ‘planners,’ while others are ‘seat of your pantzers.’

Most, I think, fall somewhere in between.

When I begin with an idea, I sharpen and tweak it, do my initial research, and envision (sort of) the beginning, middle, and end. Along the way, though, plans change. The trick is to adapt to those changes and carry on with a new direction or plan for the path of your work.

All while listening to the same playlist over and over. One of my silly routines to get the juices flowing.

Speaking of routine—how about that Truman Capote? Talk about your silly superstitions! It is said that the author of the mind-melting book, ‘In Cold Blood,’ refused to stay in a hotel room with the number ‘13’. He would not phone a friend or family member if the digits in that number added up to 13. And he never started or finished a work on a Friday.

Image Credit: Getty Images/ Truman Capote

In addition, and this is truly bizarre, he refused to fly on a plane that had two nuns on board. Why the nun hate, anyway? They’re just people like us, only with an inside lane to the ‘big guy!’

Just spit-balling here, but I’m gonna assume that the series, “The Flying Nun,” was never on his television screen. How do you like ‘dem apples?

Which reminds me of Agatha Christie. Dame Christie, they say, was so fond of apples that she ate them in the bathtub—all the while looking at crime scene photos—as a source of inspiration.

And I thought my habits were weird! Which we will delve into next time in Part 2 of “The Writing Process.”

As always, I welcome your suggestions and ideas about future blogs and books! In the meanwhile, stay well, keep the shiny side up, and thanks a million for your unwavering support!

Till next time! Peace out, scuba scouts!

—Q

.