The main thing that helps me in writing my stories is that I try to remember to pray first, asking God to put what He wants into the story, and then I try to see myself as one of the characters about whom I’m going about to write.
By picturing myself in the story, it’s easier to figure out what happens next. It also gives me a perspective from which to write. If I have some difficulty figuring out what happens next, then as I imagine myself in the story, I mentally start wandering around in the scene and see what I discover.
If I need additional help, then I do the same thing, but I will do it as I actually walk around in our woodsy backyard or in the woods behind our house. If you look closely, you will find all kinds of drama happening right there in your own back yard. It only takes a little imaginative help to work these real-life observations into my story.
One of the most fun parts of writing fiction is the development of characters. I will take certain character traits of people I’ve come across in my life experiences and play with them in my mind. Sometimes I will combine traits from two or more people to create a character. I may take a certain trait and give it an over-the-top emphasis. If the traits of a created character are strong or unique enough, it makes it so easy to work them into the story. Characters with strong personalities like these will sometimes be so pushy, they tell you what they are going to do or what they are going to say next. When that happens, it’s kind of spooky, especially when you had planned for them to say or do something differently.
I would be interested in hearing where some of you get your ideas. Thanks for reading.
Blessings,
Alan Harris
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