It is my great pleasure to introduce to you Crystal Cherie
Crystal is a fellow author and friend. I find that whenever I have a serious question concerning book writing and my ideas on something, she is one of the few people I think of and sometimes discuss with the ideas to get some feedback. In fact, we have known each other for quite a few years now!
She currently has a book coming out this year that you may be interested in called Deleted. To learn more about the book (with a free preview of the first chapter) and my friend check out her website here: CrystalCherieBooks.com. And without further ado, here is her guest post for your reading pleasure:
Why Now?
It’s something we have to know. The truth is that you can’t write a novel without knowing the answer to that question. Confused? Let me talk a little more.
I’ve written the same novel three times. Yeah, you read that right. No, I’m not talking about the right time in your life to finally write that novel, either. I’ve written and re-written stories because out of all the plots, characters, and literary junk—I couldn’t answer that simple question: why now?
This question has something to do with what sets your book in motion called an “inciting incident”. That’s the point in the story when your character gets dragged from Earth to Mars or the hero discovers that he is the so-called “Chosen One”. It’s easy to come up with what starts your story, but why is it happening now? Why did the savior of Planet Blue Cats (totally made up—I should run with that) find out on Tuesday that he’s going to save the world? Why not next year? Why not last year?
This is something I’ve struggled with a lot as a writer. I can come up with all the motivation I want. I can make “good” bad guys. I can write a story, but I have trouble with finding an answer to that question that isn’t contrived. Here’s what I mean:
Uhm, well, he found out today because there’s going to be a war tomorrow. Oh, wait, I know. She gets her powers because she’s turning 18 on Wednesday. Nailed it.
Not really—your answer has got to be something that stems from human nature. Otherwise, it’s not important at all, and you’ll end up with a cheap, dime-a-dozen, candy-novel. Do you really want that? Yeah, neither do I. So, let’s try something else:
It’s been another year, and I’m still too sick and weak to do anything. Limrick, well, he’s gone. I’ve had to stand by and watch everything mess up again and again. That stupid fence is still gray. That damn car is still parked in the driveway with a flat tire. The grass—it’s still growing right over him. How can I let him rot in the ground while I’m up here doing nothing to change what took him away? How can I do that? I promised him. Yeah. I did, and I swear. I’m putting an end to this. Today.
Our desires are close to home. Why shouldn’t our characters’ be? So, your main character is going to kill them all, but I need to know: why now?
Thanks Crystal! I can’t wait to see the rest of your book.
See you guys next week!
Michael Austin 