Revising & Editing: Rachael Thomas Talks About Ideas #Giveaways

Please welcome author Rachael Thomas. She's talking about Ideas today. And there are Giveaways! One Kindle copy giveaway of CLAIMED BY THE SHEIKH to one commenter, and link to the signed paperback copies on Goodreads!

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Ideas

‘Where do you get your ideas from?’ This is one of the most frequently asked questions, but ideas are everywhere. In an overheard conversation, a line from a song, a place – either visited in person or through the wonders of internet, movies, photographs, the list just goes on and on.

One of the things I did, as an unpublished writer, was to create my own ideas book. Somewhere I could note down every flash of inspiration that came to me, be it a potential story title or a character’s backstory and motivation. Some of these ideas have been used, others are there, waiting for more to be added and some may never evolve into anything.

So how do you enlarge on the snippet of overheard conversation or the image which flashes through your mind, generated by the lyrics of a song?

You ask questions. Lots of them.

One of the things I learnt whilst serving, what I always looked upon as my apprenticeship, was to ask ‘Why?’ It is the most important question to ask – and it needs to be asked often. Every scene you create from the very first to that happy ever after will be generated by asking ‘Why?’

Why did your hero say that? Why doesn’t your heroine want to trust the hero?

Once you’ve answered a few of these questions, you’ll move onto ‘What?’

What did your hero say that? What happened in your heroine’s past to make her so untrusting?

Then, yes you guessed it. When? Where? And How?

As you go through all of these you will find that it is ‘why’ that is used the most. Eventually your germ of an idea will have grown, become something bigger. It may not be a full story, but it will be, if you continue to ask ‘why?’

Here’s an example from my latest book, Claimed by the Sheikh. It was an image that sparked off the idea for this story, which is my second book for Harlequin Presents. The initial image of the heroine working in a club in Paris and being tracked down by the hero gave rise to so many questions. Why was she there? Why had she run away? The list was endless and answering these and many other questions lead to Kazim and Amber’s story.

Claimed By The Sheikh

Banished!

Princess Amber's arranged marriage to Prince Kazim Al-Amed of Barazbin was a dream come true—for her, at least! But then their wedding night went spectacularly wrong, and a furious Kazim banished Amber from his kingdom and his life…

Hunted!

Now, with his country in turmoil, Kazim must prove his ability to rule and provide an heir for his people. But to do so he'll need to track down his princess.

Claimed!

Amber has always threatened Kazim's tightly held control. Yet if he is to save his nation—and his marriage—he must finally make the ultimate claim…on his wife!

Read Excerpt

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One Kindle copy giveaway of CLAIMED BY THE SHEIKH to one commenter, and link to the signed paperback copies on Goodreads...

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Claimed by the Sheikh

by Rachael Thomas

Giveaway ends March 02, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

25 comments:

Sandra Cox26 February 2015 at 15:36
Great post. Thanks for sharing your thought processes.
Claimed sounds like a keeper....
Beverly Stowe McClure26 February 2015 at 15:50
Interesting post. It is amazing how the ideas pop up. Many times, I hear voices telling me their story. I listen and sometimes they turn into a book. Why is a very good question.
Thanks for visiting my blog and for your comment.
betty26 February 2015 at 19:07
Thanks for visiting my blog (A Bench with a View) and your comment. That was a good idea for the author to keep a book of ideas that came to her through the years.

betty
Mary Kirkland26 February 2015 at 22:19
I've always wondered how authors come up for the names of Sheikh's, princes, ect. Do they google names or just know what they want to use already.
Thanks for stopping by my blog *Dark Thoughts*.
Empty Nest Insider26 February 2015 at 23:16
I've seen Rachel's book popping up all over! I like the thought of keeping a book of ideas on hand.

Julie
Michelle Wallace26 February 2015 at 23:43
Great post!
Ideas are all around us... it's a good habit to keep a notebook handy.
Experience has taught me that, if you don't jot that idea down immediately, it will slip away.
Unknown27 February 2015 at 02:32
I never really considered writing as if it was answering those why/what/where etc questions. Very clever! Thanks for the tips and good luck with the new Sheikh book - sounds great!
Susan Flett Swiderski27 February 2015 at 08:47
Nice post! An additional question novelists can use beyond the traditional guideline questions used by journalists is... "What if...?" That's where we can really let our imaginations take over. (Hmmm, come to think of it, too many journalists are relying on their imaginations these days, too.)

Good luck with your book! It sounds super.
Cherie Reich27 February 2015 at 10:08
It's definitely important to ask a lot of whys. Inspiration really is everywhere too. Congrats, Rachael!
DMS1 March 2015 at 13:31
I like the idea of an idea book. I really need to start something like that! I was jotting ideas down and sticking them in a file for a while, but a book would be great to flip through for inspiration. :)

Best of luck to Rachael!
~Jess
Launna 1 March 2015 at 17:38
I don't write stories just a blog but I do write short notes to myself via text or email if an idea/thought comes along when I am on the bus or at work... that way I will remember it later... great idea xox
Karen Lange1 March 2015 at 17:49
I think an idea book is an excellent idea. You never know when an idea will pop up. :) Nice to meet Rachael!