Settings are probably the main reason the majority of my work is either science fiction or fantasy. I hate setting fiction in real world places. Also why I don't tend to write non-fiction outside of periodic (and unpublishable) attempts at an autobiography. Don't count on that ever seeing the light of day.
But, so far as settings go... A lot of it is a question of what is required for the characters and the plot of the story. Especially when it comes to the level of detail. I have settings that I know in a fair bit of detail and some I know only very generally. Some, especially short pieces, don't need much work in terms of setting. Others require building whole worlds, but I will address world building in a separate post. My other thing with settings is a question of how much detail do I really need to use to describe them. Again, it varies, depending what's going on in the story. Sometimes things in the setting are important to the plot, sometimes they just aren't. That said, characters and plots can't operate in a complete vacuum. Every story needs some kind of setting and it can take some thought as to what is appropriate and in what amount of detail.
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So... characters.
Honestly, characters are where most of my work starts. And also why so much of it may never see publication. Writing to character is a near impossible way to write novels. But characters (and people) and how they act and react, why they sometimes act 'out of character', their pasts, presents, and futures, their families and experiences... that's what absolutely fascinates me and keeps me writing. Most of the main characters who feature in my published work come from one of two sources: Either I borrowed a general concept from elsewhere and made it my own. As of right now, I doubt few who didn't know me as a teen could pinpoint the origins of a number of my oldest characters. Or a name came to me and the character developed from there. Kedri of Kedri Dancer came from a typo in another piece I was working on prior to writing her story. Secondary and lesser characters, at least in my work, develop as necessary from interactions with my main characters. Some of these have gone to take on more important roles of their own and others fade out of things. That said, what I find works best is to allow my characters to tell their stories through me, rather than force them into events. Which is why I say I write to keep the characters in my head from driving me crazy. They want their stories told. And they come out the way they come out. (Sometimes literally) I will do more specific posts on aspects of character development in the future. If there is something specific you would like to know about my characters or character development process, leave a comment and I will try to address it in a future post. Wanting to write is one thing. Over the years I've heard so many people say they want to write something. Usually some story. But there's a world of difference between the desire to do a thing and actually making the time to do it. And yes, time has to be made or designated for things. Hoping to 'find' the time for anything means said thing isn't likely to happen.
In terms of making time for writing, I've hear all kinds of suggestions. One popular one is to get up earlier in the day. Some people can... I've never been able to. If I'm writing at five or six or seven in the morning, it's because I've been awake writing all night. Experience has consistently proven that I cannot get up earlier than eight or nine in the morning without paying a toll in terms of my mental health. Another popular suggestion, and I guess it works for some, is to set aside ten, fifteen, or twenty minutes ( or a little more) and write in sprints. Again, I can't. I know others who can. The majority of my writing time is either before my family is awake for the day. Which isn't hard with a homeschooled, night owl kiddo (she gets her school work done so I don't see any reason to fight with it) and a husband who works graveyards. Or after my kiddo has been sent to her bed (if not to sleep) and my husband is napping before his work shift. Or even after my husband is gone to work and my kiddo is supposedly asleep, although too many nights of that in a row doesn't do my mental health any good either. That said, if it's important enough, a person will make the time for it, one way or another.
Honestly, to my mind, if you can't find inspiration for creative projects, you just aren't paying attention. Everything is fodder (and fair game) to me so far as inspiration goes.
So... books, magazines, television, movies, music, observing people in real life, every course in every subject in school... anything can inspire so long as you're paying attention and allow things to percolate and turn over in your head. |
AuthorAlexandra A. 'Lexa' Cheshire is the author of numerous novels and short stories published through Howling Wolf Books. Lexa is a wife, mother, cat owner, and music lover. Archives
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