Photo Credit: SMLions12

Have you ever watched a movie and thought to yourself  ’Gosh this sounds familiar‘ not in the sense of the dialogue perhaps but the general storyline. Welcome to Hollywood. But we can take this same idea and apply it to the way we write. Everything starts as a book (or a screenplay) these days, after all.

While I am not fond of this method, it is a way to get the ‘methods’ right. Take Nora Roberts as an example. Nothing against Mrs. Roberts and her writing, but she tends to follow the same plan for disaster or ‘romance’ in each of her books. It’s because she has found an equation that works for her and she memorized it well.

Addicted Nora Roberts fans know when they pick up her latest book the way she sets up her stories, the way she writes her characters, and they have come to depend on her steady style. There is nothing wrong with this. But take notice.

If it is your dream to write the next great American novel, you may want to take a step back and look at the success that is already hitting the bestsellers list. Stephen King probably would not be the best example as he likes to vary his style and topics widely, but Nora Roberts and most romance are perfect cookie-cutter-examples.

In the event that you model after a great story, not neccessarily a romance but a great story in general; be it mythology and legend, lore, romeo and juliet, alice in wonderland, etc., you have to be aware of what you are giving up.

While you may attempt to keep the integrity of your voice, your perspective, you have to remember to follow the method of the proven madness. Is it a sure fire winner? No. The only thing that is guaranteed in life is Death and Taxes.

Then again, there have been many a writer to make it off a classically themed story; taking a different perspective on a classic/traditional tale. If nothing else it is a great creative outlet. Go ahead and try to rewrite Romeo and Juliet. Many have tried, many have failed, but just try to change one aspect or take a different angle. Perhaps it is set in the 21st century or maybe there is a steampunk revolution going on? Steampunk is big right now…so thats food for thought! Hope this helped.

Would love to hear how you view stories of old translated, changed in terms of perspective, altered in small or even big details. Can you think of a story that doesn’t have a classical root to its storyline in some way?

Thanks again for reading!

Wave of Anguish by Samuelviani

Photo Credit: Samuelviana

I am working hard on the edits. Can you believe I lost half of my novel yesterday? It’s hard for some writers to remember that no matter the name, Anne Rice, Stephen King, or Dean Koontz, all novels start out on paper. Whether it is parchment and quill(old school) or a word document (our modern day typewriter) it starts somewhere.

So long as you have your words and some version of pen and paper, you’re armed like the best of them. In celebration of losing half of my novel in my computer for a few hours last night, I am going to share a tidbit with you. So here it is, an excerpt from my upcoming novel that I think you will enjoy. So….happy writing and happy reading!

Excerpt from Past Mistakes: A Novel by Karisha Prescott

“…I had always wondered if angels cried during battles. I wondered how angels chose to save combatants from pain. Would relief come swiftly at death’s door for the good alone? Is it justice to allow some to suffer more? Or do the angels simply work as quickly as possible? Angels must dread the days of human wars. Angels must loath the thought of so many suffering, such a high cost for such fleeting and empty reward for but a few.

I stared a long time at the ceiling. The brown wood beams blended with the mud stucco that made the little house. Today there would be talk of war. Today I would have a role in the death of some or the death of many. There is no telling the outcome. There could be no question that there would be death. It was a question of whom, when, and why. But these people had lived so long in fear and the body count was only beginning. If the Order were allowed to hunt free-range much longer on the limited population of humans, it wouldn’t be long until the world would be consumed by their evil…”

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Thanks for reading! Please leave comments and questions below. Have a great day!