The Care and Feeding of Ideas

The question readers, acquaintances and family members ask me most often is, "Where do you get your ideas?" I used to hate this question. Any time someone posed it, I think I'd actually cringe. After all, how do I explain to someone who doesn't write that ideas are literally everywhere? I gave up trying after my response met with blank stares and incredulity. If ideas really were everywhere, wouldn't everyone be writing books? Screenplays? Poems? The world would be filled with writers!

What most people don't understand is that it's not the idea that's important. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the idea itself means nothing at all. It's what you do with it that matters.

But that's a whole other blog post. For the purposes of this one, let's return to the topic of ideas. Okay, so ideas are everywhere. But how do you find them? More importantly, how do you capture them? And what do you do with them once you have them?

I picture ideas as having a physical form. In my mind, they're fireflies -- little specks of golden light that have a life of their own.

Your job, as a writer, is to capture fireflies and treat them well. Don't force them to do something they weren't born to do. Don't stifle them or put them in a jar so you can tap on the glass every now and then to make sure they're still there. Work with them. Play with them. Live with them.

For a little under two years, I've challenged myself to come up with a new book title every day, and three new story ideas a week. As I go about my day, I keep an eye out for fireflies. They exist in a snippet of overheard conversation, in the tattoo circling a woman's belly button, or in a newspaper headline. More often, they're in books, movies and TV.

To date, I have 700 titles for stories waiting to be written. Since I take my fireflies out to play often, I keep my title file open on my desktop at all times and peek inside a few times a day. Here are the last ten titles I've come up with:

Night Signals
Once a Bachelor
Cowboy Dreams
Dark Fire
Sultry Delight
Taken
Two Naughty Brothers
Bedtime Sins
Carnal Memories
Defiant

I don't pretend to claim these are the most innovative, or even the most exciting, titles. But each one of them holds a grain of an idea. The essence of a firefly.

Once I have a title, all I have to do is play the "What If?" game. On average, I can fill five loose-leaf notebook pages based simply on free-association from one or two words alone. And from there, a book takes shape.

So, to recap:

1. Look out for fireflies
2. Capture them
3. Work with them
4. Play with them
5. Live with them

They'll be good to you.

Just for fun, look around you and spot a firefly. I guarantee you have at least twenty surrounding you right now. Catch one. What does it look like? Where did you find it? Even if you're not a writer, what can you do with your firefly during the course of your day?

Lacey
http://www.laceysavage.com

Interview with Beth Kery, author of FIRE ANGEL

As some of you may know, I'm not a big fan of historical novels... But leave it to the fabulous Beth Kery to win me over with her new release!

Below, you'll find an interview with Beth led by Fiona Jayde. Thanks to both these wonderful authors for letting me publish the interview here.

Fi: I am really intrigued by this blend of historical and paranormal elements – and I know I read "chakras" somewhere. What a terrific blend of ideas! What made you decide to set this specifically in London over a hundred years ago?

Beth: Thank you. Yes, FIRE ANGEL was a real labor of love for me. As some of my readers know already, if I do a historical, it's usually set in Victorian England. I have this weird fascination--okay, lech--in regard to how strict they were morally and their racy sex life. Makes it so hot, that contrast. lol. I also am very fascinated by magic AND the tarot. So when I read about the spiritualist movement I became enraptured.

My anti-hero, Samael Grovenor, is partially based off the magician Aleister Crowley. He tries to steal the show from Vincent, but I don't know. Vincent's a gentlemen, kick-ass boxer, doctor. If it came to a showdown between the two, I know who I'd pick!

Fi: Is there a relation to The Page of Wands and the themes of the story? (I’m clueless about Tarot, so forgive me if it’s a stupid question.

Beth: It's not stupid at all! The Torrid Tarot endeavor by EC has been fascinating and diverse. Different authors have involved the concept of the tarot to different degrees in the story, but EVERYONE had to include a prelude about their card. And yes, my card places heavily in the story (the card itself.) Despite the cover, my HEROINE is the Page of Wands. Here is my prelude:

Page of Wands - The virgin priestess of the fires of spring; the Secret Flame into which all things Return

—Pamela Eakins, from Tarot of the Spirit


The cards of the tarot deck incorporate multiple symbols and archetypes, making them powerful, concise tools for bringing that which is unconscious, and therefore unknown, into conscious awareness.

The character of the heroine of Fire Angel, Serafina Grovenor, is based on the tarot card of the Page of Wands. This card represents a balance with the natural flow of the universe as it incorporates all of the diverse energies of fire, earth, water and wind.

Wands are the suit of fire in the Tarot. Think of the image of the magician with his wand which focuses fiery energy. Fire is the suit of spirit, creativity, dynamism and discovery. When out of balance the energy of fire and spirit can be uncontrollable, burning everything in its path. However the Page of Wands is also a powerful earth symbol. The volatile passions of fire are grounded by earth, making the Page of Wands balanced and harmonious, a symbol of right, just action.

In many esoteric systems the Page in the card deck is represented as a young, bare-breasted woman and is called the Princess of Wands. It might be helpful to think of the “face” cards in the terms of a family. So for instance the King of a suit is the father, the Queen of a suit the mother, the Prince of a suit the brother and the Princess of a suit the sister. As an example, the Queen of Fire combines the masculine elements of fire with the receptive, intuitive energies of the feminine element of water. The Princess of Wands is the perfect combination of the elements of her powerful father’s fire, mother’s water and brother’s air—the final, balanced manifestation of their energies on the earthly plane.

Like Serafina Grovenor, who can channel spirits, the Princess of Wands is a divine priestess who brings tidings from strange, unknown worlds. She is both calm and tranquil and naturally aggressive. Serafina can manipulate fire and controls it perfectly to suit her will.

Serafina, like the Princess of Wands, is a fierce warrior when those whom she loves are threatened. As Robert Wang wrote in The Golden Dawn Tarot, “Woe unto whomever shall make war upon her…”

Fi: What intimidates me most about writing historical is the research that goes into it – and yet I’ve heard you say numerous times how you often research before delving into a story. Any tips or tools you would suggest? Did you find that as you uncovered more about this time period it gave you more ideas and plot elements that you wanted to incorporate?

Beth: There is no doubt the more research you do, the more ideas you get. As I've said, I'm semi-familiar already with this time period. For me, I already knew a lot about magic, hypnotism, the chakra system and the tarot. It was the spiritualist movement that set my mind a turning. Serafina Grovernor is also based off a real life (amazing) medium during that time period. She also, performed on the stage wearing a veil. There are also some hints that she was abused by the men who tried to take advantage of her amazing demonstrations. If you guys want to hear about her, let me know!

Fi: How will you know when you've "made it" as a writer?

Beth: I know I'm a throwback, but it would be if Sandra Brown walked up to me and told me she loved my books. I'm too racy for her, I think, but she's the goddess of sexual tension and the alpha male. I learned so much from her. She's MY Nora Roberts :)

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If you haven't picked up a copy of FIRE ANGEL, what are you waiting for? It's available now at Ellora's Cave.

Sweating With Sven - Update #1

Just because I've never been all that good at doing things by the book, I'm completing Sven's challenge a little differently than everyone else.

For a variety of reasons, I don't write on the weekend. So instead of writing for 77 days straight as Sven demands, my goal is to write 2,500 words a day, Monday to Friday -- OR to write a total of 10,000 words a week. (Yes, I know the math doesn't add up -- I'm giving myself permission to let life interfere if it must, otherwise I'll go mad).

My challenge total is 100,000 words on a variety of projects by May 16. (Yes, I know the math doesn't add up yet again, but I'm also giving myself time to plot and edit. So I guess I'm completely messing up Sven's challenge. Sorry, Sven! I gotta do what works best for me.)

Since today was my first official day as a Svenanite (hey, I kinda like that!), I'm happy to report I wrote 2,586 words on a contemporary short novella, newly titled DON'T LOOK DOWN.



My nifty little gadget above says the book is 24% done. I like the sound of that already. :-)

Interview with Fiona Jayde

One of the most talented writers I have the pleasure to know, Fiona Jayde, has a new book release out today! On the chat loop we share with the also fabulously-talented Beth Kery, we have a release day ritual in which we interview one another. I wanted to post the interview here as well, since Fiona's answers provide a great peek into what makes her books so unique.

If you haven't picked up SEXSOMNIAC already, what are you waiting for? It released this morning at Changeling Press.

LS: Once again, congratulations on your new release, Fi! The book looks wonderful, and I'm head-over-heels in love with that cover. :-) Very hot stuff!


FJ: Thanks Lacey! I too can't stop staring at the cover -- Renee outdid herself!!

LS: You said this was a new genre for you... Where did you get the impulse to write this book? And how did the idea develop for you?


FJ: Originally the idea came from Chrissie, my editor at Changeling. We were chatting over IM and she sent me a link to an article she'd found -- about sexsomnia - its an actual condition. .... The idea took hold as a curse -- what if someone was cursed to "do it" when they sleep, but can't really remember it afterwards?

I had it set as a contemporary, but for the life of me I couldn't figure why someone would curse someone with that and why the readers would care... So about half way into a very boring story, I had a flash of inspiration :)

LS: You also said you had a hard time getting a grasp on your plot and had to re-write quite a bit. Why do you think this particular story gave you so much trouble?

FJ: I've thought about this for a while actually. The problem was -- I had an idea of a premise -- but not how it would actually apply in conflict. Conflict is a big thing for me -- if there's no tension, I'm bored, and if I'm bored, I won't write...

So I figured that before I sit to write, I really need to establish my conflicts to know where the story will go.

LS: I see that Changeling has the book listed as "TechnoMagick: Sexsomniac". What can you tell us about future installments in the TechnoMagick series?


FJ: More exploration of Magick and how humans have this love hate relationship with what they do not understand.

LS: Most authors struggle with self-doubt on a regular basis. How do you handle feelings of insecurity when they pop up?


FJ: Well, you'd know that if you saw my first drafts LOL. I don't entertain self doubt until after edits -- I just focus on getting pages done. 200 words or 2000 words -- and most of it is complete crap :) But its in - and I can fix it later. Then I send it to people to look at and worry.. But at least its done:)

LS: What do you do when you're stuck for inspiration?


FJ: I throw out questions at TripleExposees to spark my imagination!!

LS: What's the one thing you'd like to achieve in your writing career, so that when you achieve it you can put up your feet and say, "I made it!" ?


FJ: Honestly? If Nora Roberts says in an interview "Well, I'll ready anything by Fiona Jayde"

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I don't know about Nora, but I can guarantee I'll read anything by Fiona Jayde. And you should, too.

I'm letting Sven kick my butt!

As I was telling a couple of friends earlier today, I've been severely unmotivated lately. Last year really messed with my routine. Between my company being taken over by another, having to quit that job, having to find another, then learning we'd be moving to Austin and subsequently selling our house and going through stacks of immigration paperwork -- and then finally moving -- things were nutty, to say the least. My productivity plummeted. My self-esteem plummeted (though none of the things that happened were particularly bad for me as a person -- quite the opposite, in fact). The bottom line is that I've been struggling to get back to my happily productive self ever since March of last year. I guess that makes it almost a full year now.

As it happens, we're now settled in, I've finally gotten over feeling homesick... and I find myself out of excuses. The problem is, even with all those excuses gone, I'm still just as unmotivated as ever.

So I'm doing something about it. I'm going to let Sven kick my butt.

I'm sure some of you have heard of "Seventy Days of Sweat with Sven". For those of you who haven't, here's a brief rundown from the official blog:


"70 Days of Sweat is designed to challenge (naturally), support, and encourage those of us crazy enough to write a book in 70 days. At the end, we’re looking for a word count between 60-100K. We’ve built an extra week into this round, so technically you have 77 days to sweat meaning . . . Round 3 will run from March 1 to May 16.

The rules are simple. You agree to write 4 - 6 pages a day (depending on the length of your book) every day between the dates listed above. If you need to take off a day, you make up the pages another. If you don’t like to write 7 days a week, too bad. This challenge lasts for only 10 weeks, and if you have to get up early on the weekends to get the pages done, you do it. (Hey, we all do it! You can, too!)"

*deep breath* I'm ready. What's even better, I have the perfect project. I'll be working on a brand spankin' new, erotic contemporary novel titled BREAKING EVERY RULE. I'm aiming for 90k, though knowing me, it'll likely run closer to 100k.

So why am I telling you this? Because, as Sven says, "Going public with your commitment is about owning it." I guess that means I now officially own it.