It’s always a blessing to get to know my readers, of both blog and books. If I remember correctly, Andrea and I began chatting over the summer. She was a frequent visitor during the big month of giveaways, and she’s been stopping by regularly ever since. She recently read Ring of Secrets and asked me if I would consider letting her do a guest post on some things she considered while reading. I’m always happy for an easy blogging day, LOL, so readily agreed. 😉 So now, without further ado, Andrea.
~*~
Previously published on My Book
Therapy’s Weekly Spark, Andrea Renee
Cox (http://writingtoinspire.blogspot.com)
cherishes God, family and writing with a song in heart and a story in mind.
This Texan girl enjoys road trip vacations with her family and trying different
dessert recipes, looking for “keepers.”
Therapy’s Weekly Spark, Andrea Renee
Cox (http://writingtoinspire.blogspot.com)
cherishes God, family and writing with a song in heart and a story in mind.
This Texan girl enjoys road trip vacations with her family and trying different
dessert recipes, looking for “keepers.”
THOUGHTFUL
ABOUT . . . Ring of Secrets
ABOUT . . . Ring of Secrets
Sometimes another author’s book
sparks an idea for a novel of my own. Other times it hatches a plan for a blog
article. Still other times there’s a line on the pages that can be applied to
other parts of my life besides just writing.
sparks an idea for a novel of my own. Other times it hatches a plan for a blog
article. Still other times there’s a line on the pages that can be applied to
other parts of my life besides just writing.
Roseanna White’s Ring of Secrets was no exception.
This novel of espionage in the
late 1700s captured my interest from the get-go. What really connected with me,
though, was Bennet Lane’s thoughts from chapter three: “Explore, discover,
document.” He used these three steps to root out a spy hidden among New York
City’s elite aristocratic class.
late 1700s captured my interest from the get-go. What really connected with me,
though, was Bennet Lane’s thoughts from chapter three: “Explore, discover,
document.” He used these three steps to root out a spy hidden among New York
City’s elite aristocratic class.
I use them in my writing.
The first step to writing a
novel is to explore. The setting, time
period, what people were like in the time chosen for my story—all must be
uncovered in order for me to fully understand the time and place and characters
of my novel. It’s a fun process that leads from one resource to another to yet
another. From books to the internet to music and movies, the places to search
and explore are practically endless.
novel is to explore. The setting, time
period, what people were like in the time chosen for my story—all must be
uncovered in order for me to fully understand the time and place and characters
of my novel. It’s a fun process that leads from one resource to another to yet
another. From books to the internet to music and movies, the places to search
and explore are practically endless.
Next comes discovery. This one always surprises me. You never know what neat,
off-the-wall tidbits of information you’ll discover while you’re exploring.
Little treasure troves of trivia wait to be uncovered and put to good use.
These things take my stories to a deeper, more realistic level because the
tidbit was a kernel of truth placed artfully within my work of fiction. Every
fiction piece has some truth to it, and it’s little wonder when these realities
are found during discovery.
off-the-wall tidbits of information you’ll discover while you’re exploring.
Little treasure troves of trivia wait to be uncovered and put to good use.
These things take my stories to a deeper, more realistic level because the
tidbit was a kernel of truth placed artfully within my work of fiction. Every
fiction piece has some truth to it, and it’s little wonder when these realities
are found during discovery.
Finally, we document everything. This starts with making notes from our
resources. It moves into an outline and other brainstorming techniques.
Eventually, our documentation flows out into the full-length novel we hope will
be published to reach readers’ hands. That’s the day all aspiring authors dream
about. Once it happens, the readers sometimes document their thoughts and send
them to us via Facebook, Twitter and email.
resources. It moves into an outline and other brainstorming techniques.
Eventually, our documentation flows out into the full-length novel we hope will
be published to reach readers’ hands. That’s the day all aspiring authors dream
about. Once it happens, the readers sometimes document their thoughts and send
them to us via Facebook, Twitter and email.
Maybe writers aren’t the only
ones to use Bennet Lane’s “explore, discover, document” method!
ones to use Bennet Lane’s “explore, discover, document” method!
What line from your favorite
book can be applied to another part of your life beyond reading? How do you use
the “explore, discover, document” method?
book can be applied to another part of your life beyond reading? How do you use
the “explore, discover, document” method?
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
Thanks for hosting me, Roseanna! When I realized what post I was going to write, I knew the title I wanted. Since I've been reading your blog for a while now, I new the titles you went with for each day. Thus "Thoughtful About… Ring of Secrets" was born. 🙂
Blessings,
Andrea