by Sandi Layne
Copyright 2003

This is a how-to exercise. I am not entirely sure, if it is for me or for you, but it’s been on my mind. I think it’s because I’ve been stuck. Scripture is always a fabulous recourse when one is in a funk of whatever sort. But sometimes…stories just aren’t perking. So, I’ve been talking to myself lately and decided to go back to the basics.

Outline

Disclaimer: This is not a hard-and-fast guide! Every writer approaches their work differently! But sometimes, having a “list” can be of help, so…here’s one way!

1. Pray. I’m taking this as a given, because we can’t hope to communicate in any genre with a blessing unless we pray. At least, that’s been my experience!
2. Choose a starting point.
3. Create characters that are appealing in a setting that makes sense.
4. Let them become friends. Find out their backgrounds, quirks, and spiritual maturity.
5. Write a brief summary of what the story will be about. Even if this is just on a piece of notepaper, you should have an idea of where you will end before you begin.
6. Decide how your romance will proceed and how the elements of faith will be intertwined with the rest of your plot.
7. Start writing.
8. Make an outline.
9. Make your work breathe for the reader.
10. Craft a memorable ending that surprises the reader while satisfying them.
11. Choosing a starting point.

For me, this means to have a sense of where I am and why. Do I want to start with a theme? Or did odd characters inspire this novel instead?

For example, I have a book that should be coming out late this year or early next year. This book started as a theme before I had thought of either the hero, heroine, or any extra characters. Faith Under Fire (May, 2001), on the other hand, was conceived in terms of characters and the situation and faith theme grew from there.

The important thing when writing is to keep this starting point in mind, but not to let it dominate if you are led to branch out from it. It happens!

Create Appealing Characters!

This can be tricky for some, shockingly easy for others. I have met, in my online travels, people that can create characters and develop them with apparently little effort. But sometimes, these same people have difficulty making their characters function once they’re created!

But a story with flat, two-dimensional characters has little appeal for a reader, no matter how exciting, emotional, or action-packed a romance might be.

Heroines:

In brief, a heroine should be someone that your reader will be able to relate to, on one or more levels. Whether your work is of the historical romance genre, a fantasy, suspense, or contemporary, your heroine should be a woman who is strong in herself, even if she has blocks that keep her from realizing her full potential. Avoid the blonde-and-blue stereotype unless there’s a particular reason she has to look that way!

Heroes:

In the only how-to book on writing I ever read, this one bit of advice stood out to me: Make sure your hero is someone you could fall for, or you will not write him convincingly for your heroine to fall for him. I’m a happily married woman! I am not advocating creating Fantasy Men for myself, I promise! Just heroes that are appealing to me…or who will be when my heroine has finished with them! If their faith is strong, they might have flaws elsewhere. Do your research, here, and make him sound and think like a male. This might be harder than you think!

As I continue this series, I hope to rejuvenate my own writing as well as, perhaps, toss out a pointer or two to my fellow romance-writers! My hope is that you will keep writing to inspire!

Look for Sandi’s regular Kids-n-Keys column at: http://www.writetoinspire.com. Also, look to Sandi Layne for your editing needs: http://www.alookediting.com or visit Sandi at: http://www.authorsden.com/sandilayne.

from www.writetoinspire.com