Character-driven Storytelling
The first thing I usually do is map out my stories in my head, sketching the protagonists, the antagonists, and the pivotal plot points that set everything in motion long before the first words ever hit the page.
This sparks the first flicker of the tale, and it also ignites the excitement I get over a new idea. The one that always seems to bubble to the surface the minute I think of a new plot.
My enthusiasm begins to boil the moment I sit down to write it out as new ideas pop into my head. I was asked once what it's like to be a writer, and the best way to explain it is this: it's like a reel starts playing in my mind, showing me exactly how the scenes should unfold. It's something I've experienced my entire life.
Character-driven Storytelling Continued
And then the characters show up. Once they step into the picture and take up residency in the back of my head, everything seems to change. Ideas I once had are no more. Before I even get a chance to breath, theyāve taken charge of the new story, carefully rewriting every thought and every plan I had. So, when I say I'm just the transcriptionist, I mean it. My characters tell the story, and I merely write down what I see, editing and embellishing along the way.
My title may say "independent indie author," but trust meāIām far from working alone.