I’ve always subscribed to the theory that writers are like sponges. We absorb the world around us, whether that means the news reports or the song on the radio or the couple at the next table in the restaurant who look as if they are having a fight. As writers, we take that one little headline or line from the song or body language of that couple, and we add to it. Expand on what we have observed with the writer’s favorite question “What if…”
Humankind is an ever evolving race in the way we do things, and yet with each stride we take, beneath the surface there is a hard-coded core of unchanging beliefs that have driven people since the beginning of time. This is why soap operas can stay on the air for twenty years or more, or why genres in books and movies cycle around. How many times have you heard this: “Well, that’s not selling very well right now, but hang on to it because it will be back again.”
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
People love and live and want the same things now as they did centuries ago. Everyone wants to be loved. People want security, to know they can live their lives without fear of losing their homes or not being able to feed their children (a challenge in today’s economy). And if something terrible happens to a person, our fast-paced twenty-first century culture helps us recognize the problems more quickly—and we have different tools with which to deal with them.
I write historical romances. The bulk of my work has taken place in the Regency time period in England. So how can I get ideas that are fresh and contemporary yet can be reflected in the historical time period where my stories take place?
Back to good old What If.
A few years ago I got an idea from a well-publicized news story about a kidnapping. The young girl in question was recovered alive, and it was clear she had been through a horrible ordeal. Yet every time I saw her on the news, she was smiling. My first thought was that if she was able to smile like that, she must have a great therapist helping her work through the trauma of her abduction—and thank God for that. I mean, how could she have begun to heal without people who knew how to guide her? What if there were no such thing as therapists? How would she have coped?
That little ‘what if’ question led to a book called JUST ONE TOUCH, about the daughter of a wealthy duke who was kidnapped but recovered alive. She coped by holing up at her father’s estate and never going out on society, but when her father learns he is dying, he must arrange a marriage for her so he knows she will be cared for when he is gone.
Modern headline, historical story.
My upcoming release (TO RUIN THE DUKE, June 2009) creates a historical story from another modern topic—identity theft. The Duke of Wyldehaven has been sequestered at his estate for more than a year, mourning the deaths of his wife and unborn child. Called to London to attend the funeral of a friend, he discovers that someone who closely resembles him is impersonating him—running up bills in his name, causing scandals and—as he discovers when the heroine enters the story—fathering children! So identity theft is alive and well in the Regency time period.
Again, modern headline, historical twist.
Ideas are all around us. We absorb them naturally due to our natures as writers. But if you write a genre that is not taking place in today’s contemporary place and culture, you can still use these ideas.
Maybe the guy impersonating your character is actually the same man, but from the future. Now you have a paranormal story. Or maybe my guy was replaced with a clone or an alien being for your science fiction book. Or maybe the person stealing his identity (and his face!) is a thousand year old demon who plans on killing everyone in town—for your horror novel, of course.
With the right twist, anything can lead to a story!
BIO:
Debra Mullins is the award-winning author of eleven historical romances for Avon. She has been writing seriously for seventeen years and recently signed a new contract with Avon for two more historical romances. Read an excerpt of her new book at www.debramullins.com.
I LOVE using What If questions in my writing. That’s actually one of the ways I inspire myself to write if the well is running a little dry.
I often try to take real people and put them in odd situations. What If is a great way to twist your story into a new direction.
What a great blog post! Thank you so much Debra!
I love the way you used contemporary themes for your historicals. Just One Touch sounds really interesting. I’m going to get a copy.
SOOO true! How many times has something happened, and poof…a few weeks later it’s on Law & Order? I do think real life though has the best chances for the best stories!
I have two Debra Mullin books, and I really enjoyed it. Why I have not ventured more into books is a mystery. It could have been the time when I read it when I was overwhelmed with a bunch of new authors I was trying out.
I love the “what if” and taking ideas from now and finding a way to inspire you with historicals.
Thanks, everyone! Glad you found the post useful. And Raonaid, there is an excerpt of my new book over on my website
Hi Deb,
Great post and so true! I just saw something on the news the other day that really intrigued me. I keep a notebook just for news stories that I find interesting to spark ideas.
I can’t wait to read To Ruin the Duke
The “What ifs” of life plant the seeds for great ideas. They have spurred science and discovery since the dawn of time. And what are writers but discoverers? We start with a name, an idea, and follow where it leads until we have discovered the story the characters want us to tell.
The “just supposes” and “how cans” rank right up there too. Necessity is often the mother of invention, but curiosity is its father.
Looking forward to reading your new book.
Deb, it’s such a coincidence that you should mention both headlines and the fact that people don’t change! Especially not what we went.
I saw an advertisement for the new NBC series called…Kings.
The premise is the a young “David” saves a modern-day king’s son’s life and is invited to live in the castle and become part of royal life.
This is so much like the story of David from the Bible!
Plus, yesterday a friend and I were discussing authors who take headlines and turn them into novels.
Which just goes to show that to find a great story you can go back to our roots…or look in a modern newspaper!
susan
oops…that should have been especially not what we want! (Not what we went!)
Great post, Deb! For some reason, the way you worded it made me think in ways I don’t usually even when looking at the news and trying to decide what would make a good idea for me. Thanks for that! LOL!! Gosh, I wish I could be in your brainstorming/plotting group! You sound brilliant!!
Off to see what Deb Mullins books are available on my Kindle!
With all wild headlines nowadays, you never
know when or where your next book idea
will come from!
Pat C.
True, Pat. The trick is to twist it to fit your genre
Interesting post, Deb and I, too, agree that people tend to have the same sorts of problems no matter when they might have lived. Our country’s economic troubles inspired me to give my latest heroine a financial issue that many folks are now experiencing because I think historicals are a nice vehicle through which to view our human condition. My latest heroine is motivated to enter into an unusual arrangement because she is behind on her mortgage and getting desperate. Doesn’t that sound familiar?
All too familiar these days, Jenna.
I agree with Rachel G. Life does make the best stories
Just One Touch sounds like a must read. Very interesting about where one gets story ideas.
As a journalist, I can definitely see stories in headlines!
In one of my literature courses I was told that what was Science Fiction before WWII is now considered science. What if stories about vampires are not fiction????
Hadn’t really thought of relating modern events to What ifs in historical, science fiction, vampire or whatever genre you are writing. I know that is what is done, but never looked at it that way.
Very interesting. I like the way you think.
Just One Touch just found itself on the top of my list of books to read.
Sigh…another day of reading and not cleaning house. I really must get a maid. Imagine the conversation with my husband. “I simply must have a maid, Bill. Too many books, too little time!”
Very interesting post, Debra. It’s true, today’s headlines can really spark creativity. And I’d say history repeats itself!
I say to everyone: take great care of all that
you do in this life! You could end up in the
headlines! And you never know when an
author (or 2 or 3) could spot them, then you
are the hero/heroine in a novel!
Pat Cochran
someone who closely resembles him is impersonating him — can’t imagine what that would be like apart from being ‘in hell’ so to speak.
I have always loved reading Historical Romances.
Thanks for all the nice comments!
I’ve not yet finished a novel, but I love playing the “what if” game — combining elements from real life headlines, Shakespeare’s plays, movies, books, history class (25 years ago I used to make notes in the margin about how a certain historical situation resembled the plot of Star Wars or how a foreign culture would make a great planetary culture in a science fiction story). Thanks for sharing the examples of how you use modern issues in the Regency world.
It seems as though an author must also be a
puzzle enthusiastic, as well as a writer, in
order to bring a novel together!
Pat Cochran
It’s all in how you twist it. I think writers tend to look at things from a different viewpoint than other people. We’re always what iffing ourselves into new and amazing worlds!
Of course the downside is when one of the kids forgets to call when they are late, I immediately go right to Dead in a Ditch rather than Wasn’t Watching the Clock.
Isn’t that the way of mothers? For me: two minutes late, it was grab the keys, we have to go find him/her! Not so with my mother since
she did all the driving. It was be where I’m
supposed to pick you up ON TIME or you get
to walk home! I guess you have to be a bit
tougher when you have nine children!!
Pat Cochran
This is a terrific post. I LOVE your books, Debra!
And JUST ONE TOUCH is an AMAZING read! For those of you who have not read it, get thee to a bookstore posthaste! You will love it! And I need to read it again, knowing where the inspiration came from.
Truly proves there is nothing new under the sun, it’s all in the telling of the tale.
Wow, thanks Louisa! I have an excerpt of the new one up on my website even as we speak