Or should I say nightmares...
A lot of people, writers, critique partners and readers alike, ask me where I come up with my story ideas. Sometimes I feel silly responding that my plot ideas come to me in my dreams. Or should I say my nightmares. I write romantic suspense and romantic thrillers, and I have to admit my villains creep me out into the earlier hours of the morning.
If I'm lucky, real lucky, my story will play completely (well, almost) out through my mind after a few nights with little or no sleep. I've tried meditating before I go to bed, but my villains are impervious to the fact that I need rest. After a short fight, they convince me, or at least they think they do, that I can survive on little sleep and that I can sleep when they do. Afterall, they have a backstory to exploit and a story to tell. :)
What type of villains do you like to write or read? Do they keep you up by demanding an audience or making you too frightened where you can't sleep at all? Leave a comment and tell us about your favorite villain, crime, and what drew you to that special villain?
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Story development and dreams
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15 comments:
The best villains are those that are so by design and not by accident. They have a motivator that seems perfectly rational to them but twisted to the rest of us. And they are realistic so they keep us awake at night...afraid to close our eyes...or we might be the next victims.
My characters sometimes tell me when I'm making them do something they would never do. And that's okay. Saves me a lot of rewriting. They forget we mortals need sleep. Glad to see you blogging. Great job. Lynette
I couldn't agree more, Beth and Lyntette. Thanks for posting.
I read mostly historical romances. Most of the ones I've read have the villain going after the heroine and then the hero, all tough and sexy (and preferably shirtless), comes to her rescue. :)
lol, Lindsey. I know where you're coming from because I also read some historical romances. Gotta love them sexy heroes.
You know me, Anne-Marie, I am a lover not a fighter. I don't like conflict, but I have to admit you write a great mystery. I cannot wait to hold one of your books in my hands. Huggles!
Hey, Paisley. I can't wait for you to hold one of my books in your hands, either. lol
But I know who writes the best Western Historicals. You, my darlin'. Hugs back to you!
Great post Anne-Marie. Villains...why must they be so villainy? I say, the next time one crawls into bed with you, whip out your badge! Villains always run when they see that thing.
Love your writing!
Thanks, Connie. I love the hero who whips out his badge. But I love my villains, too. Hmmm, maybe that's my problem and why they follow me to bed. lol
Love your writing, too!
I don't like villians. It's the rose-colored glasses syndrome, I think. But, if he's going to be bad, I like him to be so via his mind that would cause us to proclaim him a genius if he wasn't so evil.
I'm fascinated by a warped psyche--hopefully it isn't beause it takes one to know one. Boy, am I in trouble if that's true.
I love the fact that your stories come to you in dreams. Mine give me the best dialogue for a conflict scene while traffic is moving and I'm the one behind the wheel. I chant the lines to myself until I get caught by a redlight and can jot the idea down on whatever piece of paper is within reach.
Great post.
Hi, Karen. I also like a villain who loves mind games and is brilliant. One that commits crimes that only he can commit.
When coming up with stories, I've also done as you, repeat over and over until I can get to a keyboard or pen and paper. Thank goodness for modern technology and smart phones with notes where I can use Seri, who is become a great friend. :)
Thanks for visiting.
Great prompt! How cool to dream-write. I often spin a web of a story in my head BEFORE I fall asleep, but don't dream about the book it until I'm knee-deep writing/editing it. I don't like scary stuff, but I love a villain who is motivated by heart and purpose, not by greed or power. And I still like a happy ending where the good guy wins and gets the girl!
I like villains who escalate the evil as the plot evolves. It's as if they need more and more revenge to satisfy their hunger to hurt others. Also, they don't have to have an abusive childhood as the underlying reason for their actions. Connie H
Hi, Martha. Thanks for stopping by. I wish my villain would remain silent for a little longer into the book. lol I agree, villains being motivated to do what they do is a must.
Hi, Connie. I also love a villain who escalates with each murder. One who is good competition against my hero.
Thanks for stopping by.
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