Ask the Author: Jayna Baas
Answered Questions (10)
Jayna Baas
Rane has a long and complex history as a character. His first name came from a list of eighteenth-century petition signers, proof that not every male in the 1700s was named William or John or George! I don’t remember now if something in particular inspired his last name, but the name Rane instantly brought a dashing young gentleman to mind. Then I had to figure out how a man like that could have ended up in backcountry North Carolina. I was thrilled when I coincidentally discovered that Ethan Allen’s captivity account included first-hand details of the ship where Rane would have served.
In some of my early drafts, Rane actually became the hero, with Benjamin in a supporting role. But oddly, even though readers and I all love Rane, he didn’t make a good hero—he needed to be the foil to a strong backwoodsman type, and I don’t think readers would love him as much in any other role.
In some of my early drafts, Rane actually became the hero, with Benjamin in a supporting role. But oddly, even though readers and I all love Rane, he didn’t make a good hero—he needed to be the foil to a strong backwoodsman type, and I don’t think readers would love him as much in any other role.
Jayna Baas
Great question! My writing tends to be character-driven, so I usually start with internal conflict and how it shapes my characters. But I also love the feeling of really getting in the groove while writing a tense fight scene or climactic plot point—there’s nothing like a heroic moment of man versus the odds! At the end of the draft, I circle back around and work on internal conflict again, honing what I’ve discovered about the characters over the course of writing their external conflict. It’s very back-and-forth for me, and I enjoy both types of conflict but in different ways.
Jayna Baas
I love the creativity and imagination of picturing a scene or a character. I love the sense of satisfaction when something finally clicks. I love the way writing teaches me more about my Father—I learn as my characters learn, and sometimes I pause and realize I am so glad I am not God. (He writes the intersecting, interwoven stories of billions of people over millennia of time, and I can’t even make my handful of people do what I want them to.) It’s humbling and awe-inspiring to be a writer. Sometimes it’s just plain frustrating. But I think the best thing is seeing something I wrote bless another person.
Jayna Baas
Ignore it and hope it goes away.
Just kidding, although I do often deal with writer’s block by setting my writing aside for a while and waiting for new inspiration. If that fails, however, I usually have to set aside a block of time and just make myself write, outline, or think about my story. The very act of writing sometimes gets those creative juices flowing. A good brainstorming session can help, too. And the number-one solution? Pray about it.
Just kidding, although I do often deal with writer’s block by setting my writing aside for a while and waiting for new inspiration. If that fails, however, I usually have to set aside a block of time and just make myself write, outline, or think about my story. The very act of writing sometimes gets those creative juices flowing. A good brainstorming session can help, too. And the number-one solution? Pray about it.
Jayna Baas
I stash a lot of my ideas in my head, but I've learned to write them down, too, or I'm apt to forget something important. I don't have much of an organizational system; I just jot things down in a notebook or type short descriptions in computer files with names like "Brainstorming." An added plus to writing down my thoughts is going back through them later and re-discovering all the fun stuff I didn't use!
Jayna Baas
I would say three, possibly four—especially in my earlier writing days, when I was turning out shorter kids' sports stories and mysteries (most of which will never see the light of day). That's not to say I've finished all the books I've worked on simultaneously! Right now I'm trying to focus on one book at a time, but that hasn't kept me from writing short stories and brainstorming about the next book in my trilogy. After all, I do have to plan ahead, don't I? ;)
Jayna Baas
I have a total of three books in mind for this series. The first book, Preacher on the Run, is set in 1771. The second book, Patriot by Night, will take place in 1780-1781, during the height of the Revolutionary War in North Carolina. I hope to set the third book, yet to be titled, in the mid-to-late 1780's, during settlers' attempt to form an independent state (the State of Franklin) on the North Carolina frontier. I may add a few more short stories like Promise of Refuge if the notion takes me. All of this is subject to change without notice, of course. The Lord has veto power.
Jayna Baas
Often something I read, see, or hear will trigger an image in my head and get the creative juices flowing. I may learn about a major event or a certain time period and start to think, What if… Sometimes a scene in a movie will suggest new possibilities, or a line of great dialogue will spark an idea. I've also had scenes come to mind (or come to life) while listening to certain songs, so I make playlists for my writing projects and listen to them when I'm trying to visualize a scene. When it comes to the actual writing process, though, there's no substitute for just sitting down and making myself write. And when I do that, I'm always surprised how much more I get done if I pray about it first. (I don't know why I should be surprised; if God gave me the ability to write, He'll help me use it. O me of little faith.) There's no one-size-fits-all for inspiration, so you never know what may wind up playing a role in a story!
Jayna Baas
1. Read.
2. Write.
3. Read about writing.
4. Write about reading.
Let me take those one at a time. First, read voraciously. Indie authors, one of the best things you can do is to read well-established, traditionally published authors who know their craft, because reading professional, well-edited work will hone your sense of good and bad writing. And don't just read the genre you want to write; read the style you want to write. If I read wandering, descriptive prose, my writing tends to become wandering and descriptive. If I read punchy action narratives, my sentences get shorter and tighter.
Second, just write! The more you write, the better you will get. There's no substitute for practice and experience, and I've found that the very act of physically writing can get the creative juices flowing again.
Third, read books about the art and craft of writing. Two of my favorites are Troubleshooting Your Novel by Steven James and The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction by Jeff Gerke. There are abundant blogs, podcasts, courses, and other media as well. Not everything works for everyone, so don't be discouraged if you run into advice that just doesn't help. Check out this helpful video by Ellen Brock to learn about different types of writers.
Last, do some analysis of your favorite books. Write plot summaries. Break down story structure. Write reviews, which can help you pick out the high points of a good book and the low points of a lousy one.
And most importantly, don't give up!
2. Write.
3. Read about writing.
4. Write about reading.
Let me take those one at a time. First, read voraciously. Indie authors, one of the best things you can do is to read well-established, traditionally published authors who know their craft, because reading professional, well-edited work will hone your sense of good and bad writing. And don't just read the genre you want to write; read the style you want to write. If I read wandering, descriptive prose, my writing tends to become wandering and descriptive. If I read punchy action narratives, my sentences get shorter and tighter.
Second, just write! The more you write, the better you will get. There's no substitute for practice and experience, and I've found that the very act of physically writing can get the creative juices flowing again.
Third, read books about the art and craft of writing. Two of my favorites are Troubleshooting Your Novel by Steven James and The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction by Jeff Gerke. There are abundant blogs, podcasts, courses, and other media as well. Not everything works for everyone, so don't be discouraged if you run into advice that just doesn't help. Check out this helpful video by Ellen Brock to learn about different types of writers.
Last, do some analysis of your favorite books. Write plot summaries. Break down story structure. Write reviews, which can help you pick out the high points of a good book and the low points of a lousy one.
And most importantly, don't give up!
Jayna Baas
My work-in-progress is the second book in the For Liberty & Conscience trilogy, set during the British campaign of North and South Carolina in 1780–81. Progress is slow, but I'm trusting God's timing!
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