Ask the Author: Erica Danekes
Answered Questions (3)
Erica Danekes
All sorts of ways. This morning at the gym, there were two very yummy guys working on posing for a physique competition. Wished I could have snapped a pic or 12 but I didn't want to interrupt them.
Sometimes, its a book I'm reading, or a movie plot line. I don't copy the main plot but sometimes a support character lends themselves to a whole other story line. For example, the hero, adopts his late brother's child to secure the child's inheritance and marries the heroine and they pass the child off as "theirs". Well, what happens when the kid grows up and discovers his father isn't his father. Or, a crazy Christmas movie I caught a piece of, where the dude has to marry his "boss" to get his Visa/Work permit approved (she has to marry him to get the promotion) but he doesn't tell his boss/wife that he has a girlfriend back home until after they get married. Well, what about the girlfriend, what happens to her? All sorts of tantalizing ideas to explore.
And sometimes its a defense against not knowing. Ever been in a crowd (bar, restaurant, gym) and catch a bit of conversation and you want to know how the story ends but you don't get to hear it? I just make something up!
Sometimes, its a book I'm reading, or a movie plot line. I don't copy the main plot but sometimes a support character lends themselves to a whole other story line. For example, the hero, adopts his late brother's child to secure the child's inheritance and marries the heroine and they pass the child off as "theirs". Well, what happens when the kid grows up and discovers his father isn't his father. Or, a crazy Christmas movie I caught a piece of, where the dude has to marry his "boss" to get his Visa/Work permit approved (she has to marry him to get the promotion) but he doesn't tell his boss/wife that he has a girlfriend back home until after they get married. Well, what about the girlfriend, what happens to her? All sorts of tantalizing ideas to explore.
And sometimes its a defense against not knowing. Ever been in a crowd (bar, restaurant, gym) and catch a bit of conversation and you want to know how the story ends but you don't get to hear it? I just make something up!
Erica Danekes
Keep writing. And write what you want. What does the voice inside of you demand you tell the world? Don't worry about publication, finding an agent, getting you books to sell. Craft the story. You can't sell what you don't have.
Erica Danekes
I have several options available. Some days I'll play a video game. While I mash zombies, or race through the streets, part of my brain will quietly ponder the current corner I've written myself into. Usually just the break from the focus is all I need for a path to become clear.
Other days I'll blast some music and delve into my Lego collection. Building can also let my mind wander and I'll usually begin with a random dialog and go from there.
If I'm really really stuck, then I'll tag some unfortunately victim and throw the scenario at them and see what they think up. I'll admit, I don't usually get helpful answers, but the process of denying those possibilities makes it easier for me to find the answers I want.
I will admit, a time or two. . . or three, I've written and moved on. I always hate myself for doing that when I cycle back, but eventually the answer works itself out.
It's like when you're trying to overcome an obstacle and when you finally get over (under or around) it and you look back, you see an easier way, but you just missed it the first time around.
Other days I'll blast some music and delve into my Lego collection. Building can also let my mind wander and I'll usually begin with a random dialog and go from there.
If I'm really really stuck, then I'll tag some unfortunately victim and throw the scenario at them and see what they think up. I'll admit, I don't usually get helpful answers, but the process of denying those possibilities makes it easier for me to find the answers I want.
I will admit, a time or two. . . or three, I've written and moved on. I always hate myself for doing that when I cycle back, but eventually the answer works itself out.
It's like when you're trying to overcome an obstacle and when you finally get over (under or around) it and you look back, you see an easier way, but you just missed it the first time around.
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