Building a story—Tricia McGill.

Find information on all my books here on my BWL Author page

It never ceases to surprise and amaze me, how my characters take over and make the decision over what will happen next. As sometimes happens, I get a short way into my story and realise one day that I am not happy where it is going, and even consider scrapping it and starting afresh. This unfortunate happening occurred to me a couple of weeks ago. I usually wake up one morning bright and early with at least a skeleton of an idea where to take my characters next, but sadly this was not to be this time. Everyday problems in our life crop up sometimes and annoyingly intrude on our ability to think straight.

Thank goodness for those characters buzzing around in our heads, not so much nagging us where to take them next but hinting that we at least need to give them the chance to get cracking. The moment I sat here at my computer and began typing everything took off, seemingly of its own accord and what happened in front of me next was that events that I had not even considered adding unfolded there before me on the screen.

I have always credited my Muse with assisting me in my writing as I am the first to admit that I am no Jane Austin or Emily Bronte, but simply a writer who likes telling stories. So now I have to wait and see where I will be taken next by this bunch of characters I created. 

Tricia McGill's Books

Build it, and they will come—Tricia McGill

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Sorry to misquote that phrase from Field of Dreams, but you get the idea. In this case, I am talking about ideas of course. In last month’s post, I talked about the creation of a book in the mind of an author, specifically this author. Right, so the idea is there, the basic plot line is worked out and the story has begun, and is now taking up eighty percent of my daily thoughts—and often night-time ones as well. This to the point when the irritable little chores of life that need doing begin to niggle and annoy. And just why do we need so much sleep? It really bugs me that sleep takes up so much of my time, and I admire and envy those who say they can get by on four hours a night.

All very well to start the building process, but without the ideas, all we are faced with is that empty page to fill. My guess is that every other author out there has as much going on in their brain each day as I do—always chock full of ideas for their stories, even while doing the mundane household chores. I created my next scene this morning while I walked my dogs. Not much else to think about while doing that (which isn’t a chore by the way) except what my characters are going to do in their upcoming scene.

Everything that gets built—from a house to a chicken run—must start with the initial plan or most things would end up a higgledy-piggledy mess. So it is with a book. You have the plot worked out—roughly, the characters beginning to tell you what they want to do or not do. Then you need a time-line to adhere to, especially in historicals or time-travels. It would be absolutely ridiculous to think it will be all right to put your characters in a situation where the time-line hasn’t been worked out, especially if some of your characters have appeared in a previous book. The background is where the crucial building begins—and therefore the research. You garner all the facts and figures, which might take almost as long to do as the writing itself, but is essential. You might end up with three pages of notes on a subject and only need one line from those notes to feature in your book.

One of my all-time favourite reviews was for my Mystic Mountains and read: “The author explains a great deal about the early history of Australia without being pedantic. The historical details are very nicely integrated into the story, and are never intrusive. The author clearly did a lot of research, and the historical accuracy adds to the richness of the tale. The author also points out how crucial New South Wales Governor Lachlan Macquarie was to the development of the democratic Australia that we know today.”

This review meant the world to me as it proved I did my job well, and was thorough in my building process without ramming facts at the reader. I felt as proud as any builder who stands back with a sigh when the project he/she has been working on is finished to their satisfaction.

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