The Trahern series usually has an animal or two featured in the book, as a source of humor or plot development. Not always, but as I was writing "The Bravest Woman in Town," I realized I had no animal, so put in Ozymandias. Some of the animals, like Hero, Sir Galahad, and General Wheezer, are like having an extra character in the story.
When I wrote the "Sisters" series, I had a fully developed plot before I even started. But when writing the Trahern series, I start with the main character and follow that character while things happen. It is like reading a book, as I let the story dictate what is going to happen next. This makes writing a story as close to reading one as you can get, and make them really fun to write. I get one event finished and think, "what next?" That is answered, either by introducing a new character or animal or situation. When the book is finished, I go back and make sure everything came in logically and foreshadowed if needed.
I keep thinking I will run out of ideas, but they do keep coming. Also, I am sometimes tempted to throw in a lot more detail, but the joy of these stories is how fast-paced they are.
When I wrote the "Sisters" series, I had a fully developed plot before I even started. But when writing the Trahern series, I start with the main character and follow that character while things happen. It is like reading a book, as I let the story dictate what is going to happen next. This makes writing a story as close to reading one as you can get, and make them really fun to write. I get one event finished and think, "what next?" That is answered, either by introducing a new character or animal or situation. When the book is finished, I go back and make sure everything came in logically and foreshadowed if needed.
I keep thinking I will run out of ideas, but they do keep coming. Also, I am sometimes tempted to throw in a lot more detail, but the joy of these stories is how fast-paced they are.
