Why do I want to write this?

And other questions to start outlining a new story idea.

Hi Friends,

I didn’t feel like I had anything to share with you last week, so I didn’t 🤷🏻‍♀️. This is always a fine needle to thread- when do I force myself to write and when do I give myself more time to think? Am I writing for myself or for an audience?

These questions bring me back to the question that most book coaches and writing coaches ask first- why do you write? Why do you keep writing?

My answer and, I think, most people’s is: ‘connection’ (ahem, carefully placed ‘Subscribe’ button 😎). You can get into much more detail than that (and you should), but essentially I believe that writing is connection. Connection with yourself, with others, with time.

I am at the beginning of trying to write a draft of a romance novel. I don’t have a full plot but I have glimmers of one. I have the shadow of a protagonist and the sketch of a setting. It’s all very meringues in the oven- it could collapse into goo or set into something substantial… outcome currently uncertain.

Because of this, I sat down last week to start outlining. I have never finished a draft of a novel and this time I want to get there. I figured outlining would help give me the structure and the confidence to do it. Plus, it would allow me to test out some of the outlining resources I’ve used with writers I’ve coached.

Interestingly, a lot of these outlining resources start with the question ‘Why do you want to write this story?’. I tried folks. I could not answer the question. When I asked writers I worked with this question, they gave me great answers. But I’m realising that perhaps I need to go back a few steps before I ask that question of a writer starting a new project, so that they can answer it from a solid foundation of what their story actually is.

Would this work better as a starting question: What was the first glimmer of this story for you?

I’ve found it helpful to think big picture- does this story feel like it has a happy ending, a sad ending or an ambiguous ending? And in very specific details- what does my protagonist have for breakfast?

If you’re a writer, what questions do you use to help you make decisions about your story? I’d love to hear.

Some recent reading, my TBR, and photos from my week:

• Cork Dork, by Bianca Bosker- as I found Bosker’s recent release Get The Picture so interesting and absorbing, I borrowed her first book from the library. It was just as absorbing and, as well as being fun to read, I learnt a lot about wine. I also love that Bosker’s books always include an investigation of obsession.

• Fang Fiction, by Kate Stayman-London- I mentioned this in a previous post and was really excited to read it because I loved her debut romance novel so much. This was very different- a romantasy featuring vampires- and I struggled initially because fantasy is not my jam. It felt like the writing was a little rushed at times, with less character development, but I finished it feeling like it was fun. It hasn’t made me a romantasy convert but I did enjoy the descriptions of the magical Isle, where part of the story is set.

• Kiss Her Once For Me, by Alison Cochrun- I loved this. A queer W/W romance with really lovely descriptions of feeling in love and sex. With the added bonus of quirky grandmas, which is one of my favourite secondary character tropes. I am noticing a recurring theme of neglectful, emotionally abusive mothers in the recent romance novels I’ve read though, including this one. Have you noticed this?

Top of my TBR

• Normal Women, by Philippa Gregory. I am loving the podcast series based on this non-fiction book about women through history, so I ordered the (huge!) book that inspired it and can’t wait to learn even more and feel even angrier. Truly my shock and anger at the way women have been treated throughout history takes my breath away.

• True Biz, by Sara Novic. After adoring the movie CODA, I borrowed this book from the library to explore more stories along the same themes.

• Friends and Strangers, by J. Courtney Sullivan. This will be my first book by Sullivan, though I’ve long wanted to read one of her novels. I’ve been looking for books about female friendship and this one was on special offer on Kindle.

I’d love to hear how you start writing a new story and what you’re reading.

Take care 💜,

Emma

October! 🎃