Genesis
I was talking to a fellow author the other day and she mentioned that her ideas for stories usually begin with the theme; from there she builds a story around the message or idea she wants to convey. Another author I know most often begins with a character or characters, and builds her stories around the persons in them. I find this really interesting, because when I try to begin with a theme I wind up feeling dreadfully inadequate ("don't I have ANYTHING deep or worthwhile to say??"), and getting to know my characters is, for me, a process that goes hand-in-hand with the writing.
My story ideas usually begin as an idea for a situation. "Wouldn't it be interesting if someone fell in a river and went back in time...?" or "What do you think an innocent civilian bomb victim thinks about as he lies dying....?" The latest one was "Imagine an old woman who is particularly attached to a fancy, ancient hat she wore as a younger woman...." Then I get to know the person(s) I've put in these situations as I go along. It's not just stories I write about someone changing and growing, after the fact. It is literally them changing and growing as the story progresses. The themes of my stories also emerge as the characters react to their situations.
So what is your writing process like? Do you begin with a character who needs a story written about them, an idea that needs a story to illustrate it, a circumstance you need to explore characters' reactions to, or something entirely different??
'Genesis' was posted on August 9, 2008 by Najiyah Diana Helwani under Random Ramblings , and tagged with character, theme, writing process
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Assalaamu alaikum.
Interesting article, sis. And interesting title as well: genesis. Yes...writing does evolve, I guess, out of a genesis progression.
For me, most generally, it is that I have an idea already in mind which needs a story to tell it. I usually develop my story from the general idea. Although sometimes my story (and eventual idea) evolve from one particular character. Like the story that I wrote which has been published in "Between Love, Hope & Fear" by An-Najm Publications. I had my main character in mind first and foremost (the bird of the garden), gave him a name, voice, partner, and a story evolved around him. Interesting sometimes how a story evolves, eh?
balqees.