by Melissa Tagg, @Melissa_Tagg
I am a big believer in listening to smart people. And as a writer, I’m a big believer in learning from smart authors and industry professionals.
BUT . . . with every book I write, there always comes this point where I realize I have waaaaay too many voices in my head. I’ve discovered recently that sometimes the best thing I can do for my creativity is step away from the voices and the tools and the craft books and the rules and give my own voice space to be heard.
I’ll go back to all those things, for sure! Because, again, I love listening to and learning from people smarter than me. But in case you’re like me–looking for ways to revive and nurture your own voice and creativity–here are three tips that have helped me:
Go dialogue crazy
Sometimes when I’m in a scene, I get so caught up in making sure I’ve incorporated all the necessary pieces and followed all the rules. Is the scene contributing to the overall story arc? Have I included the five senses? Is the storyworld fleshed out? ALL important questions to ask…but if I get too caught up in them, I can get analysis paralysis and find myself writing stiffly.
To help me out, sometimes I let myself simply go dialogue crazy . . . meaning, I write solely the dialogue. I let my characters fire off each other and say whatever they want and I don’t worry about action beats or dialogue tags or anything else. Just the spoken words. Usually in doing so, I find the emotional heart of the scene.
Journal
I’m not a big journal-er type person in my real life. But when I’m stuck in a story or overwhelmed by all the plot pieces I’m trying to put together, journaling is an awesome way to hear my voice and my character’s voice instead of everyone else’s. Sometimes I journal as my character . . . other times I just journal about my life. Giving myself space to explore what’s happening inside me pulls double duty as it often reveals what’s happening inside my characters, too.
Rediscover your spark
Why did you start writing the story you’re currently writing? Was there a character in your head that wouldn’t stop talking to you? A time period in history that intrigued you? A love for a particular trope and a desire to try your hand at it?
I think for almost all of my books, I can tell you the exact moment each particular story sparked to life. I can tell you the exact moment my latest release (Now and Then and Always) sparked to life . . . and it was YEARS ago! I was writing a book called Like Never Before set in my made-up town of Maple Valley and a creepy old house called The Everwood appeared on the page. It only showed up in a scene or two but I remember so clearly thinking: This house has a story. I can’t wait to discover it.
Finally, several books later, I returned to The Everwood to tell its story. I remembered back to that spark so many times during the drafting and editing process of Now and Then and Always. When I was tangled in the weeds of the story, when I worried over my plot or whether I was living up to the things I’ve learned . . . I kept going back to that initial spark of intrigue. And over and over, it silenced all the other voices and helped fan my storytelling flame back to life.
Last year, after traumatic circumstances forced her from her job as a nanny, Mara Bristol finally found a place to belong—the winsome Everwood Bed & Breakfast at the edge of Maple Valley, Iowa. For months, she’s helped its owner, Lenora, maintain the ramshackle property despite their shortage of guests. But when Lenora fails to return from a month-long trip and the bank threatens foreclosure, Mara worries she’s once again alone . . . abandoned . . . about to lose the only true home she’s ever known.
Detective Marshall Hawkins is no closer to whole today than he was two years ago . . . the day his daughter died. Between his divorce, debilitating migraines, and a dependence on medication, his life is falling apart. And when a reckless decision on the job propels him into administrative leave, he has no other plan but to get in his truck and drive. A one-night stay at the Everwood was supposed to be just that. But there’s something about the old house—or maybe its intriguing caretaker—that pulls him in.
Together, Mara and Marshall set out to save the Everwood. But its secrets run deeper than they could’ve imagined. As they renovate the house and search for its missing owner, they’ll each confront the pain that brought them to the Everwood in the first place . . . and just maybe discover a faith and love to help them carry on.
Melissa Tagg is the award-winning author of the popular Walker Family series, the Where Love Begins series and the Enchanted Christmas Collection. Her latest release, Now and Then and Always, kicks off a new series set in her beloved-by-readers fictional town of Maple Valley. Melissa is a former reporter, current nonprofit grant writer and total Iowa girl.
Melissa’s books include a 2018 ACFW Carol Award Winner (One Enchanted Noel), an RT Book Reviews TOP PICK (All This Time) and a Publishers Weekly Spring Top Ten Pick (Like Never Before).
Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as workshops and women’s retreats. When she’s not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever (not that she’s biased), bookworming, watching old movies, and spoiling her nieces and nephews. Melissa loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com and on Facebook and Instagram.