by Bethany Turner, @SeeBethanyWrite
If you’d asked me even just a few years ago what my tried-and-true writing process tricks were, I most likely would have laughed in your face. I would have adamantly insisted I had no tricks or routines. I had no process. Nothing was tried. Nothing was true.
But as I’ve written my last several books, I’ve detected some patterns. There are a few things that I’ve begun doing every single time I sit down to write, and they actually help me craft a story the way I want to. So, while I hesitate to say that anything I do is “tried-and-true”—because most of the time I still feel like I have no idea what I’m doing—I am going to walk you through three of my “tricks.” All three of these things are actually somewhat obvious, and I certainly wasn’t the first to think of any of them. Maybe you already do these things and, like me, don’t really think anything of them. They’re just things you do. Well, if that’s the case, congratulations. You have tricks!
- Floorplans – This one was a game-changer for me. It seems so obvious now, but I had completed five full-length manuscripts before it became part of my process to find floorplans of my characters’ homes, offices, and favorite hangouts. I had always just relied on my imagination (and my memory and notes for consistency) when writing scenes where I had to make use of the space. And, obviously, imagination, memory, and notes are still always very important. But once I began frequenting real estate sites and finding the exact perfect space for my characters, I was able to write scenes in those spaces with authority, down to the last detail. And consistency is a lot easier when I have photos to refer to.
- Neighborhoods – This part of my process plays off the benefits of the floorplans trick, but also helps create the emotional structure of my characters’ lives. I have to get to know my characters’ neighborhoods. When possible, I take a trip to visit in person, though that isn’t always feasible, of course. When it is, I love nothing more than sitting in a neighborhood park; shopping at a neighborhood market; observing neighborhood street signs. It’s sort of magical to put myself in a character’s shoes and spend some time walking through their day-to-day life. If it’s not possible to be there in person, I spend a lot of time scoping out all of those local details, even if they never make their way into the story.
- Music – I’ve put it last, but this is actually my number one trick. I know that some people can write to music and some can’t, but if you can…try writing to the same music every time you sit down to tell each particular story. Create a playlist that captures your character’s personality, or maybe fill the playlist with music that your hero or heroine would listen to in their spare time. Again, these details may never actually make it into your story. But the depth of your characters and how well you know them absolutely will. Not only that, by listening to the same music each time you work on the story, you may discover that your brain recognizes the cues and kicks into gear more quickly. (Okay, I’ll admit it. This one is tried-and-true. It works for me every single time.)
What are some of your tried-and-true tricks? I’d love for you to leave a comment and share your process with us!
Get ready for a heaping helping of humor, romance, and second chances
Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanagh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show, To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel’s other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.
When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum and is sent packing, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public’s good graces is to work alongside Hadley. As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love.
In the meantime, hide the knives.
“A delightful dish of a read! Bethany Turner’s Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish is a savory blend of wit, humor, and swoon-worthy romance, guaranteed to earn a place on the keeper shelf. Not to be missed!”–Jen Turano, USA Today bestselling author
Bethany Turner has been writing since the second grade, when she won her first writing award for explaining why, if she could have lunch with any person throughout history, she would choose John Stamos. She stands by this decision. Bethany now writes pop culture–infused rom-coms for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight. She lives in Southwest Colorado with her husband, whom she met in the nineties in a chat room called Disco Inferno. As sketchy as it sounds, it worked out pretty well in this case, and they are now the proud parents of two teenagers. Connect with Bethany at seebethanywrite.com, by texting her at (970) 387-7811, or across social media @seebethanywrite, where she clings to the eternal dream that John Stamos will someday send her a friend request.