Incubating ideas.

As I'm reading through and fine-tuning my current WIP (the final in my Samsara trilogy), my subconscious keeps throwing ideas at me for my next project - Book Two in the Adept Solutions Series. I have the main plot, but still need one or two sub-plots. So as I continue with my daily routine (moving future storylines to the back burner), and September comes to a close, I've updated a post from 2014, and hope other writers find it relevant.

Incubating Ideas

We notice new ideas when they float to the surface of our consciousness. Sometimes these arrive fully mapped out in the form of a distinct character, a particular conflict or plot. J. K. Rowling said the concept for Harry Potter fell into her head during a train journey.

Some writers formulate their plans as they write but often those seeds need to be nurtured and given space to grow. One practice many novelists use as a catalyst for maturing concepts is to do something unconnected with writing, and often choose a recreational activity. For example, Martin Amis played darts, while Kurt Vonnegut played patience.

Frank Smith in Writing and the Writer said 'Composition is not enhanced by grim determination'. By giving yourself freedom from pressure you allow your subconscious to process important ideas. Scheduling time out, and doing something different doesn't mean your brain has stopped working, and you might choose to catch up on any of the innumerable jobs that pile up while you’re absorbed in your work, but picking something you enjoy works best.

During this period, thoughts may arrive at odd moments, and change, alter or expand your original concept. Write them down and let go of any attachment you have to older plans as they are superseded by newer ones. When the incubation period ends, you’re likely to be flooded with inspiration as the gates to creativity open.

The way this nurturing process operates for me is I tell myself what I want, hand it over to my subconscious, and then get on with life without unduly worrying about it. I call it the sleep-on-it method. How long does it take for an idea to incubate and come to fruition? The Roman poet, Horace, thought writers should wait for nine years—a tad longer than most of us can spare these days. But like everything else in writing fiction, the incubation period varies from one individual to another. And there is no right or wrong, there is only what works.

Today’s Haiku

When you achieve one
target the goal posts reveal
a new horizon

If you would like to receive a free copy of Tatya’s Return, Book One in the epic paranormal trilogy, Samsara, click on the Newsletter Sign up tab. Thank you!

If you're a Wattpad member, I have several short stories posted on the site:

https://www.wattpad.com/teagankearney

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Thank you for visiting my blog, and please do leave a comment.
To all story lovers out there, good reading, and to those of you who write, good writing.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

It’s April; the snowdrops have bloomed and died off, my apple tree is pushing out its first tender leaves, daffodils are still in full bloom and one brave tulip creates a vivid splash of red. Now the common name is tulip, but a gardener knows this plant as a member of the family of Liliaceae, of the genus, Tulipa, of which there are approximately seventy-five wild species.  So before you start to wonder if this blog has morphed into giving gardening advice, I’m just making a point about today’s topic: pseudonyms. 

The list of writers who have written using names other than their own is long. Howard O’Brien, Stanley Leiber, and Mary Ann Evans wrote under the pen names of George Elliot, Anne Rice and Stan Lee. Mark Twain, George Orwell, Dr. Seuss, are among many others who made the same decision.

There are several reasons why someone makes this choice. Mary Evans chose a male nom de plume because she lived during an era where the public took men’s writing more seriously. The Bronte sisters also published under men’s names. To ensure a wider audience (as requested by her publisher) Nora Roberts adopted the gender neutral J. D. Robb. And if you think this doesn’t apply today, consider Joanne Rowling, whose publisher said her series would be more popular among boys if they thought the writer was a man. Rowling used her initial J, adding a K she didn’t possess, and became the J. K. Rowling we know today.

The English crime writer, John Creasey wrote over six hundred novels using twenty eight pseudonyms. He was a fast writer, and wanted to get his books out to the public quicker than the publishers allowed under his own name. Stephen King used the pseudonyms Richard Bachman and John Swithen, for a similar reason. The publishing standard of the day was one book per author per year, and King, like Creasey, writes at a prolific rate.

Adoption of a more user friendly name when a writer’s real name is difficult to pronounce correctly is another reason for using a more straight forward name. The real name of the French writer Voltaire was Francois-Marie Arouet, which is slightly more than a mouthful, and bound to be mispronounced by anyone not familiar with the French language. 

A successful author may attempt a different genre, but success isn’t guaranteed as readers may not follow, so writing under another name works to attract a new readership. Patricia Highsmith, author of the dark thriller, The Talented Mr Ripley, wrote a lesbian romance, The Price of Salt, under the name Claire Morgan.

Some people are intensely private; Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird), and J. D. Salinger (Catcher in the Rye) disliked the amount of publicity their books brought them. Charles Dodgson refused mail delivered to his Oxford offices addressed to his pen name of Lewis Carroll.

Using a pen name offers the boon of anonymity to anyone wishing to protect family and friends, and to those wishing to keep their day job (say school inspector) separate from their life as an erotic fiction writer. Re-inventing yourself can be liberating. 

Writing under a pseudonym is neither right nor wrong, and each individual makes this decision for their own reasons. As with all writing, you work in a way that is most comfortable for you. And as Juliet said up on that wee balcony: What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Writing Update

The current WIP is asleep, if restless, and I’m researching Create Space, and trying out different covers for An Unstill Life. The first chapter of Paradise Unknown (working title of 2012’s nano effort: soft sci-fi) is almost edited and ready for my beta readers – the plan of putting the book up on Wattpad, one chapter per month, is gradually becoming an achievable goal.

Last week I posted two short stories on Wattpad - a roller coaster process. The slow build up of preparation led to a moment of sheer nerves when questions buzzed mosquito-like round my brain. Do I really have the courage? Can I handle it if no-one likes my stories, or is it worse if nobody reads them? I blinked, pressed the publish  button and it was done.

The short story, Cockney Caper, is my first foray into crime writing (contains swearing) and can be found at: http://www.wattpad.com/story/14282658-cockney-caper  

Space Glitch, is a sci-fi flash fiction piece and you can read it at: http://www.wattpad.com/story/14145622-space-glitch

In case you’ve not come across Wattpad, it's a free website for writers and readers, and a great way to gain exposure – and feedback - thank you so much +David Anson for your wonderful comment! I’d be very happy if anyone toddled over to Wattpad and read either, or both, of my offerings.

I’m editing a couple of romance short stories (no swearing) I wrote a while back, mulling over how to improve them before publishing. So I’m busy, busy and enjoying writing and most of the stuff that goes with it!

Today’s Haiku

RECALL

what is memory -

only neurotransmitters

making lots of love

Useful Links:

Both these links contain more info on writers who used pseudonyms.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/07/economist-explains-18#sthash.mXlTObqB.dpuf

http://mentalfloss.com/article/51195/how-8-famous-writers-chose-their-pen-names

And in case you missed the link to my two stories...

http://www.wattpad.com/story/14282658-cockney-caper

http://www.wattpad.com/story/14145622-space-glitch

Join me on Twitter at: teagankearney@modhaiku 

Thanks for visiting my blog, and please do leave a comment.

To all story lovers out there, good reading, and to those of you who write, good writing.