Tiara Tuesday

We're talking about "firsts" over at my critique group blog, Heart-Shaped Glasses.  Author, Lori Sizemore, asked if we'd read any stories that had touched us in memorable ways.  I immediately thought of my aunt and a book that spurred my imagination on to spin a story about an ancestor I'd found fascinating.  One of these days I'd love to sit down and read through my notes and finish the story.  Check out Lori's post if you have time.


Her post made me think about something as an author that I've been asked.  How do I come up with my story ideas.  Many of my ideas pop up when I'm doing simple household chores, taking a shower, driving and listening to music, conversations I overhear...just about anything can trigger an idea.  I can actually picture characters and then I question why?  What if?  What makes the main characters react...what makes them tick?  How can I lead them to the happily-ever-after?  My family knows when I go into full writer mode if my eyes glass over and I start frantically searching for paper and pen.  I've also been known to leave a blank page open in my Word program so I can open my laptop and jot down an idea.

If you're an author...is there something specific that helps trigger your story ideas?  As a reader...is there a particular story that is a shelf keeper?  A book you can reread over and over again?

Hope you all are having a productive week!

Chelle

April showers bring May flowers...

I am so ready for spring to arrive.  Today is the first day of May and tornado statistics predict that Oklahomans are more likely to deal with tornadoes in the next two weeks than any other time of the year.  But guess what is in the forecast today and tomorrow?  Snow.  Seriously.  It was 86 yesterday, predicted to be 82 today, and the high tomorrow will be 46.  I've always heard that if you don't like the weather in Oklahoma...wait a day.  True that, I guess.  We probably won't see the snow but I guess it's better than being in the 90's already and going into the summer months in a drought.  In fact, we've had so much rain that I lost all of my early tomato and pepper plants.  My cowboy hasn't even tilled the big garden yet because it's still a little wet around the garden.

What have you guys been up to?!  Me...life chaos as usual.  Little man is back in school, I'm taking classes online, and we moved.  Again.  And we're still looking for the right land to buy so I can't even feel settled yet.  *sigh*  Maybe one of these days.  My writing has taken a detour lately.  I've tried to open my files and work, and I got in a couple of good word days...but not recently.  And I really miss it.  I had several story ideas pop up so I at least put them in a file for later brainstorming.

I'm off to work on critiques and maybe my own chapter.  I also have 2 final papers to prepare for school, but I wanted to stop by and say hi.  I hope you guys are being much more productive than I am.  :)  My critique group has revamped our blog and I'll leave you guys a link if you have time to drop by and share a cup of Joe with us.

Through Heart-Shaped Glasses

*smooches*

Chelle