Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Aha Moment


I attended the RWA chapter meeting last night. Elizabeth Boyle was our speaker and she did a good job of giving me more to think about while writing a book. She talked about Conflict and Characters and had some good insights into how to build the conflict and work those characters to achieve the suspense or momentum that keeps the reader reading. (And Piper blogged about the meeting on the chapter blog) Great reading!

She had us write down the hero and heroine's goals at the beginning of our WIPs. I wrote Zeke wants to marry Maeve. But the more I thought about it on the drive home. (3 hours can give you a lot of thinking time) I realized it isn't that he wants to marry Maeve, he wants her to accept the fact he won't leave her - no matter what. That he isn't like her father. Which, I had been toying with an ending and now I know my black moment! Not sure exactly how I'm going to get there, but I will. And Maeve whose goal is to never count on anyone- will need Zeke.

We were discussing how every writer loves those AHA! moments. I had that on the way home! Have you had an Aha! moment lately in writing or in life in general?

PS: Since I was talking about Zeke- I had to put his photo up again~ sigh.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

oooh, nice pic.

Those AHA moments are like not something you can buy with a Visa, their priceless. LOL

I came home and went promptly to bed, but I did wake up thinking about it first thing today. I guess that's why I blogged about it; because it was so fresh in my mind.

You're realization last night on the drive home sounds awesome. What a great thing to have happen during the drive. I'm excited for you!

I know you'll get there too. You're a tenacious writer and that's a good thing.

One AHA moment I had this morning was about what Elizabeth talked about Historical vs. Regency and how Regency is a whole different animal than Historical. I realized that if I'm ever going to get my Regency done I'm going to have to focus on reading that genre again. I've pulled too far away the last year trying to diversify my reading experiences. I need to reign back in on what I really love and focus there again. Even if that means re-reading some of the great Regencies stacked on my keeper shelf. The vampires will have to wait. Oh geez, how will I ever break the news to Eli and Lisa about that AHA moment?!! LOL

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this today! I'm so glad you had a great drive home.

Paty Jager said...

Yes, Piper, if you are going to write a regency, you need to know them inside and out. It will make writing them easier too.

Like minds! Both of us blogging about last night's meeting!

Elisabeth Naughton said...

ROFL, Piper. Better read the vamps first, get them out the door and THEN focus on the regencies. Sounds like you'll be THERE a long time. And gosh, if you hold Rhage for ransom, I may have to drive down and hurt you.

(Eli is wiping her brow and thanking her lucky stars she didn't give you Zsadist. She SERIOUSLY would have had to hurt you then.)

Elisabeth Naughton said...

Paty, Aha moments are fabulous!

I loved Elizabeth's presentation last night, too. Been thinking about it a lot today myself.

Paty Jager said...

I think Elizabeth's talk gave everyone an AHA moment. Which is good! Everyone needs to get their story shaken up, so they can come up with a better plot and make the story the best it can.

chanceofbooks said...

Oh great aha moment, Paty! I think that will really enrich their story--can't wait to read it!