I think the best advice I’ve heard in books, movies and just researching on how to write, is to write what you know. I’m more comfortable writing what I know, but I try to expand, by writing about a situation or experience I’ve had, but the characters are in jobs I know nothing about or I’m not that familiar with. But I understand what they are feeling, so I write about that and research what I can on what they do, to try and understand why my character would choose it.
I love writing what I know, because what I know, I love. My first novel was about horseback riding. That’s what I knew, so that’s what I wrote about. The most recent novel I finished I wrote about family, pregnancy, and faith issues. I even explored a world I’m not a stranger to, but haven’t experienced first hand.
Adultery.
It started out one way, and the story ended in a way I didn’t expect. I won’t tell you what that is, you’ll have to read it one day to find out. It’s done, but needs a lot of editing. I still struggle with some portions of it. With questions like, do I really believe this? Is this really what I would want to share with someone if they were struggling with the same thing as these characters? I was very emotional when I wrote some of this book, and when I look back I see that emotion and that situation I was going through in my own characters. I can’t help it. Parts of me always end up in my stories, who I am and decisions I make end up becoming a part of my characters too. Every character has a small piece of me in them. That’s scary to me, because then I wonder would anyone notice that? Would those that know me best see me in my books? Or do they not know me as well as they or I think they do?
Learning to write has become a very emotional experience for me. I think it’s because of the life change of becoming a mom. You change when you have a child. It just happens. But it’s for the better. You certainly look at life differently, and I think it’s helped me grow in my writing and I think it’s made it better.
Here’s an excerpt from my finished novel Storms. If you’re interested in reading it, once I feel it’s been edited and is ready, I’ll share it with a few, and hopefully it’ll get published and anyone can read it.
Prologue
I found what seemed to be the last available parking spot in the church’s parking lot. I paused to watch other church goers mingle and come in and out of the building.
The website had claimed the church was large and popular.
It looked like the perfect place to hide and lose myself among the crowd. A petite brunette stood at the entrance doing her best to greet every person entering the church. A tall man stood beside her. He must be her husband. He seemed very protective of her, but he never missed an opportunity shake someone’s hand or give a high five to any age willing to give one back.
It was time to put on a smile, and go make some new friends. I did wonder if this was it. If this was finally the place I could put down roots, and feel like I didn’t have to move away. I tucked a curly blonde strand of hair behind my ear, took one more look in the rear view mirror and stepped out of my car, ready to embrace whatever this new life would hold for me.
My heels clicked on the pavement, and I smiled at the sound. There was something about that sound that always made me smile and make me glad to be a woman and a confident woman too.
Unfortunately I wasn’t always so graceful in my favourite shoes, and to prove it, I tripped on the curb right in front of the church.
I could feel my face heat up in color that I’m sure was a bright crimson red. Thankfully it seemed no one had noticed, until I felt someone touch my elbow to steady me. I startled and turned to look at the one person who had seen my gracefulness. My gaze fell on the most beautiful brown eyes I had ever seen. He was ruggedly handsome, and I could feel myself ready to trip over myself all over again.
“Are you alright?” He asked, breaking me out of the trance his gaze had put me in.
“Fine thank you,” I was finally able to say. An even smaller black haired woman appeared out of nowhere, took his hand raising her eyebrows at him and this predicament the two of us were in. I quickly stepped back, not wanting to give her the wrong impression. They were obviously together.
He turned to this woman smiling and patted her hand reassuring, “Hello Janine. This young woman tripped on her way into our church. I was just making sure she was okay.” He looked back at me smiling a devastating smile and I found myself jealous of Janine instantly. “This is my wife Janine, and you are?”
I shook myself, trying to remember manners and polite conversation. “I’m Holly,” I managed to say, deciding in the last moment to use my real name. “I just moved here and heard this was the place to be for church.”
“Well Holly, it’s nice to meet you. I’m the pastor of this church, Phil Wright. Welcome, I hope you enjoy the service today.”
“Thank you,” I said, and decided now was the time to make my exit before I embarrassed myself anymore.
The beautiful day was quickly turning gloomy, as I felt raindrops hit my nose and then feet. I hurried inside quickly before the downpour would soak through my clothes.
__________________________
Phil watched as Holly hurried away, still somewhat overwhelmed by her. He felt Janine’s hand tighten around his, and he knew he’d been watching Holly for too long. He immediately turned to his wife, and gave her a quick kiss of reassurance. She was his wife, he was attracted to her. Not this Holly woman. He pulled Janine quickly behind him, as the beautiful day turned stormy and thunder sounded off in the distance.
_____________________________
We were having coffee in my house. Everything about the situation screamed it was wrong, but it felt so right.
The phone rang, saving me from what felt like a trap for my vulnerable emotions. I paused when the lawyer used my real name, after I answered the phone. It was still hard to get used to. Phil was watching me concerned, and I felt nervous under his gaze.
Wait…what did the lawyer say? Dad was dead? What about Mandy? Is she ok?
After confirming Mandy was okay, I hung up the phone quickly and sat down slowly not sure what this news really meant to me. I sensed him move towards me and froze.
Please don’t, I thought. I’m not strong enough. You’re too perfect.
But instead of reading my thoughts he gently placed his hand on my shoulder and knelt down in front of me, forcing me to look into those gorgeous eyes.
“What happened?” he asked gently.
I sniffed. This wasn’t right, but who else could I go to? “My dad died,” I finally replied.
“Oh Holly, I’m so sorry.” Before I could even think of resisting he had pulled me into his arms, hugging me and destroying any and all defences that I thought I had.
His defences were gone too. Could he still feel how wrong this was, even though it felt so right?
Then he kissed me, and that was it. I was hooked and there was no going back.
Thunder rumbled in the background, and lightning lit up my living room as I melted into his kiss and soon everything seemed to disappear. No one was around anymore, not dad, not Janine, not anyone.
Oh God, what have we done?
alisabarnim 