Comments on: Author Chantelle Shaw on the Key to Writing: the Characters!

By: MarilynS

MarilynS — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:52:32 +0000

Great post Chantelle. Loved your book by the way.

By: chantelle shaw

chantelle shaw — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:33:27 +0000

Thanks for all the comments on my post. I’m now trying to take my own advice and get inside the head of my new Italian hero – but at the moment he’s being very stubborn!
As for me matching your fantastic output Melanie, I don’t think it’s likely, especially as I have spent the last hour staring out of the window and eating biscuits rather than writing!
It was great to see everyone at the AMBA lunch.
Chantelle

By: Christina Hollis

Christina Hollis — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:31:55 +0000

That is such a useful post, Chantelle. Your immersion in your characters really has paid dividends – take it from an avid reader.
It was great to see you in London, btw. I’m already looking forward to the next one!

By: Joanne

Joanne — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:19:41 +0000

Great post Chantelle

I really like the line – “the key to writing is the characters”. For newbie writers like myself, this the gold.

Thanks for the insight

Cheers, Joanne

By: Mary Anne

Mary Anne — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:29:05 +0000

I stole my favorite getting the story technique from (the late) Paul Harvey.

“The rest of the story” often creates my story. For example, my Faerie series was started from running across the famous legend about the McLeod’s of Skye and their faerie flag. I read the legend and started thinking about “the rest of the story.”

And even “the rest of the story” has a flip side. That can give birth to a whole series.

My second favorite story technique is to see a character in a certain status of life – say a Duke in Regency, England or a Greek billionaire in today’s Myrtle Beach and imagine how they’d react to a certain situation. I write it so that the Duke or the billionaire initially reacts as expected, but learns to dance to the heroine’s tune and ends up a happier and wiser man.

Great post!!

By: Caroline Storer

Caroline Storer — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:12:47 +0000

Great post Chantelle. For me I often start off with a kernal of something, maybe a song, a film, a photo or something I’ve read. And then I start the “what if” process. For my latest wip I recently read a book about a leper island. I then thought “what if” my current H/h (in my latest Roman historical) were shipwrecked on a leper island – what would they do? How would they survive, not only the situation they faced but their growing attraction to each other? Anyway…I’m sure you get the drift…Take care. Caroline x

By: Isobel Jagger

Isobel Jagger — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:40:15 +0000

Following the advice to aspiring writers to read the published books I chose this one specifically. I wanted to know more about the enough- but- not- too- much- background balance. I know more about horses than I do about wonderful locations so I would be better able to judge using this story than some others.
I really enjoyed the book and the background was convincing in the areas I knew something about. It really answered my questions so thank you very much.

By: Linda Henderson

Linda Henderson — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:12:18 +0000

I always find it fascinating to read about how authors write their books. I can’t wait to read your new book.

By: Melanie Milburne

Melanie Milburne — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:11:50 +0000

Chantelle, I loved your post as I totally could relate to your journey with your characters. I can’t write a word, even a plan for a book until I have the characters already running around in my head. In fact it is usually the characters that for me that tell me what the plot will be.
You are so right in that each writer’s unique take on a well loved and well used romance theme is what keeps romance selling the way it does. If ten writers were given a secret baby plot we would all do something different with it.
Your characters sound wonderful. I think it is the books where the characters are really strong and real to you that are the easiest to write. Your hero looks rather gorgeous on that cover too!
And fourteen books in three years?!!! It looks like you might knock me off my prolific perch if you keep that up!
Love Melanie

By: Abby Green

Abby Green — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:04:55 +0000

Chantelle, great post, I love reading about other authors inspiration, and especially after reading a book. I loved Diego and Rachel’s story – the setting was gorgeous and he was even more gorgeous. I find films and magazines great sources of inspiration. It was lovely to see you in London this week too! x Abby