Tag: A Writer's Pursuit

A Writer’s Pursuit…

Of Inspiration.

by Michele Cwiertny

It’s a given that on any trip we’re going to return home with close to 4000 pictures. Thank goodness for digital cameras. But one of our favorite things to do is to stroll through old burying yards and cemeteries and marvel at the history, the architecture, and the stories in them.

I’ll often take photos (or, in this case, have my husband take them) so I’ll remember something for a story I’m writing, and I’ll keep them on my desktop for inspiration. When the photos of the cemeteries in Scotland below were taken, I was writing a historical romance and had a completely different scene in mind. These locations in Scotland became places for my heroine to hide, and they became locations for chase scenes. But now that I write dark paranormal romance, I view burying yards, cathedrals/chapels/abbeys, colonial taverns, castles, and colonial homes in a completely different light.

See, I’m working on new story and even though it’s set in contemporary Maine, a vital part of the hero’s demon hunter history (and the heroine’s part in it as well!) begins centuries before in England. Sure, I know these are photos of cemeteries in Scotland, but still… 😉

These two photos were taken at Old Calton Cemetery (1718) in Edinburgh, Scotland. It really did look like a movie set. Loved the moodiness of this place and of the country in general. During the entire trip, I think the sun peeked out at us once or twice. The weather reminded me of a California winter…And it was the second week of July. I LOVED it!

This photo was taken in Stirling Cemetery, which is at the foot of Stirling Castle.

And this is looking across the Old Burying Yard in York, ME at the historic Jefferds Tavern on Fourth of July weekend. Because, yes, I always have to bring it back to Maine. 🙂

So what about you? Do you often get your inspiration from your old travel photos? Does that inspiration change as your stories change?

Do you like to stroll through the old burying yards, too? 🙂

Take Care,

Michele

Michele Cwiertny writes dark paranormal romance set in a fictional town in Maine (her favorite place in the world). To find out more about her, please visit her website, michelecwiertny.com, or her personal blog, Michele’s Writing Corner.

A Writer’s Pursuit…

Of Answers About Novel Excerpts On Websites

by Michele Cwiertny

Since my March post on A Slice of Orange, I have finished my dark paranormal romance novel. Woo-hoo! I’m thrilled to read on paper what has possessed my thoughts for months.

This story, its characters…Sigh. I can’t even count how many times my hero and heroine moved me to type as the tears stung my eyes then grin and break out into laughter as they got to know one another; how many times my neck stiffened from the tension held there because I feared for their lives as they fought the evil encroaching on the village; and how with a simple touch or a courageous deed, they made me fall devotedly in love over and over. Yes, I’m passionate about this book, and I’m just as excited to start the proposals for the next two in trilogy as well. I can’t wait!

But right now, I’m polishing my synopsis and query letter for this one so I can send this baby out…And I’ve got to tell you, it was easier writing the book than writing this synopsis! (It’s coming along, though…I think. No, it really is. Maybe. Argh. LOL)

I do have some questions for all of you, published and unpublished, and any comments and suggestions are most welcome. 🙂

* What do you think about unpublished writers posting excerpts of their stories on their websites? See, I hadn’t considered this when I was querying agents or editors before with a historical romance. But, with this paranormal, I’m thinking I should…and I’m curious as to your opinion about doing so.

Pros and Cons?

1. If you say yes, then would you put up the first couple of chapters? Or a writing sample from somewhere else in the story?

2. If you say no, then what are your reasons behind that decision?

3. Any other thoughts?

I look forward to reading your answers! Thanks!

Michele

Michele Cwiertny writes dark paranormal romance set in a fictional town in Maine (her favorite place in the world). To find out more about her, please visit her website, michelecwiertny.com, or her personal blog, Michele’s Writing Corner.

A Writer’s Pursuit…

Of The Paranormal

by Michele Cwiertny

I love to hear stories of the supernatural, especially when I’m sitting with a group of friends and we’re trading tales. Can’t get enough of them. And the chill that scurries across my shoulders and down my back? I just draw in a shaky breath and scoot closer to the storyteller.

Did you think I’d look behind me? No way! 😉

And you know what? Almost everyone I’ve asked, even a skeptic or two, has a story in which they can’t explain the appearance of the misty figure in their bedroom…or a premonition they had…or even a dream where a loved one, who has already passed on, visits them in order to tell them something (or to comfort them).

This may be why I’m drawn to reading and writing about the supernatural. Because on some level, we do tend to relate to the stories, even if that connection is when you’ve walked into a room and spun around because you swore someone else was in there with you.

I do have so many personal stories, but I’d like to share one today. And then, if you care to share your experiences, I’d love to read some of your tales. 🙂

In July 2006, we traveled to York, England for the night, as we were to leave for Edinburgh, Scotland the next morning. (I bet most of my friends thought I was going to write York, Maine, huh? Ha! It’s the OTHER York. The older one. LOL)

Anyway, we’d arrived in York from London on Saturday around 6:30 p.m., which meant everything was pretty much closed, except for restaurants and pubs. So, we wandered the nearly empty streets and explored at our leisure, as darkness wouldn’t fall for a few more hours and the rain had lessened to a drizzle.

As I gathered information for a historical I was writing at the time, I stopped in the middle of the cobblestone road to admire a sign hanging outside one of the shops.

“Michele,” a voice whispered in my ear.

I glanced over my shoulder, expecting my husband to be there, waiting for me to move on. But I was alone. Huh. It wasn’t until looked in the opposite direction that I realized my DH was already 20 yards ahead of me and clearly occupied taking pictures.

Okay, I just thought I heard someone whisper my name.

So, I continued studying the buildings and did some window-shopping for a few more minutes. Then I turned in the direction of my husband, who waited for me down at the end of the street, and headed that way, ready to find a place to eat.

“Michele,” the voice whispered again.

I froze, but not from fear. Just curious as heck. What did the voice want? Should I answer?
Why would it get my attention, but not say anything else? Or even appear to me?

At that very moment, a ghost tour made its way down the street toward my DH. As the guide and his group passed me, he pointed to the buildings and spoke about the numerous reports of supernatural occurrences on this particular street.

Uh, ya think? All I could do was grin.

This is the street and the group gathered at the end of it is the ghost tour.

So, that’s one of my stories. I wish I knew what the voice wanted. (Or maybe there’s a connection between that York and my obsession with York, ME. Hmmm. LOL)

Anyone want to share your story? A premonition? A dream? A ghost story?

Take Care,

Michele

Michele Cwiertny writes dark paranormal romance set in a fictional town based on her favorite place in the country…York, Maine (not, York, England this time). For more info about her writing, please visit www.michelecwiertny.com and her blog, Michele’s Writing Corner.

A Writer’s Pursuit…

Of Inspiration and Answers

by Michele Cwiertny

Yep, I’m looking forward to reading your answers…

How many of you are able to write stories set in the area where you live? I bet there are a lot of you out there. And if you’re one of them, I just have to say…Luuuucky. 🙂

Yeah, I don’t happen to be one of those writers. That is to say, my stories tend to have more energy, more vibrance when they’re set somewhere else, such as in another state, in another country, or even in a different time period. Sure, I can write a story set in California as long as it’s a historical. But a contemporary? Well, let’s just say the thought of poking needles in my eyes almost—ALMOST–seems preferable to the amount of revising I have to do in order to make the scenes come alive for me. It’s ugly. ::shudder::

But why? Why? WHY?! I’d love to be able to put to use what I already know about a fantastic location, especially one where I’ve lived nearly my entire life, one that has so much to offer—one like…oh, say, Orange County? I mean, that only makes sense, right?

Sigh. I guess I’m just a slave to my characters. Right now, they refuse to talk to me if I force them to stay here in contemporary Southern California. LOL!

So, what about you?

1. Are you inspired by your surroundings?
2. Do you prefer to write about locations outside of where you live?
3. Do you do both?
4. Do you think I need therapy for being a slave to my characters?

Can’t wait to hear from you!

Michele

Michele Cwiertny writes dark paranormal romance set waaaaay on the other side of the country…Seriously, nowhere near Orange County, CA (just in case her characters are reading this). To find out more about her writing, please visit www.michelecwiertny.com and her blog, Michele’s Writing Corner.

A Writer’s Pursuit…

Of Research and Character Development

by Michele Cwiertny

The Travel Channel. Discovery Channel. The Learning Channel.

I never realized how many times I draw inspiration for character development while watching some of the programs on these channels. No, seriously. This isn’t an excuse for me to sit in front of the TV and wish I had Samantha Brown’s job of traveling around the world…Or for me to think for the hundredth time that the French fry lovin’, clown fearin’ Anthony Bourdain just couldn’t be any cooler.

Well, okay. It is a little bit about Samantha Brown, but mostly it’s about what I learned about my characters after watching her show, “Passport to Europe.”

In one of my favorite episodes, she visits Prague and eats in an absolutely stunning Art Nouveau café as she tells the story of a plate full of stale jelly donuts that sit on the counter and wait for someone to buy them for about $60 American. If a customer were willing to pay that much for the entire plateful, then that person has the right to take those donuts and throw them AT the other customers!

Where did this custom of the donut battles start?

Apparently, it was taken from a 1942 novel by a Czech author, Zdenek Jirotka, who wrote Saturnin, which is a humorous story that categorizes people into three different groups: 1) those who would just look at a plate of donuts 2) those who would think about throwing the donuts at people in the café and 3) those who wouldn’t think twice and would actually throw them at people in the café.

Now, from what I understand, the Café Imperial ended the tradition of the Battle of the Donuts in 2006, so don’t log on to Expedia and purchase your flight to Prague just yet! But, when I hear stories like this story, I always wonder…what other fun traditions have been started because of something written in a book or a poem?

So, tell me…In what category would your hero or heroine fall when looking at the plate of donuts? And what about you?

One, two, or three?

Can’t wait to read your answers… 🙂

Michele

Michele Cwiertny writes dark paranormal and historical romance. To find out more about her please visit, www.michelecwiertny.com