So happy to have Rebecca Waters as guest blogger today. I met Becky through my local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is an author of many talents, writing both women’s fiction with a touch of romance to nonfiction books about writing. Her novella, “Courtesy Turn”, a romance centered around square dancing, appears with my short story in From the Lake to the River. Welcome, Becky!
People look at me curiously when I snatch up those free calendars offered by the humane society or Boy’s Town, USA. Most people I know toss them aside, relying more on their digital calendars or their internet “secretary” for appointments and special events. Artists sometimes grab the large paper calendars for the inspiring photos. But me? I use calendars to plot my story.
For instance, my newest book, Libby’s Cuppa Joe takes place in Door County, Wisconsin. The Door County peninsula juts out into Lake Michigan making it an ideal location for city-weary vacationers.
If I wanted to craft a believable story in Fish Creek (and yes, that is a real town in Door County) I needed to plot a story consistent with the weather and events in that area. It does no good to insert an apple picking scene in a story when the narrative surrounding that scene takes place in March. Even if the scene is great, the season is wrong. I don’t have an apple picking scene in this particular story, but you get the idea.
Also, by looking at Door County websites I was able to see activities common to the area and events celebrated each year. I was able to build on the “Pumpkin Festival” and pace the story to meet that event on the calendar.
I could plan the terrible problems my main character faced and literally put them on the calendar. This helps a writer write from scene to scene and helps keep the pace of the story moving forward. So collect those calendars and write, write, write.
Excited to leave her stale life in the big city behind, Sonja takes the money her grandmother left her and purchases Libby’s Cuppa Joe, a thriving coffee shop in a small community in Wisconsin’s Door County. Sonja may have business sense, but is she ready to face the world on her own?
Sonja soon discovers owning a business requires more than offering a good cup of coffee. She must make major repairs to the building as well as major repairs to her heart. Do the former owners, Libby and Joe hold the answer? As Sonja seeks to make Libby’s Cuppa Joe a viable business, can she also find herself and the God she has abandoned?
Libby’s Cuppa Joe is a riveting tale of second chances, forgiveness, and not living on borrowed faith.
Click here to pre-order on Amazon.
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Rebecca Waters works hard to create realistic characters facing contemporary issues and stories built around faith, hope, and love. Her first novel, Breathing on Her Own has garnered over 160 positive reviews. Rebecca’s second novel, Libby’s Cuppa Joeis scheduled for release in March 2019. Courtesy Turn, her first novella is based on her experiences as an avid square dancer. She has also published three books for new writers, Designing a Business Plan for Your Writing, Marketing You and Your Writing 101, and Writing with E’s. Follow her blog on writing A Novel Creation.
if i want to add festivals or fruit picking i do check on the place’s website. even the smallest town around the globe has a page these days, and they come with all the activities and stuff of that people, culture and so on.
i also do check the fauna native to that place, the weather and so on.
and that’s a great and intriguing synopsis.
If you’re story is in a setting you aren’t living in, then all that research is important. If I can visit a setting, I like to go to the local library and check resources in their local history and books section.
Sorry, the like just won’t stick.
What a great tip- I would never have thought of looking for local calendars! Thanks for sharing this, ladies!
Side note, Door County Coffee is the best flavored coffee EVER 🙂
Rebecca- I also enjoyed your short story in From the Lake to the River very much 🙂