Murder
runs in my family.
Just kidding…but my family is always helpful when it comes to brainstorming plot holes in my stories. I can often be found wandering through the house mumbling about some plot point that just won’t work or trying to figure out how best to kill a character or where to dump a body. During these times, I’ve been known to draw my family into my nefarious plotting and, strangely enough, they’re always eager to help.
Just kidding…but my family is always helpful when it comes to brainstorming plot holes in my stories. I can often be found wandering through the house mumbling about some plot point that just won’t work or trying to figure out how best to kill a character or where to dump a body. During these times, I’ve been known to draw my family into my nefarious plotting and, strangely enough, they’re always eager to help.
From
the 8 y/o who wants every villain to be a giant robot terrorizing the city – maybe
I’ll write that one day.
The
10 y/o who is way too into the blood and gore stuff—Uhm, no, I’ll never
write that.
My
grown son who draws on his vast TV watching experience. He seriously saved
my plot once with something he saw on Burn Notice. 😊
To my
mother who is oddly good at seeking out places to dump a body – wonder if
she ever thought she’d be having that conversation with her daughter! LOL
I rely on the people in my life to help draft these
stories and they’re always willing to do so. Just the other day, I was stuck on
a particular problem in my manuscript so I was discussing the story with my son
as we carried out the garbage. I made certain to explain to him how I wanted to
abduct this woman and ultimately kill her but I needed a good place to hide her
body. My son came up with some good ideas that ultimately worked. However, based
on the horrified look and brisk walk of our neighbor as he walked his dog, he
obviously overheard our conversation and I can only assume we are now on some
community watch list.
So the next time you’re in a café or restaurant and
you overhear the people at the next table plotting something unthinkable,
before you call the cops, consider that they’re probably just suspense writers
doing their thing.
Or, better yet, maybe slowly get up and leave before
you wind up in their next novel. 😊
Check out my latest upcoming July release from Love Inspired
Suspense--plotted as always with help from the family!
“Stop investigating or you will die.”
A Covert Operatives story
Searching for a missing pregnant foster teen, Rebecca Mason stumbles across a human trafficking ring. Now with criminals determined to silence Rebecca, security specialist Collin Walsh appoints himself her protector. But how can the secret husband who once abandoned her to join the military regain her trust? Collin will do anything to make up for the past…but first he must ensure they survive.
A Covert Operatives story
Searching for a missing pregnant foster teen, Rebecca Mason stumbles across a human trafficking ring. Now with criminals determined to silence Rebecca, security specialist Collin Walsh appoints himself her protector. But how can the secret husband who once abandoned her to join the military regain her trust? Collin will do anything to make up for the past…but first he must ensure they survive.
Award winning author Virginia Vaughan lives by the motto
‘It’s not hoarding if its books’.
Always the kid with her nose stuck in a book, becoming a multi-published author
hasn’t stopped Virginia from continuing to grow her own collection of favorite
reads. Her family has refused to help her move anymore because of the sheer
number boxes of books, but she’s no quitter. She’ll keep buying books and, the
next time she moves, hire a moving van.
If you love stories where romance intersects danger
and faith, subscribe to Virginia’s email list at http://eepurl.com/dtFeVP and be the first to know when a new
story arrives.
Connect with Virginia:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ginvaughanbooks
Twitter: www.twitter.com/gin_vaughan
Instagram: www.instagram.com/virginiavaughanauthor
Posts
What a great post, Virginia. I love how your family is involved in brainstorming with you. I often read passages out loud to my family, but most of the time I'm wondering whether they are really listening. I often add in a word or two about aliens just to check lol. Your book sounds great. Who doesn't love a secret husband?
ReplyDeleteLOL, that's hilarious, Belle. I'll have to remember that. :)
DeleteMy family helps me brainstorm as well, and I always love their ideas.
ReplyDeleteJust this past week, I needed title suggestions to send to my editor. My eldest daughter had me on speaker phone as she and I discussed ideas that included flooding, which takes place in my story. My seven-year-old grandson yelled out, "Mammaw, name your book SPOOKY FLOOD." :)
LOL, Debby, I have a white board on my desk with my "suspenseful elements" like killer, threat, danger, ect. The 8 year old makes me turn it around when he's in the room.
DeleteSo if you find the boys in blue going through your trash, you can probably guess which neighbor ratted you out..
ReplyDeleteHehehe...true.
DeleteMy husband helps quite a bit when I am stumped. Then he says, "The bill is in the mail." :)
ReplyDeleteWhat strikes me odd is how normal it seems to them. Maybe I should be worried.
DeleteThis is so fun, Virginia. I did ask my daughters once if they were alarmed by their mother asking for help plotting murder and mayhem. I think they were more disturbed just to find my brain works that way.
ReplyDeleteLOL, my family long ago reached that conclusion about me.
DeleteIt’s not hoarding if’s books, it’s a library! Just had to finish the thought... I love the neighbor being a bit scared after hearing part of your conversation, teach him for eavesdropping. You might ask him for help next time!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I should have! That would have brought the police for sure.
DeleteIts great to have someone to bounce ideas off. I love it that your family is willing to help out.
ReplyDelete