It is a great honour to write my first post for The Killzone. I’m still pinching myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. So without further ado, my first post of 2025…and my last since we begin our hiatus next week.
About a month ago, I started a new book, and ran into the blinking cursor syndrome. Everything I’d ever learned about writing was gone. Pfff! Vanished. It was like I’d never written a novel before. But I had — eighteen times before, and yes, that blinking cursor syndrome happed Every.Single.Time.
With this book, I even had a one-page synopsis that I’d sent in with the proposal to my publisher. I knew the setting — the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee. I had a title — Deadly Connections, and I knew who the characters were. Actually, I only knew their names. I have to start writing and place my characters in difficult situations before I can really know who they are.
Finally, I got tired of looking at that cursor and pulled out my handy-dandy notebook and made a bullet point list of questions to answer.
- What’s the setting? Why there? — I had that one.
- What are my main characters’ goals? Why do they want them? What’s going to keep them from getting what they want? Needed to think about this one a little longer.
- Who are my characters when they walk onto the page of the book?
- What ghost from the past keeps them from living their lives to the fullest?
- What’s the flaw that’s going to cause conflict in reaching their goal?
- What are their competing values? What will they have to give up?
When I answer these questions, I’ll know my hero/heroine’s goals.
- And last of all, what crime is to be solved now? Why not five years ago? Or six months ago? Or next year?
Why is this last question important? The crime needs a trigger (pun intended), something that rules out any other time frame, and until I nail that, I can’t move forward. In the book I mentioned, the heroine’s sister has been missing for fifteen years, and she’s just now digging into her disappearance. I needed a good reason for the why now question, so I brainstormed a list of reasons. Nothing was off the table. This can take anywhere from a couple of hours to several days.
When I finished, I chose two that I could work with. Then I started writing with James Scott Bell’s signposts in mind. I now have 25,000 words and have a good handle on my story and the main characters. Of course, they will continue to surprise me, but that’s the fun in writing.
Do you have questions that have to be answered before you can start your story? Let me know in the comments. It might help someone else…and me.
Wishing you a blessed holiday season. See you next year!
Aside from the typical question of mystery — knowing “who did it”, the other thing I need to know before I can start is how the secondary thread of the story will progress before I can begin writing. Since I’m always thinking in terms of books in a series rather than stand alones, it’s important for me to understand how a secondary thread for the main protag is going to carry out over the course of the book. That helps write not only that book but the one that comes after it.
I wish I was better at planning red herrings before I started writing. That can get tricky at times and stall a work in progress.
Knowing who did it is one thing I don’t have to know, Brenda. I always have at least four characters with motive, means, and opportunity. By the end of the book one of them will tell me they did it, and sometimes it’s not the person I thought it was.
I’m glad to see you here! I’ve enjoyed your comments in the past and it will be fun to get another interesting take on this writing gig.
Since stories seem to plop into my mind fully formed, I don’t usually ask questions before I start writing. I’ve written five books so far, but maybe I could try a different approach in 2026.
A blessed holiday season to everyone!
Thank you, Becky. I’m really excited to be here. I wish my stories came to me fully formed!
Welcome, Pat! A great first post to kick off your tenure here.
I love the idea of Erle Stanely Gardner’s “the murderer’s ladder.” Gardner, of course, wrote (that is, dictated) the immensely popular Perry Mason books. Not a great stylist, but a master of mystery. He spent most of his pre-writing time working out this “ladder.” I wrote about it here: https://killzoneblog.com/2013/09/dont-kill-your-thrills-with-premise.html
See you in 2026!
Thanks, Jim! I’m really excited to be here.
I do know the way the story will end–I have to have that before I start, just not always who did it. I hopped over and re-read the post on the ladder. Early Stanley Garner had a good game plan.
Welcome, Pat.
Coming from a romance writing background, I use Deb Dixon’s Goal, Motivation, & Conflict when I’m meeting my characters. Then, a bunch of ‘why’ questions arise, and I take it from there.
Deb Dixon was from my hometown of Memphis…or at least lived there long enough to be identified as a Memphian. And if I know my characters’ GMC, like you said, it’ll trigger the why questions.
Welcome, Patricia! I can identify with that Blinking Cursor problem.
Before I start writing a new novel, I take out my notebook and start making notes about possible characters, plot arcs, and a theme (if I have one.) All of the handwriting helps me brainstorm in a way I can’t do at the keyboard. (I wrote a post on TKZ several years ago about the creative effects of handwriting vs typing .)
https://killzoneblog.com/2022/10/handwriting-versus-typing.html
Looking forward to your posts in 2026!
I remember that post, Kay. I have an artist sketch pad that I use. I find not having lines frees my mind. In fact I’m about to get it out and do JSB’s antagonist interview. Right now he’s kind of cardboardy.
I’m going to try this notebook/handwriting thingy! It’s time…
Welcome, Pat! I’m so pleased you have joined us as a TKZ poster.
Your first post is keeper, too. Blinking cursor AKA white page syndrome is real. I’ve felt it myself.
My solution is to give myself a framework. I typically work out characters as I write, but I do need to know what they want, what stands in their way etc, as well as some background which I can flesh out. I also need to know the signposts (JSB’s book Super Structure is a great guide), especially the midpoint mirror moment. With my new book, I want to work out the theme–at least, have one at start to help me “tune” the storyline with meaning.
When I begin drafting, I lean on micro-tension and aim to make the book as “propulsive” as I can. Scene and sequel (Jack Bickham’s book of the same name really helped me with this) give me an action-response interplay.
Happy Holidays! Can’t wait to see what you write in 2026!
Thanks, Dale. I am really pleased to be here. I have my mirror moment for the story–something I sometimes struggle with. And somehow my mind works toward JSB’s signposts coming at the right point, thank goodness!
Pat, I look forward to your words of wisdom here! Congrats! You know me, a pantser (or organic writer). I don’t know what will happen until I get started. I have the setting (all my romantic suspenses are set in San Antonio), the protagonist (usually her occupation), and the crime to be committed. Sometimes I’ll know more because of how the idea came about. Like Wanted, the manuscript currently being shopped by my agent. I saw an article in the newspaper about a woman who was accused of a murder-for-hire of her husband. The day she was supposed to go to trial, she cut off her ankle monitor, and disappeared. Ten years later (the article I was reading) the Texas fugitive task force announced she’d been added to the Texas Most Wanted Fugitive list. Which begs the question: what’s she been doing for the last 10 years. And I was off . . . . No problem with a blinking cursor this time. I can’t wait to read your elephant sanctuary story!
I love your newest story idea! And the news is the way I get a lot of my ideas…so many crimes out there. lol
I’m loving the elephant sanctuary story even though sometimes getting my characters to talk to me is like pulling dandelions!
Welcome, Patricia.
I always recommend Ben Bova’s THE CRAFT OF WRITING SCIENCE FICTION THAT SELLS even if you don’t write science fiction. He connects character and plot in a way that makes a great deal of sense, and I’ve used his story development tools for many years to frame my story and my characters.
I will check him out, Marilynn.
Howdy do, Patricia! Great post…a keeper.
For my newest WIP, I’ve been staring at the *blinking* cursor for months. I have the two main characters firmly in my mind, the setting, the crime, and the ending. I have about 6,000 words written.
The problem I’m having is the time frame it’s set in…about 2,000 years ago. I’m not sure if I should research thoroughly now, or just write the story and fix historical details later. I’m pretty much a pantser, BTW.
What say you? 🙂 Anyone?
2000 years ago sounds pretty interesting, Deb. Have you read any of Randy Ingermanson’s works?
Deb, I would probably write the story and do the research later because when I research I fall down a rabbit hole. I can spend hours researching…but at some point you have to start writing the story. Just put a couple of stars when you come to something you need to research.
Thanks, Patricia! I know many authors use those notations to go back and tweak. I’ll have to give it a whirl.
Glad you joined TKZ’s crew, Pat!
That blinking cursor mocks me periodically. It’s frustrating and makes me wonder if the idea well has finally run dry. But I’ve learned to be patient and wait.
Meanwhile, I continue to write every day, even it’s only emails. I also edit clients’ work and beta read to keep my brain exercised.
New ideas usually come from the news but they need time to incubate while my subconscious rolls them around. Then something clicks and a new story takes off.
Your questions are terrific tools for focus, esp. “What are their competing values? What will they have to give up?” That internal conflict adds fascinating dimensions to characters.
Wishing you a Marry Christmas and a creative New Year!
Thanks, Debbie! Yes, it takes time for ideas to ramble around and develop. Sometimes there’s a story there, but often for me there’s not enough for an 80,000 book.