Creative process

This week I want to discuss the creative process or at least my creative process. I just got through plotting a larger book (100, 000 words)–a murder mystery, and boy, I’m still amazed where some of my plot came from. In fact, I’m not sure where it came from. I will go to bed trying to work out a problem in my story and the next morning wake up with a solution. I wish all my problems would solve themselves like that. I realize some time in the middle of the night my subconscious went to work and found an answer to my dilemma. Of course, that doesn’t always work. Sometimes I talk it out with myself (I know that can look strange to a person seeing me do that) or a friend. I love to brainstorm. A lot can come from brainstorming with a friend–bouncing ideas around until one works for you. Find a partner and brainstorm your next book with her, then you do the same for her. By the way, it doesn’t have to be just one person. Critique groups can serve this purpose, too.