Daydream Your Way To A Better Story
By Guest | February 28, 2016 |
Please welcome Marin Thomas to Writer Unboxed. Marin writes Women’s Fiction for Berkley/NAL and western romances for Harlequin books. To date she has contracted over 35 projects for Harlequin. Her first women’s fiction novel, The Promise of Forgiveness, will release next month.
Marin grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin, and attended college at the University of Arizona where she played basketball for the Lady Wildcats and earned a B.A. in Radio-TV. Following graduation she married her college sweetheart in a five-minute ceremony at the historical Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas. Marin and her husband are recent empty nesters and currently live in Houston, Texas, where she spends her free time junk hunting and researching her next ghost tour.
Connect with Marin on Twitter, on Facebook, on Amazon, and on Goodreads.
Daydream Your Way To A Better Story
How many times have you heard authors, agents, editors, and writing coaches tell you that you should write what you know?
Maybe not.
If we only write about what we know, this world would lose out on some pretty amazing works of fiction. I’m a prime example of writing what I don’t know and being relatively successful at it. I’m not talking about becoming rich off my books—I’d have better luck taking my chances on a lottery ticket. I’m talking about staying in contract.
I sold my first book with Harlequin in 2004 and to date I’ve written over 35 projects for them (books, online reads and novellas). Most recently, I branched into women’s fiction with my first sale to Berkley/NAL. I consider myself fortunate to having survived in this business for over a decade.
But here’s the kicker; my imagination, not what I know, has kept me employed all these years—that and help from my writing partner Google.
Write What You Don’t Know
My first women’s fiction book is a perfect example of a story that isn’t a reflection of my life.
- The story takes place in a small fictitious town in the Oklahoma panhandle. I’ve driven through the Sooner state a couple of times but have never lived there.
- The heroine in my novel is a single mother. I’ve never been a single mother.
- The heroine swaps out men as often as she changes underwear. I’m about to celebrate thirty years of wedded bliss to the same guy—talk about a gal who doesn’t change her underwear often.
- The heroine was adopted. I’m not adopted.
- The ranch foreman lost his young son. Fortunately I haven’t experience such a tragedy.
You see were I’m going with this? Being a successful writer doesn’t have to depend solely on your life experiences. The ability to put yourself in someone else’s head, shoes, underwear—whatever—is the key to creating a realistic, engaging story that draws the reader in.
You say your imagination is a little rusty? No worries. Start daydreaming. The next time you’re sitting in a group meeting at work playing buzzword bingo as your boss drones on about logistics, bottom lines and shareholder value, stare into space and see what pops into your head.
Travel a lot? Keep the laptop stowed in your carryon at the airport and then watch deplaning passengers as they walk off the jet way. Hitting the highway for the holidays? Take the back roads, give up the wheel, stay off the iPhone and then turn your head sideways and gaze at the passing scenery. It may take a little practice but pretty soon you’ll be seeing more than objects in the distance. Your mind will be racing with a million what ifs.
Still Need More Convincing?
According to an article by MarkPrigg, DailyMail.com: “Researchers have found that daydreaming can be good for you and actually boost the brain. While we daydream, the brain is freed up to process tasks more effectively.” Maybe we don’t need those ginkgo biloba supplements after all.
An article by Jessica Lahey at theatlantic.com says, “Daydreaming only appears lazy from the outside, but viewed from the inside—or from the perspective of a psychologist, or a neuroscientist—a complicated and extremely productive neurological process is taking place.” Don’t tell Sheldon, but Penny’s the smartest one on the Big Bang Theory.
So the next time someone tells you to write what you know, take the advice with a grain of salt and go stare out the window.
Where’s the most likely place you catch yourself daydreaming? Has a story idea or character ever resulted from one of your daydreams?
Many thanks to today’s guest.
You can read more WU guest posts by visiting this link.
I agree with you so wholeheartedly! I always thought if I only wrote what I already knew—I would be terribly bored!
LOL, Amy! The great thing is some of us go through life Average Joe’s and others travel to the stars, but we all have unique stories worth telling. Happy Sunday!
Thanks for a great post, Marin. — My favorite spots for taking notes are small diners in little towns (or farmers’ markets in same). Amazing what sorts of storylines you can pick up. Also some pretty weird food ideas, like the lady not long ago who ordered waffles and livermush for lunch. (And yes, she ate syrup on all of it. I had to get up and leave.) No story yet about that one. Maybe it will make its way into one soon. — Daydreaming is totally underrated. Thank you for endorsing it!
Newt, a small diner is a fabulous place to gather ideas for a new story! Not only interesting food choices, but snippets of conversations and one-liners that might come in handy for future stories. Thanks for leaving a comment-enjoy your Sunday!
Loved this post, Marin. I have been a people watcher from the time I was a child…and a daydreamer. And when I find myself sitting in a car waiting for someone, in an airport waiting for a flight or in a restaurant waiting for my food, I am never bored.
Hi Beverly! I don’t enjoy flying, but as you mentioned the airport is a great place to people-watch. I love seeing people come off a plane….watching their expressions as they’re greeted by family or friends-you can always tell the ones who are thinking “I can’t wait to get this visit over with and get back on that plane :-)
Can hardly wait for this book to be released!! Love all of Marin’s books. Been reading her for many years!!
Hi Teresa-thanks for stopping by the blog! I’m hoping you like “Promise” as much as my other books :-)
Thank you for the great post Marin. I’m looking forward to your new book.
Hi Kim-hope you leave room for a little daydreaming in your Sunday. :-)
What a great piece! Sounds like a fascinating book, too.
HI Maddie-thanks for stopping by the blog today and leaving a comment. Daydreaming can lead you to writing a book you never imagined :-)
Marin, this is dead on for me. I have a very curious mind, and I daydream endlessly. I’m always wondering what life would be like without ‘that’ or ‘if this was different’ or ‘if I thought of it another way.’ The possibilities are endless when you really think about it…and think I do.
Great post, wonderful reminder to value the process, the simple act of daydreaming.
Dee Willson
Author of A Keeper’s Truth and GOT
Hi Dee-I agree with you– we need to value the process and let ourselves daydream. It’s not always easy when we’re rushing here and there all day but we should try to find a few quiet moments every week to let our minds wander. One of my favorite places to daydream is walking on the treadmill :-)
Thanks for this wonderful, energizing post!
LOL, Doug! Glad you found it energizing-but there are times when my daydreaming gets out of hand and exhausts me :-)
I take that old adage “Write what you know” from a different perspective. You have to in the SF/Fantasy realms. The write-what-you-know from my take of it is the universal human emotional sea. ET is an alien, but a childlike one lost in a strange world and missing his home. The replicants in Blade Runner rebel against their cruel masters, and seek to prolong their lives. The leader is seeking his “father” convinced he has the answers. On Star Trek, Mr. Spock is a source of fascination because he claims to have no human emotions, so those episodes where we glimpse humanity in him are powerful. Sure, these are all people, times and places I may never get to experience firsthand, but I recognize and relate to the humanity of the situation. Because I’m human and that’s what I know.
Excellent point, Bernadette! Our experiences in life, how we relate to people, how we view the world and connect with others help us to write convincing characters in any genre.
“The next time your sitting in a group meeting at work playing buzzword bingo…”
You’re.
Ray, apologies for the error! I’ll pass this along to my proof reader and tell him not to quit his day job and I’ll suggest he turn off the basketball game while he edits my blogs :-)
There, they’re, their, Ray. ;-)
I’m a daydream believer, Marin. Thanks for a great post!
LOL, Vaughn! Glad to meet another daydreamer :-)
I’m a chronic daydreamer, so I can relate to this post, Marin! I would just add that once I’ve gone as far as daydreaming will take me, I do research. It’s not enough for me to imagine what it’s like to be adopted, for example. I’d want to talk with people who have been adopted and maybe social workers, etc., who are involved in adoption proceedings. My findings can validate, enhance and inform my imaginings. Otherwise it’s easy to get caught up in stereotypes and end up with two-dimensional characters. I’m sure you do research, too, but I’ve read too many beginners’ manuscripts that suffer from this problem. But thanks for this reminder to let our minds wander!
Hi Barbara-I agree that daydreaming will take you so far and then Google becomes your best friend. :-) But seriously, writing credible characters is such an important part of the reading experience that a writer needs to go the extra step just as you suggested…interviewing social workers or picking the brain of a friend who was adopted….all of that helps create a well-rounded character. And I think it enriches the writing experience for the author, too.
I love daydreaming. I get a lot of ideas from doing that. When we are at the beach, mountains, or in a quiet place are great times to do it.
Mary, I wish my office window looked out at the ocean or the mountains-then again I probably wouldn’t get any writing done :-) Happy Sunday!
Marin, I’m so glad to see you here on Writer Unboxed! I totally agree with you about the power of daydreaming. I find if I should get stuck in my writing walking away from the computer and doing anything but NOT thinking about my story helps free my thoughts. Also, I’ve been happily surprised and relieved when suddenly a major thought-breakthrough occurs while daydreaming away at the dreaded day-job–so thankful for scrap paper to write a note to myself.
Thanks for stopping by, Elaine! It is funny how great story ideas pop into our heads when we least expect them…like at your day job. I can also get carried away daydreaming when I listen to music :-)
Another believer in the value of daydreaming. It always cracks me up that scientists do studies to prove what people have known for generations.
In college, I needed help with a math problem and my professor hadn’t yet come in but another was staring off into space. I interrupted him, quite rudely (Since you aren’t doing anything), but I am forever grateful that he didn’t throw me out of his office and instead helped me. He’d been pondering fluid mechanics :)
I get my best ideas in the shower, looking out the window, walking, sitting out on my porch listening to the birds and squirrels.
Vijaya-I LOVE sitting on the porch or the patio at the end of the day, closing my eyes and listening to nature scurry around the yard. And drinking sangria or a margarita on the patio usually enhances the imagination–or at least makes me not want to throw rocks at the squirrels digging golf-ball size holes in the grass. :-) Happy Sunday!
Thanks for the validation for the way my mind will wander – even when I’m with people. I think writers are always playing with what if’s and it’s something that needs to be nurtured. When I’m driving I leave the radio off and let my mind go. When I go for a walk the same thing. Daydreaming allows me to play with ideas without commitment. And it is often in those playing moments that plots get untangled or new story concepts come to fruition. Daydreaming is as much a part of writing as the actual words to paper are. One of my favourite writing/daydreaming comments comes from the cartoon Shoe. Shoe is looking out the window and Skyler comes by admonishing him to get to work. Pound the keyboard. Produce something. Shoe looks around and says, “Typists pound keyboards. Writers stare out windows.”.
LOL! Thanks for sharing the joke, Carolyn! I, too, have figured out a new plot twist or solved a problem with a manuscript while daydreaming. Or that annoying habit of coming up with an opening scene for a new book when the deadline book isn’t finished yet. Happy Sunday!
One size doesn’t fit all. Thanks for sharing.
I think what Bernadette said yesterday regarding ‘write what you know’ is right on. It’s about taking experience–particularly our emotional experience–and applying it to other situations. And about empathy, too.
As for daydreaming, yeah, I do it all the time. I find I rarely listen to the radio or music in my car to/from work now because I’m watching/listening to what’s going on in my head. Driving, walking the dog, washing the dishes–all good times to work out kinks and bugs in my stories.
I really enjoy Marin’s books and can’t wait for this one to come out.
Love this post!! I tend to daydream a lot. That’s where I’m come up with ideas for crafts and for baking ideas.
I’m definitely a lifelong daydreamer! Only recently have I thought to turn all that “wasted” time into something good like written stories. Glad to know there’s a community of us.
I only write what I know in the form of location. I’m a newbie erotic romance writer and, like Stephen King, I plan to base my books in my hometown. But to answer your question, “Where’s the most likely place you catch yourself daydreaming?”—work! Sometimes, I have little pockets of down time and I find myself staring at my computer screen or staring off into space. Hopefully, it just looks like I’m thinking. LOL
Marin, I love this post. I always think my life has been too boring to be creative. We’re led to believe we have to be tortured souls, bordering on insanity to be truly creative. But, like you, my debut novel had almost nothing to do with my life—a celebrity stalker, an alcoholic father, life-threatening incidents. A few characters were amalgams of relatives I grew up with in the deep South, but most was born of my imagination. So, I say, keep daydreaming!
I can’t wait to read this book.
I really enjoy Marin’s Harlequin books, well the ones I’ve read, I haven’t read them all yet but I loved the ones I have. I can’t wait to read this one too.
Congrats on the release!
One of my favorite spots to people watch is the park. So many different people. I always try to write a small story to associate with each person.
I love to daydream and I enjoy people watching.
Congratulations on your new release
Can’t wait to read it.
When I’m writing a project that resulted from daydreaming, it flows pretty well and I get it done in a decent time. When I’m writing a project that resulted from something in my own life–or one that I connect strongly with something that happened in my own life–it takes a lot longer and it feels like sludge.
Here’s to daydreaming!!!