Of Head Space and Stubborn Characters

I am attempting to outline my next project, book 3 in the Celestial Surrender series, tentatively titled Tangled Intrigue. I tend to start with a character, usually the heroine. I did so for this project. Adira made herself at home in my head, giving me glimpses of who she is. Then I got together with two fellow authors and friends and we brainstormed some ideas of what happens to Adira. We had a lot of fun and some great ideas. I felt I had more of a grip on her and what the story would be about.

Hah! Then I got home and tried to put the ideas together. She was having none of it. Every idea I presented was kicked to the curb. She is standing in my head, arms crossed over her chest, wearing her Sentinel uniform, heavily armed, and is tapping her foot at me. Basically she’s telling me to get my act together and stop attempting to push her into a story where she doesn’t fit.

Unfortunately she’s not giving me any hints on what would be acceptable and the hero is a total mystery. I am not a pantser (someone who writes by the seat of her pants;). I need an idea of where I’m going, what I’m trying to achieve. And Adira is making things a little difficult;).

Then a friend asked me what I’ve read lately. She suggested that when she wrote a certain story she immersed herself in similar stories by other writers.

And that totally clicked with me. I have been reading a lot of YA or 9-12, a couple of sexy romances and am now reading a book on the longlist for the Man Booker Prize. Not a single erotic story in sight. No wonder my head space is all over the place and not coming together. I’ve pulled out a stack of my favourite sexy books and will work my way through them. Hopefully that will give the story a kick up the backside and Adira will stop tapping her foot;).

How do you plan your stories? Are you a Plotter or a Pantser? Or like me a Plantser?