Today we welcome my friend Sherrinda Ketchersid to the blog. Sherrinda is a pastor’s wife, mom to four, and a fun-loving word-weaver.
Join us now as we chat about the greatest power tool in writers’ imaginations.
Take it away, Sherrinda!
Writers live life with a perpetual question swirling through our minds.
This question draws deep from the well of creativity and reaches out to grasp the winds of inspiration.
It’s a question that builds the bones and then breathes life into our stories.
It’s the writer’s power tool—the question of “What if?”
When it’s time to start a new story or brainstorm part of the plot, these words plant a seed in our minds. (Click-to-Tweet)
Even as we hear a news broadcast we begin to ask … what if?
What if …
• fossil DNA of a dinosaur was used to clone a dinosaur today?
• a man fell in love with the woman who had received his dead wife’s heart?
• a hobbit found a ring that could give evil full reign over the world?
• a princess pricked her finger on an enchanted spinning wheel and had to be awakened by the kiss of her true love?
Hopefully, you recognize these examples of wonderful books/movies that all started with what if.
Every great story begins with a tiny spark of a question.
The question then leads to the next question, which leads to another question. These build on one another until a story is born.
What if …
• a young woman is held captive in a convent?
• the young woman escapes, disguised as a boy?
• the woman is beaten along the way by ruffians?
• the woman is saved by a handsome knight?
• the handsome knight is on his way to her father’s castle for a tournament?
• he takes her on as his squire (thinking she is a lad), promising to give her safe passage?
• she falls in love with the knight?
• her gender is discovered when she is injured in a fight?
These are just a few of the questions I asked while brainstorming my first story.
A story starts with a germ of an idea.
When we ask “what if” we find many different directions our stories can go.
For instance, when you are brainstorming a story idea, try to think of all possible angles. Allow yourself as many ideas as you can. Nothing is off-limits. You’re brainstorming, remember? (Click-to-Tweet)
Having my heroine’s gender discovered at the beginning of the book would have made it a completely different story. The romantic tension would be stronger, but then my hero wouldn’t have known my heroine the same way as he did while she pretended to be a boy.
The question of “what if” is a powerful tool for the writer.
Now, you try it.
Grab a pen and paper and start your list of “what ifs.” You might even try a mind map, branching off in different directions.
Wherever your “what ifs” take you, don’t be shy. See what you can come up with.
Author Bio
Sherrinda Ketchersid is a born and bred Texan, preacher’s wife, mother of four children, and works part-time as a bookseller at Amazon. With the children grown and out of the house, she weaves tales of fierce knights and their ladies in a time where men were warriors, and strong women kept them in check.
After time off from writing, she has returned with a new motto in place to spur her on. “Writers write. Everyone else makes excuses.” ~ Jack Bickham.
No excuses this time. She is weaving her love of romance with history to bring joy and the hope of love to those who may one day read her stories. Her début novel, a medieval romance, will release Spring 2019.
You can connect with her through:
Personal blog: sherrinda.com
Twitter: @sherrinda
Instagram: @sherrinda
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherrinda.ketchersid
***
PLEASE SHARE
Writer, not sure where to begin? Fire up the greatest power tool in your writer’s imagination!
ENCOURAGEMENT
When Our Story Worlds Come Alive
Breathing life and love into our stories. How easy is it?
10 Things You Should Know About the Writing Life
Do you want to be an author? What you should know.
Original Image Credit: Photo by Mindaugas Vitkus on Unsplash
Sherrinda here— Let’s experiment. I’ll start and you come up with a “what if.” Let’s see what kind of story we can create with our comments today.
What if a woman was in an airplane, about to skydive for her 30th birthday, when she discovered that Gerard Butler (or whatever cutie-pie you would like to envision) was sitting next to her?
What is your “what if?”
Or, if your brain is tired and you can’t think of a “what if” question, what is your favorite writing tool for brainstorming?
***
Now, my friends, just some quick housekeeping notes.
Over the next several weeks, additional guests will join us here. It’s been a great season of insight and encouragement.
In the fall, I’ll jump back in the blogging saddle again with an occasional guest popping in from time to time. I hope you’ll continue to visit, as the excitement is just beginning!
Her Hope Discovered, my début novel, will release January 2019! If you’d like to stay in the loop, please consider joining Cynthia’s Fabulous Readers and Influencers’ Facebook Group. It’s a closed group (meaning, only members see posts), but anyone can ask to join. We’d absolutely love to have you!
Also, for even more fun, love, and encouragement, plus book news, be sure and sign up for my monthly e-newsletters. ♥
Until next time…
Much Love and Many Blessings,
Comments 19
Good morning, Sherinda!
I love brainstorming with “What If?” It’s so much fun discovering new plot twists with that question. I can’t wait for your upcoming release! Thanks for sharing here today.
~ Yvonne
The “what if” question always invokes such great ideas! And thanks for the encouragement. I’m super excited about my upcoming release too! Deep into the edits right now. 🙂
I love playing “what if?” with news stories and historical events. So many great ideas and plot lines. Thank you for a fun post, Sherrinda and Cynthia!
And what if she had to go look for water and found a cave with strange drawings on the wall and a skeleton inside? What if she made a stretcher out of vines and sticks and she drug him to the cave where she found a bottle with a map of the island with a red x on it?
Hi Laura! Historical events bring the “what if” to a whole new level. 😉 So glad you stopped by!
Hi Sherrinda! I love your “what if?” question? What if our gal who’s sky diving for her 30th birthday and finds Gerard Butler sitting beside her finds out from him that he’s overheard the two pilots talking about being low on fuel? And that hey might have to do the jump in a place nowhere near where her friends are going to be on the ground to meet her?
And what if they end up jumping at the last possible moment before the plane loses fuel and they end up on a small island in the middle of a huge lake?
And what if Gerard has broken his leg with a compound fracture, along with a couple of ribs, and a concussion? and our gal has to figure out how to use their parachutes and her Girl Scout knowledge to help them survive the night and next couple of days/nights in a heavily wooded island with bears and wolves obviously around – she remembers how to tell scat signs and how to tell poisonous berries from non-poisonous ones…what then?
And what if on their first night on the island, Gerard starts talking in his sleep. She hears him muttering something about the plane running out of fuel wasn’t just bad planning on the part of the flight team but sabotage. Then what?
Ooooh! Now that adds an interesting twist! Way to ratchet up the suspense!
Ooooo, Artis! And then what if he keeps muttering and implicates himself in the process. He is part of a carefully laid plan to kidnap her and blackmail her for her father’s money?
Hi Sherrinda! Fun post today, and after reading I began thinking back to times my own “what if” thoughts led to stories (some are still waiting to be written but the ideas are jotted in my file—no way am I trusting my overloaded brain, LOL). 😉
A while back I was driving to visit my grandbaby, and ended up sitting in traffic behind a big truck. My mind took off as a story began forming about that particular company and some of the employees. Then as the cars/trucks began moving again, I had to pull my thoughts back to the busy, nerve-wracking Atlanta traffic surrounding me! Ugh. But that story has stayed with me and just might make it onto paper one day!
I’m excited about your upcoming release – – YAY SHERRINDA!! 🙂
Patti Jo, I can so related when it comes to daydreaming in traffic. I’ve had to quit that in pursuit of safety! lol
Are you through with school? I hope you are able to slow down and get your creative hat going.
Hi, Sherrinda. Mothers of four unite! “What if” and “why” are probably the best questions a writer can ask not only to get at the heart of the conflict but also to get to the heart of motivation. Thanks for sharing your “what if” path with your book.
Tanya, yes! It does help to get to motivations, doesn’t it? It really is a great tool. I didn’t realize you had four children! How awesome is that? It sure makes for a lot of fun.
‘What if’ is amazingly powerful and just the game I needed to play today. I hit a wall in my WIP and didn’t know what came next, then Sherrinda pops in with the solution. Thank you for a great post and thanks to Cynthia for having you. Much admiration to both of you.
Yay, Cindy!!!! I hate hitting a wall when writing. The “what if” game is usually helpful when that happens. So glad you got through it. 🙂
That’s the beauty of “what if.” Fun AND productive!
Cynthia, thank you so much for having me today! I had a blast! (((hugs)))