Some writers begin with an emotion (Anger, Fear, Joy …etc) and can build an entire story around it. Then again, some writers begin with an idea—a plot point, and they can hit the ground running from there.

I can honestly say I’ve done both. One of my stories started with a man’s feelings. Of loss. Of betrayal. Of time wasted. Of love delayed. But it’ll take another revision to fine-tune the plot.

My latest WIP began with a glove. Just a glove and nothing else. Then came the random jigsaw pieces of a plot.

Two revisions later, I’m slowly discovering the heart (or emotion) of this story. Weird huh? I dunno, the more I write, the more I see that I really don’t know jack about my own creative process. It just is what it is at that moment.

WHEN DO YOU FIND THE HEART OF YOUR STORY …. THE EMOTIONAL HOOK? OR, DO YOU BEGIN WITH A SMALL PIECE OF PLOT AND BUILD FROM THERE?  

OR ARE YOU LIKE ME, AND DO A LITTLE OF BOTH—DEPENDING ON THE BOOK?