For Writers: Starting A New Book
Every time I start a new novel I buy a new journal, or several journals. I fill it with thoughts and pictures. I write and scribble, cut and paste, ponder and sketch.
I’m starting a novel this week, diving head first into my zany imagination. I’m letting my mind travel around and about, hoping to find creativity in the clouds, crocuses, and Haagen Dazs.
Here are photos of pictures I’ve glued into my journal and a few photos I’ve taken that are making me ask questions about my character and the plot…
![February 2013 074](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/February-2013-074-300x225.jpg)
Mosaics. Broken pieces turned into something lovely An artist? Tortured soul? Happy creator? Why does she like to create? Is her art dark and depressing? Joyful? What is her spirit like? What is she made of when she's all put together?
![February 2013 082](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/February-2013-082-225x300.jpg)
I'm thinking about flowers. I do love flowers...has anyone ever given her flowers? Does a particular type of flower give her nightmares? Does the scent of honeysuckle make her sick? Does a pink rose bring her back to a cruel time? Do daffodils bring a smile or a laugh? Has she ever smashed flowers with her feet while crying? Why?
![February 26 2013 003](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/February-26-2013-003-225x300.jpg)
Mosaic Man. What can you do with old things to make them pretty? Does my character feel pretty? Is she pretty? Is she tired and frumpy? Why? Does she feel ugly inside, and therefore her actions are not always appropriate? Has anyone ever told her she's pretty? Is being pretty important to her? Is character more important?
![February 26 2013 005](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/February-26-2013-005-225x300.jpg)
Garden Art? Have I done that already? I think Stevie in SUCH A PRETTY FACE had a cool garden, better not repeat it. Must be careful of that...
![February 26 2013 008](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/February-26-2013-008-225x300.jpg)
Nature? Does she love it, fear it, always in it, never in it? Does nature make her think too hard? Does the quiet unnerve her? Does she feel small in the face of a mountain? Or in awe? Does nature make her feel fulfilled or lost?
![Montana summer 2011 139](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Montana-summer-2011-139-300x225.jpg)
Where will she live? City or small town? Will she hide in either place? If so, why is she hiding? What will she do when she gets there? How will she fit in? Is fitting in important to her? Has she ever felt like she fit in? Is she broke?
![February 26 2013 004](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/February-26-2013-004-225x300.jpg)
Birds. I like birds. Will they be in the book? Types? Migratory patterns? Wings? How is my character like a bird, or not? Will she spread her wings? Are her wings broken and how? If she could choose her own wings, what would they look like? Rainbow colored? Glittering? Black and broken?
![February 2013 081](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/February-2013-081-e1362617944972-300x225.jpg)
Fishing. Drift Boats. Dinner...how do I work that in? Is fishing a part of her life? Why? Who taught her? Is that person still alive? What was that relationship like?
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Summer-vacation-2009-045-225x300.jpg)
What are my character's challenges and future roadblocks? What has ripped her apart? What did she do that she regrets? What does she look forward to? Is there anything for her to look forward to? Is she grateful? Ambitious? Focused? Crazy?
![February 26 2013 009](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/February-26-2013-009-225x300.jpg)
Love the image here. Why do I love it? Don't know...I do like shutters, though. How will shutters figure into the book? Are there shutters in her home? Shutters on her heart? Was she hit with a broken piece of shutter when she was a kid? Did she, as an adult, whack someone with a broken shutter? Why?
![Country Date Nov 2012 027](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Country-Date-Nov-2012-027-225x300.jpg)
I love watching leaves change. But I've used leaves and the seasons before as symbols...I need a new symbol.
![Driving 2012 015](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Driving-2012-015-225x300.jpg)
Will she make a new friend? Will the friend be true, or will she betray her? What does friendship look like to her? Does she have friends? IS SHE LONELY? Is she alone? Is she a loner or does she need people?
![Metolius River 2012 006](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Metolius-River-2012-0061-300x225.jpg)
How will she find peace? Does she find peace? Is it possible for her to find peace? Should she settle for peace and a little mental chaos now and then? Should we all settle for that?
![August 2010 033](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/August-2010-033-300x224.jpg)
Flowers. Magic. Premonitions. Picnics. Stargazing. Death. Blood. (I told you my mind travels in strange ways!)
![Fishing Brad 5 2012 003](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Fishing-Brad-5-2012-003-300x225.jpg)
What is she afraid of? Does fear guide her decisions? Does she dare? Does rushing water scare her? Does she want to climb to the top of a mountain? Does she prefer being inside, in front of a fire?
![Beach 2012 023](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Beach-2012-0231-300x225.jpg)
What are the themes for the book? What am I really trying to say underneath it all? What does my character need to say?
![February 2013 075](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/February-2013-075-300x225.jpg)
Love the image here. Why do I love it? Maybe it's home. Imaginary homes for birds who talk. Bird families. Families. Broken families, loving families. What will she have? Will she have a family at all?
![](http://cathylamb.org/wp-content/themes/Cathy%20Lamb/Cathy%20Lamb/images/signature.gif)
You are a genius. I never once thought about doing something like this to develop characters. Thanks for this peek into your creative process.
1I am just in AWE of your writing and the way you develop your story/characters.
2