So how do we do this? If it’s a totally new world, we have
to describe it well enough that readers will feel they exist in the same realm.
I wrote a futuristic otherworld existence for one
story—based on the premise that book stores are important. Someone had asked
for short stories using the idea, but this was way before ebook technology. I
wrote the story, was promptly rejected—didn’t want romance and was told that
this was by invitation only—so why it was on the Web for everyone to submit to,
I haven’t any idea. I loved the characters and the premise of the story and
turned it into a novel. I’m still revising.
In my current works, I try to make them as realistic as
possible. My werewolves are based on real wolves. They live in packs or as lone
wolves using real wolf dynamics. Yet they aren’t real wolves. They’re humans
who shift into wolves. So they have the human aspect also. They aren’t strictly
humans either as they have their own wolfish personalities. They are one with
their two halves and the two halves make them whole.
There are exceptions to every rule. So though the norm is
one way—wolves mate for life—there are exceptions. Some wolves do take another
mate if theirs dies. One male had two female wolves for his mates. Because
there are exceptions in the real world, I use that to make exceptions in my
world.
For the wolf tales, I’ve used some true wolf stories,
research houses that I think will be perfect for the homes they live in, the
perfect kitchen, the perfect den, the perfect ocean view, lake, island, etc. I
learn the kind of plants, woods, terrain that are in the area. Researching
weather can help to make the story more realistic, and makes it easier if
you’re trying to set up a situation that turns out not to be viable because the
weather wouldn’t cooperate. I make up towns sometimes when I want to instead of
using an existing one.
In the new jaguar series, I started the first of the stories
in the Amazon jungle. That’s where the big cats are. So I wanted the jungle feel
to the story. Not humans running around purring and what not. I wanted to show
they had real bite.
Setting can be really important to help create your world.
Even though the stories focus on character as well as plot, I always have to
think of how I can make the story as real as possible, and creating a scenario
where jaguars are running around NYC would be hard to do—for my kind of cats.
It doesn’t mean they don’t exist. But that I’d have to come up with a
reasonable explanation of how they’d get around the city if they had the urge
to shift.
Some authors have worlds where their were-creatures coexist
with the human population. Instead of the secretiveness that my world requires,
their worlds are more based on the prejudices of were-creatures trying to live
with humans.
No matter what kind of world we create—vampires, psychics,
ghosts, time-travel, were-creatures, we have to have conflict. Conflict is what
makes the story riveting to read.
So back to my earlier futuristic world. I have were-animals
in that “book-stores-are-important” story (who knows now, eh?)—the panther and
a dragon shifter, sister and brother. How in the world did I come up with that?
I don’t know. I just liked the idea. The story is full of adventure,
world-building, mystery, fighting, loving, you know, all that good stuff. But
essential to the story is character and plot and world-building.
We can do anything we set our minds to do if we have a good
enough reason for it. Any world that we set up can work if we know why we’re
doing it that way. If we know the backstory, how they existed before this, what
motivates them, what their goals are and why, we can make it work.
Creating the characters that fit with the otherworldly part
of them, creating the world that does too, it has to seem real, no matter how
far out it is.
 |
| The Rainforest |
In my wolf stories, which were first? Red werewolves or
gray? The debate goes on.
In my jaguar-shifter story, how did the shifters’ family
become jaguar shifters? How far back in the family tree? How do jaguar-shifters
come to be?
I haven’t answered all these questions. Sometimes leaving
some of the mystery in the story gives you the opportunity to create scenarios
in new books that you wouldn’t be able to if you’d already locked yourself into
the world.
Except when you make exceptions. There are always
exceptions. You just have to come up with a plausible enough reason why.
The key to making any kind of a world that isn’t of the
norm, or even when it is, is to make YOUR story unique. What editors will ask
you is—what else is on the market like this? Is your story unique enough? BE
the trendsetter.
I was reading a book by one author who talked about a
character who is a were-rat. Okay. My former manager wants me to write about a
were-sea otter. We can do anything we set our minds to do if we have proper
motivation. Just remember your potential audience. Will you have enough readers
who are interested in a sexy were-rat of a man?
Hey, zombie romance exists now!
The key to success is to make your world unique, set some
standards and stick by them, unless there’s an exception, and create a world
your readers can believe in. Make characters that your readers will love,
enough conflict to keep them reading, goals and motivation to make the story
plausible, and the world is yours to create.
If your poor witch, or zombie, or were-creature isn’t
interesting agents and editors, come join me in a workshop on Rejection!
Rejection! Rejection! And how to deal with it.
The wolves….
A
SEAL IN WOLF’S CLOTHING, March 6, 2012
Her
instincts tell her he's dangerous...
While her overprotective brother's
away, Meara Greymere's planning to play—and it wouldn't hurt to find herself a
mate in the process. The last thing she needs is one of his SEAL buddies
spoiling her fun, even if the guy is the hottest one she's ever seen...
His
powers of persuasion are impossible to resist...
Finn Emerson is a battle-hardened
Navy SEAL and alpha wolf. He's a little overqualified for baby-sitting, but
feisty Meara is attracting trouble like a magnet...
The jaguars….
SAVAGE HUNGER, October 1, 2012Kathleen McKnight is on a dangerous mission to help her army team take down a drug lord. She's a tough as nails recruit, but when she's caught in the crossfire, she has to rely on a mysterious man to save her. She has no idea that he has big plans for her...
Connor Anderson is a jaguar shifter who is looking for his mate. When he rescues Kathleen in the jungle-twice—he can't help but be intrigued. Will a bite or a scratch turn Kathleen into the perfect jaguar mate?
I hope you will join my class
How
to Deal with Rejection
&
Do
What You Love Most-Write!
Hosted by
Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal
Romance Writers
This 2 WEEK class starts September 10th
For more information click HERE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, Terry Spear
USA Today bestselling author, Terry Spear has written over
three dozen paranormal romance novels and two medieval Highland historical
romances. An award-winning author, Terry’s Heart
of the Wolf was named a Publishers
Weekly’s Best Book of the Year in 2008. A retired lieutenant colonel in the
U.S. Army Reserves, Terry Spear spends every spare moment writing paranormal
romance as well as historical and true life stories for both teen and adult
audiences. Spear lives in Crawford, Texas, where she is working on her second
book in the jaguar shifter series! For more information, please visit:
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