Synchronicity

Please welcome guest blogger Lynda K. Scott

synchronicity (sɪnkre’nɪsɪtɪ) — n an apparently meaningful coincidence in time of two or more similar or identical events that are causally unrelated

I’ve been doing a substantial amount of blogging and couldn’t think of a new subject that I could write about without boring myself as well as the reader. As I pounded my head against my desk top, my alien kitten, Wookie, prowled up to me and asked, ‘Is problem?’

You might think it’s unusual to have an alien kitten but I assure you, in my household, all the kittens are alien. It’s the eyes, you see -- Oh, you were more interested in her ability to speak? She absolutely speaks, something that surprised me when she adopted me. Sometimes she makes more sense than anyone else I know.

I often discuss plot ideas with her. In fact, in the past month, we’d just had a really great plot idea. My research was just falling into place, turning points seemed to be telegraphed directly into my mind. Even the hero and heroine walked right up to me, insisting they were good as they were and I should get busy writing their story.

I haven’t been this enthused by an idea in a long while. It hadn’t been done before to my knowledge so it would be fresh and unique.

And done by about twenty other authors.

At least, that’s what it looks like when I see listings for new books, movies and television shows. It’s frustrating. It makes you want to pound your head into the desk again. That’s when Wookie says Meeoowwrrr? Which means ‘Is new game? Want to play too.’

I explain my dilemma while trying to keep her from batting my head around. After bouncing into my lap and arching her back in a demand for petting, Wookie asked a series of important questions.

‘Is romance?’ No, not that I can tell. They might have some romantic elements though.

‘Is set in same place as ours?’ Uh, no, I don’t think so. (I thought she was pretty gracious when she included me in the ownership of the idea.)

‘Is alien kittens in story?’ No, but ours don’t have alien kittens either. As far as I can tell though, theirs have no aliens at all while ours does.

‘Is not same then. Go write our story.’ She threw her tail into the air as she prepared to go downstairs to find her afternoon sunbeam. ‘Needs alien kitten.’

While Wookie is understandably perturbed that there are no alien kittens, her line of questioning cleared my mind. Those other stories might be very similar in basic idea but they’re not the same as mine, er, ours.

Why would that be though? Simple. Because we didn’t write those other storys.

A story idea is created not just by what’s happening or who the characters are but by who the author is and what she/he has done. We authors bring a lot to the table, things that went into the making of us from the time we were born. Hurts, both physical and emotional, loves, guilts, failures, successes, who our family is, things we’re interested in, places we’ve been or wanted to go…all of that goes into the making of us and of our story ideas. And it goes into the creation of our characters and the subtleties of our plots.

Each one of us can write a story about dragon heroes and it will be different.

Each one of us can write a story about werewolf heroes and it will be different.

Each one of us can write a story about handsome aliens who fall in love with Earth damsels and it will be different.

Basic story ideas seem to be spawned by some sort of spontaneous synchronicity. They float through the ether until they find a receptive mind and they take root. They will not be identical. Though there may be some inherent similarities, they will be unique.

They will be unique because we, each and every one of us, is unique. If you don’t believe me, go ask your alien kitten (or dog). Just don’t admit your story lacks an alien kitten.
That kind of ticks them off.
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Lynda K. Scott comes from a long line of Kentucky storytellers (although some of those storytellers told stories to keep their stills from being discovered). While her books aren’t designed to ‘hide a still’, they have won or been nominated for a variety of awards, including the RWA Golden Heart. Reviewer’s have said her work is ‘breathtaking adventure’, ‘creative, exciting and emotionally stirring’, and ‘brings science fantasy to life’.

Her interests span the gamut from organic gardening to astronomy, from crafting to sharp shooting. She is a member of several chapters of the RWA, including the Celtic Hearts, Beau Monde, HHRW and the FF&P. Additionally, she has a shared blog to highlight her work and the work of other futuristic, fantasy or paranormal authors. She invites all readers to join her newsletter by sending a blank email to LyndaKScott-Newsgroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

She now lives in Michigan with her darling husband; her big lovable doofus of a Rottweiler-mix Zuzu and her alien kitten, Wookie, who believes she is the evil genius behind all of Lynda’s work.


Heartstone

Eric d'Ebrur is out of time. He must find the legendary Heartstone and fulfill the ancient Gar'Ja bond he shares with the Stonebearer. But when he finds her, he discovers that love can be more dangerous than the Gawan threat. Eric can defeat the mind-controlling Gawan but will it cost him the woman he loves?

After terrifying episodes of hypersensitivity, Keriam Norton thinks she's losing her mind. When handsome shapeshifter Eric d'Ebrur saves her from the monstrous Gawan, she's sure of it. But insane or not, she'll find the Heartstone and, if she's lucky, a love to last a lifetime.


Lynda will be donating 10% of the Heartstone royalties for the Oct-Dec period to St. Jude’s For Children, one of her favorite charities (you can see her three favorite charities on her website www.lyndakscott.com plus you can read the unpublished Prologue to Heartstone). Please consider making their gift a generous one by ordering Heartstone for yourself or as a gift.

To win a free copy of Heartstone, leave a comment AND send Lynda an email to Lynda@LyndaKScott.com with FFP in the Subject line and your snail mail address in the body.