It’s week #14 of the challenge for romance writers, to write about each topic of the week for 52 weeks. This week it’s story inspiration. My current writing project is a complication of four (could be more!), romance novella length stories around 25-30k words each. They are all based in a paradise/ an exotic setting and country eg “romance set in paradise series” ta-da great idea.
The idea came to me as I simply had too many ideas for short stories, I even spilt one full romantic suspense novel story idea I had in two, by cutting out one stand of the story and ended up with another possible idea! I have a large notebook full of creative ideas. One day as I flicked through I wondered to myself how the hell will I write all of these? When will I find the time ? If I’m focusing on (at the time) my full length romantic suspense.. hmm the mind boggled. Then I buckled down and thought okay Kim, put them into one book, then I was like but there’s no theme they are all random stories. Most romance complication books have a theme eg billionaires, historical whatever they are not random.
I gave it a few days then I went back to the note book, and started to write the first story (Havana Heat) this story I set in Cuba from when I first brainstormed with the story line. I don’t know why I went with Cuba, it was probably damp and miserable in London at the time. Then it came to me, use an exotic location for them ALL where possible keep the original story lines but just move the location.
I was thrilled and excited as I love location writing, and setting a story in a location that I need to research about if I’ve never been, or recreate from memory as I have travelled there myself. So it seemed like an ideal project due to my love for transporting readers to another destination and myself as a writer into another destination. Especially when London is wet and windy it’s great escapism for me as a writer.
So that’s how the theme for my romance in paradise series came around. And I can’t wait to share them all with you!
If you’re a writer where do you get your inspiration from?
Author, Kim Knight 
I had a similar idea with some of my stories, combining them into one. I think I will read yours to see how you do it! Mine will be divided into four seasons – my title is Seasons of Love – but that isn’t scheduled to release until Christmas! Great post!
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Thank you for stopping by, I like the title sounds good. What kind of romance is it? Contemporary, erotic etc. Good luck with the release also! And if you do read thank you in advance, all I plan to do is stick to my theme release them as stand alone and a complication also. No rocket science behind my method.
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How exciting. It’s good you keep a notebook of the ideas. I’ve started keeping word docs on my PC when an idea hits. It’s the only sure fire way I have for not losing them. It’s happened before. LOL Good luck with your novellas, should make for a fun read once you have them complete.
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Thank you for stopping by, yes it is very exciting I feel like I’m more clued to my laptop these days. Keeping your ideas on a PC is a good idea, if I ever lost my note book I’d be so mad!
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That’s a great idea to combine stories along a location theme. Best of luck with the project!
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Funny. You live in London, a locale that may not be considered exotic but is wrapped in romantic possibility for this American. But to you it is ordinary, wet and windy. Most Americans don’t have airing cupboards or routinely carry an umbrella. I often use Britishisms in my scifi romance to make Federation standard different from American English.
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Yes that’s true about romantic possibility. I have used London as a setting before in all my other work, this time I just felt like a little spice that London could not give me… probably because to me it is what I call ordinary being a Londoner. Interesting you use Britishisms was that a conscious decision? Or did it just happen?
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It was a conscious decision. I’ve traveled in England and Ireland, and I read a lot of regency romance, which actually fits the home planet of my main characters in the Sons of Tallav series. I use lift instead of elevator. Mostly things I think Americans will understand in context.
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Nice to hear our mannerisms have been embraced.
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Best of luck with the project.
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Like you, I have too many ideas, but I try to keep them under control by allowing my mind to dwell on only my WIP and the next project I plan to tackle. Of course, I’m not quite as disciplined as that makes it sound…
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No, it’s not is ir. But it’s always great to be in a position of one too many ideas with creative bipolar 🙂 rather than dry as a well. I need to come over and see your page and see what you’re working on. A male romance writer?? Always worth a look in!
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