Writing on Wednesday - Guest Richard Brawer on Inspiration and Process

My guest today is author Richard Brower, who discusses his inspiration and wiritng process that led to his new novel, Keiretsu. Welcome, Richard. ~ Sheila

 

I get ideas for my novels from newspaper articles that make me ask questions.  The answers form my plots. Then I think up characters to place in the story. All my characters are conflicted. Conflict is the most important part of any novel.  Wondering how the characters resolve their conflicts keeps the reader turning the pages. Once I have all my notes on story and character I begin writing.  I try to create a captivating first chapter with hints to the main conflict. I strive to take the reader on a journey that is never a straight line, but more like the line of a gyrating stock market.  However, one thing remains constant―there is CONFLICT in every chapter.

 Let’s see how this process played out in my latest novel, Keiretsu a political suspense story coming out this month. Keiretsu was inspired by newspaper articles I read about China’s growing military and Japan’s fear of China.  Japan had inflicted great atrocities on China in WWII with the “rape of Nanking,” for which they never apologized.

 Questions started to develop. (Without belaboring the point, below are only a few of the many questions that had to be logically answered if the reader of a book this complicated isn’t going to say, “Ridiculous.”)

• As China’s military continues to grow will China try to exact its revenge on Japan?
• With China developing “carrier killing cruise missiles” to keep the American fleet at bay, can Japan continue to rely on the U.S. as their protector? More important will the U.S. go to war with China to protect Japan?
• Considering Nagasaki, Hiroshima and now the Fukushima melt down will Japan’s government build nuclear weapons? Will the people protest? Are the people in a state of denial about China’s threat?
• Even if they do it secretly, the U.S. is bound to find out. With the U.S. demands that Iran and North Korea halt their nuclear weapons programs, what will Japan do when U.S. demands Japan cease and desist?

The plot I developed from these and many more questions: While the United States is focused on diffusing Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs, the ultra-nationalist CEOs of Japan’s eight largest Keiretsus (conglomerates) form a cabal to use some of the shuttered nuclear power plants to secretly develop nuclear weapons as a deterrent to China and a clandestine PAC (political action committee) within the U.S. to donate heavily to congressmen and senators to thwart the expected U.S. cease and desist demands.

From the story I built the following conflicted characters:

The Japanese Nagoyas

• Toshio Nagoya―ANTAGONIST. Ultra-nationalist CEO of Japan’s largest keiretsu; chairman of the Cabal.
• Michiko Nagoya―Toshio’s wife stuck in a loveless marriage.
• Ogato Nagoya―Toshio’s and Michiko’s son; his primary goal is to garner praise from his father; works in America as liaison between Toshio and John; obsessed with Gingi from the first day he saw her.

The American Nagoyas

• John Nagoya―Second generation Japanese American; Toshio’s cousin; he seeks revenge against his country because at the age of nine he watched a mob beat his parents to death after their release from the internment camps; a lawyer, he aligns with Toshio and forms the PAC.
• Yoshi Nagoya―John’s wife.  Loves everything American.
• Gingi Nagoya Morrison―John and Yoshi’s daughter; married to Danny Morrison; despises Ogato.
• Roger Nagoya―John and Yoshi’s son.  With John away on business for long periods of time, Yoshi raised Roger and Gingi with every advantage wealthy American parents could give their children. Roger is the PROTAGONIST in conflict with his father.

The Morrisons

• Senator Ted Morrison―Powerful Senator; avid fighter against foreign companies donating money to America’s politicians and PACs.
• Sandy Morrison―Ted’s wealthy, socialite wife; enamored by her husband’s powerful position in the Senate; never accepted Gingi as her daughter-in-law.
• Danny Morrison―Ted and Sandy’s son born with a “silver spoon in his mouth”; not fond of working; likes to race sailboats and stock cars; married to Gingi Nagoya.
• Douglas Welfield―Sandy Morrison’s brother; state party chairman; does a lot of business with the Japanese auto manufacturers; grudgingly supports Ted; but not enamored with his brother-in-law’s political policies toward foreign countries.

Imagine the conflicts: Conspiracy, lust, infidelity, treachery, betrayal and murder.

How did I learn to write?

I read a couple of books and many magazine articles on writing, but in writing as in life, the most important lessons come from doing.  I was an avid reader.  If you want to write, first read, read, read.  If you read books with the idea that you may want to be a writer, then you will consciously start analyzing how the author created his work.  When you start writing, write the type of story you like to read.

Once you begin your writing try to find a critique group that will give you honest feedback on character development, dialogue, voice, plot, conflict and setting.  But don’t automatically take anyone’s critique as gospel.  Remember, it’s your story.  Analyze the critiques to see if they have merit.  Say you have a six person group.  If one person criticizes something then it may or may not be valid.  But if three or four in the group say the same thing about a segment then you should take it under serious consideration.

I hope my experiences will help you with your writing and publishing efforts. 

Keiretsu is published by L & L Dreamspell, a medium size publisher in Texas.  It is available in both print and e-book editions wherever books are sold. If you would like to read the first five chapters please e-mail me and I will send them to you as an attachment.   E-mail: rich1braw@aol.com

Richard Brawer writes mystery, suspense and historical fiction novels. When not writing, he spends his time sailing and growing roses.  He has two married daughters and lives in New Jersey with his wife.  Read the book jacket, excerpts and reviews of all Richard’s books at his website. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

8 more days to Drop Dead for Healthy Dogs! Order your personally autographed copy of Drop Dead on Recall here by October 11 and a portion of your purchase will go to support canine health research!