My Writing Process (or… Wait? What? You Mean There’s Order In This Chaos?)
Many thanks to fabulous author of dark romantic suspense Angel Nicholas, who invited me to participate in this #mywritingprocess blog tour. I admit, it feels odd to talk about my writing process when I’m not yet published, but hey, we all started somewhere, right? Even 1st books have a method to their madness. Or so I hope.
1) What am I working on?
I’m currently writing my first draft of my second novel, A Matter of Time. I wrote a large chunk of it during NaNoWriMo last November, so I’m delving in to see what of that effort is worth keeping and what is not, and then will be writing the final third of the book. I’m also researching literary agents and publishing agencies, as I will submit my first novel, A Man of Character, for review/publication by my self-imposed deadline of March 2nd, since that’s my birthday.
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I write time-travel romance with wit and spark, with characters who aren’t as alpha, fearless, or flawless as some, and with occasional tongue-in-cheek references to the romance genre itself, in a way I hope appeals to readers.
3) Why do I write what I do?
I love romance. I have since I picked up my first romance novel at the age of 10 (sorry, mom). I love the idea that no matter what twists/turns/improbable scenarios pop up, two people are destined for a Happily Ever After. I’m most interested in the Regency period because I love the Cinderella fantasy of dukes and debutantes, rakes and waltzing. Adding time travel in several of my works has allowed me to explore my endless fascination with the question of, “What would it have been like to live in such-and-such period?” mixed with the tantalizing idea of “How would I cope? How would someone from that period feel if they were suddenly dropped into the 21st century?”
4) How does your writing process work?
I generally start with a premise. For the 1st book, it was, “What would happen if fictional characters came to life?” From there, I jot down a rough outline, more-or-less a scene-by-scene version of the story in quick words (I tend to envision it in my head as a movie, and make notes as if I were watching it). With the first book, I learned how helpful and important it was to create an actual timeline, to keep track of events in the story, and have since completed character sketches as well, to get to know these people in my head (who’ve become so real to me it’s hard to remember they’re not). Then I write – usually in one to two hour stretches. I wish I could do more, but the brain doesn’t always cooperate. I’m often surprised and delighted by the verbal word play that emerges from my fingertips, even if it later gets axed. What I’m focusing on now, however, is becoming a more scheduled writer. I need to sit down at my computer every day for a set amount of time, rather than waiting for the muse/energy/inclination/chocolate to kick in.
NEXT WEEK:
Emma Barry is a novelist and full-time mama and graduate student. Her first novel, Brave in Heart, a historical romance set during the American Civil War, is available now. Special Interests, a contemporary romance about political staffers, will be released on April 7. When she’s not reading or writing, she loves hugs from her toddler twins, her husband’s cooking, her cat’s whiskers, and Earl Grey tea. In addition to her website, you can also connect with Emma Barry on Twitter.
Olivia Kelly‘s historical romances are filled with fun, and just the proper amount of angst. She also writes urban fantasy as D.B. Starler, because who doesn’t love, guns, magic, and fast cars? You can find her (too often) on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Goodreads. Visit her website blog, Confessions of a Mad Scribbler, today!