Old School - You like? I found this in my dad's attic. We've come a long way, baby!

WRITING PROCESS

When I first started writing, I didn’t outline. At all. I just sat down and started writing, flying with the story right along with the characters. I was what you’d call a panster writer (I wrote by the seat of my pants). Then later, when my books’ storylines became more complex, and especially as I moved further into a series, for my own sanity I had to learn to outline.

I don’t write 100 page synopsis, because then I’d feel like I’ve already written a mini version of the story, but instead I write one-liners that say, This happens in this scene, then another one-liner that says, and then this happens in this scene. I do this over and over until I’ve created a basic outline of the whole story. That process works for me, mainly so I know “where” I’m planning to go. Do I veer off the outline? Heck yeah, but at least I can look ahead in my “very loose outline” and anticipate where I wanted to go, so I can see how to get on track. Or even if I want to. 😉 I guess my current process makes me a hybrid-pantster, because I lightly outline the story, but I still give myself lots of permission to adapt it as I go.

Haha, of course this is just my process for the rough draft. Then I layer. That’s a whole other cray-cray process. Think onions and tears, but BOY does it add flavor to the story! 😉

As far as writing a story, I’m an linear writer, which means I write the story that I see playing in my head like a movie from start to finish. I might think ahead to scenes I want to write, but I don’t actually write that scene until I get to it in the story. I have some writer friends who write all over they place, meaning that they write the scenes in the story as the scenes come to them and then at the end, they piece all the scenes into place, moving them around and weaving them into the story. It always boggles my mind that some of my friends can work like that. LOL! But see that’s the beauty of it, there’s not a right or a wrong way to create a story. It all comes down to how YOUR writing brain works to help you get the story written. 🙂

GUEST POST/GIVEAWAYS

Check out the guest blog I did with Kristi at The Book Faery where  wrote about mythology and the BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS world.  While you’re there, enter for a chance to win two different prizes, 1 eBook and 1 print copy of BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS!  (Giveaway ends in 3 days)

Don’t forget, I’m offering a chance to win a SIGNED copy of BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS!  Go here to enter. (Giveaway ends in two days)

INTERVIEW

Anna has asked several authors a series of interview questions on her The Bursting Bookshelf blog over the past week. Go here to check out my answers to:

1) Where did you come up with the idea for your book?

2) Did you find finishing writing your book bittersweet?

3) What is your favorite part of writing for the genre that you do?
4) What has been the most rewarding aspect of being an author?

5) Was there any part of your book that was particularly hard to write?

6) Who was your favorite character to write and why? Who was your least?

7) Did you put any aspect of your life into your book?

RECENT REVIEW

“…Highly entertaining to those of those who enjoy the paranormal with a good amount of romance mixed in…” Click here to read the entire review at JJ Reads

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