First, a thank you to Phil Stamper for inviting me to take part in the #MyWritingProcess Blog Tour. You can read about his process here.
1) What am I working on?
I’ve hit the sweet spot with my third manuscript, the point where the vision is there, the plot is down, and the characters are developed. I just need to, you know, finish it. :)
It’s about an 18-year-old girl (Peyton) who is about to start college. Oh…and she’s the daughter of a U.S. vice presidential candidate.
It starts about a week after her mom joins the ticket. The thing is, the other side claims that Peyton’s deceased dad couldn’t have been her father. While her mom and the campaign aides assure Peyton that this is just old-fashioned political mudslinging, Peyton thinks there might be something to it.
The trick is, when she tries to dig into the rumors, the media are on to her. A damaging story that might have faded away in the 24-hour-news-cycle is reinvigorated through her mistakes. In an effort to control her and minimize further damage, the campaign requires that Dylan, a cute intern and trusted member of the presidential nominee’s team, stay by her side constantly until election day.
If Peyton wants to find out the truth about who she is without jeopardizing the election, she has to do it under the radar. She has to circumvent Dylan. And they both have to ignore the fact that, despite the circumstances they’ve been thrown into, they’re perfect for each other.
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I write both YA and NA. My latest complete NA is different from what’s out there now because it has a few speculative elements thrown into the contemporary college atmosphere.
3) Why do I write what I do?
NA and YA allow you to mix and blend genres in a way that often isn't acceptable in adult fiction.
4) How does my writing process work?
I set up an outline using Trello with guideposts from Story Engineering. (For example, I split the book into four parts, represented by four columns in Trello, one for Orphan, Wanderer, Warrior, and Martyr. Each scene gets its own card and description.)
Then I write and write and write, not caring that it’s crap. And it is crap.
I take that crap and swipe it over and over again until it’s not quite so crappy. Finally, when I have something I’m willing to share with other people, I share it. I listen. I make changes. I read it all again and then make some more changes. I might share it with more people. I might listen again and make more changes.
Finally, I get to the point where I can spend a while just going over each sentence and, hopefully, making everything as sharp as possible.
Then I send it off!
And here are the three writers who will fill you in on their writing process next week. :)
Dan Koboldt
Twitter: @DanKoboldt
Dan Koboldt is a genetics researcher, blogger, and sci-fi/fantasy author represented by Jennie Goloboy of Red Sofa Literary. He works at one of three large scale DNA sequencing centers in the United States, where he and his colleagues use cutting-edge technology to uncover the genetic basis of inherited disease.
Every October, Dan disappears into Missouri's hardwood forests to hunt deer and turkey with a compound bow.
Laura Rueckert
Twitter: @LauraRueckert
Laura Rueckert lives with her husband and two children in Germany and has had the good fortune to travel to four continents. During the day, she works as a project manager for process and IT projects, but she steals evening hours wherever possible to read and write. She grew up in Michigan and loves the lakes so much that her novels end up being set there whether she plans it or not.
Lisa Terry
Twitter: @lisaslanding
Lisa is a print journalist turned newspaper editor. She is also a fiction writer. Her genres are Paranormal, Romance, Contemporary, Thriller and Horror - Young Adult and New Adult. She just finished my sixth book, Tricolor. Her other five are: Spin the Love, Moment(s), Tidal, South of Light's End, and White Star. She’s working on two books, The Trouble With You Is the Trouble With Me as well as Be Still. She has a BS degree in English. She considers herself a Floridian still even though she currently lives in Alabama. She keeps a camper in Florida so that she can get back there as much as possible. There's something suffocating about being away from the salt water for very long. Her favorite things to do are walk on the beach, sit on the beach, write at the beach, read at...okay, everything is better at the beach. Maybe that's why her books (with the exception of one) take place next to salt water. She tried one without it but ended up having them next to the Potomac River instead.
1) What am I working on?
I’ve hit the sweet spot with my third manuscript, the point where the vision is there, the plot is down, and the characters are developed. I just need to, you know, finish it. :)
It’s about an 18-year-old girl (Peyton) who is about to start college. Oh…and she’s the daughter of a U.S. vice presidential candidate.
It starts about a week after her mom joins the ticket. The thing is, the other side claims that Peyton’s deceased dad couldn’t have been her father. While her mom and the campaign aides assure Peyton that this is just old-fashioned political mudslinging, Peyton thinks there might be something to it.
The trick is, when she tries to dig into the rumors, the media are on to her. A damaging story that might have faded away in the 24-hour-news-cycle is reinvigorated through her mistakes. In an effort to control her and minimize further damage, the campaign requires that Dylan, a cute intern and trusted member of the presidential nominee’s team, stay by her side constantly until election day.
If Peyton wants to find out the truth about who she is without jeopardizing the election, she has to do it under the radar. She has to circumvent Dylan. And they both have to ignore the fact that, despite the circumstances they’ve been thrown into, they’re perfect for each other.
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I write both YA and NA. My latest complete NA is different from what’s out there now because it has a few speculative elements thrown into the contemporary college atmosphere.
3) Why do I write what I do?
NA and YA allow you to mix and blend genres in a way that often isn't acceptable in adult fiction.
4) How does my writing process work?
I set up an outline using Trello with guideposts from Story Engineering. (For example, I split the book into four parts, represented by four columns in Trello, one for Orphan, Wanderer, Warrior, and Martyr. Each scene gets its own card and description.)
Then I write and write and write, not caring that it’s crap. And it is crap.
I take that crap and swipe it over and over again until it’s not quite so crappy. Finally, when I have something I’m willing to share with other people, I share it. I listen. I make changes. I read it all again and then make some more changes. I might share it with more people. I might listen again and make more changes.
Finally, I get to the point where I can spend a while just going over each sentence and, hopefully, making everything as sharp as possible.
Then I send it off!
And here are the three writers who will fill you in on their writing process next week. :)
Dan Koboldt
Twitter: @DanKoboldt
Dan Koboldt is a genetics researcher, blogger, and sci-fi/fantasy author represented by Jennie Goloboy of Red Sofa Literary. He works at one of three large scale DNA sequencing centers in the United States, where he and his colleagues use cutting-edge technology to uncover the genetic basis of inherited disease.
Every October, Dan disappears into Missouri's hardwood forests to hunt deer and turkey with a compound bow.
Laura Rueckert
Twitter: @LauraRueckert
Laura Rueckert lives with her husband and two children in Germany and has had the good fortune to travel to four continents. During the day, she works as a project manager for process and IT projects, but she steals evening hours wherever possible to read and write. She grew up in Michigan and loves the lakes so much that her novels end up being set there whether she plans it or not.
Lisa Terry
Twitter: @lisaslanding
Lisa is a print journalist turned newspaper editor. She is also a fiction writer. Her genres are Paranormal, Romance, Contemporary, Thriller and Horror - Young Adult and New Adult. She just finished my sixth book, Tricolor. Her other five are: Spin the Love, Moment(s), Tidal, South of Light's End, and White Star. She’s working on two books, The Trouble With You Is the Trouble With Me as well as Be Still. She has a BS degree in English. She considers herself a Floridian still even though she currently lives in Alabama. She keeps a camper in Florida so that she can get back there as much as possible. There's something suffocating about being away from the salt water for very long. Her favorite things to do are walk on the beach, sit on the beach, write at the beach, read at...okay, everything is better at the beach. Maybe that's why her books (with the exception of one) take place next to salt water. She tried one without it but ended up having them next to the Potomac River instead.
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