The Writing Process

How long does it take to write a book? That question is on almost every set of author interview questions. The answer is as varied as the authors themselves.

So many variables enter into equation. Contrary to what many non-writer spouses think (esp. engineers—not talking about you, Hubs), writing a book is not a pick-up-put-down process, like data entry or drawing a blueprint. With data entry (which I’ve done, btw), when you stop at the end of the day (or even for a break), you mark your place and when you return you immediately pick up where you left off. Writing a story is much, much different.

Since stories reside in our imagination, we need to return to that “place” where we left off. For some writers, that means reading the last few paragraphs written or even the last chapter--if the time between putting down the work and getting back to it is short. But what if it’s been a week or a month? Then it’s necessary to read several chapters or from the beginning to firmly plant the story in our imagination. All that rereading of what’s written gobbles up time better spent actually writing something new. Even an interruption of a few minutes can yank us off that spaceship or out of 19th Century Colorado. Writers with short attention spans find interruptions even more onerous. Really good headphones might help. Let phone calls go to voice mail (or the answering machine). Tell Hubs and the (older) kids not to interrupt unless it’s a “B” emergency—blood or broken bones—like in Tony Baloney School Rules by Paul Mun͂oz Ryan. (Can you tell I have grandchildren?)

The best advice for beginning writers is “finish the book.” Piece of cake, right? It’s so easy to write a new story--until the Muse takes a hike and a “brilliant” idea for another story hits you. Don’t listen to that brilliant idea. Think of it as temptation. Finish the first book. When the brilliant idea won’t stop nagging you, take a couple of minutes to jot down notes. Then return to the first book and finish it. Develop the discipline early on that you’ll need after your book is published and your writing life turns crazy.

Okay, you’ve made sure the family knows this is your writing time. The phone’s off. You’re focused on your current WIP (work in progress). No interruptions. Clear sailing. Right? Not necessarily.

Let me share a little bit of craziness from the past couple of months. As soon as I sent Switched Resolution out for editing, I started writing the next book in the Outer Rim series. I was four chapters into the first draft when I received the edited version of Switched Resolution back. That meant put down the Outer Rim story and pick up Switched Resolution. Make changes, read through. Read through again—looking for typos, missing words, and continuity things like the color of the dog changing from red in the first chapter to black in the last. I was three days from the deadline to publish Switched Resolution when I received the first round of edits for my romantic suspense One Red Shoe. After publishing Switched Resolution on Amazon and Smashwords (no small feat, btw), I had to yank my imagination off that spaceship, plop it into present day New York City, and begin revising One Red Shoe. Meanwhile, I had to promote Switched Resolution while finishing big picture edits on One Red Shoe then do a careful read-through looking for typos, etc. (see above). Oh, wait, that magical dog with changing fur color was in One Red Shoe. Return 1st round edits for One Red Shoe to editor. Pick up The Chameleon (Outer Rim novel). Now where was I in that story?

Will there be more interruptions? Of course. I’ll have to put down The Chameleon when the second round of edits for One Red Shoe arrives. I have to say the past few months going from book to book is the most complicated my writing life has ever been. Prioritizing helps. Deadlines, even self-imposed deadlines, keep the writer on track.

How long will it take to write The Chameleon? Considering the above—oh, and I do have a family life, too—probably nearly a year from the day I started writing to publication. Maybe.

So, how long does it really take to write a book? As long as it takes.

Saturday Sampler: Flying in Shadows by R.T. Wolfe

Hello, Diane and Diane’s Followers! Thank you for having me here today. I’m excited to share about my current release, Flying in Shadows, and about the non-profit organization I’ve teamed up with for the month of May. 

Have you ever seen the movie Fly Away Home? You know … the little girl who teaches a flock of Canadian goslings to migrate by flying ahead of them in a glider plane? It’s a true story and the basis for what the non-profit group, Operation Migration, does every year. They raise highly endangered Whooping cranes in the spring and train them to fly behind their glider planes in the fall. The population has grown from around 21 to over 400! During the month of May 10% of the proceeds for Flying in Shadows will be donated to OM. I encourage your readers to both check out the links I provided below to OM’s blog and to buy a book! It’s sweet, intense, filled with passion and suspense and, this month, is for a great cause. 

To read more about Operation Migration, check out my blog post at: http://bit.ly/Xjq8ao 

 

Here is the book jacket blurb for Flying in Shadows:

From the time she was a little girl, Rose Piper was sure of two things: she wanted to work with animals and she wanted to win the heart of her best friend, Andy Reed.

Now the most sought-after conservation biologist in the Northeast, she's trying to convince herself that one out of two isn't bad.

Andy spent most of his life following his dream of becoming a builder. Now a successful land developer, he has returned to Black Creek to win the girl he has loved since high-school and hurt too many times: Rose

But efforts to keep their love together turn dangerous when a decades-old secret brings a murderer out of hiding, sending the pair running for their lives.

And an excerpt:

Walking in the dark, Andy readjusted his tackle box. Moonlight shone on the dark ripples creeping down Black Creek. He spotted a raccoon as he crossed the bridge. Startled, the animal hissed at him. Andy stomped his foot and hissed back; he was in no mood for it.

He saw movement in his peripheral vision. Larger movement. A man? The shape disappeared as quickly as Andy imagined it. When you let yourself get this worked up, you start seeing things, he chided himself.

What the hell had he been thinking when he decided to date Candi?

He would go over to her house first thing the next day to end it and all of the maintenance that came with her. Never again, he vowed. He would be more like his brother. Casual relationships. No strings.

But first, he needed Rose.

She would calm him down and lighten his mood, help him feel normal again. He looked at his watch and winced. What were friends for if you couldn’t count on them to be there? Even at this time of night. Or morning.

* * *

Rose slept soundly in her twin bed dreaming of her favorite spot at the zoo. In the small rain forest building, she allowed a newly emerged monarch butterfly to dry its wings on her apron while sharing facts about the insect to one of two visiting young boys. The other threw pebbles into the nearby wishing pond. The sound of the small rocks plunked as they hit the stone wall before dropping into the water.

Oh, crap. She woke and sat up straight. The plunking noise came from outside, not in her head.

She felt her cheeks tighten in a wide smile. Biting the nails on one hand, she ripped her blankets off with the other. As she hustled to her window, she realized it was still pitch black out.

Grabbing the flashlight she always kept on her windowsill for just this occasion, she lifted the window and found Andy with the beam. “I thought you didn’t get home until tomorrow,” she whispered loudly.

“It is tomorrow.” He held up fishing poles and tackle box.

“It’s not tomorrow until the sun comes up.” She smiled wildly as she pulled on her jeans. This reaction she had to him had to stop eventually, she convinced herself. It was not healthy.

“I’ve got the worms. Get down here.”

Quickly, she tied her hair in a bandana, cleaned herself up and slipped on some sneakers. She scribbled out a quick note and headed for the front door. Her feet stopped before she did causing her throw her arms out for balance. Another dead bolt? When did this happen? she wondered.

Here are the social networking links for me and for Operation Migration:

Flying in Shadows Amazon buy link: http://amzn.to/XtK6Lw

Flying in Shadows BN buy link: http://bit.ly/XZxMTf

Flying in Shadows Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/11wALc1

Operation Migration Blog: http://operationmigration.org/InTheField/

Operation Migration Official Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/OperationMigration

R.T. Wolfe website: http://www.rtwolfe.com

R.T. Wolfe Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/RTWolfe2012

R.T. Wolfe Twitter Handle: http://www.twitter.com/RT_Wolfe

R.T. Wolfe Pinterest Page: http://www.pinterest.com/RTWolfe

Meet Leanne Tyler

Since I was a guest on Leanne Tyler's blog on Monday, it was only fair that I return the favor. Leanne graciously let me grill, I mean, interview her today.

Welcome, Leanne. Please tell us about yourself.

I’m a single mother of a teenage son. I work full-time and write whenever I can find the time. I was first published in 2007 by The Wild Rose Press when my novella, Victory’s Gate won the American Rose category in the Through the Garden Gate contest. In 2009 Through the Garden Gate anthology was released and then in 2011 a novella It’s Always Been You and a novel Season of Love was released. My biggest year of publishing so far has been 2012. I saw four different stories published, a short story (A Country Kitchen Christmas), two novels (The Good Luck Charm and The Good Luck Spell), and a novella (Ava). Because of Rebecca and The Good Luck Potion along with the audio version of Ava have been released so far in 2013.

Well I guess this is a great year for you! It sounds like you’ve had great success writing for The Wild Rose Press. Recently, I sold a romantic suspense to them and I’m in the middle of edits. I hope my experience with them is as great as yours.

So, when did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I realized I wanted to be a writer when I was thirteen and I tried to write my first young adult love story. I had just started reading YA romances and modeled my story after those. I completed that story when I was in seventh grade and began another one when I started high school. I had friends who read my writing and even a few of the males in my class who knew I was writing would ask to read the stories as well. I finished four YAs by the time I graduated high school, but none have been published. It wasn’t until I was in college that I took my first creative writing course. By then I had started several adult manuscripts but had never finished one of those because I kept writing and rewriting as I learned on my own from reading adult romances.

Considering that, how long does it take you to write a book . . . and finish it?

This depends on my characters. Sometimes I can write a story in six weeks if my characters are telling the story and I let everything else go and just write. (This is hard to do since I work full-time.) And other times it can take months, especially if I feel I am stuck and not sure how to get from point A to point B.

Oh, definitely been there, done that. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I try to write every morning when I’m fresh and I can focus on my characters better.

Morning is best for me, too, for the same reasons. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

This comes from anything. A picture. A song. A name.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like to play computer games on Facebook. Sometimes it is just nice to not think and let my mind relax. I also like to watch online films and programs via Netflix. I have found some great series that I overlooked. That’s how I found Downton Abbey. Now I watch it weekly on PBS each season.

What does your family think of your writing?

My mom has started reading since she began reading my books. She is retired and she has read over a dozen books in the last year. She is also a great source of PR for me telling anyone she meets about my books. My son likes the royalty checks I get so he is all the time telling me to go write. (In other words, leave me alone.) He also brags to his teachers that I am a published author.

How great that you have such support. You’ve told us about some of your books, but how many have you written? Which is your favorite?

This month I have published my tenth story. My favorite? Do I have to choose one? Oh gosh… I really fell in love with Alex and Sue in The Good Luck Potion. But I loved all three characters in Ava. Because of Rebecca is a book from the heart. It took many years to write because I worked on it in stages and I grew as a writer through that process.

That question is really unfair, isn’t it? LOL Sort of like asking which is your favorite child. Tell us about your latest book.

The Good Luck Potion is my latest book. It is a contemporary romantic comedy. Like the other two books in The Good Luck Series it has an element of paranormal to it because of the gris-gris (good luck charm) that the heroine is given to wear and the small vial of a potion the hero is given to carry in the story.

Here is a blurb and an excerpt for this story:

How much trouble can a little bottle and a good luck charm get you into?

Sue Charles is having second thoughts after accepting a good luck charm from Lucinda, a mysterious Cajun acquaintance who insists the amulet will reveal Sue's true love. Every indication is that the charm has singled out Alex Jones as Sue's soul mate, but how's a girl to know for sure? Can the gris-gris really work its magic for her or is she simply fooling herself?

After spending three years in Alaska, Alex Jones returns to Tennessee eager to settle back into his old ways. But when he meets Sue Charles, his previous bachelor days no longer seem all that appealing. He'd love to build a new life around a relationship with Sue, but he's worried about the consequences when things move too fast too soon. After all, his godmother did give him a good luck potion to carry around. What if his feelings are just a result of the Cajun woman’s mumbo jumbo?

Excerpt

     Sue applied the brake, slowing to a stop outside of her sister’s house. She prepared to park behind a small pickup truck but became distracted when she saw a cute guy walk from the curb toward the house. His short cropped brown hair and two day stubble was a sexy combination. He filled out his jeans in all the right places too, drawing her attention to his behind instead of keeping her mind on coming to a full stop. When her car bumped into the tail end of the truck she jerked to attention.

     “Oh no.” She shifted to reverse, inched back a little and put it in park. Gripping the steering wheel tight, she laid her head on it, afraid to look. She was certain he’d heard the minor collision. She didn’t recognize him as one of Phil’s friends because he was definitely someone she would remember. Whoever he was, he’d no doubt be angry and justifiably so.

     If she didn’t feel obligated to go inside she’d leave, but she couldn’t bail on her sister. Though by the number of cars parked in the drive it was clear she wouldn’t be missed. Kimberly had said dinner with a friend or two, but this looked like a large dinner party. Leave it to her sister to tell a white lie to get her to come tonight.

     A knock on the window prompted her to look up. The hunky guy was standing outside her door and she swallowed the lump of anxiety that had formed in her throat. Resigned that she had to face him and the damage she had caused, she pulled her keys from the ignition, grabbed her purse and got out.

     “Are you okay?” His look of worry startled her.

     She slowly nodded, but her cheeks grew warm. “I’m sorry. I got a little too close and bumped you. Is there any damage to your truck? I’ll pay for it. It was totally my fault.”

     “Relax. It’s just a truck. The most important thing is that you weren’t hurt. Did you hit your head?”

     She swallowed, caught off guard by his concern for her safety when she was the one at fault. “No. I’m fine. Just rattled…I’m normally a safe driver. I wasn’t expecting so many cars to be here.”

     He grinned and nodded, extending his hand. “It does look like a crowd. I’m Alex by the way.”

     “Sue Charles.” She shook his hand. “I’m Kimberly’s sister.”

     “Nice to meet you, Sue Charles. Should we go inside?”

     “Don’t you think we should check for damage?”

     “I don’t think there is any, but if it will make you feel better, we can look.”

     She followed him to the front of the car and they inspected both vehicles. Thankfully he was right. There wasn’t a scratch on either, but it didn’t change the fact that she’d hit his truck because she’d been staring at his butt. And the way he kept grinning made her feel he knew what had really distracted her. As if that wasn’t enough, the gris-gris warmed against her chest, reminding her that less than an hour ago Lucinda had given her the one thing that was supposed to ensure she meet her soul mate.

     Mortified by what she’d done, she really wanted to hurry to the house and lock herself in Kimberly’s bedroom until everyone left. But she couldn’t, especially when Alex was trying to make her feel at ease. He was not only good looking, but a nice person and definitely someone she’d expect would be Phil’s friend.

     “See. No damage.” He smiled. “No harm. No foul. Let’s forget it and have a good time tonight.”

     She glanced up at him, grateful for his good nature. “Okay. I’ll try to forget it, but I’m truly sorry.”

     “Like I said, it’s just a truck.” He motioned for her to go ahead of him and he followed her up the walk.

     The front door opened before they reached it. Kimberly was all smiles and she looked amazing in the floral sundress and sandals she wore. “I was getting worried about you two. Everyone else has already arrived. Come on in and let me get you the last lock and key.”

     “What?” Sue followed her sister into the living room and saw there were five other females wearing a lock on a string around their necks.

     “Phil and I thought it would be fun to have a lock and key party. Have you ever  heard of it?”

     “No.” Sue grimaced.

     “It’s simple really. You wear this lock and each male is given a key.” Kimberly turned to Alex, handing one to him. “Each key matches one lock. It’s the guy’s job to find out which one. We thought it would be a great way to start a conversation and for my friends to get to know Phil’s friends.”

     “Where’d you get this idea?” Sue asked.

     “A movie on one of those cable romance channels. Phil and I both thought it was the cutest idea ever.” Kimberly’s enthusiasm wasn’t rubbing off on her. “Relax. Who knows, you might just meet someone tonight. Haven’t you been moaning for the last few months about needing a date?”

     “Kimberly!” Sue gasped, not believing her sister had just said that in front of him. She grabbed her by the arm and led her toward the kitchen. “How could you say that in front of Alex?”

     “Sorry, but it’s true.”

     “It doesn’t matter if it is. I don’t want him thinking I’m a loser. I already bumped his truck when I parked.”

     “You didn’t.”

     She nodded.

     “So that explains why the two of you were out there so long.”

     Sue ignored that last statement, not wanting to go into any more details at the moment. Instead she turned to the question that had been eating at her since she pulled up. “I thought you invited me here for dinner.”

     “I did. And we’ll eat as soon as each lock and key is paired up.”

The Good Luck Potion is available at http://amzn.com/B00CLC73ZA

Because I love the covers of Leanne's other books, I want to share them.

 

One last question, Leanne. Where can readers find you?

Leannetyler.com

facebook.com/author.LeanneTyler

Twitter: @LeanneTyler

I’m also on Goodreads and LinkedIn

Thanks for being here today, Leanne, and sharing so much about yourself and your books.

Off Visiting - Switched Resolution Blog Tour

I'm over at Leanne Tyler's blog today. http://leannetyler.com/2013/05/13/guest-author-monday-12/ talking about change. Never easy, is it? I'd love it if you would stop by Leanne's and leave a comment.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I'll be in two places at once. Thanks to the Internet, I've mastered the art of bilocation. LOL

Join me at Patricia Kiyono's Creative Hodgepodge http://creative-hodgepodge.blogspot.com/2013/05/please-welcome-author-diane-burton.html and then at Nancy Gideon's Romance by Any Other Name http://nancygideon.blogspot.com/ 

On Wednesday, my characters from Switched Resolution will be grilled interviewed by Jennifer Lowery at http://jenniferloweryauthor.com/blog-2/