Jun
10
2014
Is it possible to perfect the writing process? I don’t know, but I’m giving it my best shot! Leta Blake tagged me on Facebook for the Writing Process Blog Hop, so here goes nothing.
1. What am I working on?
Right now I’m writing a contemporary novella for an M/M military men box set coming this fall with fellow authors including Cat Grant, SE Jakes and Aleksandr Voinov. In my story, tentatively called Arctic Fire, an army captain scarred from Afghanistan reluctantly goes to the far north on a fact-finding mission — and discovers more than he bargained for in the Canadian Ranger sergeant who leads him on patrol in the forbidding and dangerous arctic wild.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
That’s an interesting question. Not to mention a tough question! With every book I write, I try to tell a unique and compelling story, and create characters readers will remember. But I think every author has a similar goal, so I can’t say I really differ in that respect. I’ll just be honest here and say I don’t know. All I know is that I try to write the best damn book I can every time.
3. Why do I write what I do?
That’s an easy one! Because I love two men together. I was involved in writing and reading slash fanfic for years, and when it came time to write my first book in 2006, Love Match, it seemed only natural to write a love story between two men. While I read books of all genres, gay romance remains my favorite to write. It gets my pulse racing and my fingers flying on the keyboard.
4. How does your writing process work?
That’s about it in a nutshell! But to break down my process in greater detail:
a) I write full time from home, and I start by seven or eight a.m. (Okay, some days it’s nine.) I write for a few hours, and then go to the gym for a lunchtime yoga or dance class. Then come home for shower and lunch, and back to it until seven or eight p.m.
b) I don’t listen to music, although I have my trusty white noise machine running if my neighbour’s shih-poo is in a particularly barky mood.
c) I usually do a three-act outline when I start a new book, with varying degrees of success. (Sometimes the characters are very stubborn!) But I find I can only do so much planning, and that the story unfolds on its own as I write. I can’t plot out every story beat ahead of time. But once I get into the characters’ heads, they come alive, and so does the book.
At the end of the day, the vital part of my writing process is to sit down, shut up, and do the damn work. Write the words, and the rest falls into place.
What’s your writing process?
By Keira Andrews •
blog •
• Tags: writing
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