Why do I write? How do I write? What do I
write?
Until my fellow critique group writer Grace
tagged me in this blog hop, I didn’t know the answers. But I had to write
this post so now I know, and if you keep reading … so will you!
In addition to learning the answers to the
questions below, I learned something else about myself: I don’t follow
directions well. If you notice differences between my post and others on the
tour … well, yeah. Sorry.
Check out Grace’s blog tour post, along with
lots of other cool writing posts, on her blog: http://storytellergirlgrace.wordpress.com.
What am I working on?
I am half way through my *cough cough sixth cough cough* full
edit on my YA fantasy novel. The main character is both my best friend, and
worst enemy and I am hoping she lives through the novel. This book is the first
in what was originally a trilogy, but might end up being two books. It was the
first idea that inspired me to write again after a very long hiatus, and has
turned into my guinea pig for writing ideas and improvements … thus, the large
number of edits. But, it’s making me a better writer and I will always
love it, my precious.
I blog sporadically and mirco-journal near
constantly. I have two other novels I can’t seem to fully put aside: a MG fantasy
and a NA fairy tale retelling (my NaNo book for 2013).
How
does my work differ from others of its genre?
1) The
honest answer is: I don’t know.
B) The
short answer is: I don’t know.
Also) The
long answer is: longer.
I am still figuring out who I am as a writer. I
get a tremendous amount of enjoyment out of the process of letting my mind
wander to fantastical places. I haven’t put myself into a specific genre
(although it’s becoming clear) and I haven’t tried to strictly adhere to, and
thus judge myself by, any categories. And at the moment, that’s enough.
When I’ve gotten through a few books maybe I’ll have an answer. If I ever quit
my day job and dive into the publishing world head first, I sure as heck better
have an answer. But for now, I’m just enjoying the process of telling a
story.
Why do
I write what I do?
Because I love it. There are stories I want to
hear, but no one has written. These are
the characters pop into my head and just.won’t.leave.me.alone. When I
write, their voices are heard, and they let me sleep.
That makes me sound a little crazy. And … maybe
I am.
I write what I do because I don’t know what
else to do. I love it. I can do it. So why wouldn’t I?
How
does my writing process work?
Please hold while I laugh hysterically
<maniacal laugh>.
Okay, that’s better. I don’t have a process,
per say. I have a full time job, a hobby farm, and three young children. I do
what I can, when I can, as much as I can.
I write down things all day, every day. I make
myself a promise to write something meaningful (an hour or more?) at least once
a week. And when the mood strikes, my life allows, and the words flow—I write
for 2-3 hours every day for a few weeks straight. NaNo is my friend. I found
that it’s a great way for me to write.
When I do write—100% pantser. I even struggle
to plot out novels after I’ve written them. I rarely know the ending … but I’ve
learned that I need to get over this if I’m going to write with higher quality.
That’s all you could ever want to know about
me, and more. I’ve tagged two fellow writers I met on the Twitter. They will be
in the hot seat next week!
(If I’d followed the directions, this is where
you would see carefully written bios for each of them. Instead …)
Kristina L. Martin – fellow mom, fellow YA writer, and someone
who seems to always keep my attention on twitter. She’s also one of the first writers to send
an encouraging, well-timed, tweet. Check out her “Missives” at tenminutemissive.com.
Leona
Wisoker – hailing from the VA, Leona wrote the Children of the Desert series. She has
got some very interesting posts on conventions and a unique and fresh view on writerly
things. Check it out: http://leonawisoker.wordpress.com.
