I've been tagged for the Writing Process Blog Tour that's been going around the internet, where writers talk about what they write, how they write, etc. Last week, my friend and last year's Golden Heart winner for Paranormal Romance, AE Jones, posted her blog here.
So here's a little bit about me…
What am I currently working on?
I'm working on first-round edits for the first of three books I sold to Entangled Indulgence, about a woman who wins her venture capitalist ex-lover in a charity bachelor auction and drags him (quite unwillingly) back home to their small town in order to thwart his hostile takeover of her family’s shoe company. Mayhem ensues--but it might just turn into a joint venture of the heart. There’s a family feud, two crotchety grandparents, and some small town craziness before these two people who can’t keep their hands off each other finally get together. No release date yet, but stay tuned!
I'm working on first-round edits for the first of three books I sold to Entangled Indulgence, about a woman who wins her venture capitalist ex-lover in a charity bachelor auction and drags him (quite unwillingly) back home to their small town in order to thwart his hostile takeover of her family’s shoe company. Mayhem ensues--but it might just turn into a joint venture of the heart. There’s a family feud, two crotchety grandparents, and some small town craziness before these two people who can’t keep their hands off each other finally get together. No release date yet, but stay tuned!
I just
finished rewriting my Golden Heart winning manuscript from last year, and I’m working on the
second book in my Indulgence series.
How does my work differ from others
of its genre?
I love books with deep emotion and a lot of smart humor and sass. I work really hard to get those qualities into my work. We’ll see how well I succeeded!
I love books with deep emotion and a lot of smart humor and sass. I work really hard to get those qualities into my work. We’ll see how well I succeeded!
Why do I write what I write?
I didn’t
start out writing Contemporary Romance. I actually have the drafts of four
Regency novels in boxes in my closet. I wrote my first contemporary as a break
from the research-heavy historicals and somehow my contemporary voice clicked.
Or, I finally figured out how to plot well enough that the middle of my novel
didn’t sag and droop. I think it’s one thing to capture an agent’s attention
with a dynamite beginning but a whole other process to sustain that
can’t-wait-to-turn-the-page feeling throughout an entire book.
How does my individual writing
process work?
I treat it
like a job, the same routine every day. So much so that when my dog sees me
pick up the coffee mug every morning, she (politely) demands a rawhide chew and
accompanies me up to my office. (Her version of working along with me!) I pretty much abandon every household chore that I can until mid-afternoon.
Of course, family and other demands can suck time away so I have a daily word count goal
and I do my best to accomplish that. I watch very little T.V. but when I take
breaks I love to read. As with any career, life balance is important so I
try to exercise and tend to body, mind, and spirit. It’s hard to get away from
your job when you work at home. Leaving the work behind is hard for me!
I used to
pants my way through a story but I now force myself to first do a blurb, then a
synopsis and three chapters. The synopsis is so painful, but it forces me to
look ahead to all the major turning points and do my best to plan the black
moment to be the blackest of the black for both hero and heroine. I've found this to save a lot of heartache and time when the plot meanders into dangerous territory that you need to dig it out from. That's not to say the characters change things up as they will (they're all so determined and stubborn!), but the general structure gives me goals to aim for.
My advice
to those trying to be published the traditional way is to learn enough craft to get noticed. My
agent, Jill Marsal, worked with me to take my draft to a whole new level, and
now my editor is doing the same. So put yourself in a position to always work with
people--starting with your critique partners--who push you to become better.
So thanks for stopping by. Does anyone have any other advice for writers pursuing publication, traditional or otherwise?
So thanks for stopping by. Does anyone have any other advice for writers pursuing publication, traditional or otherwise?
Now I’m
tagging new author Christine Glover, whose first novel for Entangled Indulgence
debuts on June 30th. I met Christine when she happened to sit at my table last year at the RWA Awards ceremony. Check her out on the Writing Process Blog Tour on her website next Monday, June 23!
Born
in the Netherlands, Christine moved to Canada where she spent her formative
years. Then she married her Texan Alpha Physicist, moved to the United States
and she has lived both south and north of the Mason Dixon line. Now Christine
resides in Alabama with her husband, two insane cats and her wonderful
daughter. She enjoys finding the silly in the serious, making wine out of sour
grapes, and giving people giggle fits along with heartfelt hugs. When she’s not
writing, you can find her traveling the world, cooking gourmet food, and
desperately seeking a corkscrew.
Blog: www.christinegloverauthor.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Glover/158387587541698
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cjglover63
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/cjglover63/
website: www.christinegloversite.com
Join my
newsletter here http://eepurl.com/L8Yh5
And take a look at Christine's gorgeous cover and blurb for The Maverick's Red Hot Reunion (isn't it red hot!):
Can he satisfy his craving without losing his heart?
Can he satisfy his craving without losing his heart?
Corporate Maverick Zach Tanner
returns to North Carolina to rebuild his dying friend's resort. He's got the
money, the power, and the will to transform Sweetbriar Springs into a premier
spa for the glamorous, but he doesn't count on the woman he once loved…and
lost…to handle the construction contract. Zach thought he'd buried his desire
for Kennedy five years ago. He was wrong, and now he’s determined to satisfy
his craving...
Construction company owner
Kennedy Gibson is eager to restore Sweetbriar Springs, but when she realizes
Zach is her new boss she's terrified he'll learn the truth about their breakup
so long ago. She vowed never to hurt him again, but she can't deny the passion
he reignites in her. She wants to believe she has a chance for a different
future with him, but will her secret threaten to destroy their red-hot reunion?
Buy Links:
Miranda -
ReplyDeleteYay! So glad to see how your process works. I can see where writing the blurb and the synopsis before the book could be VERY painful. So happy and proud of you. I can't wait until your books come out with Entangled.
AE
Hi AE, thanks for stopping by! Can't wait for your fall debut!
ReplyDeleteHi Miranda! Enjoyed reading about your workday, and I'm willing to bet you DID nail the deep emotion, smart humor and sass in your upcoming release. Can't wait to buy it. And I know Christine as well-- we happened to sit at the same table during the Maggie award ceremony a couple years ago in Atlanta, and she was so sweet. :)
ReplyDeleteHey Amy, it's a small (romance writing) world! Thanks for the kind words. Talking about nailing it--congrats on being a GH finalist again this year in the YA category and for your upcoming NA release as Amy Patrick in August! Can't wait to see you in San Antonio :)
ReplyDeleteHi Miranda!
ReplyDeleteSo if you're reworking your earlier ms, do you have any plans for it?
Really looking forward to your debut!
Di
Hi Di! It's set in a different small town as the series I sold to Entangled. So not sure on submission plans yet. Thanks for asking. Sad you won't be in San Antonio this year :(
DeleteCongrats on your sale, Miranda! I'm really looking forward to your release, as well as Christine's - as you may remember, I'm the one who brought her to lucky table 55. Thanks for sharing your process. I admire the disciplined, business-like approach you take to your writing.
ReplyDeleteGail
That table was lucky and guess what, you're next! I can't wait to read Christine's book. But alas, I can only drool over the cover until release day in 2 weeks! Looking forward to seeing you soon!
DeleteI'm finally able to log on a day late!! So excited about your sale Miranda. Lucky table #55 indeed!! And Gail is next. I know it. I am drooling over my cover, too. Can't wait for release day and for yours, too!!
Delete:)
Enjoyed reading about your writing process, Miranda. It's always interesting to see how authors write, what their routines are, whether they're a panster or plotter. I'm a panster who's trying to learn how to plot...a least a little. LOL, on your dog going to work with you every day.
ReplyDeleteSee you in San Antonio!
Well, you'll be happy to know the cat comes too, but I draw the line when she tries to type. She'll have to bring her own Mac for that.
DeleteYou amaze me, being a panster. You have a natural gut instinct for plotting, lucky, lucky you!
My cat thinks my fingers are toys and tries to catch them when I am typing :) She keeps me on my toes. :)
DeleteMy cat sits on my mouse pad and swishes her tail over the keys, like, pay attention to me, I'm so much more important! And she's highly offended when I scootch her over. I'm telling you, you get the kids out of the house and then the pets are just as needy. Go figure.
DeleteLike Sandra I'm a pantser who is trying to learn how to plot. Maybe writing a synopsis before I write the book might help. I also struggle with a writing routine but treating my writing more like a job would help. Congrats on all your success, Miranda!
ReplyDeleteHi Angelina! I sweat blood over doing a synopsis. There are a variety of plotting devices, workshops, etc. that describe the major turning points, plot points, etc. Pick one and try it. Forcing myself to use one helped a ton, even though it makes my brain hurt! It decreases my anxiety to feel like I know at least a little where I'm headed. Sort of like having a GPS, even though you can take turn offs along the way :)
DeleteNo advice from over here. Still trying to learn from folks like you--trying to get that emotion deep into the stories. :) I like the visual of your dog accompanying you to the office. How sweet! I love the sound of your stories and I am looking forward to reading them!
ReplyDeleteHi Piper. Trust me, from what I read of your Amazon-finaling novel, you have a total handle on that deep emotion! Yes, my dog does wait for that poured cup of coffee! Thanks for stopping by, Piper!
DeleteYay! Miranda! I love your process... I wish I could stay away from TV too :) Although I just as happy with a good book too. :)
ReplyDeleteHi IreAnne! Hey, watching TV for decompressing from the day job is totally allowed! Thanks for coming by.
ReplyDeleteMonday tends to be the day I intentionally take a break from writing. I often don't even start my computer until late in the day on Mondays. (I'm reading this on my phone.)
ReplyDeleteI love your process. I've tried the word count thing, and although I track my word count, I usually try to have my butt in front of the computer a certain number of hours a day. That seems to work better for me. I can get a lot of writing done in one-to-two week sprints, but then I take a short break of a week or so to get other stuff done (website maintenance, kid stuff, household projects, etc.) This seems to work well for me. I like that I build some momentum but still manage to get other projects done, such as painting the master bathroom!
Thanks for sharing your process!
Hi Sheri, that's really interesting. Because there is always a ton of non-writing stuff that always needs done and having it pile up is stressful. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteLoved reading about your process!
ReplyDeleteLearning about craft seems so very important -- but I wonder if we all have to make a whole lot of mistakes before we can realize our writing dreams. Maybe its just me who learns through mistakes. :-) Can't wait to buy your books!!
Nan!! Hi. Oh, yes, I've made plenty of those. But as my Latin teacher used to say, "What happens when the blind lead the blind?" --a big pause before the answer--"They both fall into the pit!" I think the key is finding those people who push you, who might even know more than you, through taking classes, reading books, and even having someone--critique partners, teachers--go hands-on with your work,or the mistakes never get corrected. You and I know, instead of giving up you have to push even harder.
DeleteDeep emotion?! Smart humor & sass?! SIGN ME UP. Miranda, my dear, I have every faith you'll deliver on all accounts and can't wait to gobble your books! So thrilled you found your niche in contemporary and a process that is so magnificently you. :)
ReplyDeleteDarcy, you are so kindly awesome. Thank you!! Will miss you in Texas but maybe we will meet up in the dead of winter in Michigan???
ReplyDeleteMiranda, you had me at winning her ex-lover at a charity auction. After that I was just, I want to read this book... I want to read this book... I want to read this book.
ReplyDeleteYou sound so wonderfully disciplined. I seem to have lost my discipline hat this summer. Thanks for reminding me to find it.
Hugs!
Sonali
Hi Sonali,
DeleteNo, it's always a struggle. Especially in summer with kids milling around, etc. Always struggling for balance, but I'm blessed to be able to work from home! Loved your Romance U post today, btw.Thanks for stopping!
Hi Miranda--It's great to find out more about your process and things you've learned along the way from people like Jill Marsal. I've written the synopses for the four remaining books in my historical series, in order to sell them to Crimson, but I've found myself veering down another path with the books--at least the first one that I wrote after I submitted the synopsis. But as long as the story line stays true, they don't care if plot point x comes before plot point Y. I hope the next one can be truer to the synopsis.
ReplyDeleteHi Becky. Yes, I remember when you were working on multiple synopses. That was scary (to me, anyway :), but you did it in your usual amazing way. And you're right about that, if you want to sell books, unless you're Nora or Eloisa, you've got to turn in a synopsis.That's enough to make the panster part of us fly out the window because business is business. Thanks for sharing your experience.
DeleteWhat a lovely blog post, Miranda! I am behind on commenting on everyone's writing process blogs and am desperately trying to keep up! The only advice I can give as a writer who has been actively writing for almost nine years and hasn't been published yet is to never, never give up. If you give up, you reject yourself. And that's far harder than any rejection and editor or agent of CP can give up.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of CPs, I was so happy to see you tagged Christine who just happens to be one of my CPs and also one of my very best friends. I am so happy for her and can't wait until her release day!!!
Hi Sharon! yep, I believe it's the people who persist who get published. Your turn is coming, and when it comes, look out! All your GH finaling ms's will be published, like what happened to the awesome Robin Perini. Congrats on this year's final, too! See you in San Antonio and thanks for coming by.
DeleteOh, I didn't know you knew Christine! She's on the road today and had trouble posting. I'm really happy for her, too. She's been very welcoming to me as someone who's gone through the process already.
DeleteIt's a small world!! I am so glad you all met through the Golden Heart last year. Sharon is one of my favorite people. I KNOW she's next. And I'm cheering for her this year in the Golden Heart again. And can't wait to celebrate your release, Miranda !! It'll be here before you know it!!
DeleteI love that your dog helps you! My cat sort of helps by sitting nearish when I write. I agree with you on morphing from pantser to somewhat-plotter. I need to know my story has sticking power before I commit to writing it.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie! I saw a pic of your cat on your website. So cute. My dog and cat are like siblings. When you pet one, you must pet the other. Funny. Yeah, especially in a romance, everything that happens in the book drives you to the biggest ending that exposes all flaws and vulnerabilities, challenges their beliefs, makes them face their biggest fears. For me that takes knowing the end so I can work backwards and put stuff in from the beginning. And I agree, no use wasting time writing a story that isn't going to have that ooooh factor. I wrote 4 of those before I figured that out! Thanks for coming by, nice to meet you!
DeleteGreat blog Miranda. I wish I was so disciplined. I write when I can spend an uninterrupted few hours, but life gets in the way and my concentration is lost. I need to lock myself away and batton down the hatches. I NEED TO FINISH MY BOOK. See you in a few weeks. Hee Haw Cowgirl.
ReplyDeleteBarb! Yes, life always gets in the way. But you can't be the opposite way, work all the time and not live your life. If only we didn't have to sleep, huh? Well, roomie, just a few weeks and we're going to put on our cowgirl boots and our Stetsons and get us some cowboys! Yee-haw!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Miranda! I love hearing how other writers work. It sounds like we have very similar processes, right down to the canine companion expecting a treat! I find that if I don't get my words done by early afternoon, the day just gets away from me. Luckily my kids sleep in now, and that helps tremendously!
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy! Glad you're taking advantage of the sleeping in. Well, no surprise on process, as you were the one who showed me the beat sheet from Save the Cat. Glad to hear we both have furry office companions! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteSounds like you are hard at work on everything, Miranda! Can't wait to read all of your stories...including your historicals :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jacqui,
DeleteThanks for coming by. Can't wait for your new historical, Between Heaven and Hell, which releases in just 3 days!
Miranda, your first Entangled book sounds delicious! I love that she has an ulterior motive for winning him, and interpersonal politics make the best kind of books.
ReplyDeleteI just started in on my new WIP, and I am SO GLAD I have a synopsis. I would have been lost without it today, but instead I'm going to make my word count, and all because I could peek ahead and go, "Oh yeah, that's what happens next." That said, it's not a hugely detailed synopsis and has plenty of veering-off-the-path room. So I guess I'm saying yeah, I'm with you. :)
My advice for aspiring writers? Read-read-read, analyze everything you read or watch, then go read some more. Write every day. Get critiques from smart people who know and love books. Fall down, get back up, do it all over again.
Howzat?
Hi Talia! Yeah, I think it does save wasted days if you have some guideline, even if it changes. That doesn't prevent a lot of beating-my-head-against-the-desk, but it helps.I love your advice. Thanks!
DeleteHi Miranda: I was finally able to log on!! Your writing process is a lot like mine. Although after realizing there was a major problem in the plot's hook for the sequel to the Maverick, I confess that I have a loose emotional turning point plot, chapters written, a bare bones synopsis (read really "bare") and no blurb or log line which is highly unusual for me!! I'll have my writing tush in the fire soon :)
ReplyDeleteChristine, thanks for stopping by on your vacation! Enjoy your break and rejuvenate, then tush in fire :)
ReplyDeleteWe'll tune in to your hear about your writing process on your website next Monday!
I will be there--fire burning :)
Delete