I'm
blogging about my writing process today. It's part of a 'blog tour'
that a lot of authors are taking part in. Read more by following the
links below.
Author
Karen King invited me to take part, Karen writes picture books,
children's books, books for teenagers and adults! You can read her
blog at: http://www.karenking.net/blog
So,
here's some questions and my answers about how I work.
- What am working on?I've a few writing projects on at the moment, which is my usual way of working. This probably stems from my feature writing days at The Coventry Telegraph, when every week I had to write three double page spreads on three different topics. I would start on a Monday with my deadline for Wednesday. It was a bit like plate spinning to get all the processes of interviews, research and photographs all set up early in the week so I had time to do everything and get it all written up ready for publication. I've recently joined the Romantic Novelists' Association, and at the moment I'm working on a historical romance – it's my first attempt at a historical novel as my other romance books have been set in modern times. I've also just had a Young Adult book accepted by Astraea Press, called Celeste. I'm currently working on the pre-edits for the book. Also I'm writing another children's story which has a working title of Hunted. I write non-fiction too, and I've got a couple of articles halfway finished for Collector's Gazette magazine. And another thing I'm doing is putting together my lessons for the creative writing class I run every week. So no time for being bored!
- How does my work differ from others of its genre? To be honest, I don't know if it does differ from others of its genre. I do try to think up different ideas, and I use my own experiences as much as possible, and often base the settings on places that I have been to or seen. And I try to write my stories in a way that will keep the readers turning the pages.
- Why do I write what I do? I suppose I write about what catches my interest at the time. Sometimes I'm actively looking for ideas or inspiration, other times something will just crop up and grab my attention, so much so that I end up writing a story or article about it. I write because I enjoy writing – some days more than others! I began writing as a hobby when my three children were little. Then it became a career, and now its a hobby, a career – and a way of life. (And my three children are all grown up with children of their own – and like to read what I write!) I enjoy the variety of having a number of different projects or pieces of writing on the go at the same time as I can switch from one to the other depending on my mood, or the time available to sit and write.
- How does your writing process work? I write best and most productively when I'm at my computer. I share a studio with a photographer friend where I write during the day. However, this is linked to the internet so I'm writing in short bursts in between all the usual distractions of emails, Facebook, Twitter etc.. My home computer isn't linked to the internet so no distractions of that nature when working from home. So then I'm only only battling against the lure or housework, TV and socialising. Then there's my laptop – also not on the internet, where I can write when tucked up in bed – the problem then is that I'm usually so tired, all I want to do is drifting off into the land of nod. Somehow or other, words do get written!Next week the following authors Chris Longmuir, Lev Butts and Kathleen Jones will be telling you about their writing process. Here's a little about them, and the link to read their blog:
So,
that's my process. Next week authors Chris Longmuir, Leverett Butts and
Kathleen Jones will be blogging about their writing process. Here's
more about them and their links:
Chris
Longmuir is
known mainly as the writer of the Dundee
Crime Series,
although she has written other things as well. The Dundee
Crime Series
is contemporary crime, and the first in the series, Night
Watcher
won the SAWs Pitlochry Award, while the second in the series, Dead
Wood,
won both the Pitlochry Award and the Dundee International Book Prize.
Read
her blog at: http://chrislongmuir.blogspot.co.uk/
Leverett Butts teaches composition and literature at the Gainesville campus of the University of North Georgia. His poetry and fiction have appeared in Electric and The Georgia State University Review. He is the recipient of several fiction prizes offered by the University of West Georgia and TAG Publishing. His first collection of short fiction, Emily's Stitches: The Confessions of Thomas Calloway and Other Stories, has been nominated for the 2013 Georgia Author of the Year Award in Short Fiction. He lives in Temple, Georgia, with his wife, son and their Jack Russell terrier, and a couple of antisocial cats.
Read his blog at: http://levbutts.blogspot.com
Kathleen Jones writes biography, fiction and poetry and has won several awards for her work. She is both traditionally and independently published. Her partner lives in Italy so she divides her time between Northern England and an olive grove in Tuscany. Kathleen's latest novel, The Sun's Companion, was shortlisted for the Kindle Book Review's 'best historical fiction' of 2013.
Her blog is called 'A Writer's Life' and the link is: http://www.kathleenjonesauthor.blogspot.it/
Leverett Butts teaches composition and literature at the Gainesville campus of the University of North Georgia. His poetry and fiction have appeared in Electric and The Georgia State University Review. He is the recipient of several fiction prizes offered by the University of West Georgia and TAG Publishing. His first collection of short fiction, Emily's Stitches: The Confessions of Thomas Calloway and Other Stories, has been nominated for the 2013 Georgia Author of the Year Award in Short Fiction. He lives in Temple, Georgia, with his wife, son and their Jack Russell terrier, and a couple of antisocial cats.
Read his blog at: http://levbutts.blogspot.com
Kathleen Jones writes biography, fiction and poetry and has won several awards for her work. She is both traditionally and independently published. Her partner lives in Italy so she divides her time between Northern England and an olive grove in Tuscany. Kathleen's latest novel, The Sun's Companion, was shortlisted for the Kindle Book Review's 'best historical fiction' of 2013.
Her blog is called 'A Writer's Life' and the link is: http://www.kathleenjonesauthor.blogspot.it/
Out now: Become A Writer - A step by step guide. By Ann Evans
