“My Writing Process” Blog Tour

Mary Hamilton invited me to participate on this blog tour.  I met Mary two years ago, when we drove to Dallas together for my first ACFW conference. Mary was incredibly sweet about answering my many questions on the 4 1/2 hour drive.  Shortly after the conference Mary landed her first book deal for her book Hear No Evil.  Which is a pre-teen/teen novel that follows a group of kids through their experiences at summer camp.  Having read her book, I can honestly say it will be good summer reading for anyone. Here is a link so you can check it out: Hear No Evil.

 

 

Now for question one on the blog tour…

1) What am I working on?

I’m in full editing mode right now. I have two completed novels, but they are not finished. By finished, I mean ready for publication. The stories have been written, but now they need fine tuning.  I will be honest and say that I enjoy the writing process much more than the editing. Most days I equate editing to visiting the dentist and having a tooth pulled. Sadly, with that “lovely” outlook it shouldn’t be surprising that my editing is taking so long. I prefer coming up with the stories and bringing them to life.

My first novel is set in 1860’s New Orleans. It’s a historical romance about a young woman forced into an engagement with a man she doesn’t love. The book follows the engaged couple through the war as they both grow spiritually and learn what true love is and what God’s plan is for their lives. The book spans all five years of the war.

My second novel is set in modern day Amish country. A young Amish girl flees her home after finding herself pregnant out of wedlock. She struggles with losing her parents love and support, while living in the English world. After finding her grandmother’s sister, she begins a new life in California. God shows His love is unconditional and full of grace at every turn.

 

 

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

The civil war story is different because it’s set in New Orleans. It’s also a character driven book. The plot is important, but the characters are what drive the plot. I love the characters I’ve created.

The Amish story is different, because unlike many Amish books this one doesn’t portray the Amish church in the best light. It shows all sides of what it’s like to be a part of their community. They are a tight group, but there are rules to be followed.

 

3) Why do I write what I do?

I feel that writing is a ministry, or a calling, placed on us by God. It’s a gift that He gives and because of that I look to Him when writing. I don’t start a book until I know that it’s a story God wants for me to write. Once I feel His direction, then I

begin my writing process. I guess my best answer to this question is, I seek Him and try to follow His will as closely as possible. I want to honor Him with writing, regardless of publication.  I pray that one day my books will be published, but if not, at least I know I did my best for His Glory.

 

4) How does your writing process work?

Let me just say… I’m a PLANNER. 🙂 There are two types of writers: pantsers (no outline, they just write by the seat of their pants) and the planner (must have an outline).  Once I get an idea, I think about it for a few weeks. I dwell on all the possibilities, then I begin to form a general idea of the plot. This is the beginning of my outline.  I also like to research characters. If you follow me on pinterest, then check out my character board. I love to pin ideas. I have learned that by having my character pictures and outline in place I can write that much more accurately when working on my first draft (i.e. I don’t have to do as many edits! See the first question.)

 

I usually write every Tuesday and Friday, plus some evenings after the kids are in bed.  By committing two full days to writing, I’m still able to volunteer at the kid’s school, clean the house, and be a good wife and mother while meeting my writing needs.  I love to write, but it requires balance at this point in my life.

 

Now, I’d like to introduce you to three more writing friends who will tell you about their own writing process on their blogs next week.

 

JOANNA DAVIDSON writes novels based on true stories. A strong believer that truth makes the most fascinating fiction, she enjoys hearing the life stories of everyone–especially those overlooked by the rest of the world. She worked as a writer in the pharmaceutical field and then transitioned into the editorial department of a Christian publishing company. A lifelong resident of the Chicago area, Joanna and her husband have taken up residence in the country with their motley crew of strays and new baby Elena. She has done extensive content editing and marketing work for various published books and is an active member of ACFW.  joannadavidson.com

When not writing about her imaginary friends, CAROL MONCADO can be found hanging out with her husband and four kids in the big yard of their southwest Missouri home, teaching American Government at a community college, reading, or watching NCIS. She’s a member of ACFW and RWA, President and founding member of MozArks ACFW.  She writes Sunday School lessons for Urban Ministries’ JuniorWay publication, blogs at InspyRomance, and is a coordinator for ACFW’s First Impressions. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.  www.carolmoncado.com/wordpress

 

LINDA YEZAK lives with her husband and three cats in a forest in east Texas, where tall tales abound  and exaggeration is an art form. She holds a BA in English and a graduate certificate in Paralegal Studies. Thirty years later, she’s finally putting her degree in English to good use, combining it with her natural inclination toward story-telling to create fun, unique novels.  http://lindayezak.com./