When Inspiration Strikes #IWSG #writing #writinginspiration #storyideas

    

The first Wednesday of every month is officially 

Insecure Writer's Support Group day.

The Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It's a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

IWSG Asks: When you are working on a story, what inspires you?

Inspiration comes from several sources. For me, I get a lot of inspiration from the dreams I have at night while I'm sleeping. Since I was a child, I've always had vivid dreams. My mother once suggested that I write my dreams into a notebook, and maybe one day I could make stories from them. I followed her advice. I've been keeping a dream journal since I was a teenager. It has become a source of many of my story ideas. For these, the dreams are so strong, the images so striking, that the dream haunts me for days afterward. Not in a bad way. But one that compels me to write it down and craft a story from it.

My paranormal romance, Into the Dark, was inspired by a dream I'd had about a woman captured by witches and thrown into a dark hole in the ground. She was not alone. Someone was with her. A man with shaggy brown hair and a long face. His clothes were badly torn and dirty. Not only dirt stained his clothes but also something that looked like blood.

From that dream, a 90,000-word story developed and is now available on Kindle Vella.

Another story I created from a dream was Loving Boone. This dream didn't play out as a story in my head like Into the Dark. Instead, it felt more symbolic. In my dream, my family was being attacked by a dozen or more large cats. It was scary. Then one of the cats morphed into a young man and begged us to stop fighting his family. From that image, the young shifter in my dream became Boone Evans. The idea of two families at war with each other unfolded, and soon I had developed a paranormal romance with cougar shifters.

Sometimes I'm inspired by listening to a piece of music that sparks an idea. Or perhaps an emotional scene from a movie. I once overheard a couple at the mall arguing with each other which created an idea for a line of dialogue in a story. 

Then there are times when inspiration strikes at the oddest moments. The idea for The Pirate's Lady hit me while I was driving to work one sunny day. For whatever reason, I had an image of a man and a woman sword-fighting on a beach at night pop into my head while I was driving along the highway. I was curious and kept playing the what if game until a story emerged. I couldn't get that image out of my head until I finished writing the story.

When all else fails, what truly inspires me is my desire to simply write stories. I love writing! I've been writing since I was a child. I'll never stop. Stories fascinate me! Intriguing characters, fantastic settings, spellbinding plots. I feel like this is what I'm meant to do in this life. So, that's what I'm doing. :) 

Be sure to visit the other writers in the 

Insecure Writer's Support Group!

I write sensual paranormal, sci-fi and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Become a VIP Reader by signing up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

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What's After THE END? #MFRWAuthor

Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.

Week 41: "Epilogue or No?"

I read and write mostly romance and there's always a moment after you get to the end of a really good book that you want to be reassured that the characters you invested so much of your life and time in will definitely turn out fine. And sometimes it's just because it's so difficult to let go of those wonderful characters. The Epilogue can set some of your worries at ease.

What is an Epilogue?

The section at the end of the book. It usually takes place after the action of the story, sometimes a few days later, sometimes a few years. If you're reading a romance, then sometimes the author fast forwards a few years to let the reader glimpse the life of the hero and heroine after they connected at the end of the story. Maybe they're married and have children.

Why Write an Epilogue? 

By giving a glimpse of the character's life after the events of the book you bring a sense of closure to your reader. Readers are reassured that all is well with their characters who, frankly, if an author does it well enough, seem like real-life friends.

This is also a great place to tie up some of those elusive loose threads. Maybe those unanswered questions didn't find a place in the story, but readers deserve to know those answers.

What Do I think?

Personally, I enjoy reading epilogues. In fact, my favorite epilogues are written by Julia Quinn who then went on to publish an entire book of them. Her stories of the Bridgertons are simply wonderful and it's difficult to let go of those characters after you're finished reading them. Those epilogues bring a sense of satisfaction and contentment and definitely leave me smiling and wanting to read another of her books.

Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!

~Tricia

How Writing Changed the Way I Read #IWSG #writinglife

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.

The Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

IWSG Asks: How has being a writer changed your experience as a reader? 

There was a time in my life when I could read a 300 page book in a day. I'd absorb every word, engrossed in the tale the author wove in my head, morphing myself into the main character to experience all the wonderful and often life-threatening adventures and if it was a romance, falling head over heels in love with the hero.

Then I started to study the craft of writing. I began to learn how those authors wove those fantastical tales.

I learned how a writer writes.

Instead of reading to lose myself into a book, I began studying the placement of those words, learning how the author created a world where the reader could find those adventures. I learned why they chose to reveal certain characteristics and events at the times they did. How they created the descriptions for the settings and the people in their stories. I discovered how plots work and all the intricacies involved with back story, foreshadowing, hero's journeys and 3-act structures.

Essentially, I'll never read books in the same way ever again.

Now, when I read a book its with a critical editor-like eye. Every story I read has become a textbook for the craft of novel writing. I learn what the author does that makes the story work, but what's worse is that I see the mistakes the author makes, too!

I've begun to anticipate certain actions and plot-points to the point where I can predict what will

happen next (which ruins a mystery, believe you me!). Sometimes I catch grammar mistakes that make it past all those people in the process of creating a book and I cross my fingers with hope that I don't have any of those in my books. Sometimes the author's words don't grip me with that magical wonderment that I had before and no matter how I try, I can't lose myself into the story. I see too much that pulls me out of it. I uncover character faults, badly written dialogue, and head-hopping POV.

Who knew head-hopping point-of-view could be so distracting?! It never bothered me before and now I can't stand it!

Now, that I've learned and practiced how to read a novel from a writer's perspective, its extremely difficult to turn off that mini-editor in my head. I'd love to slap a hand over her mouth to shut her up so that I can finally enjoy losing myself into a novel again, even a badly written one. The pleasure that reading brings is one of the reasons I started off on this path in the first place. However, I'm still learning with every book I read. Whether its written by a bestselling author or someone who is newly published, I'm still learning about the writing craft. And I sincerely hope that reading those books helps my own writing abilities grow.

It's difficult being a writer! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I have list of my favorite authors, the ones that I'm able to lose myself in their stories that keep my internal editor on a leash, and I've put them on my automatic to-buy list. To my extreme sorrow, I hesitate to read new-to-me authors these days. But, that doesn't mean I give up on them. It's one of the reasons that I think book reviews are so important. Those reviews give readers a chance to find out if that author and story is a right fit for them. I read a lot of book blogs and review sites. I chat with people on Facebook and Twitter to discover new authors. And I absolutely love Goodreads! So many great groups on there all dedicated to books. Also, I love reading anthologies. Often, I'll buy an anthology for one of my favorite authors, but those short stories give me a taste of a new-to-me author's writing style. I recently got hooked on a couple of new favorite authors by reading Holly and Hopeful Hearts by Bluestocking Belles this winter.  

As a thank you to those fantastic authors, for their talent and hard-work, I started writing reviews. I also want to help fellow readers find those valuable reading gems that are able to magically sweep them off their feet and into another world. I hope to help readers find great books to read, and I hope to help authors find those very special readers. Really, book reviewing feels just like an extension of my old day job as a bookseller. Instead of speaking to a reader face-to-face to tell them what kinds of books are sitting on our bookstore shelves, its the review that helps lead them to virtual bookshelves. And if I can help readers find a way to escape into another world for a short time, with either my own books or another author's books, then I feel very good indeed.

Be sure to visit the other writers in the 

Insecure Writer's Support Group!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Reading!

Tricia

Ready or Not? #IWSG #writers #writingprocess

IWSG Asks: When do you know your story is ready?

That is an incredibly difficult question to answer. I know each writer will have a different answer and there is no right or wrong one. It all depends on the individual writer, their personal experience and knowledge, how much writing practice was involved before writing this particular story and so on.

For me, each individual story varies. I write in stages.

First stage…The rough draft

Sometimes, the words flow with ease and other times I have to practically bleed upon the page. Some first drafts can be written extremely fast. My personal record is an 80,000 word novel in a week. I've only ever managed that incredible feat once in my life and that was before I had kids or even a job! I had nothing but time back then, in my younger days. Yeah, I was a teenager when I wrote that one. No actual skills or expertise, just gut instinct and nothing to do all day but write. We didn't have cell phones back then either! 

More recently, I did manage to write 30,000 words in a week. That was incredible fun! I was on such a writing high which I hadn't experienced in a really long time. However, my family didn't appreciate me ignoring them for hours. They kept interrupting me to complain about dirty dishes and filthy laundry. And, please, could someone just tell me, why do people need to eat every day, all day long? My family insists on being fed, like 3 times a day! And they expect me to cook for them! I could probably live on take-out or cereal for every meal for at least a week, but my husband frowns upon that sort of thing. 

If I can manage about 50,000 words in a month, I'm thrilled! I'm lovin' stories like that! NaNoWriMo is great for these stories. Again, my family doesn't particularly like it. I broke the news to my husband the other day that I was planning to participate in this year's writing event. He wasn't pleased. I bowed out of the last few NaNoWriMo's because of the stress it sometimes brings, but this year I have a story prepared…ready and plotted…except for the…ehem…ending. Still working on that.

Those are the exceptions, however, for my typical writing. Usually, it takes much longer for me to write a story. Somewhere between 6 months to a year, sometimes even two years. Because I'm a panster, I don't have any idea where the story will end up. Or I'll have an ending, but not a beginning. It's normally one or the other. There are many times that I keep writing until the story fades in my imagination, where I'll come to a sudden stop and not have any idea what happens next. Either I work it out in some way, or I take a break from it and move on to either editing or writing another story. In this way, I always have two WIP's going at all times.

Second Stage…The Waiting Period 

(also known as the Cooling Down Stage)

Once that first draft is written (Hallelujah!), I take the family out for ice cream. It's a time for celebration. And since I need all the encouragement I can get, having my kids tell me what a great job I did writing a story they know nothing about so they can have an ice cream cone smothered with sprinkles is praise indeed.

Also, I need to set the manuscript aside and not even think about it for at least a month or two or three. I need to distance myself from my writing so when I come back to it, I'll read it with fresh eyes. Usually, I begin writing another story. Or I take some time to read someone else's books. I have an unbelievably long TBR pile that sits on my bookshelf taunting me with great adventures every time I walk by it.

Third Stage…The Edits & Revisions

Eventually, I go back to my manuscript and start edits and revisions. Depending on the story, these can take longer than the actual first draft writing. It can be frustrating work, especially if I've found a problem with the story that needs extensive fixing. Like I said before, each story is different, so the time from start to finish varies. It could take a month. Or it could take a year.

I think I'm finished when I've corrected all the issues that I can find in the manuscript. When I've gone over it several times, made all the adjustments that I think it needs. I've checked for plot holes, loose ends, grammar and spelling, made sure all the characters continue throughout the story with the same hair and eye color, stuff like that. I have a checklist of items that I go through with each manuscript. This is time-consuming and exhausting! Especially since I keep adding to the checklist, but I've found that it strengthens the writing and makes it look much more professional when I send it to my editor.

Fourth Stage…The Incredible Self-Doubt

After all of that, I think it's ready. Maybe. I might wait another month, then read it again. Could be I'll find something else that needs fixing. I'll imagine that I'm my audience, trying to see my story through their eyes. Mostly, I'll be so tired of reading it over and over again that I can't bear the thought of reading it again and I'll wonder why anyone else would want to read it. I'll question my sanity, or more...my decision to ever begin a writing career in the first place.

After a day or two of paralyzing self-doubt, I'll put my big girl pants on and tell myself to get over it. I've been writing more than half of my life, it would be time wasted to quit something like that now because of my insecurities. What's the worst that can happen?

Then I send it to my editor.

The next day, I take my kids out for ice cream again. I told you, I need all the encouragement and praise I can get.

Fifth Stage…The Publishing Process

There are 2 scenarios after I send the manuscript to my editor. Either she likes it and contracts it, or she'll send suggestions for revisions. As soon as I sign the contract, we go through rounds of edits where she'll find all the things I've missed. And no matter how many drafts I worked on previously, she still finds things that need to be addressed. We'll go through 1 to 3 rounds of edits before she declares it done and at that point my brain will feel like mush that I'll agree to anything she says.

Yes, I guess by then…it's ready!

Of course, that's just me. Every writer is different.

On the day of my book's release, my family and I celebrate with…you guessed it…a lovely and usually expensive meal at a local restaurant...

...and then ice cream.  

Be sure to check out the other writers in the 

Insecure Writer's Support Group!

I write sensual paranormal and historical romances. Interested in learning more about my stories? Sign-up for my newsletter where you'll learn about my new book releases, updates on my works-in-progress, writing tips, book reviews, contests, and other fun book-related info!

Happy Writing!

Tricia

New Contract, New Goal, New Story

January proved to be one of the most productive months for me to date. I haven’t accomplished so much since…really…I can’t remember!

Let me give you a little update of what’s been going on.

New Contract!

Shortly before New Year’s Day, my publisher offered me a contract for The Witch’s Kiss. This will be Sage Merriweather and Marianne Grey’s story, both of whom are secondary characters in The Witch’s Thief. Marianne was left in a rather poor state by the end of that book as my editor mentioned, but I had plans for her that couldn’t be completed in that particular book. She needed a book of her own and Sage was the perfect hero. I signed the contract and within a few days my editor had the first round of edits prepared. I worked through and returned them to her a few weeks later. 

What a fantastic way to end 2013 and begin 2014!

New Goals

I love setting goals for myself. In fact, I think of goals as challenges. Challenges are a great motivation for me to get things done. My goal this year is to write 1000 words every day of the year. Yes, that’s 365,000 words this year. It’s an achievable goal since when I’m on my writing schedule I average about 1k a day anyway. So, why not keep doing it every day instead of taking so many breaks in between projects? My plan is to write in the mornings, edit in the afternoons and the read in the evenings. By the end of the year, we’ll see how well I do. I’m thinking of this as a trial year. If it works…great! If not, I’ll revise and re-plan for next year. Either way, I’m making sure that I prioritize my writing as the most important part of my day. Done first thing in the morning, so I won’t feel guilty for not getting around to it later because I spent most of the day doing laundry and dishes. 

Writing first, then laundry and dishes! Yes! I can do this!

New Story! Or Two! Or Three!

I was a writing machine in January! I keep track of my word count, hours spent writing, etc. I’m glad I did, since it was a jaw-dropping amount of data that I collected. I know other authors produce this sort of thing on a regular basis, but my work has always been sporadic. This month I decided to keep my writing as my #1 priority (well, aside from feeding my kids!) and ignored a lot of other things that always seem to take precedence over writing (like laundry!).

1. In the first few days of January, I finished a Pirate Romance novella I began in 2013. This is a little different from the paranormal romances that I’m used to writing, but since I like to try new things when the story popped into my head, I charged right in. Then I let it sit for a while. Something wasn’t quite right about it. In late December, inspiration hit and I realized the story needed a new ending. That’s what was bothering me! So, I rewrote the last chapter and added a few more scenes. What an improvement!
2.  I had a dream shortly after Christmas about a Contemporary Holiday Romance story idea. It grew quickly in my mind. Seeing as it was another short story, I decided to write it the first week of January. 8k words later, I was finished. As with the Pirate Romance, again, something feels off about it. Contemporary Romance is another genre I rarely dabble in, so I’m not sure what exactly is bothering me about it. Letting it sit, letting my subconscious figure things out will answer those questions. Eventually, I’ll return to it.
3. Another dream came to me in December. This one was about zombies! Okay, although not the vampires or werewolves that I’m used to writing, this is still more my speed than what I’ve been working on recently. So, Untitled Zombie Romance was a like a breath of fresh air to my creative brain and it became my January obsession. I wrote morning, noon and night. When I wasn’t writing, I was thinking about the story so much that even making meals for my family became an annoyance. Although this isn’t really new…I am not a fan of cooking. I’m not good at it. Really. My husband likes to joke that I burn water, so you can see that my skills are better spent on writing instead of cooking. Thank goodness my husband enjoys cooking, so I usually don't have to. I worked like mad to get this story out of my brain and onto my laptop. My normal 1k day goal was surpassed by an average of 3k. Then on Thursday and Friday of my mad-writing-like-crazy-week I managed 6k! I haven’t done 6k in one day since I was a teenager! I was ecstatic. And the story was going great…
   
   Until…
   
   
   
   
   My daughter got sick. Some sort of stomach bug that hit hard and fast. My little 3 year-old Puddin’ was so sick that I stayed up 2 whole days and nights to watch over her. I got about 5 hours of sleep that weekend. As much as I would have loved to write during that time, I was too upset to think about anything but her. Yes, my children always come before my writing. Luckily, she was only sick for two days. After that, she bounced right back to running around and playing like her normal cute and bossy self. All was good. But my house was a mess! With only 5 hours of sleep, and the rest of the time sitting with her, I let the housework slide. So, I took the next day to get caught up on those chores. And it was a good thing I did because the very next day my 6 y/o son, my husband and I all got sick at the same time.
   
   
   It. Was. Horrible.
   
   
   I don’t ever remember being so sick in my life. My entire body ached and I was so dizzy even when I was sitting. And, since I’m the mom, l still had to take care of everyone else.  Days later… I’m still recovering from that bout. Unfortunately, that was a week gone without writing, so I didn't finish the Zombie Romance like I'd planned. 
   
   
   Looking back at the month my best days were the 6k days. That particular week I wrote 30,000 words! Nearly half of my zombie novel in one week! If I’d had that second week, I’d have that baby finished in January! But, all is well, since I’m back to my writing schedule. A few more scenes and it is done! Then I can pat myself on the back.
   
   TOTAL Words for January: 56,552
   
   
   And on to February...