Tag, I’m it! Thanks to the indefatigable Kimberly Grenfell (that fancy word is just for you, girl 😉 ) I have been swept into the “My Writing Process” blog hop. You may have come across posts like these recently. That’s because they’re like internet trees, spreading their limbs exponentially in all directions. My duty was to tag three other people to continue this wildfire, but I find myself somewhat friendless at the moment, so this branch will, sadly, end with me.
Pause for a moment of silence.
Okay! Moving on! Since you’re here, I might as well share My Writing Process with you. Gather ’round, all ye who would listen, lend me your eyes, and allow me to pull back the curtain of mystery and invite you into the dark and twisted corridors of my mind…
Question 1: What am I working on?
*takes a breath to answer and immediately stops with sudden realization* I am writing about the ends of the world. Plural. First we have the Dragonborn series, which follows the noble wizard Nialei and her offspring as they try desperately to prevent Ragnarok (the Norse Armageddon, for those who did not know). Then there is Wolfen, a post-apocalyptic flurry of blood and mayhem caused by none other than Man’s hubris (it’s turning out nigh epic and driving me a little INSANE, but such is a writer’s life). And finally, the fourth and final installment of The Blood Series, a sci-fi/paranormal/futuristic odyssey into the mind of one very crazy chick. There’s also something about a dictatorial government devolving into civil war which will reshape civilization and humanity as it is known. Apparently this is a theme with me. And I can’t seem to find an easy way out of it. LOL
Question 2: How does my work differ from others in its genre?
It differs in one small but telling way. I don’t really have a genre. Open any one of my books and you will find strong elements of romance, suspense, action, fantasy/science fiction, past, present, future, myth, fairy tales, superpowers, and always a healthy dose of madness. All in good fun. My motto is “Life is messy” and I don’t ever simplify it for my books. They’re never just one thing, because I don’t want to be just one thing. I scoff at pigeon holes. I shake my head at boxes with haughty derision. It makes for complicated marketing, but that variety is what makes the stories worth reading. Go on, give ’em a try 😉
Question 3: Why do I write what I do?
Because I don’t know how to write something else. I write what I want to read, I dream my books. They play out in my head like movies. I navigate my muse only insomuch as I need to for the plots to bind into a cohesive whole, but aside from that, I am at the mercy of its winds. Where they blow, there I write. It’s the most honest way I know how to write–transcribing what is in my heart and soul. I have a deep connection to the ancient stories. Fairy tales and myths were my lullabies and prayers when I was a child. But I also hold a deep love of science and the pursuit of knowledge, and that curiosity sometimes takes me to places even I didn’t expect to go. I never regret taking the leap.
Question 4: How does my writing process work?
I write, write, write, until I can’t anymore. There are periods of relentless drive and inspiration, sometimes lasting a week, sometimes two months. At the end of it, whether the story is done or not, I am left burned out and need a couple of weeks (or more) rest before I can write more. I have learned to take frequent breaks, though actually going outside into sunlight doesn’t really happen. I have invested in an ergonomic keyboard, and several wrist braces. I always carry one with me just in case. I search images for inspiration, play nature sounds to keep the flow of words going when I write. And when it gets really bad, when I am at my most blockeded, I pick up a book. I should read more than I do, but with a full time job, one learns to manage one’s time to the best of one’s ability without sacrificing sleep (my other passion in life).
So there you have it. The short and sweet version of my life as a writer =) While I have you here, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading this far =) Hope you enjoyed it. And many thanks to Kimberly for including me in this bloggy goodness.
Until next time!