I want to thank my critique partner, D.V. Berkom for
inviting me to join My Writing Process Blog Tour. As the author of two
bestselling thriller series (Leine Basso and Kate Jones), her love of creating
resilient, kick-butt female characters stems from a lifelong addiction to
reading spy novels, mysteries, and thrillers, and longing to find the female
equivalent within those pages. You can visit her blog at: http://dvberkom.wordpress.com
My
Writing Process
1.
What am I working on?
I am in the middle of writing my next novella in THE
CUPCAKE DIARIES series. This would be Book 6 and features the Creative Cupcakes
team going to compete in the Regional bake-off in Seattle. This story features
Trish & Ollie Montgomery, a married couple who must rediscover their love
for one another and learn to be a team again.
I am also working on a collection of short-short
stories to group together into a sweet anthology and have plans to start
working on a sweet ranch series.
2.
How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I write sweet, wholesome, traditional-style romances
that feature lots of light-hearted humor on top like the fluffy frosting on a
cupcake. But then there's that bottom layer of rich relationships between the
characters. Focusing on friendship, family, and love, I give them real life
issues they need to work out and core values they need to discover by the end
of the story.
3.
Why do I write what I do?
I love romance. I love thinking about all the millions of different ways two people
could meet, all the possibilities of what they could say, and all the things that could happen. The choices
are endless, and like a puzzle, I like figuring them out piece by piece. I also
like building in all the connections between character, setting, plot to
foreshadow future events, and tie everything together to feel like an organic
whole.
4.
How does my writing process work?
First, a fun idea for a dialogue exchange between
the main characters pops into my head. Then I write it down and slip it into a
folder on my desk. Then day after day other parts of the story will emerge and
soon I'll have a whole folder of random notes. When I feel it's time to begin,
I type all the notes into one word document on my laptop to see what I've got.
Then using character charts I brainstorm
who these characters are, and using a plot template I figure out what needs to
happen to them to help them grow into the people they need to be by the end of
the story. Sometimes I put together a photo collage on a poster board to help
generate ideas. Sometimes I use index cards and lay them out on the floor like
dominos. Next I write the first full rough draft. Then I cut excess parts that
don't fit the story and may move scenes to different locations. Then I do a
rewrite, bringing in more detail to deepen the story. Last is the polish, which
edits sentence structure and word choice to make the story shine. My critique
group offers suggestions from start to finish to give me valuable feedback
before I send it off to my publisher.
Who's
up next?
These three amazing writers are joining us on April
14.
Dawn
Luedecke
A country girl born and bred, Dawn Luedecke has spent
most of her life surrounded by horses, country folk, and the wild terrain of
Nevada, Idaho and Montana. As a child she would spend many afternoons reading
books, watching western classics, and Rogers and Hammerstein movies. When she
grew up she decided to leave the quiet country life for a chance to find
adventure by serving in the United States Coast Guard. During that time she
found her soul mate (and alpha male) and started a family and writing career.
These days you can find her on the coastline as she follows her husband’s Coast
Guard career along the beach. Visit her blog on her website at: www.dawnluedecke.com
Debby
Lee
Debby Lee belongs to several chapters of RWA, has published three
short stories and a novella in A Cascades
Christmas by Barbour Publishing. She’s happily married, has five children
and lives in Washington. Reading is one of her favorite hobbies, as well as
cheering for the Seattle Seahawks. Visit Debby’s website
at http://booksbydebbylee.com
and her blog at http://sweetinspirationals.wordpress.com
Jackie
Marilla
Jackie Marilla writes contemporary romance with just
a little spice! She published her first short story, ONLY ON VALENTINE’S
DAY, with Books To Go Now in January of 2014. Jackie lives on a farm in
Hawai’i with her supportive husband, several feral cats, and a flock of
hodgepodge chickens. When she’s not at her desk writing, Jackie loves to
visit her grown children and grandson in the Pacific Northwest, read, sew, and
make lampwork glass beads. In a past life, she was an elementary
school teacher. Jackie is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the
Greater Seattle Chapter. Visit her blog at:
jackiemarilla.blogspot.com
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