Writing Process Blog Tour

My thanks goes out to Angela Archer for involving me in the writing process blog tour. The concept is simple: I answer four questions about my writing, and then pass the questions on to other writers. If you're interested in being part of the tour, please let me know!


1. What am I working on at the moment?

I'm working on a novella for the Shine series. This is book three of a three-part series. Shines are girls with unusual abilities. They're also really fun to write about. My character, June Brighton, can hear heartbeats. As the series progresses, she'll also learn how manipulate them.

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

When I'm not working on the Shine series, I write an urban fantasy series called Olive Kennedy, Fairy World MD. It's about a licensed medical doctor. Her patients have visited fairy world and come back to our world, but they've lost their memories. Because of it, they've got a host of depressive disorders. Olive Kennedy uses magic to help them remember and overcome their disorders. Her patients also happen to collect fantasy memorabilia.

I wanted to bridge the gap between fantasy fans and the books they read. I don't know of any other series that does this. It's made for some really unique characters. Plus it's a lot of fun to write!

3. Why do I write what I do?

This is a question that's close to my heart. In fact, I was pondering this question this morning. I started writing because I was in a stagnant place. I'm a stay-at-home mom, which I love, but it can also be a strain. My husband was doing his general surgery residency and worked an average of 80-90 hours a week, leaving me to be the sole caretaker of our three young children. We'd moved away from home. I had no family here, and I was having trouble coping with the ins and outs of daily life, and doing it by myself.

My friend loaned me a book called Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George. It was a fun fairy tale story. I really enjoyed it. But I also felt that I had stories in my head that were just as good. I'd tried for years to write a book, but I always got discouraged halfway through and eventually gave up. This time would be different. This time I would write a book and finish it. It didn't matter if it was perfect. It just had to be finished.

My husband, even though working his 90 hour weeks, was a huge support. A month later, I'd finished my first draft of my first novel.

So, to get back to the question--why do I write what I do? Because it keeps me sane. And because I absolutely love it.

4. How does my writing process work?

First, I know that I have to write every day. My goal is 1,000 words. Usually I make my goal, especially if I'm working on something I'm really passionate about. Of course, this all begins in my head. As long as I know I have to do this, I will. I don't give myself an out. That's my goal. I do it before the dishes or laundry. I do it while the baby naps. And after I finish, I feel that I've accomplished something. It makes my whole day go better.

TAGGED: Sherry Ficklin