How I Write

Crystal Ball? Nope.

It all starts with an idea.

Where do my ideas come from?

  • Book covers: Five of my books were inspired by covers premade by cover artists. I saw the cover image, and the story developed from there. Of course, I bought the cover in each case.
    • Under Winsome Magic
    • Ring True (#1 Kavin Cut Chronicles)
    • On the Wing (#1 Fifth Flight)
    • Of Wing and Wisdom (#2 Fifth Flight preorder)
    • Wing of Illusion (#3 Fifth Flight series)
  • Dreams
    • Dragon-Eyed Dream (opening scene)
    • In Times Passed (opening scene ~ #1 unpublished SciFi)
  • My husband's idea
    • Dragon-Eyed Dream (concept)
    • Fifth Flight series (concept)
    • Books 1, 2, 3, 8, from Solstice Dragon World (concept)
    • Bellyful of Bones (entire story)
    • two yet to be written books (entire story)
    • an entire series yet to be written (concept)
  • a song ~ In Times Passed "Just Dropped In" sung by the First Edition, written by Mickey Newberry (unpublished SciFi)
  • An imagined conversation
    • The Keepsake Dragon (#6 Solstice Dragon World)
    • Dragon Go Lightly (#10, Solstice Dragon World preorder)
    • Scrapper
  • Another book I wrote
    • Like to a Lonely Dragon ~ inspiration Book #5 in the series (#10 Solstice Dragon World)
    • The Would-Be Dragon ~ inspiration Book #1 in the series & by reader request (#5 Solstice Dragon World)
    • books 2-5 Standing Stone series by the previous book. I kept thinking I was done, and then....
  • A request for a blog post
    • The Sharded Boy (#1 Standing Stone series, started out as an example for staying within specific rules of magic)
    • Joanie & Friends (Same request, different topic. Unfinished. Maybe one day...)
  • A location ~ just one ~ At Any Given Time (#5, unpublished SciFi) ~ Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo

I didn't expect the list to be this long.

As for the rest of the process…I write toward various islands I imagine occurring in the story. Rather than a light at the end of the tunnel, I shoot for a conversation or a stressful situation. They string out along the course of my story. So, not an outline, one island after the other.

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  • Organized Desk

    I do like things in specific places. It doesn't have to line up with anything, just has to be where I expect it to be.

    What are those things?

    • A pad of sticky notes—my goals for the week
    • A water bottle—need those fluids
    • A pen
    • A nail file—something to fidget with
    • A computer.
  • Word Count

    A goal: I usually plan to write a thousand to fifteen hundred words a day.

  • Computer

    Asus ZenBook and a second extended screen.

My Tools

What I turn to daily

Padlet

Organization

This is a website that provides a digital corkboard, among other features. Imagine all the things you could do with sticky notes to organize your writing/business life.

It's basically a creative sticky note organizer. (Though it can be used for many other things: wedding planner, lesson planner, mind map, timeline, etc.)

That's what Padlet.com offers. I've used it for years to organize my writing scene by scene as I draft a book, to keep track of my marketing, and to plan my strategies and publishing for the year.

ProWritingAid

Editing & Revision

Though this program offers far more than I use it for, it is an excellent way to correct word choice, spelling, grammar, and flow while drafting. I end up with a much cleaner manuscript when I am done. That leaves the redraft to refine my story arc, and of course, correct any new mistakes.

OneNote (Microsoft)

Specific notes

Every series has a folder in this program. And within each folder are specific pages. For example, I have a character page which lists all my important characters, their physical features, tics, and connections to others.

I have a page where I keep all my unusual creatures listed.

There's an entire folder dedicated to Medieval notes: food, clothing, conveyances, natural healing, even conversions such as how many miles in a league. Basically, research I have done.

Write till your ink be dry, and with your tears Moist it again, and frame some feeling line That may discover such intergrity.

William Shakespeare

Main Working Principles

The Most Important Steps To Follow

Write A Lot

Be constantly writing. Never while writing tell yourself, "This is horrible." It is the beginning, and writing is a process that evolves as the story unfurls itself. It is not a rug one kicks and watches unroll. You must constantly be adding to the weave.

Read A Lot

Every word we digest becomes part of us, and we must feed that appetite constantly. I don't repeat stories I've read. I let them simmer, break down into seasoning, steep, and gain new textures and aromas. When they are well marinated, then I can ladle out the portion I need.

Take Criticism

Don't cringe. Don't argue. Listen and consider. Take days if you must, but think about what is being said about your work. I could have named my alpha and beta readers as important tools, but they are more than that. I cannot explain how essential it is that I get feedback about what I write from people fully engaged in the process and whose goal is to help me write my best. April and Lori give me that.