Wednesday, June 25, 2014

#MyWritingProcess Blog Tour


When Leesa Freeman, then Anne Mateer invited me to participate in the #MyWritingProcess blog tour I jumped at the chance. I love promoting fellow authors. After answering my questions, I’ll introduce you to three quality writers. And just a heads up, I probably broke about twelve rules completing this process, such as linking to posts that have already gone live. I apologize. I can get a little wild & crazy like that.

The questions…

1.      What am I working on? 

 I’m hard at work drafting a new book club novel. This particular work has quite an emotional punch and comes with a major twist, which makes this one of the hardest books I’ve worked on to date. The characters in this crew are some of my favorites so far.

Setting is crucial in this story. Sorry to be so evasive, but the development process is a vulnerable one and I tend not to offer too many details as many of them come as delightful discoveries to me as I write.

 I can share that it’s women’s fiction, the characters are waking me up at night, and I go back to the impetus of this work whenever the plot or characters start getting all elusive on me. The impetus has been a faithful compass.

2.      How does my work differ from others of its genre? 
I’ve learned from some incredibly talented women’s fiction writers. This said, one of my favorite aspects of writing novels is crafting something unique and fresh. I gravitate toward writing stories with characters living with some sort of brain anomaly, or something that makes them perceive the world quite differently.

My novels also take place in New England, where I grew up so I find myself often reconnecting with my roots. And I like exploring issues related to pregnancy and parenting as evidenced in the two books I recently released, THE FLOWER GIRLS and THE DISAPPEARING KEY.

Finally, I’m told all of my novels have the tendency to leave readers craving to discuss them—the story, the characters, etc. which is exactly what I hope for as I sit to write.

  3. Why do I write what I do? 

            Because my characters won’t let me write non-fiction. And I figured out a few years ago I have a freakishly abnormal sense of empathy toward any and every one. At some point I realized maybe there’s a way to channel that empathy. And that’s how I turned into a novelist.

  4. How does my writing process work?

 I’m still trying to discern if it does work. Triage. That’s what it is. I write when I can. I edit when I can. I do the can-can if my words turn into a novel and people make sense out of it.

 Seriously, I work hard. I take myself seriously and despite the accolades or public rejection, I continue to believe in my core that there’s something worthwhile for me to pursue as a novelist. A story to chase.

 Off I run now.

~*~

And now to linky link and let you know who I asked to answer these questions…

Bree Combs
(I met Bree years ago serving in unique capacities for our church moms group. Sweet soul and burgeoning writer!)

Bree is married with three children and earned a degree in elementary education from Campbellsville 
University. She’s a stay-at-home mom, involved with teaching, speaking, & writing at her church. She takes her faith seriously, but tries not to take herself too seriously, because it only leads to more wrinkles!

 She'll be answering these questions next Wednesday here.

 

Anne Mateer
(My editor extraordinaire and seriously wise friend.)

While Anne has been writing for what feels like her whole life, she began seriously studying the craft in 2000. Since then she’s completed five novels, had several pieces published in local periodicals, attended six writing conferences and managed to final in ACFW’s Genesis contest in 2006, 2008, and 2009. Anne currently has three historical novels published: Wings of a Dream, At Every Turn, and A Home for My Heart. Playing by Heart will release in the fall of 2014. But writing is only a piece of her life. - See more here.
Anne already answered these questions here.

 
Leesa Freeman

(Leesa and I have recently connected, both pursuing our writing dreams. I’m grateful our paths have crossed.)

A native Texan, Leesa Freeman enjoys escaping the chill of New England, if only in her imagination, often setting her novels in the places she loved growing up. She lives in Connecticut where she is also an artist, a self-proclaimed music snob, and recovering Dr. Pepper addict. Visit her website

 Leesa also already answered these questions here.

 

4 comments:

  1. Fun post, Wendy! I'm soooo ready to read this new book you're working on! You're tempting me too much, lady!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm excited for you to read it, Jill. Just need to finish it and edit until the cows come home. Then I'll gladly send it your way. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this blog tour topic!! I always love getting a peek into the writing process of an author!

    ReplyDelete

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