I’m up. I’m here. I’m blogging about my writing process. And I can’t remember if I was tagged or just decided it’s my turn (and I also think I did this earlier – like two months ago:). But the writing process is an ever-evolving wheel of fortune (or not so much fortune) – and that’s what I’m going to talk about…
Here’s how the writing process blog tour works. I answer four questions and then mention a few friends who will be sharing their process a week from today (okay, some may share a week from yesterday – but again, that could be because I was supposed to post yesterday). And no, my books do not ramble as much as my blog posts:)…
1. What am I working on?
If you’d asked me two months ago, I’d have said CHASING DAMN, my Golden Heart final in Romantic Suspense (RS). But back then I was also finishing a first draft of MADISON’S CHOICE (working title), a RS set in small town USA. Then in between, I would pull out one of my paranormal romances THE VAMPIRE LUST CLUB or GIDEON (working title). Then there was my historical romance WILD WOMEN AND THE BLUES, set in 1925 Chicago, in the Bronzeville neighborhood.
So about now you may be thinking, ‘what the heck, girl?’ Make up your mind! Yeah. I know. And yeah. I have.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
This question could keep me up nights. In my humble opinion, RS offers the author an opportunity to create their own genre. The rules of romantic suspense are across the board (from what I can tell). The list can include mysteries, thrillers, suspense, procedural, courtroom, military, small town, urban, paranormal, historical–and the romance can be sexy, sensual, sweet, erotic, hot, or YA. You name it and romance and suspense can play in the same sandbox with lots of other kids.
My stories have elements of family drama, white collar crime, cyber gangs, serial killers, suspense and also thrills. And my alpha heroes can be former military, FBI agents, ICE agents, a county sheriff or Chicago cop. And the romance is always adult. And the cast of characters reflect the diversity of our world. So think Grey’s Anatomy or ABC’s SCANDAL if either were romantic suspense, set in major US cities or abroad, or in wealthy suburbs, or in small town USA. NOTE: Actor Chris Hemsworth is inspiration for my Chasing Damn hero, a private security consultant and former military.
3. Why do I write what I do?
In a way I’m a newbie to romantic suspense, or at least understanding the differences, requirements, effort (RESEARCH) needed to write good romantic suspense novels. I’ve always been a huge fan of thrillers some of which (if not all) border on horror. Some of my favorite authors include Thomas Harris (Silence of the Lambs, Black Sunday, The Red Dragon) and Chelsea Cain (Sweetheart, Heartsick) and Guillermo del Toro (The Strain Trilogy).
I love romance that gives me the shivers and danger that gives me the chills – both in the same story is Yummy Town:)! I want to read those stories and write those books.
4. How does your writing process work?
I’m a plotter. But in the beginning I’m character girl. I love to dig, dig, and dig to find who these people are and then bring them to life on the page. I’m also a craft junkie and adore classes with (to name a few) Margie Lawson, Laura Baker and Cherry Adair.
Okay, I’ve written all I can on this…
My question – what do you think of the impact Pinterest has on authors – who are now putting faces to their main characters that don’t end up on the book cover, but can attract readers? A good trend? Or what do you think?
Writing Process Blogs to visit next week include:
2014 GOLDEN HEART® finalist Shelley Chalmers. Her book HIDDEN MAGIC is a finalist in the paranormal romance category.
Author Kerri Carpenter. Her contemporary novella, GOING UP, will be released by Entangled Publishing later this year and her full-length contemporary novel, RETURN TO LOVE, will be published with Soul Mate Publishing.
Author Kim Golden. She writes women’s fiction, and has several novels to her credit including: CHOOSE ME, SNOWBOUND, and MAYBE BABY, as well as the novella MAYBE TONIGHT.
See Denny? It wasn’t that hard!! Thanks for letting us know your process!! 🙂
LOL! This was mind boggling work:)! And I still didn’t touch upon a lot of stuff – so I stopped writing after a while:)…
Hi Denny! I enjoyed reading about your process and ALL your works in progress. 🙂
I struggle with the idea of posting pictures of my particular character inspirations. I definitely have them, see them in my mind as I write, but then I’m not sure if I should tell my readers what they look like? Maybe they want to imagine them differently? I’ve had that experience as a reader when the picture of the guy (or girl) on the cover looks so different from what I imagined for that character, and it bugs me. So I don’t know. I never mind looking at a Hemsworth, though, if someone else wants to post them. 🙂
I feel the same way about the inspirations but Pinterest has made it another time suck I love. But also I think for certain books it works – military action hero and femme fatale heroine – I think yes. Some other books – a big NO. But I am finding on Facebook, authors are using the idea of ‘see’ what I’ve been using in my mind, and attracting readers that way. I’ll see how I feel about it after I get this story sold (fingers crossed:)! Thank you so much for stopping by!
Great post, Denny. I love learning how you work!
As for your question, it’s an interesting one. I love Pinterest and have tons of private boards for all of my books which include male and female photographs for character inspiration. I find it really helps me write the books. But I do keep them private because I am also a reader. And as a reader, I don’t like to see photos of characters because I know exactly what they look like in my mind. It’s the same reason that I don’t like video book trailers. I don’t want anyone else’s images in my head–I want my vision of a book to be true to what I want to see. And the more I love a book, the more I hate character images.
So, yes, I’m a hypocrite. Love the images to write, but hate seeing other peoples’ vision of my favorite characters.
Did that answer your question? 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by and reading. And yes, I love Romantic Suspense and firmly believe I’ve been writing it longer than I knew the name of the genre:)…but the old journalism major in me enjoys the research – probably too much – next I’ll have to put some of it in the book:)…
Part of the reason I asked the question is I believe Pinterest and other social media tools are emphasizing images and book marketing is getting pulled in. I don’t mind seeing the man – crazy me – cute is cute – but I forget about the cover, the marketing images, whatever, once I open the book and if its good – my mind does the rest of the work:)…Looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks!
Denny,
From one craft-junkie to another — great post.
I love, love, love Pinterest. For me, it’s the rough equivalent of a story board. I post things that inspire me, pix of era-appropriate attire, interiors, etc… Perhaps–someday when I have readers– those readers will look to those pages too. For now, they’re invaluable to me.
OMG. When I was working on my historical set in 1920s Chicago – Pinterest was a lifesaver. I love it, too. And I’m also an amateur photographer and I love a good photo and there is some gorgeous stuff there (a definite time suck:)…
And craft? Love, love, love it. I mentioned Margie Lawson, Cherry Adair and Laura Baker (LOVE), but this weekend I’m excited about Candace Havens and Liz Pelletier (Entangled) – both are coming to WRW to do workshops – and I’ve taken from both women and they are FABULOUS.
So when we see each other in San Antonio – we’ll exchange craft stories:)
Thanks for commenting.
Hi Denny, you are a diverse and prolific writer! It’s funny because as both a reader and a writer, it doesn’t matter to me what actor or model is associated with the character, I lose the image the deeper into the story I get. I’ve used one actor in particular for three different books, but when I think of the characters in those books, I no longer see his face. It was a starting point for me to get the scenes rolling in my mind, but once he becomes real to me in the story, he loses the specifics of the actor’s face. Same goes for me as a reader. The hero I read about is not the face on the book or the image the writer pinned on her Pinterest board.
lol. I’ve changed Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester – Supernatural) hair color and eyes so many times I had to stop myself.
I think I’m hearing a pattern from the question and that’s what I expected. We can see whatever – but once we’re in the book – the character on the page does whatever he or she does in your head and you go from there:)…
Looking forward to seeing you in San Antonio!
Denny, I’m in awe you could be working on different projects all at once! I’m very much a one project girl, with possible revisions / editing on a second while I let the first “cool.” Things get muddled up in my mind otherwise. 😉 It’s been a lot of fun to read all of these posts, and thanks for tagging me.
As to your question re: Pinterest. I’m pretty new with it myself, and this is the first book where I’ve actually had an actor in mind while writing. I’m not really a visual person like that, so mostly I’m happy with whatever I have in my head, knowing full well the reader will likely create their own image. While I find it interesting how writers are using Pinterest boards, it’s not something I’d probably seek out, either for my own images, and definitely not regarding their books. Just me. 🙂
Great post, and thanks for sharing.
Hi Denny! Thanks for sharing about your writing process! You know I love your books. I also love your process and the fact that you’re a craft junkie. Maybe because I’m one, too. 🙂 We’ve spent many hours talking craft, haven’t we, my friend? I am so excited to see your books out there — in the near future, I hope!
Hey Denny,
I’m a day or two late. That seems to be my theme lately.
I have not joined the Pinterest craze. I hear you can lose yourself forever and never get any writing done. But apparently, it is a great place to find readers.
Maybe I could con one of my kids into maintaining a site for me!!
Congratulations on your final – and can’t wait to meet you in person is SA!!
Nan
Great peek at your process, Denny.
I do enjoy Pinterest but I don’t visit it every day, or even every week. I’ve gotten lots of good ideas there.