Hi Everyone,
This week starts an 11 Week Blog Spotlight on the Writing Process. Each week, I’ll feature a fellow writer of varying genres to talk about HOW they write.
Join the discussion by leaving a comment and enjoy each veteran author or new, emerging voice!
First up, Multicultural, New-Adult, Romance Author –
Inge Saunders
Since I embarked on the romance writing road in 2012 I’ve read so many different takes on authors writing process. From James Scott Bell who starts from the middle of his novel, he believes in writing from the ‘midpoint’ or ‘the point of commitment’ or as others calls it, ‘raising the stakes’. To begin there he states brings illumination over the whole writing project. Then there’s Harlequin author Tawny Weber who, though loves plotting, is not a detailed plotter. She needs three things to start a story: A premise, a good grasp on the characters, a solid idea of the dark moment and where the story is going.
My process is somewhere in between these two I find. I’m not an outright Plotter. I would get too bored with my story having planned out all the details. But I’m not a complete “Pantser” either. And my process never starts the same way twice *smiles* I may fall in love with a concept as I did with my first novel, Falling for Mr. Unexpected, where the heroine didn’t believe in Mr. Right or even Mr. Right Now. In fact she didn’t give any Misters much thought. This intrigued me. Why wouldn’t she? What happened to make her think this way? And what would happen if a Mister showed up in the form of a famous Hollywood actor, dressed in just a towel? *wink*
So the theme pretty much dominated the writing process with that story. Halfway through the novel I realized I didn’t really describe the heroine in the looks department even though I had her character down to a T. This didn’t happen with my second book. With Dance of Love I had gained more experience, had joined a writing group and wrote out a two paged synopsis to work from.
I’ve since learned what works for me and what planning style I most identify with‒the Hybrid Pantser. I need an outline of a story before I write like Tawny Weber. But I also jot down a blurb, this keeps me focused on what I’m doing and where I’m going. The 1st three chapters are important to me, not because it’s a great way to hook readers and editors but because it lays a solid foundation for the rest of the story. If the chapters feel iffy to me, the rest of the story will most likely be iffy. I know I’m so scientific*smile* In romance character development is important, so I spend a lot of time on working out who my characters are. I have conversations with them (don’t give me that look *grin*), I find out what their likes and dislikes are, do they have deep seated psychological issues, etc.
I’m often asked what advice I would give to new authors and it always remains the same, write and write some more. We learn by practicing a skill over and over again. That’s how Olympic athletes are made *wink*
About Inge Saunders
Inge Saunders
Inge Saunders fell in love with books when she started reading romance novels with her grandmother. Intrigued by the worlds books unlocked, it was inevitable she would take pen to paper.
She forms part of Romance writers’ Organization of South Africa (ROSA) and has two books out with Decadent Publishing; Falling for Mr. Unexpected and her latest release Dance of Love.
