Some Fun Writing Answers

Before I start, I wanted to let you know about a great sale J.E. Lowder’s publisher is offering from Valentine’s to St. Patrick’s Day. The sale, Red to Green, is for the Kindle version of Tears of Min Brock. I reviewed this in 2011 and the $2.99 sale is a steal. Check it out today!

Joanne Sher is the creative mind behind the FaithWriters blog and I thought I’d share my answers to her recent blog post.

Thought it would be fun to get to know each other, and our writing, a bit better. Feel free to answer these questions in the comments, or post them on your own blog and put a link in the comments.

Do you write fiction or non-fiction? Or both?

I write both. Most of my published works have been in non-fiction anthologies, but my heart is fiction.

Do you keep a journal or a writing notebook?

I have a beat-up notebook from years ago but I haven’t added to it in awhile. I have notes on my laptop, though.

If you write fiction, do you know your characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts before you start writing or is that something else you discover only after you start writing?

Although this is Joanne’s answer, it is mine, too. I know some of it when I start–usually. My characters will sometimes surprise me, though.

Are you a procrastinator or does the itch to write keep at you until you sit down and work?

I’m a procrastinator these days because I’m in the editing process. It takes a long time and it’s hard for me to get motivated.

Do you write in short bursts of creative energy, or can you sit down and write for hours at a time?

It depends. Most of the time it is the short bursts but if things are flowing, I could blink and have hours pass by.

Are you a morning or afternoon writer?

Morning and very late night which might as well be morning.

Do you write with music/the noise of children/in a cafe or other public setting, or do you need complete silence to concentrate?

All of the above. I do my best with quiet, but I enjoy music. When the kids are home there are all sorts of sounds.

Computer or longhand? (or typewriter?)

Computer.

Do you know the ending before you type Chapter One? Or do you let the story evolve as you write?

I’m pretty sure I know the ending, but I’m game for them to surprise me. Already there have been twists I didn’t see coming.

Does what’s selling in the market influence how and what you write?

No. If I paid attention to that I’d never pick up the “pen” in the first place. All the reading I do says historicals are the only consistent seller. I love reading them, but I can’t write them.

Editing/Revision – love it or hate it?

Yes. 🙂 This is where I am now and I am learning so much. People who say their first draft is a masterpiece are living in an alternate world. There is always something to improve and/or change. That said, I’m taking my contemporary romance through two critique group and receive 6-8 responses for each submissions. Everything they share is good and necessary, but that takes time to implement their suggestions. Then, I try to use their remarks to change things before I submit anything further. I never thought this would take so long, but praying it is a great learning curve that will get easier.

If you’d like to see some of my thinking behind my romance, Spectacular Falls, I created a board on Pinterest. Check it out!

Share a bit about yourself and your writing. We’d love to learn more about you!

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