Tag: self-publishing

A writer’s dilemma: To the finish line.

In a Facebook group, a writer asked the question: “I have about 20 ideas in various forms of completion and I see new things everyday. How do you organize all your creative ideas? And how do you choose what to work on and in what order?”

Yep. It’s hard. And you have to make hard choices. I’m a big fan of working on things you feel inspired to work on at the moment. If you don’t put your fingers on the keyboard or pen to paper when you are really feeling it, you might lose that thought, that perfect phrase or mood.
Creativity and inspiration can not be turned on at will, so you must capture it.

BUT. HOWEVER. AND.

You need to bring something to the finish line.
I know that in order to actually complete something, I must pick one thing and work on that every single day until it’s finished.

Sometimes it seems like a chore. Sometimes it’s hard to concentrate. But I chip at it daily.

This morning I worked on only one scene in a chapter in my next book. It’s a pivotal chapter, and I stepped in the protagonist’s shoes and walked through it, thinking of things that were not in the rough draft.

It was a good day’s work. I could have done more, but something else was niggling at me, so I moved on to a short story I was writing and fleshed it out.

That’s ok, as long as you concentrate part of your day on what will be published next. No matter how many chaotic creative thoughts whirl around in your wonderful imagination, finish something.

Simply carving out a part of your time for the main project while still spending some time on whatever strikes your fancy works just fine. It could just be proofreading or doing a read-through out loud. But you must do something.

I have to work this way so I don’t suppress creative inspiration and, at the same time, dedicate myself to completing at least one idea.

A writer’s dilemma: Motivation

Someone in a writer’s group posed the question – Does your main character need to have an intense motivation for something? What does your character want? The Op’s dilemma was that her character didn’t want anything – until the end.

It seems to me lack of clear motivation means the character is on a journey of discovery. Perhaps the character is running away from something rather than running to something.

That’s perfectly legit and quite good as long as the ultimate goal is hinted at along the way. We need that trail of breadcrumbs. The end goal shouldn’t seem like something pulled out of thin air. In the end, the reader should feel that what the character finally wants makes sense, given their history.

My characters have strong goals. In A Misalliance with Love, Rosie needs a home and family but has a burning, almost crippling desire for independence. Sinclair Talbot wants validation and esteem.

In my next book, Guinevere wants family, stability, and appreciation. The Duke wants hope and love.

Characters are motivated by their desires even if they do not yet know what those desires are.

I like to travel – and my characters will too.

I have an insatiable wanderlust, as do the characters I create. Traveling is an escape from my ordered and sometimes constraining life, allowing me to immerse myself in the unexpected. It’s the thrill of witnessing the lives of others and stepping out of my comfort zone.

When I travel, I seek out good food, good wine, and the joy of discovering new destinations. Navigating through unfamiliar territories, I embrace local festivals, find local guides, and sleep in unusual places like a desert under the stars, a village hut, or the deck of a boat. I believe in sharing meals and breaking free from the isolation of anonymous cities, knowing that the rest of the world is not like that.

Traveling means turning my back on my comfort zone and embracing change, novelty, fears, and the beauty that exists in both man-made and natural aspects of life. It’s about finding art everywhere and returning home to books and brunches with friends. I let the wind guide me, constantly seeking challenges that make me feel brave. People-watching becomes a source of inspiration, yet finding the most peaceful places on the planet brings me a profound sense of tranquility.

Even when the unexpected happens, like a friend breaking their arm on vacation, we patch it up and continue our quest for the perfect beach. Travel evokes a mix of emotions – nostalgia for the past and excitement for the future. It’s a journey of progress, where disappointment in famous landmarks can be balanced by the excitement of overlooked gems.

And in the end, after all the wanderlust, there’s a special feeling of coming home, cherishing the familiar and reflecting on the memories created.

A Creative Journey!

What captivates me most in literature are the strong and independent female characters who navigate relationships with not only Alpha males but many different types of partners. This is my journey into Historical Romance. Through my books, I will explore love amidst adversity, emphasizing the challenges and possibilities that arise, and pose the timeless question of whether two individuals from different backgrounds can discover what they seek in one another.