How do you do it?

Today I read a Facebook post about which words to use during a romance/erotica novel love scene, and now I’m curious. How many people follow rules when they write, and how many just put down what they want?

My own writing style stems from the kind of things I like to read. If I don’t like a word then I don’t use it, if there’s something I do like then that’s what I go with. The books I write or that I’m currently writing are the stories I want to read, and while I hope others read and enjoy them too, the main thing that drives me is that I enjoy writing them.

I’m not saying I don’t think about readers at all. Of course I do. I don’t want people to pay for my books only to not enjoy them, or to be irritated by bad grammar or grossed out by a word I’ve used. What I’m saying, is that I let my preferences lead me. I don’t follow strict rules.

I also think it’s a fact, that we’re influenced by stories we’ve read and loved. We all know what we like and what makes us cringe, but as everyone is different, it’s impossible to write something universal. 

Which is why I concentrate less on rules and more on what I want to read.

I think I just like the idea of knowing the rules and then doing what I want. What can I say, I'm a rebel!

That’s how I do it, though. I write what I like to read. I’m curious about how many others do the same, and how many have strict plans and outlines that they follow.

Still Writing

I know things are a bit crazy in the world right now. Let's be honest, 2020 is a strange one.

But one thing remains, writers are still writing, because we can't stop. It's a Saturday, I have a free day, so I'm watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer while I work on some romance stories. Nothing with vampires for me today, though.

My latest project is about wolf shifters and a human baker who just moved to town. There's romance, sex and bossy wolves who are determined to keep their heart safe. I'm also continuing with The Shadow Coven series, as Martha and Mason tell their story.

Stick with me for more sexy stories with a lot of love!

A Late Introduction

I’m a romance writer with a day job.

I work for minimum wage to keep my dog and I in the lifestyle to which we’ve become accustomed, which is frugal budgeting and only spending when I have to.

That being said, we have a happy little life together, just me and her. I’m content with my life as it is right now. It doesn’t mean it’ll just be us forever, but for now I’m happy as I am.

I work in the day and I write in the evening. I have romance in my veins, in my heart, and in my brain. I’m a romance writer.

Things at the moment are extra crazy. They’re scary and devastating times, and as someone who is considered a key worker, it means the day job continues for me. Writing is my escape from hard times and it always will be. So, the new books will be coming, but not any faster than usual, because I’m fitting it around the day job.

Writing full-time is the dream, but it’s not the reality yet. Romance day and night is the dream, but it’s not the reality yet.

Right now, though, I’ll get back to the stories, and to everyone who reads this, stay inside and stay safe. Read books! It’s a fun way to spend your time.

New Year Back Again

It doesn’t seem like two minutes since the last New Year’s Eve, but here we again. Waiting on midnight again.

The difference is, this time we’re not just saying goodbye to an old year, but to an old decade. See ya later, 2019. Hello, 2020!

And along with a new year, also comes New Year’s resolutions. I’m feeling really optimistic about mine.

• Write as much as I’m able to.
• Read as many books as I want.
• Write more reviews for the books I read.
• Buy more from indie authors.

Next year will see the release of the second book in The Shadow Coven series: Martha’s story, and the first book of my new shifter series. And that’s just for a start.

For now though, I’ll be seeing in the new year with a glass of prosecco and some party nibbles. 

Happy New Year to you all, and wishing you a wonderful 2020!

Where I'm At

Where I’m At?

The sun is shining, and I’ve been in the garden with my laptop getting some words down.

Sometimes the hardest thing is to find motivation when it’s warm and clammy, but luckily my computer is portable.

Paranormal romance is taking a summer theme in my stories, I’m being influenced the season and the brightness surrounding me.

I’m working presently on two different stories. I’m writing the story of Martha from The Shadow Coven and the first book of a shifter series. Those are the two that I’m concentrating on, but there may be some other sexy stories in the pipeline. Stick with me.

Plot bunnies are hopping around me so I’m trying to handle it systematically. Shifters and witches are taking centre stage in my imagination.

Martha is getting a job working for club owner Mason, and two lives are about to change in the second instalment of The Shadow Coven series, and in my new shifter series, wolf shifter Chase is bringing his pack to a small village and he’s trying his best to keep them safe while being distracted by human café worker Josephine.

These are the stories coming, probably not as soon as I would like, but they’re on their way. The stories are being written.

Is it Finished?

I’m having the problem of knowing when I’m done.

My novella River’s Heart is the introduction to The Shadow Coven series and it’s scheduled for release on Friday the 19th of April, which is one week away, and during an extra read-through I reached the decision that I need to add one more scene.

Bad idea. This is the point I’m supposed to be finished. This is the point nothing should be being added to the manuscript. Which begs the question how do you know when the book is done? That’s the hard part. At least for me it is.

The trick is finding the sweet spot between not edited enough and over edited, but if I keep going, I find I can always find things to change, doubt that it’s good enough will always creep in.

So, what’s my advice on this? I do two things. One I make sure I put it aside and go and work on something else for a while. Maybe a poem, maybe a blog post, maybe another work of fiction. Anything that takes my mind off the piece of work I’m editing. The problem with going over and over something is that you can start to read the words as what you mean to say them rather than what they do say, so you need a pallet cleanser project to make your brain read it afresh, without it playing in your imagination before you take the words in.

My other piece of advice is to read it aloud. Tape yourself reading it and then play it back, and then you hear all the parts that don’t sound right. Maybe it stutters or it could be that you discover there are unanswered questions. Reading it out loud helps you to hear where your story isn’t smooth.

Now I have to go and take my own advice and read aloud this extra scene I’ve added before the release date of River’s Heart.

I Can't Stop Reading: Intervention!

What do you do when you have writing to do, but you can’t put down your e-reader? I’m lost in a sea of other indie romance writer’s words. I need an intervention. This afternoon my plan is to write, but even now other books are staring at me, drawing me in.

Once I find an author, I’m working through the entire book, but I don’t know if it’s lack of will-power or whether I’m procrastinating. All in know is I’m all about books.

The way to justify it is to look at it as a learning lesson, after all, they say you can’t be a writer if you don’t read, and boy do I read. But with every book I learn something, and I know it makes me a better writer.

I like to think that as a romance writer reading other romance books helps me to absorb their talent through my eyeball. I am not rationalising. It could be true. But if not, then there are some actual skills that can be learned from reading.

You can encourage inspiration and imagination, you learn what works and what doesn’t, you take in word choices, quotes, descriptions.

Still, it is an issue, that at the moment, rather than write, I read, because my shifter book is waiting to be finished, my characters are waiting to have their story told, and I’m too busy reading about other writer’s shifters to tell it.

I think I need someone to come and take the books from my hands and hide them from me. But then the reason I’m a writer is because I love to read, so maybe I should just continue.