The Writing Process Blog Tour

Thanks to the very talented Jane Ayres for inviting me to take part in The Writing Process Blog Tour, a blog relay in which each author discusses their individual writing process, and then passes the baton on. I've been a bit of a slow runner on this one due to being away on holiday and not posting when I said I would, but I hope I won't have held the team up too much!

I've followed Jane's blog for a few years now. She writes, among other things, equestrian-themed novels and I have a real nostalgia for those sort of books, having been a huge fan of pony stories as a kid/early teen. The number of books she's had published makes me gape... I'll never catch up! Please do follow the link above to check out her blog, The Beautiful Room (what a fabulous name for a blog) where you can find all her titles, including her latest release, The Perfect Horse, and the cover reveal for her latest book 'Beware of the Horse 2: Angie's Revenge'. 

You can read Jane's stop on The Writing Process Blog Tour here.

Now I have to answer 4 questions and pass the baton on:

1. What am I currently working on? 

I have been taking a break from writing (see previous posts) due to family and canine commitments (!) but I will be properly back in the writing saddle at the end of September. My brain has, of course, still been working whilst my fingers had a break and my current project is a supernatural time-slip novel set in a stately home that's being restored. I love history and the sense of layers of time in old buildings.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

It's difficult to make short stories for women's magazines differ very much from others
as there are certain requirements. I don't suppose my work does vary very much from anyone else's really! As far as writing the novel goes, there seems to be a definite formula for time-slip work. I will be doing my best to find some way of making my story in some way different from others in the genre. I like stories with a lot of threads, and that's what I'm aiming for.

3. Why do I write what I write?

I am mostly influenced by sensory stuff - feelings, vibes, sights are what usually get me started. I began writing short stories because I felt it would be a way to build my confidence and perhaps become published. Now I have achieved that and my inspiration has (hopefully temporarily) run dry on the short story front, I want to concentrate on my novel. The trouble is, short stories provide a quick fix - quick yes or no, quick payment (!) and that becomes a bit addictive. I think having had a long break will help me chill out and take my time with my novel. At least, I hope so!

4. How does my individual writing process work?

This is something I definitely need to work on. I am very undisciplined! When working on a short story I tend to get up early and do an hour before work, then a bit more after work if I can. I think on my feet and re-write as I go along. It's a bit hap-hazard, to be honest, but fine for short pieces of work. I think that for the novel, being a larger body of work, I will need to write it more or less without editing and then go back over it, otherwise I'll never get to the end! (It's happened before - I have several that I stopped half way through because I'd lost heart and interest.) Wish me luck!

And now for the passing on of the baton...

The fabulous Patsy Collins will be the next in line, although I think, like me, she isn't going to be running especially fast!  

Patsy is a fellow writer of short stories and has also published several novels. Her blog, 'Words about writing and writing about words', is always witty and interesting - no pressure to keep that up, Patsy ;-) - so do pop across and have a look. You can pick up her free e-book of short stories - 'Not a Drop to Drink' - by clicking the link. 

Well, that was fun! Thanks for popping in!