As I mentioned in my post last week (which you can read here), I have started writing again. I'm working on the sequel to Reluctant Heiress. I am often asked why I am writing a sequel and if I get bored writing about the same characters. So, I thought I would address those questions today.
The sequel is necessary because there is so much to Dulcie's story that can't be told in just one book. I began writing her story about 30 years ago, so she and her family have been with me for quite a while. She has been on so many adventures in my mind over the years, and I am excited to get them down on paper, so to speak. So, to answer the second part of that question, no, I don't get bored with Dulcie or Deacon or anyone else in the Brisand Family Saga. They've been with me for so long that I am constantly running different situations through the lens of their reactions. That's tons of fun for me!
Every novelist is different and follows a unique process. For me, there are basically three main steps I follow in getting my stories written: outlining, drafting, and editing. A fascinating realization I've had recently is that the actual activities involved in each step may look a bit different depending on the book, but the steps themselves don't change that much for me.
I'd like to go over each step in detail in future blog posts, but for right now I'll briefly tell you what I'm doing at the moment. I'm currently in arguably the longest stage of writing a book for me, and that is drafting. This is where I take all of my notes, ideas, character profiles, and outlines, and actually get the story written down. I usually write in 15-20 minute sprints and take a 5-10 minute break in between. I find that this helps me focus so I can work quickly and precisely, and then I use my breaks to either think about the story - or - completely do something else, depending on how frazzled my brain is at the moment.
When I take my breaks, sometimes I'll get myself a little snack or a drink and that helps me keep going as well. I always have a glass of water beside my computer also.
So that's it. That's a very brief introduction to how I write and what the drafting stage looks like for me. If you write, do you follow the same procedure every time? I'd love to hear about your #writingprocess. Let me know in the comments.
Also, if you'd like to read what started it all for me, be sure to check out Reluctant Heiress, available for purchase on Amazon or free to read on #KindleUnlimited.
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Jessica
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