Saturday, April 5, 2014

The Writing Process






The Writing Process

Thank you to talented romantic/erotica/mystery writer Christiane France for inviting me on a Blog Tour. http://christianefrance.blogspot.ca

I've been writing all my life. I actually learned to type when I was 15 in high school so that I could be a writer. Of course there were some detours along the way – secretarial, administrative jobs, but they have become life research.

What am I working on?

I write romantic fiction and I'm usually juggling a few novels at one time. At the moment I'm endeavoring to re arrange a book I've called (working title) Firefly Bay. I say re arrange because I've written the novel a couple of times in other forms. Now I've distilled two main characters and I'm travelling through their romantic journey from the 70's to the present time. I've also got a new release coming out in July from Black Lyon Publishing www.blacklyonpublishing.com and I've signed six contracts with Samhain Publishing for some of my back list under their Retro Romance imprint. Montlake Romance from www.amazon.com have just released three of my Avalon hardcover library books, Tropical Dreams, Family Affairs and Love's Design in paperback which I hope will find a brand new market. In April another Montlake Romance will be releasing, Racing Hearts. All these books are available on Amazon Kindle.


How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I attempt to spin reality into fantasy. Whether I've ever achieved that I'm not sure, but I like to feel that each romance is a real friendship and a true commitment that will last so that the fantasy isn't a lie.

Why do I write what I do?

Because I've always loved reading romances and any stories, thrillers, mysteries, that have a relationship hidden in their depths.

How does your writing process work?

Sometimes I begin with a title, a name, or a vision of what a character will look like or maybe a situation. Then I begin to write the book from that one starting point. I usually begin writing a chapter then begin again. Write a second chapter then begin again at the first chapter. Maybe even discard the first chapter. By this time maybe the first two chapters have extended into three or four. And I keep going that way, working my way through the story, listening to the characters. Usually about half way through I have to spend a night wrestling with my brain to re arrange the way the story is going. Possibly I will change the dramatic conflict that will propel the story forward. About three quarters of the way through I will know the ending, but will never write the ending, until I've got the entire book right – at least in my mind. Usually the characters in the end have their own way.

Check me out at www.jilliandagg.com
Facebook:  http://wwww.facebook.com/jilliandagg, Twitter: #fictionscribble