'My Writing Process' Blog Tour

My friend and author Robyn Roze has passed the My Writing Process Blog Tour baton to me today. Please do check out her Blog Tour article here. Thank you, Robyn.

The first rule is that I have to include a photo of myself so here's the best photo I could come up with from the last couple of years - sorry. I suppose I'd better get on with it then.

What am I working on?

Firstly, I'm continuing to work on my novel, Haven Falling. It's a fantasy novel set in a future where magic exists alongside robots. It started out as a novel for adults (as in grown-ups, not erotica) but after a rethink at the end of last year, I've decided to rework it for the 9-12 age range. My original protagonist Steve is now fourteen years old (not thirty three) and my new accompanying protagonist Blessing is eleven years old (not seven). It's the first of a trilogy and I envision the world I create in this novel leading to many other magical novels too.

Secondly, I'm working on a murder mystery script for my business, Murdering The Text. This is the third commissioned play of 2014. With this one, my customers have asked for a Christmas theme. The title is Festive Reapings and the cast includes an elderly fairy, a drunken Santa and two flirty elves.

Finally, I'm putting together ideas for a book of memories. The inspiration for this came to me when my godmother died last year. She is one of the last of the older generation that I grew up with. I have so many memories of life with her and other long gone people who coloured my childhood. It would be a shame to lose all of that. This book will be a mixture of photographs, poems and short prose.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

The first difference, which applies to all of my writing (and I daresay every writer), is my voice. I have never attempted to style myself on other writers. My voice has developed along with my life and personality.

My novel includes the usual mixture of magic, adventure and villainy but I've taken a different slant on the 'fairy' myth, looking back to Italian origins. I also combine this with the future technology of the world of my story - solar powered public vehicles, tentacled robots and walls that change colour at the flick of a switch.

My murder mystery plays are based on my own experiences of performing on stage, the many actors I've met (it's so much easier to write for a cast that you know) and what details my devious mind can pull from life. These plays are used as fundraisers by amateur theatre groups, schools and other small fundraising organisations.

Why do I write what I do?

The murder mystery writing came from, initially, the need to raise extra funds. The am dram group I was part of wanted an additional source of money so that it could not only stage plays that our loyal audience would come to see but also take a risk on new or less popular plays. The popularity of the resulting scripts led to the forming of Murdering The Text.

I've always had a wild imagination which lends itself to fantastical storylines. It's no surprise, therefore, that my favoured genres are fantasy, horror and science fiction. I love the idea of magic - be it a magic act on stage, special abilities or simply the power of a sunny day to make us smile - and so the fantasy genre fits me and my imagination best. 

How does my writing process work?

 I wish I could say that I have a consistent method for all of my writing but, unfortunately, I don't. I approach my script writing in a very systematic way:

• Initial details (cast, staging, theme) - often these come from a customer request.
• Theme and setting.
• Create a cast of characters (including a murder victim).
• Motives for murder.
• What do we need to reveal in the play?
• Write the play.

When working on my novel, however, my process is much more erratic, shooting off at tangents on a regular basis. There is always an initial idea. This could be a character, a scene, a setting, or a what-if. I'll let that stew for a little while before extending the idea in a brain storm session. Basically, I take a piece of A4 paper and write down all the details I can think of regarding the idea:

• setting
• characters
• title
• if this happens, that what about this?
• and so on.

I let it stew a little more and then I begin to plot until I have a near complete chapter plan. It doesn't have to be completely finished. I like to include a level of flexibility. Then I begin to write.

***

Now I'm passing the baton to three other writers, Kelly Hashway, Suzanna Williams and Elisabeth Zguta. Suzanna and Elisabeth will be posting on Monday, April 7th and Kelly will post about her writing process on Wednesday, 9th April.

Kelly Hashway

Kelly Hashway is a young adult and middle grade fantasy author represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency. She also writes contemporary romance under the pen name Ashelyn Drake. You can find her blog here.

Suzanna Williams

Suzanna Williams is a young adult author living in the wild, wet, Welsh borderlands. Suzanna looks for UFOs amongst the stars and imagines all the people she meets have dark secrets (which she writes into her books). She is the author of Shockwaves, an action adventure with a telepathic twist, and Ninety-five percent Human, the story of a teenager who saves a human/alien hybrid, which triggers the invasion of Earth. You can find her website here.

Elisabeth Zguta

Elisabeth believes that freedom of self-expression is the essence to happiness. She creates stories and blogs as an independent author and publisher. She lives in the Memphis area but grew up in New England, and is an avid reader. She writes stories of paranormal/supernatural mystery sprinkled with history and romance. You can find her website here.