My Writing Process- Blog Tour

My office mess

 THE THEORY BEHIND MY WRITING SPACE: The more disorganized on the outside, the more order on the inside

Last week, my friend Jane Gassner, the talent behind Midlifebloggers wrote about her writing process and passed the torch on to me.  Before I go any further, I have to let everyone know that besides being a smart, creative, determined woman, Jane has one of the most contagious laughs I’ve ever heard. Dinner with Jane is more than a great glass of wine, and a good salad followed by something sweet. It is an hour or more of pure enjoyment. A time when the world stands still, allowing friends to delve into topics ranging from wrinkled necks to aging parents to complex sibling situations. A time always punctuated with laughter.

So, now I guess I’m supposed to answer some questions about my writing process.

  1. Why do I write what I do?

The simple answer to this is, I simply cannot NOT write. It’s in my blood and has been every since I was little.  Throughout my life (which started before remote control, let alone before social media) I’ve written everything from educational videos to adult films.

At one point, I wanted to be a poet. And although I did have several poems published in some literary magazines, I soon realized it would be difficult to live the life of a tragically romantic poet, drinking wine in French cafes (especially since I lived in Michigan) and existing on cheese and crackers.  No where did that life intersect with one involving a family.

So, I tossed the stanzas to the wind and began writing short stories. Really awful ones, I must add. But eventually, I had a few published.  This led to the world of novels and beyond. And to actual money as a ghost writer for the popular childrens’  book series Goosebumps and Fear Street. These assignments eventually to an agent. And another. And another.  And although it hasn’t always been easy, it has always felt right.

When the blogosphere opened up, I found a new means for expressing myself.  And I love sharing my take on the world as I grow older.

2. How does my work from others of it’s genre?

My work only differs in that everything I write is in my voice. Everything has my special twist of funny and sweet. I’d like to think that some day, my voice will grow so big and powerful that I’ll land on Bestseller lists all over the country.

 3. How does your writing process work?

This has changed drastically over the past few months.  When I had a full time job, I would get up around 6:30, have coffee, turn on my computer and write for about an hour. Of course, I would often spend time playing Scrabble and checking emails, and commenting on blogs. And then I would write again late at night.

Now, I’m in a state of “reorganization.” With so much time, I often find myself wasting it.   Ideally, I would love to start writing around 8:00 am each day and work until around 2:00 or so.  At which time, I will go for a walk or to the gym.  But often, it’s not up to me. My characters are always interfering in my plans. Somedays they arrive while I’m at the grocery store and I have to rush home to accomodate them. Other times, I’m sitting at my computer begging them to stop by.

In those moments, I turn to my blogs and eventually, that husband who feels his wife has totally lost her marbles, will call out to me and I’ll switch screens and go back to his situation. I love when this happens.

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In addition to the blogs I’m writing, I’m working on a women’s fiction novel, which I hope to finish before I forget that I’m writing it.   I’m also putting together a collection of my blogs in a book titled, The Anatomy of a Baby Boomer: From Milkshakes to Martinis.

I’m always working on something and don’t intend to stop writing. Ever.

And now I’d love to pass this Writing Process Blog tour on to two other authors.  I have been in a writing group with the prolific writer, Linda O. Johnston,  for over twenty years. Yes, you heard correctly. That in itself is a topic for another blog. And Walker Thornton, is an online friend who I have yet to meet in real life. But hope to be able to meet  one day soon.

Linda O. Johnston, the author of 35 published novels so far, is passionate about animals, especially pets.  She is also passionate about writing in more than one genre at a time to keep her mind more than active.  Linda writes three series involving animals: paranormal romance for Harlequin Nocturne featuring Alpha Force, a secret military unit of shapeshifters, the Pet Rescue Mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mystery series, and the upcoming new Superstition Mysteries series from Midnight Ink.  She has also had two Harlequin Romantic Suspense novels published as well as novellas and short stories.

To learn about Linda visit her at her website.  http://www.lindaojohnston.com/

 

Walker Thornton  is a freelance writer, public speaker and adult sex educator. She’s working on a book for midlife women on awakening and igniting desire. A former executive director of a sexual assault crisis center with many years of nonprofit board experience at the local  and state level, Walker focuses on sexuality in her writing and speaking engagements. As a single woman navigating the dating world in here early 50s’ Walker began to talk about dating, sex and other topics of relevance to midlife. Her writing appears in the Huffington Post, Better After 50, Senior Planet and other sites.

She is the Sexual Health Columnist at Midlife Boulevard and will be writing about sexuality for the over 45 age woman at Kinkly.com. Walker lives in Charlottesville, VA, coming back home after graduating from UVA with a BA in Psychology. She has a Masters in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia. She serves as the Vice-President of WriterHouse, a nonprofit, located in Charlottesville.

Watch for Linda and Walker next week, or whenever they feel like posting. Writers often cannot be pinned down.

With love and hugs,

Janie


 

 

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12 Responses to My Writing Process- Blog Tour

  1. Thanks Janie, I’m honored to be in such renowned company!

  2. An enjoyable read for the predawn hours – love learning about the hopes and dreams of toher writers! And I totally get how easy it is to waste time, I’m expert at it!

  3. It was nice learning more about you.
    Our routines are similar, even the scrabble:)
    Good luck getting that novel finished.

  4. Diane says:

    So nice to catch a glimpse into your writer’s world. Thank you for sharing!

  5. Angela Adams says:

    I turn on the computer while waiting for my coffee in the morning — then read my book review blogs while drinking that first cup.

  6. L. Hewitt says:

    I love your simple answer. And most anything else you care to write!

  7. Sam Beck says:

    I like your “reorganized” life! Getting up at 6:30 am sounds tough, (mostly because I prefer to picture you partying Wolf of Wall Street-style ’til dawn). 8:00 am sounds so much more civilized, under the circumstances.

    I completely agree that you write everything in your voice…and it totally is funny & sweet, (and bawdy as hell).

  8. Thanks for telling me about Linda O. Johnston, another pet lover with a series! Wow. I’m going to check her out right now.
    Patti

  9. Hi Janie, Having just posted my own “writing process ” piece, I am now making my way steadily through the listed writers I know on the tour. I absolutely love that you need to write your novel before you forget that you are writing it, ha! Great post, thanks for sharing your writing process and one of these days I hope we actually can figure out meeting somewhere in person.

  10. Pingback: The ‘Why We Write’ Blog Tour - First Class Woman

  11. Janie, what a great post. it gave me a glimpse into your life and writing space in a way I hadn’t seen before. i enjoyed meeting you and now following what you’re doing. Virginia

  12. Pingback: Sharing My Writing Process - Books is Wonderful

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