Ask the Author: Wynne Roman
Answered Questions (8)
Wynne Roman
Easy answer: pictures of hot guys and beautiful women.
Reality: I meditate. I think about what I've recently written, where I think the story is going, bring my characters into my head, and then I try to step back. Let things just mull around, wander, and after about 10 or 15 minutes--maybe 30 if I'm at a difficult place--I'm ready to go. I sit down and follow the path laid down by my meditation.
Reality: I meditate. I think about what I've recently written, where I think the story is going, bring my characters into my head, and then I try to step back. Let things just mull around, wander, and after about 10 or 15 minutes--maybe 30 if I'm at a difficult place--I'm ready to go. I sit down and follow the path laid down by my meditation.
Wynne Roman
Write! That's pretty much it. Write.
Yes, reading advice, going to conferences, joining writers groups, etc., are all useful things. But you can get paralyzed by all the advice, by the well-meaning critiques, and by comparing yourself to what others are doing.
Realizing all those things were an issue for me, I withdrew from doing those things and just started writing. I wrote things that I knew would never be published, but I didn't care. I needed the practice. I have written four books that were never published (nor should they be), and I've started numerous other projects that never became books. I don't regret any of them and, in fact, have taken ideas from all of them and incorporated them into books that have been published.
Bottom line for me: Writing is the only thing that will give you the foundation you need. As you write, learn the rules (grammar, spelling, publishing, etc.), so if you break them, you do it from a position of knowledge and power. Write regularly and embrace your process. It doesn't matter if you do it differently from every other writer in the world, if it works for you, it's valid. Set achievable goals and think of them like you would a deadline at work.
And--this is a biggie! DON'T GIVE UP!
Yes, reading advice, going to conferences, joining writers groups, etc., are all useful things. But you can get paralyzed by all the advice, by the well-meaning critiques, and by comparing yourself to what others are doing.
Realizing all those things were an issue for me, I withdrew from doing those things and just started writing. I wrote things that I knew would never be published, but I didn't care. I needed the practice. I have written four books that were never published (nor should they be), and I've started numerous other projects that never became books. I don't regret any of them and, in fact, have taken ideas from all of them and incorporated them into books that have been published.
Bottom line for me: Writing is the only thing that will give you the foundation you need. As you write, learn the rules (grammar, spelling, publishing, etc.), so if you break them, you do it from a position of knowledge and power. Write regularly and embrace your process. It doesn't matter if you do it differently from every other writer in the world, if it works for you, it's valid. Set achievable goals and think of them like you would a deadline at work.
And--this is a biggie! DON'T GIVE UP!
Wynne Roman
I totally let go of the writing. I watch movies I love, read books, meditate, and just let my mind be free. After a day or two, I go back, and if I'm still blocked, I ask myself what's going on in the story that doesn't work. 99% of the time, it turns out that I've gone in a wrong direction, and I need to rethink what I'm doing. Changing that usually breaks things free, and I'm on my way again.
Wynne Roman
Working in my pajamas, sweats, or whatever is comfy.
Seriously, the best thing is that I have all these people, conversations, and situations milling around inside my head, and being a writer lets me get them from my mind to the computer. Sharing my stories is the best!
Seriously, the best thing is that I have all these people, conversations, and situations milling around inside my head, and being a writer lets me get them from my mind to the computer. Sharing my stories is the best!
Wynne Roman
Wycked Escape is a continuation of the Wycked Obsession series. I had set up Noah's story from the first time he showed up in Wycked Crush. He liked threesomes...but why? I had no clue. As I wrote Wycked Crush and Wycked Rumors, I got to know Noah a little better, and I knew it wasn't just because he was a lusty guy. There was more--but what? He wasn't talking.
Because of the timeline for all the books (something that started to develop through the writing of Wycked Rumors and Wycked Escape), I had a vague idea of the direction I wanted the series to take. I put Noah and Paige in a situation that I thought was going to do the job. It didn't. At the 40,000 word mark, I knew the book wasn't working, and I had to start over.
If I was going to do it right, I had to understand what happened in Noah's past to make him the man he was. Not only that, but I needed to know more specifically what Paige had been doing for the last five years. It took some meditation, asking questions, and just letting my mind wander. (I get my best ideas in the shower.) I'd already had the idea of a break-up scene in a bar (no idea where it came from), so I put Noah and Paige in the situation, watched what they did, and the book grew from there. I literally followed their lead and then asked myself, "What is the next logical step?"
And that's how Wycked Escape came to be the book it is.
Because of the timeline for all the books (something that started to develop through the writing of Wycked Rumors and Wycked Escape), I had a vague idea of the direction I wanted the series to take. I put Noah and Paige in a situation that I thought was going to do the job. It didn't. At the 40,000 word mark, I knew the book wasn't working, and I had to start over.
If I was going to do it right, I had to understand what happened in Noah's past to make him the man he was. Not only that, but I needed to know more specifically what Paige had been doing for the last five years. It took some meditation, asking questions, and just letting my mind wander. (I get my best ideas in the shower.) I'd already had the idea of a break-up scene in a bar (no idea where it came from), so I put Noah and Paige in the situation, watched what they did, and the book grew from there. I literally followed their lead and then asked myself, "What is the next logical step?"
And that's how Wycked Escape came to be the book it is.
Wynne Roman
Hi, Bette.
I'm trilled you loved listening to Wycked Crush. I was so happy with the job Nicole and Curt did.
I'd love to see Wycked Rumors (and now Wycked Escape, just released) become audiobooks. I was waiting to see what kind of interest Wycked Crush might generate before figuring out how to proceed. Hearing from you will help me make my decision.
If you're on Facebook, I have a page there, and also an author's group, Backstage with Wynne Roman. Please join us there if you're interested. Here's a link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/19448...
Thank you so much!
--
Wynne
I'm trilled you loved listening to Wycked Crush. I was so happy with the job Nicole and Curt did.
I'd love to see Wycked Rumors (and now Wycked Escape, just released) become audiobooks. I was waiting to see what kind of interest Wycked Crush might generate before figuring out how to proceed. Hearing from you will help me make my decision.
If you're on Facebook, I have a page there, and also an author's group, Backstage with Wynne Roman. Please join us there if you're interested. Here's a link. https://www.facebook.com/groups/19448...
Thank you so much!
--
Wynne
Wynne Roman
Thanks for asking! Not quite yet--but I hope to have a date very soon. I was hit with two pieces of really bad luck this year: first I got shingles, which totally destroyed my writing schedule, and then at about halfway through the book, I realized I had totally gone off track (maybe because of getting sick?) and had to start over. I was devastated, but I'm back on track and am hoping to release soon!
Wynne Roman
Wycked Escape, Book 3 in the Wycked Obsession series. It's Noah's story, his girl is named Paige, and they were high school sweethearts. Watch for in in May or June 2018!
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