I am terrible at keeping up with things. Not because I don’t want to do it but I feel that I don’t have ideas that will draw in my readers or followers. That and I have spent Oct-Jan pushing hard to get books out. I’m a writer by nature and when readers scream, cry and whine and beg and plead for another book, I want to try with all that I have to supply that for them.

I set ridiculous goals for myself and usually achieve them because I’m analytical by nature. That means I can take a problem break it down to the smallest detail needed to solve it. So I have an ideal set of words I want to get to on a novel (70K). Then I break that down by how many days I have available til my target date arrives. Now don’t think I am so detail oriented that my books stop at 70K words every time. That would make for some very abrupt endings. Some have said that is what I did with my first novel, but in reality I just said to myself “realistically what would I want to happen?” – Ha sorry not going to give away the ending for you. You will have to go and read and see what happens “REALSTICALLY”! – Now when I reach my 70K words (or any word goal) I feel like I can bring the ending in and begin to wrap up. I have a personal fear that I will start the wrap up to soon and fall short of my target and have to figure out how to add in information. Then inevitably it will feel broken and disjointed instead of flow into the story.

Now I felt it was time to post again and share with you…..something. I never know what is productive information or just my inner ramblings. *Instant thought* let’s talk about characters and development. -That literally just popped into my head and now you have more insight into my inner workings of my brain.

It was brought to my attention recently that someone found my husband in my first novel (Dangerous After Dark). Just so you know, I don’t write people into my books, if I did it would likely upset someone or be way off. The last person I want to upset is my husband even though he has never and will never read my books as he isn’t a reader. I just started doing my audiobook for this one and he has heard bits and pieces. Ok back on track, I apparently subconsciously wrote my husband as a character -shhh don’t tell anyone but it wasn’t the hero. I take a little bit here and there from my surroundings. Elements of all my female character my kids have said, “mom I can hear you saying this.” So it isn’t one person one set of attributes it is an accumulation of puzzle pieces I’ve put together to complete each different entity.

I just had an interview and was asked if Trish (from Dangerous Calculations) was someone specific or just the apparition of a strong modern woman. In fact, Trish is one of my favorite characters she is snarky and sarcastic while still being strong willed and independent. I pulled elements of her personality from attributes I saw as ones I wished I possessed. I’m an independent person and very opinionated but sometimes I was a quick on the draw as Trish when a situation calls for it. She  knew what to say in every situation whether it was polite conversation or sarcastic comebacks that were in the heat of the moment.[image error]

Writing a male character is trick as I’m am obviously very female. It is a struggle to write a variety of men and not just the attributes I find attractive. Everyone has a different preference of each and every part of a man. I prefer men’s arms an shoulders as a first point of interest. This is because even though I’m an independent woman, I want the many I’m with to make me feel protected and can hold his own in any situation. Although, a male friend of mine was reading my latest release (Disaster In Love) by request of me and he noticed something I had never been told before. I seem to have a thing for jawlines. I must pay a lot more attention to them than I thought. I will admit a defined jawline (clean shaven or slightly scruffy) is a big deal for me. I love how it builds on the shape of a man’s face.

Male personalities is easier because I know enough men who think or act differently I can draw from experience for that. This is probably why my husband made an appearance in the first book.

I also find it hard for me to write weak women. I wouldn’t say Grace (from Dangerous After Dark) was weak but she was the most meek. I’m a boisterous person and in most situations I speak up rather than sit in silence. Being meek isn’t a weakness at all, it is just a different personality than mine. That makes me struggle to write personalities that are so vastly different to my own.

Well I suppose I’ve rambled on enough about my process and hopefully enlightened you rather than bored you. I’m much better when I write fiction….real life is boring haha!