This may go down as one of my favorite posts I’ve ever written… Since I first started this publishing journey 2 years ago, I have had so many people ask me questions – great questions – about the writing process, indie-publishing, inspiration… you name it. Since I have a small break before I get my book back from my editor, I thought it would be a great time to finally answer some of these questions for everyone to see. If you still have one at the end, please ask in the comments and I’ll answer it there.

So let’s get this started…

1.What inspires you to write?

Honestly, what doesn’t inspire me to write? I will literally find a character or topic just going about my day. I have always been interested in human nature and the topic of transformation. I love a good story where there is a change from bad to better or weak to strong. I believe we all have the power to transform our lives if we could just see what we wanted on the other side. It isn’t easy, but it’s always there.

2. How long did you think about your first book before you started writing it?

First of all, my first book will never see the day of light. Neither will my second. It was my third stab at a book that turned into What We Know Now, and I’m completely okay with that. But to answer the question, I don’t always think too much about a book before I start writing it. I need a character and a problem they have to overcome… that’s the thinking part. With What We Know Now, it all started with the setting, which led to other questions. Who would live in that house? What kind of life does she have? Then you just start piecing it all together. Yes, it’s as easy as that, but also as hard. I’m extremely curious by nature, so asking the questions was never a stretch for me.

3. How does your writing style change as your deadline approaches? Are you more methodical or does it just flow?

This is a really good question. I tend to be really organized, AND I also know my limitations. I know I can’t write an entire first draft in 6 weeks, nor would I want to. I used the deadline for this last book more as motivation, not necessarily as a punishment. Writing a book during the summer months, all the while maintaining a full-time job isn’t for everyone. I said no a lot, but I also said yes to balance and taking care of myself. I always set a deadline the manuscript needs to get to the editor first (thanks, Susie!), and work backwards from there. This last book took about a week to plot out (I had a vague idea of the story ahead of time), then I took one month each for the beginning, middle, and the end parts. I still don’t know how I did it, but it seemed to work! So, to summarize this long-winded answer… methodical, everyday and twice on Sunday