My Writing Process

I was tagged by Stephanie Faris.  Now that I have this badge with the glowing green light sabers, I have to explain my writing process.  So here goes.

What am I working on now?  Well, let's see.  All kinds of stuff, since I can never seem to manage one project at a time.  Too boring!  I'm still working on my Bubba and Squirt series for young readers.  For those of you who haven't heard about it, the concept is that the protagonists, Bubba and Squirt, travel through a vortex that goes through the Earth.  They arrive in different countries, have adventures, and learn about the language, culture and history of the country.  My agent is trying to find a publisher.  I'm working on the first draft of book seven in the series, and also revising book three.  I have a couple of picture books I'm working on, too.  A new one, Ten Zany Birds,  will be out later this year.  It's being illustrated right now.

How does my writing process work?    It rolls however it rolls.  Here's the normal process:  I have an idea that may be brilliant.  Or not.  I write it down and think about it for a few days.  If it sounds like a good idea after a few days, I start figuring out the plot.  I'm a plotter.  I can't randomly do the pantser thing.  (Not plot, for those unfamiliar with writer jargon.)  Every time I try to be random, I get sidetracked and don't finish the thing.  I come up with an outline, chapter by chapter, after doing a serious amount of research. (Obviously, this is for chapter books.)  I figure out the characters, their personalities, and obstacles that must be overcome.  Then I write.  I actually have a notebook, and I use an old-fashioned pencil.  It's crazy, but doing it this way, helps me see if the flow is good, and make multiple revisions before I enter it into the computer.  I work chapter by chapter until the manuscript is finished.  After that, I let it sit before I begin the revision process, which could mean rewriting it a hundred times until it's right.  I wish I could say I have a set writing time.  I don't.  Sometimes I write at night.  Sometimes I write at the dance studio or Krav studio while I wait for my children to finish with their classes.  Once in a while, I find time during the day.  It's all rather random.

Why do I write what I do?  Because I'm crazy, and I hear voices in my head.  What?  You don't believe me?  Seriously, though, I'm a kid at heart, and I just like children's books.  I like picture books, I like chapter books and I like middle grade readers.  I don't know if I'll ever write for adults.  It's too much fun thinking like a kid.


Here are a few others I'm tagging for the saber sword badge:  Christine Rains, Medeia Sharif and C. Lee McKenzie.  They're all great writers, and it would probably be fun to hear about their writing process.

Before I go, I'd like to let you  know that ePublishing eXperts put out a little blurb about my book, That Mama is a Grouch, on their blog.  It's going to be turned into an animated ebook.  I'll let you know when that happens.