Words on Paper

What is the most difficult or challenging part of the writing process for you?

That's what we're talking about over on Bits & Bytes: Romance...the Writer's Way this month.  Today's my turn.  I hope you'll pop over and join the conversation.

I Remember Lexi

This month at Bits & Bytes: Romance...the Writer's Way we discussing Christmas memories. I hope you will pop over and share your own memories, be they happy, sad, or poignant.

May you have a Blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

It's Creepy and It's Kooky, and Altogether Spooky

Happy Halloween!


Want to add a bit of a thrill or a chill or touch of suspense to your writing? Please check out my post today over at Bits & Bytes: Romance...the Writer's Way.

When a Stranger Calls

This month, in honor of Halloween, we're sharing creepy, scary stories over at Bits & Bytes: Romance...the Writer's Way. We've had stories about ghosts and snakes and spiders. Today my offering is When a Stranger Calls. I hope you'll pop over and share your own story.

Climbing the Mountain: Finding the Courage to Write

I totally forgot to mention that I blogged the other day on the WARA blog about fear and writing. I hope you'll check it out: http://warawriters.blogspot.com/2010/03/climbing-mountain-finding-courage-to.html How do you beat back your fears?

Going Where the Fear Is

I just read this and it really resonated with me, so I thought I'd share.

So much of writing is going where the fear is. Fear is power, and a lot of writers don’t want to go there. It’s absolutely natural. Who, after all, wants to be afraid or hurt? Feelings of fear or pain exist for a reason. They are warnings, and quite effective ones. They’re like the reflex that pulls your hand back before you realize you’ve touched something hot. (Gom jabbar notwithstanding. Ha.)

Harnessing that power, going where the fear is, writing even though your hands are sweating and your heart is in your mouth, is the very least you owe your readers. You have a bargain with them–you tell the truth, they keep reading. Lie, bullshit, pull back or cop out–and they sense it. They smell it. It will get your book thrown across the room faster than anything.

These two paragraphs come from this blog post by Lilith Saintcrow titled "There Is No Bloodless Art": http://www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal/2009/07/this-is-no-bloodless-art/ I hope you'll read the rest of her article.

I realized a while ago that I've been letting fear rule me and get in the way of my writing. I'm still working my way through it, one itty bitty baby half-step at a time. Anyone else suffer from this? How do you deal with it?

Finish Your Shift

I recently listened to a writing workshop given by Jodi Thomas. One of the lessons she learned as a teen and applies to her writing keeps playing in my mind: Finish your shift. Translation: Finish your book. If it's completed, rewrite it. If it's rewritten, submit it.

I love doing revisions, doing research. It's the new stuff that comes hard for me. Getting those words on the page in the first place, that's my struggle.

While listening to Jodi's workshop, I realized that as a kid I loved working on various projects, but sometimes I didn't finish them. Who am I kidding? Most of the time I didn't finish them. I think it's because if I finished it, it would be done. Over. Completed. Then what? I didn't have a money tree in my yard, so I made projects last as long as I could.

I think it's the same with writing. If I finish the story, then what? I'll have to create a new one. Then the fear sets in. What if the words won't come? It's almost easier not writing, than risking the words not coming.