Paranormal Romance author Linda Wisdom

Hello Fellow Writers!

Yesterday I brought my word count up to 18,000 words. The story is moving along smoothly. I'm finding that I really like just plowing forward. Normally I spend lots of time re-reading what I had already written, but this way works much better for me! It's funny, when I read in Stephen King's book "On Writing" that he just pushes forward without re-reading and revising until he finishes the whole book, I thought "that would never work for me!" But lo and behold, it does. I highly recommend it.

I just finished reading "50 Ways to Hex Your Lover" by Linda Wisdom. It was really fun and had lots of good love scenes too! I found myself wishing I could just wave a wand and have my house be perfectly cleaned. Alas, I do not have any witchy powers like her heroine does!

Here is an excerpt from an interview with Linda Wisdom about how she writes. Check out the whole interview here at fallenangelreviews.com.

Can I ask where you come up with the characters’ names in your books?

I sometimes think they name themselves. When they pop into my head they have their name and background ready. I also do research to come up with what would be their original name and it’s always very different from what they presently use.

When is your favorite time to compose?

Afternoons. Mornings I catch up with email, etc. and after lunch I can settle in more. And I’m also creative during the evening.

Growing up, did you ever keep a journal and write notes about the stories you would love to write?

Always! Just ask my friends who loved to read whatever stories I came up with. Funny thing is, I’ve heard from friends in high school that I haven’t talked to in years and they remember my writing from back then.

What’s on the agenda for Linda in the upcoming months?

I have two more witch books to write. Thea, the diva romance novelist, you met in Hex Appeal and Maggie, who’s a bounty hunter witch you’ll briefly meet in Hex in High Heels.

Do you 'lose' your track of thought, story thread or whatever emotional pitch you happen to be at when you do leave your story for a bit? If so, what do you do to get that leave of emotion back?

Oh yes, that’s happened more than once. When it does, I go to the beginning of the book and read and by the time I get to the empty space I’m ready to go again.

In what order do you write? For example starting beginning to end, combining parts, in random order or in development cycle?

While I pretty much write beginning to end, I know what will happen more in the end than in the middle. If I hit a writer’s wall, I will skip a scene and move on then go back to that scene.

Do you listen to music or watch TV when you write or do you need it to be completely quiet?

Quiet drives me nuts. The TV is always on with favorite DVDs or a program.

When you're really tired, do you keep pushing on with story or give it a rest?

I give it a rest. I don’t think anyone is their best when they’re tired and always best to be as fresh as possible.

Today I plan on bringing my word count up to 20,000 words for "Snowed in With a Millionaire." I've been making good use of the plot outline that I created last month to help me through NaNoWriMo, but I'm wondering if I could become a "pantser" aka writing by the seat of your pants. I wonder if it would save me time in the long run, or if I would just end up with huge plot holes. Only one way to find out, I suppose.

While I've started many novels that I never finished because I didn't know what came next, I imagine if I refused to let myself give up I might just end up with a whole book written sans outline. We'll see. Maybe next month while I'm letting "Snowed in with a Millionaire" age.

I'm supposed to meet the other women in my writing group today but we may cancel because Maureen is sick. We'll see. I'm not showing anyone my current WIP because it's still too fresh.

Wish me luck, and good luck to you too!
Yours Truly,
Shoshanna Evers