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Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn’t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all….. About our writing of course! Every week we’ll answer questions and after you’ve enjoyed the blog on this site we’ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride!
If you’ve come over from Elaine Jeremiah’s website, welcome. She’s the author of “Reunion of the Heart”.
We have Vicky Mason to thank for her questions today.
1.) Was there a defining moment in your life when you knew you were going to become a writer? If so, what was it?
I’ve always jotted down stories in my head. Nothing great, nothing formal. A few years ago I decided to try NaNoWriMo. I lost. I made it to 35,000 words though and wanted nothing more than to finish the book. It took me two more years to finish it. When I was done, I had no idea what to do. Luckily, I found a local Romance Writers of America chapter nearby. The day I joined in February 2012, I became focused on making writing more than hobby. Since then, I’ve finished eight other manuscripts and sold seven of them.
2.) When you write a story, do you see it unfold as one big picture, or do you add layering in subsequent drafts?
Even when I know the beginning, middle, and the end of a story, I always add subplots and additional layers into a story as I write. These are generally the best parts. The car that only starts after a push and shove, the chocolate that always remains on the heroine’s lip after eating a donut, or the hero’s fear of flying. Not plot points, but the icing on the cake!
3.) How many drafts do you usually write before you send your work to your editor?
I edit as I write, so my work has already been edited about three times before I finish a manuscript. I then print it out and edit it another time. Finally, I read it out loud to make sure everything flows.
My critique partners then pick it apart it. I send it to my agent after I have a solid draft. Then my editor sees it.
Hop on over to Raine Balkera’s blog to see a bit of her writing history and techniques.