First drafts are fun in a manic sort of way. I don’t follow a set rule; I take chances and push the boundaries, my characters and myself and discover more about my plot, character and myself as I write.

Oh, I have this vague idea where I’m going, but I’ve always preferred the scene route. Which means what earlier pages are probably all wrong and will have to be changed.

But that’s okay. I love the rewriting process. It’s like house building.

The contractor battles the elements and scheduling problems when they rough in a house. Once that framework of boards, flooring and roof are done, windows and doors are installed, then the outside detailing is done. From then on the builder can take time (within reason) to finish the interior and make it unique. That shell won’t change much–unless the builder decides to add a sunroom or outdoor patio room. But the interior design will set this house apart from all the others he’s build. It’s the same-but-different thing.

Same with books. A romance is a romance, mystery a mystery, suspense a suspense, and so on. The genre is the same with certain expected elements, but what’s inside is the author’s own unique take.

I can hardly wait to get to that part of fleshing out my new story. Dress up the scenes so the reading becomes visual. Find those gems to further plot/character that are buried under verbosity and polish them so they shine. I want this book to be better than the last.

To get there, I have to keep meeting my daily goal. So I’ll leave you with a quote that says it all, imo.

Behold the turtle! He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out. James Bryant Conant

ONE REAL COWBOY

This story has been Common Bond for so long it’ll take a while to get used to the new title, but I like it. Hopefully I’ll have a cover to put up before long. Can’t wait to see it!

Things are moving steadily forward. I sent a list of possible titles to my editor and hopefully we’ll both land on one we love and that will draw readers in. I do have an ISBN number! Wow! Oh, and the release date is March 2007. As soon as I have a title, I’ll post the info here, include it in my signature line, etc. etc.

Okay, back to work on My Sweet Thief, the second book. Just about a fourth of the way through it now. Whew!

After I came down off the *I SOLD* high with a thump, the reality of having to write the followup book to BOND slapped me a good one. The good news is I’d done a lot of research and characterization on Gil’s story. The bad part (which is really a good part) is that I’ve grown as an author and more than a few glaring plot holes yawned before me.

Now I’m not an intense plotter–in fact my process is part planning and a good part trusting my instincts on the fly. But with a deadline facing me, I convinced myself I’d be more comfortable with a working plan, even if it was a loose one.

The three act process makes the most sense to me. I can tell pretty quickly if my idea is going to work, or if I’m climbing a icy hill in flip-flops.

I’m looking at my white board littered with post-its and what I have looks solid to me–at least solid enough to get that first draft done. Good news is I’m on schedule. Now if it’ll just stay that way–

All unpublished authors live for the day when they can announce they got The Call from an editor.

And my day finally came. (insert deliriously happy scream here)

Of course, since I’m the queen of out-of-the-ordinary things, I got the call moments after I left a store and got in my car. The editor’s first words–I want to buy BOND–literally shocked me speechless.

Words are my best friend yet I couldn’t thing of a damned thing to say. I looked out the windshield at people milling around and thought is this a dream? I can’t even begin to describe the emotions colliding within me at that moment.

The contracts still have to be signed. The revisions done. The second book turned in by deadline which seems awfully close yet awfully far away.

Once I know specifics, I’ll let you all know. But for those who keep tabs on me here, you’re the first to know I’m on my way to being a published fiction author, lol!

Tomorrow I’ll post a longer account of the call on WriteMinded,the blog I share with four other published authors. Yes, we’re all published now.

Hey, thanks for dropping by, and do come back for updates. The ride has just begun. 🙂