MONDAY, MONDAY: Not How I Planned It

It’s Monday, August 22. My last post on this blog was on May 10. That ‘s more than THREE MONTHS, a ridiculously long time to be silent. Silent, but busy. Very busy.

I’ve been writing my head off, working on not one but two new books. I suppose I’ve been fortunate that this hasn’t come up before this. Some authors have the luxury of focusing on one work at a time, but I think many of us end up multi-tasking. My years as an engineer and project manager honed my multi-tasking skills to a fine edge—maybe too much so.

Writers often do much better being single-minded, pouring their creative energies into one story at a time. The creative process works better that way. But the outside world doesn’t often let us do that.

Here’s my own situation. My third book, HIS KIND OF MUSIC, came back from my editor in early June of this year. I had hoped to turn it around quickly and release it by the end of June. Whoa, there—not so fast. I found there were a LOT of character and story issues that would require extensive rewriting. Well, that’s why I send it to an editor. But an end-of-June release was suddenly out of the question.

So—I’m patiently and deliberately taking the story apart and reassembling it as it should be. One thing I’ve learned is to do more planning in advance. I’m a “pantser”— an author who writes by the seat of his pants, making it up more or less as he or she goes along. Now I know I have to do more character definition upfront so that I don’t end up in this situation, where the characters on paper are NOT as I planned them or want them to come across.

It will be a better book for my editing efforts, no question. But it will not be done anytime soon. My best guess now is to expect a Christmas release—and that may be a bit optimistic.

The reason is that I’m already into book four of my Second Chance Romance series. The title is LATENT HEARTS, about the ill-fated roanvec between the fourth Stanford roommate, Brian SInclair, and the love of jhis life—so he thought—Rebecca Sutton. My critique group has already reviewed the first three chapters, and chapter four is in progress. I’ve taken advantage of the process changes for book three in writing book four, defining characters and their motivations much better up front.

I’ll no doubt remain quiet for the next few months, at least as far as the rest of the world sees me as an author. I’m not big on marketing anyeay, and this situation doesn’t help motivate me.. I don’t care about the money.— just want people to read and enjoy my books.