Friday, March 14, 2014

Writing Process & Celebrate


Oh no!!

I have no book features to hide behind this week. I must actually write something for a blog post!
 
Luckily, my friend, Jeff Chapman has tagged me in the Writing Process Blog Hop where they give me the questions to answer.  (Whew.  Close one.)

1)  What am I working on?  A thriller with a theme of medical ethics.
2)  How does my work differ from others of its genre?  My books are all set in Egypt with realistic details about the people and the culture.
3)  Why do I write what I do?  I've always loved reading  horror/thrillers. They keep me glued to the page because their stakes are the highest -- life and death.
4)  How does your writing process work?  It's different with every book.  I don't believe in hard and fast rules. A writer should be open to doing whatever works best for them.  :)

Here are the two Fabulous people I'm passing the Writing  Process Blog Hop onto:

TF Walsh writes fantasy, romance and paranormal stories for both adults and young adult. CLOAKED IN FUR, a paranormal suspense, is her debut novel from Crimson Romance.  Buy it here:   AMAZON    B&N    iTUNES    KOBO    ALL ROMANCE    GOOGLE BOOKS    ADAM'S MEDIA
 

Kate Larkindale is the author of 8 YA contemporary novels (5 of which other people might one day be allowed to see) and one terrible historical romance. Her debut, An Unstill Life, is available now.  






CELEBRATE THE SMALL THINGS


This week I'm celebrating:
1)  I've written 4 posts for the A-Z.  I know I need to get cracking, but at least it's a start!
2)  I added another 5k to my WIP -- before coming to a dead stop.  I confess I'm a world-class procrastinator.  Like a child that doesn't want to clean its room, I'm great at finding anything to do other than write, like:
  • Facebook?  You betcha.  Never met a LOLCat I didn't like.
  • Email stalking?  Yup.  I'm not expecting anything important, but even the spam begins to look interesting when I'm supposed to be writing.
  • Forum Posting?  Oh, yeah.  When procrastinating, I turn into a non-stop Yakity-yak Monster and get disappointed when peeps don't reply at the supersonic speed with which I can post crap in my forums.
  • TV.  'Nuff said.
  • Household Chores?  The bane of my existence.  Yet suddenly vacuuming, mopping, and even scrubbing the toilet jump to the top of my To-Do list.
Does anyone else need to join Procrastinator's Anonymous?  What do you do when you should be writing?

 

This post is part of VikLit's blog hop, Celebrate the Small Things. To be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is follow the link and put your name on the Mr.Linky list, and then be sure to post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week.  It can be about writing or family or school or general life.  This is the funnest and easiest blog hop ever! 

43 comments:

T.F. Walsh said...

Thanks for spreading the love on the blog hop:)

Ahh procrastination... how well I know thee. I think we need a blog hop with the most outrageous things writers have done to in order to avoid writing:) That's the only time I get to clean my house, when I'm supposed to be writing. A friend of mine recently said she took two showers to avoid writing.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad I deleted my FB. I do have a tendency to reach for my phone when it beeps.

A thriller about medical ethics sounds fascinating.

Kate Larkindale said...

Thanks for tagging me!

I'm a world class procrastinator. Absolutely anything looks interesting when I have writing to do. Twitter, Facebook, cleaning the toilet, work... Anything!

Shah Wharton said...

I'm fine. I'm absolutely not procrastinating. I never do... anyone who says otherwise is a rotten liar. Really. I don't like this conversation. Err....

Anyway, well done on your 5k word count plus A-Z posts! Awesome. You deserve a break. Refresh the cells. Now, where did I put the remote control? And let me just check on FB for a reaction to my last status update.... and then I'll just clear my inbox...

http://iurl.no/o239a

Little Gothic Horrors said...

Haha. I'm a world-class procrastinator too! It's crazy because once I actually get started, I'm fine. It's the getting started that's the problem.

I really enjoyed reading about your writing process, which interestingly is a prime example of my world-class procrastination, as I've got a list a mile long of things I'm supposed to be doing... right now. ;D

Vanessa Morgan said...

Lovely post. I love mini interviews like that.

Heather R. Holden said...

I think it's very cool that you set all your books in Egypt! :)

And LOL, I'm totally guilty of email-stalking, too. I'd probably get heaps more art done if it weren't for that... XD

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Better get to working on those Challenge posts! It will sneak up and bite you in the butt.
Thriller-horror is a great genre - Preston and Child's books fall in that category.
And yes, I am a master procrastinator, which is why I get things done quickly because I know if I don't...

Rhonda Albom said...

Fun bloghops. I am also a great procrastinator when it comes to writing.

Cathrina Constantine said...

I'm up to S on A to Z and I'm thrilled. Last year I flew by the seat of my pants writing a post every night, was tense. My middle name is procrastination and I spend it surfing the net, Like this...

Anonymous said...

Totally agree with you about the hard & fast writing rules!

Melissa said...

Great post. I really enjoyed reading your answers. :)

I only procrastinate about writing when I'm stuck. When I'm inspired, I snarl at anyone or anything that distracts me. :P

Luanne G. Smith said...

Ha! My house is always cleanest when I have a plot hole in the novel that needs filling. Procrastinators unite!

Carol Kilgore said...

I join as soon as I check my email again :)

Your writing process sounds somewhat like mine - whatever works.

Robin said...

I love your procrastination list. I am right there with you. When I don't know where I am going with my WiP, all of those things SEEM horribly important. Yikes.

Claudia H. Blanton said...

First of all you have a beautiful blog, I just came across it do the Celebrate blog hop, and glad that I did. Secondly, I hear-by officially join the procrastinators thingy - well actually we should leave that behind, but distractions can be so much fun! Looking forward to hearing more from you - have a great day!

Mere Joyce said...

Good job on the A to Z, I haven't even planned what I'm going to write yet o_o ...and April will be here way sooner than we expect it to, I'm sure (Although April means Spring, so that's not really a bad thing). Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

On that note, I simply must congratulate you on having 4 A - Z post complete. lol Cleaning toilets over writing - not me, Lexa, definitely not me!


MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Writing Tips
Effectively Human
Lots of Crochet Stitches


stephen Hayes said...

Great answers. I always enjoy learning more about my blogging friends.

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Facebook is my #1 distraction. Thus, my room is very message and my publications aren't...well, they just aren't.

Smiles.

Be well, Lexa. Have a relaxing and/or productive weekend. Hopefully both.

xoRobyn

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

PS *laughter at self* My room isn't "message," it's messy. Though were it "message," the message would be: "Clean me and write, girlfriend. Stay off of facebook."
Cheers.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Oh yes, I'm a charter member of Procrastinators Anonymous. For instance, I sat down at my computer to work on my story, and here I am. :) 5000K sounds like a good bit of work. You deserve a break.

I just remembered. I must vacuum my carpet. It took me two days to put the vacuum cleaner back together after I took it apart to empty the cat fur out. Now it's working. Fingers crossed. See ya.

Deanie Humphrys-Dunne said...

I'm definitely guilty of procrastinating. At least I have some company. Wishing everyone a great weekend.

Christine Rains said...

Each book is different for me too. As for procrastinating, TV and cleaning are what I fall upon. Have a terrific weekend!

Leandra Wallace said...

So next time I see you bopping quite frequently around on the blueboards, I need to send you an email telling you to put the toilet brush down and get to work? ;)

Unknown said...

Oh man, I need to get started on my A to Z posts--I already feel behind!

Hope you have a good weekend! Congrats on getting some work done on your WIP!

Cathy Keaton said...

I feel ya with the household chores. Why can't they just do themselves?! It reminds me that I have to get a-dustin' very soon.... T_T

Congrats on getting so much writing done. I've been getting a good amount done, as well!

Nana Prah said...

When I saw that you writing with a theme on medical ethics, my interest was peaked. Four out of 26 posts for the A to Z, wish I could say you were almost there, but...

shelly said...

My writing flaw is probably rewriting before I actually get to the end of the story. Weird. I know.

Hugs and chocolate!

Unknown said...

Oh, I know procastination well! I'm extremely good at doing everything last-minute, haha. So far, it's worked out pretty well.. But I really should start taking action sooner than when I can see the deadline approaching!

JeffO said...

I sit in the chair and circle around writing all the time. Document open? Yep. Thought process? Sort of engaged. e-mail? Better check it first. Hockey scores? Yeah, let me look in on my favorite team. Half a blog post, look at my open document, think about it....you get the idea.

DMS said...

Sounds like you have made progress with A-Z and your WIP. I also procrastinate! It is amazing what can sidetrack me when I am supposed to be writing or working on something specific. :) Cleaning is a big one for me- it's so much more fun when I am procrastinating.

I love that all of your books take place in Egypt because it isn't a setting I can remember finding in any other fictional books. :)

Best of luck!
~Jess

kimlajevardi.com said...

I'm well acquainted with procrastination. The computer is the greatest source of pull. Facebook, email, random news stories, anything really. :)

Unknown said...

Good luck on your work in progress. I am sure it will be amazing.
I agree we should all celebrate the small things. If we learn to appreciate the smaller good, we will be surprised when the big things come along.

Anonymous said...

5K? Nicely done. I agree with you -- we should do whatever works for us. Even so, I'm open to learning from other writers. What works for them might work for me too.

WordsPoeticallyWorth said...

Good luck to you and your writing.

Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

Jeff Chapman said...

Lexa, thanks for taking part in the hop. A medical ethics thriller, eh? Sounds fascinating. I'll try anything to be more productive, except writing while standing on my head. I never was able to stand on my head.

PK HREZO said...

I agree that a writer should stay open to writing each story in whatever way works, instead of sticking to a strict set of rules. Outliners should try pantsing, and pantsters should try outlining.
And I love thrillers!! Fun to read and fun to write!!

Heather Musk said...

I definitely need to join! I've managed seven A-Z posts so far I think, and mine are quite short so I've no excuse really!

Annie Neugebauer said...

I'm procrastinating right now, actually... ;) Your new project sounds really interesting!

TL said...

You're so right--it's really important for a writer to do whatever works for them in the moment. I have a basic process, but it changes a little between books.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

You sound busy, Lexa. I'm halfway through Soul Cutter and am enjoying it, so I look forward to reading your next novel. I love those little details you put in about the real Egypt.

Jocelyn Rish said...

I'm a horrible procrastinator. Or should I say I'm a champion procrastinator? Whichever way means I will get my house sparkling clean and reach the ends of the internet before I sit down to write. :-)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...