Special thanks go out to
for roping me into this blog tour today. 🙂 We were both involved in a fun book fair last week with a bunch of other cool authors. I have downloaded a copy of her novel and placed it in my queue of books I need to read!
A lot of the writing process goes on “behind the scenes,” so today I’m giving a little backstage tour. Along with authors all over the world, I am answering the following questions about my writing methods:
1) What are you working on?
I’m in the outlining stage of a YA futuristic steampunk. While I’m sure the premise will change as I actually write the book, here’s my elevator pitch so far:
Avilene is the Academy’s brightest and best, on the fast track to becoming a world leader in the commonwealth that governs the solar system. When she protects her best friend from being kidnapped by a renegade airship crew, she is taken instead by the enemy. But the enemy is not as vicious as she has been led to believe. As Avilene uncovers the Starpathia’s mission to free children from government tyranny, she is faced with a choice: stand with the freedom fighters, or betray them and return to the arms of the commonwealth that raised her.
To see some of the images that inspire me for this novel, check out my Pinterest boards.
2) How does your work differ from others of its genre?
I like to mash things up, mix genres in ways that are uncommon. Most steampunk is historical in nature, but my novel will take steampunk into the future, so there will be a mixture of technological style. The commonwealth has glitzy, futuristic toys, and the crew of the airship Starpathia is covered in coal dust.
3) Why do you write what you do?
At heart, I think I’m still a kid myself, because I’ve never gotten over the wonder that science fiction and fantasy create. I want to believe in dragons and wizards and airships and laser guns. Because I can’t actually step onto the deck of the Starpathia, I do the next best thing: I write a story about it.
4) How does your writing process work?
Historically, I’ve dived right into writing when I got a good idea, battling my way through the entanglements that always appear in the plot and characters as I try to fight my way to the ending. But I’m in the process of changing it up, because I believe that using an outline will make my writing faster and better. So, I’ve counseled my muse to be patient while I come up with detailed plot points and work on world building. My muse isn’t very happy about this, but I’ve told her she simply must wait her turn.
Some of the resources that have really helped me shape a process for outlining that I can live with include the following:
Dan Wells’ Story Structure (a video on YouTube in 5 parts)
The Author Training Manual by Nina Amir
2,000 to 10,000 by Rachel Aaron
Write Your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell
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And now we come to the point where you realize how dismally connected I am, because I was never able to find bloggers (not already participating) to pass this tour along to. (I’m still open to suggestions. Anyone? Anyone…?)
So, the “buck stops here,” as they say. But you can visit the other author I’m aware of that is hosting the tour this week, C. Michelle Jefferies.