Hey look, I plastered my face to the top of this post!
A while back, Carrie Butler tagged me in this Not-So-Accidental Blog Tourist hop. I wasn’t sure if I was going to participate, because it’s a lot like the one I did for Chrys Fey, and I wasn’t sure who to tag.
But since I’m working on a new project, I figured I’d focus on that.
1. What am I currently working on?
The project is called The Seven. Seven authors collaborating on multiple collections to bring you creepy delights. My author photo for this is the one up top. The first story focuses on Aladdin’s Lamp.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I’ve heard of anthologies, but we’re talking at least 10 books by the Seven. Not thick books, mind you. Don’t think we could do 3 a year if they were big.
3. Why do I write what I do?
For this project, the theme for each book is already set. Being a fantasy author, it’s been hard to switch gears to do supernatural/paranormal, based in the “real” world. I’ve had to think up new characters, which sucks for me. I write much more naturally in Cera’s or Derek’s voice, but neither one fit into the scope.
4. How does my writing process work?
First, I tear out my hair. Then I start with a scene, throw it away, and start again. Seven times. How appropriate, considering we’re called the Seven. I’m a pantser who leans heavily on the character I’m writing. That gets difficult when I don’t know the characters. But hopefully, you’ll like Jensen when you meet her.
I could only think of one person to tag who hasn’t yet participated and might. I met Sarah McCabe on the Mythic Scribes forum when I went hunting for other fantasy writers. She offered up her blog, and it’s been a delight to read. Hopefully she’ll be a no-so-accidental blog tourist. 😉
Have you participated in this type of blog hop yet? If not, consider yourself tagged!
Nice. Tear it up and throw it away so you can write it better the next time… I wish I had time for that kind of process, seven times over. Alas, outlining saves me about 5 drafts and many, many headaches. Still, it’s been a slow transition. We resist, the accept, then embrace, eh?
I’m going to see if I can take Jami Gold’s course Lost Your Pants to see if I can get a better handle on writing faster.
Ooh… Jami’s course sounds interesting.
Ooh! I hadn’t heard of her course. Now I’m going to have to check it out. Thanks!
Oh Crystal and your fancy outline. LOL
LOL! It’s usually scrawled across receipts and random scraps of paper, so I’m not sure I would call it fancy. 😉
That’s such a great picture!!! 🙂 Did you chop your hair off? I know, that could have happened about 8 months ago, but in the faceless world of blogland, that’s like a few days 😉 It looks great, either way.
Ok, I didn’t know about the Seven; it sounds like a really, really cool project with a good long life. Congrats; I can’t wait to read it!!
This made me laugh: “How does my writing process work? First, I tear out my hair.” LOL. Sounds familiar…
Thank you! I did chop off my hair in June, but I haven’t changed my profile pic yet. The other one is just so darn friendly looking…
I like your process. I just hope your hair grows fast!
I’ve noticed it growing a lot faster now that I’ve cut it.
Love that picture! I love the sound of the anthology. Good luck!
Thank you!
That is quite the ambitious project! Don’t tear out your hair though.
It mostly ends up ruffled and sticking out in odd directions. The roots of my hair prove to be quite strong.
Ouch on the hair. Cool on the creepy. I often start a chapter one more than once.
Sometimes I can start things well, but then I don’t know where I’m going. Eh.
I think you look lovely plastered up there! Wow. That is a big project, but I have no doubt you will do it!
Why thank you! 😀
I feel your pain on the panster thing! I wish I could outline, but it’s just not for me. Oh well! Good luck with your project–it sounds like lots of fun!!
I’ve tried to outline. Goodness knows, I’ve tried. It just never seems to work out.
awesome photo!
and i like the sound of Seven – what a lot of writing you all are doing! and getting out of your comfort zone is a good thing! your process sounds similar to mine, too – lots of hair and wadded up paper in the trash…
Yes, it is a lot of writing. Much more than I’m used to. I’m just hoping I stay on top of it.
I learned the hard way I’m not a pantser and continue to back-pedal my way out of a ill-plotted WIP full of bloat. Nope, I’ll be all about starting with a brief write-up of each chapter before I ever start my next long book. There’s still room to play, but I need the structure. And yes, I’ll add too that your short hair looks pretty great 🙂
Thanks on the hair!
Plot? What’s a plot!
I’m in the whatever works category. Once I find it, I stick with it, but it’s never the same, so each book has it’s own process.
I’m finding that to be the case with me too.
Sounds like you have a good process down. I know some people that cringe at the thought of throwing a scene completely out. I’m a serial scene destroyer myself.
So have I been tagged now? I’ve never participated in a blog hop like this. Could be fun.
Yes! You are now officially tagged!
You’re a fantasy author going paranormal, and I’m a paranormal author going fantasy! Go us. 😀
We shall rule the world!
See, that’s exactly the reason I wind up not tagging anyone at all (well, that and I tend to be like the LAST person for anything … also, I hate being a bother). But, hey, I’m working on multiple projects…
And supernatural/paranormal isn’t too bad once you adjust, at least it’s still under the spec fic umbrella. Now historical, straight historical … that’d be hard. For me, anyway. I loves magical events far too much to give them up entirely.
Good luck in the endeavour!
I tried historical once. Got 400 words down and I had soooo many questions. I don’t know that I could do much longer than that.
I’m looking forward to your projects. They have pictures to go with them!
Sounds like a great undertaking indeed, your poor hair must be in rough shape though with all the yanking lol
At least, sometimes, the white hairs come out when I pull. 🙂
I’ve found here lately that I have to have an outline to start off with, or I feel lost. But then once I start writing, Miss Pants comes along and messes everything up. Usually in good ways! =)
In good ways is good!
10 books of paranormal stories – sounds good to me.
Hopefully it’ll be as good as it sounds. 🙂
Tearing your hair out…yep. That’s what I generally do at the start of a project. And in the middle. And the end.
Maybe I should invest in a wig.
Happy writing!
Imagine all of the hair colors you could have. Keep those coworkers on their toes.
The project sounds awesome! Good luck with it!
Thank you!
Oo. Now I’m intrigued.
Can’t wait to get to the crit. 😉
Hopefully it’s not too terrible to read. 🙂
I’m a pantser, too, so I can relate. Revisions are BRUTAL when you’re a pantser! Of course, outlining is probably just as much work. Some people enjoy outlining–I’d rather just jump in.
Okay, when you all are ruling the earth, be kind to us old suspense writers. LOL.
Love the author photo, love the story idea. I can’t wait to hear more about this. Will be lurking… 😉
I can relate to the pantsing and the hair-pulling — one usually goes with the other. The Seven sounds intriguing, and I look forward to reading more about it.
Thanks for tagging me, Loni. I’ll put my post up tomorrow.
I was tagged by Philip Overby and wandered my way back around here. Great blog and good luck with The Seven!