Three Burning Questions (Sept. 30, 2014) #lovewritechat

Welcome to everyone joining me from Raine Balkera's blog . If you missed her, hop back when you're done here. 
Ever wonder what's going on inside the head of a romance writer? Wonder no more. You've landed in the midst of romance authors who are happy to give you a sneak peek into their writing lairs.

1.) Was there a defining moment in your life when you knew you were going to become a writer? If so, what was it?

No, just an inescapable need to write the stories playing in my head. The characters give me peace once I put their story on paper (or bytes). It's very much like being haunted; they are desperate to get their stories told.

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2.) When you write a story do you see it unfold as one big picture, or do you add layering in subsequent drafts?

Some stories come to me as like a miniseries, others require more step-by-step plotting. Either way, they all get additional sensory details and imagery with each edit, like a painting going from the basic sketch to a completed seascape ready to hang in a gallery.

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photo credit: Rusty Russ via photopin cc

3.) How many drafts do you usually write before you send your work to your editor?

Four or five. My awesome critique partners attack it with virtual red pens to identify plot holes, overuse of certain words, and characterization issues. Based on their feedback, I make adjustments then work through the manuscript again, ensuring continuity, layering in more colorful local idioms and sensory details. 
However, it always feels like a leap of faith off a cliff into a body of water with unknown depth and unseen obstacles.

Don't stop now! Head over to A.S. Fenichel's blog for another peek into a writer's life.

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photo credit: Mr Chris Johnson via photopin cc