As Feathered 3 comes to completion a few weeks later (or months if you want to go by my original schedule) than I predicted, I’ve begun to re-evaluate my deadlines. I have to face the facts that I’m not as fast a writer as many other successful romance writers.
I envy those that can put out a book a month, or even in two months. If I was writing shorter, then I could definitely do that, but now that I’ve made the switch to novels (and not looking back), I can’t keep up the pace. I realistically believe I can put out two or three novels a year, and that’s writing full time, but more than that? It’s not going to happen.
My writing process
My process for writing has evolved over the years. As I become more proficient in writing and crafting, I’ve found that a lot of what I was doing in the beginning of my career, doesn’t work for me anymore. Pantsing, where you make up the story as you go, doesn’t work for me (although I really wish it did as I enjoy writing into the nothingness and seeing what emerges). Stories that I have tried pantsing (such as my two novella’s In His Sails and The Brute) are simply not as good as those where I’ve taken time to think about the plot before hand and craft an outline (The Feathered Lover, Trance).
I’m glad that I’ve discovered this early into my career, because it means that if I follow the writing formula of outlining and knowing what I’m going to write before I write it (even if it strays sometimes), my work is going to better.
Not all writers are the same (thank goodness! originality rocks!), so I’m not saying that those that ‘pants’ their novels are not as good as those writers who outline. That would be silly. All I mean is, writers are different. We use different methods to find the story, different ways to bring our characters to life. It’s part of our ‘voice’ as a writer. There is no ‘right’ way to write. There is only your way, which you’ll discover, adapt and change up a million times probably before something fits.
I sometimes wonder if I should go back and fix up Brute and Sails. My plans for the future is to use them as loss leaders for novels that will use the same characters, so maybe I’ll leave them as is. It’s a time factor. Should I fix them up, or spend my time writing new works? It’s hard to say which will be better. I’m inclined to leave them as is and get on with the millions of other stories that are bouncing around my head.
What’s the next novel going to be about?
Which brings me to let you in on what I’m writing next. It’ll be a novel based on Beauty and the Beast. I’m using the jerk guy from The Brute novel as the male lead (with a new heroine). I think it’ll be super fun to try and turn a complete asshole into the love interest. I really like the idea of having him change by the end (isn’t that what all good stories are about – change?). I’ve been catching up reading the original Beauty and the Beast novel by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve (not the Disney version – LOL).
I know it’s been adapted many, many times by romance and erotica writers. But I want to do my own version, I’m itching too. My fingers want to get started right now (although I need to beat-it-out (outline it) first). And I have a rule that I can’t start something new until the current project is finished and published.
But I so so so baaaaadly want to write it.
I estimate (ha!) that it’ll be published around August/September. We’ll see. 😉
Until then, enjoy Feathered 3 (The Feathered Child) which comes out mid-May. I’m tying up a few loose ends and then sending it to the editor on Monday. I’ve briefed the cover designer on the new cover direction and can’t wait for the trilogy to be completed. I hope you like it.
Happy reading.
Tabitha. xx
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