My Writing Process

Greetings everyone! This is the first blog on my new website. I hope you snoop around and see what else is here!!

“MY WRITING PROCESS” BLOG TOUR POST

Thank you, Karen Autio, for inviting me to be part of the “My Writing Process” blog tour. Karen Autio is the author of a trilogy of historical novels for young readers. She writes about events in Canada’s history that haven’t had much attention, such as the sinking of the Empress of Ireland and spies, sabotage, and internment during the First World War. Her latest book Sabotage has been shortlisted for the 2014 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile/YA Crime Bookand the 2015 Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award. You will find her writing process blog tour post at karenautio.com/Media_Blog_Posts.html

And now for my turn at answering the blog tour questions!

What are you working on?

Basically I’m splitting my time between being an illustrator and a writer.

I am currently working on Orion’s Fury, book two in the Orion series
that started with Orion’s Sword-a middle-grade Christian science fiction. The book proposal that my agent Karen Ball and I worked on for Orion’s Sword, is now zipping off in many different directions, Zondervan at the head of our wish list. To pass the time waiting for replies, I’m getting a head start on the next books, as well as working on my website and doing some illustrations for Orion’s Sword and another book I’ve been commissioned to do. I know full well that I may not be able to illustrate my book, however nothing can stop me from putting my illustrations up on my website for my readers and young illustrators to enjoy. It will give them, at the very least, a view of my worlds and the creatures that inhabit my worlds. The other book I am illustrating is called One Thing I Know For Sure, and is a lovely story of a woman’s love for her dog that passed away.

I just finished presenting illustrating workshops to kids in a local school. I’m hoping that I can further my ‘platforming’ in this regard, so when a publisher looks at my proposal, they will see that I’m actively promoting myself already.

How does your work differ from others of its genre?

It differs in a couple of respects. First of all, my story is about a boy who has just lost a close friend in an alien jungle on a distant planet. My main character is very bitter toward God, as he questions Gods motivation for allowing his friend to die. I feel with so many tragic things happening in the world right now, (ie. Shootings in schools…) this is a question on many kids’ minds. I haven’t seen many books dealing with this question directly. My main character is forced into battling to save his settlement from a psychotic telepath, and through it all, he is also on a faith journey while trying to stay alive in the jungle. He must stay just ahead of disaster while being accompanied by his friend who couldn’t save himself from a pit-bunny, and the psychotic telepath’s niece (whose allegiance is questionable at best)

Why do you write what you do?

I went through many years of serious health issues asking why God would have allowed such things in my own life. I have learned a lot and have grown in my faith. So now I am committed to helping others find the same truths that I discovered during my struggles.

How does your writing process work?

I am definitely one of those who must have a fairly clear outline before I attempt to start writing any book. I do let my characters have the freedom to change directions if they so desire, however they have to justify their deviation from my ideas. (They usually win)

Most often, I will think about a scene, and jot down many details of the scene, including smells, sounds, anything that grounds my character in the setting. I will then write my thoughts about what I want the scene to accomplish. It’s sort of a conversational document, as if I’m describing the scene to someone else. (I give myself permission to write terribly, but it serves to loosen me up. Then I attempt to write a first draft in an exercise book (I know, archaic, but it works for me – because of my artistic side, I still have a closeness to actually doing things by pencil and paper first) Then I transfer it to my computer. From there it goes through many edits, both from me, and from my critting partners.

And now, I’d like to introduce the next participant in the blog tour.

Pam-HalterPam Halter, a freelance editor and former homeschooling mom, is a children’s author represented by Sally Apokedak who works with the Les Stobbe Agency. Pam recently has delved into writing inspirational fantasy novels, and hosts two blogs; one for parents of special needs children and one for Christians who write fantasy. Find her blogs at www.pamhalter.com