I have been asked to participate in this special blog tour by Bridget Whelan. Now, one is supposed to tag 3 other author volunteers. I couldn’t find any with the time to do this, so I’m going to change it up. So, anyone who wants to participate can do so with either the 3 authors or the open invitation rule. I’m going open invitation.
Also, you can use #mywritingprocess on Twitter and Facebook if you wish to mention the blog tour there.
Step 1: Acknowledge the person and site that involved you in the blog tour. (Done! Now the 4 Questions!)
What Am I Working On?
I’m currently resting between projects. I recently finished the first draft of Legends of Windemere: Curse of the Dark Wind and will begin building hype for Legends of Windemere: Family of the Tri-Rune in February. During this break, I’m outlining future ideas and going over notes for the next book in my series.
How Does My Work Differ from Others of Its Genre?
Most importantly, I wrote these books. That’s a really big difference between my books and others in my genre. All from my mind with my world and characters. If you’re talking style then my use of Present Tense Third Person is rather unique. I’m sure others do it, but it isn’t common and has thrown some people off.
Why Do I Write What I Do?
I enjoy telling my stories. I enjoy developing the adventures, the world, and the characters that live in my mind. It makes me happy and I love it when other people enjoy what I write. If one of my stories can bring a smile to someone’s face then all the hard work and bad reviews are worth it.
How Does Your Writing Process Work?
It’s a simple structure. I design characters, central groups, important monsters, and a basic plot beforehand then I make a scene by scene outline. The outline is made to be flexible and overly detailed at times. So, I end up merging, adding, and removing scenes as I begin the actual writing. Once I’m done with the first draft, I send it to a beta reader and my editor. Then I relax to think about the next project and usually start it before I get the edited drafts back. My mental process throughout is rather fluid where I let the story and characters carry me along. I nudge them in the right direction when necessary, but my use of dialogue focuses on a natural flow. So, there are parts of a conversation that are oddly casual and not specifically about the central plot. It’s similar with action where I focus on each move to make sure the choreography works together.
Well, that’s my part of the blog tour. Feel free to join in and reveal your process.
Legends of Windemere 
I enjoyed learning about your process, Charles. Your love of your world and characters is evident. It’s great that you have such a vast world in which to tell stories. This is your Discworld! Maybe like Terry Pratchett, you’ll write 40 books in that world.
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Thanks. I’m actually aiming for 30-40 series within Windemere. Depends on what works and how quickly I can write them.
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This was interesting. I am glad you did this.
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Thanks. I wish I could pass it on to someone else, but I didn’t get any takers. People are busy. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be busy too.
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I too enjoyed learning about your process, Charles. Without being gauche, I am curious as to the financial side of being an author. I get the punt from the military in early June due to a medical condition (quite manageable), and will begin two years of vocational rehabilitation as jobs for people with my background are hard to come by at the moment.
I’m going to take education and training to be a professional writer, perhaps a technical writer. I haven’t for the life of me an idea of what the financial implications of such a life change will be after my two-year rehabilitation period. I’ll have a divorce-reduced pension, so I won’t starve.
Is it correct, as a general rule, that writers work for love and not for money?
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That’s a good rule for fiction writers. There are those that jump on trends and go for the money, which isn’t a bad thing. If you’re able to write in multiple genres then that could be something.
You mention technical writing, which is supposed to be a good field. I could never wrap my head around the technical stuff, but it’s a common suggestion and seems to be something that’s always in need.
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The University of Athabaska has a diploma in statutory writing that I might try. Could do some work writing policy or doctrine publications for some UN or Foreign Affairs/State Dept type of contract work. I can’t see me as a trend rider.
Trend setter, perhaps. };-)>
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I like that plan. Forget the paved road. Make your own.
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Life does appear to be conspiring towards this end. Why fight it?
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Well, sometimes it is fun and worth it to fight.
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fascinating and enlightening, I always love to hear what other writers are doing and how they go about it. thank you for sharing this, Charles. Please could you tell us all how you stay motivated/disciplined to write? You seem to have a life as busy as the rest of us, is sacrificing sleep the only way to accomplish as much as you? I must get on with my writer/author interview project and beg you to participate! Best wishes fro baldy
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I’ve been wondering about that myself. I guess it keeps me sane, so I keep taking whatever time I can find to do it.
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