People often ask me how I write. Honestly, the work of writers always has been interesting to me, too. Why? Because we are all so different. So, in case you’re curious, here’s a look at my writing life.
Most of my books began with a “What if…” statement rolling around in my brain. “What if a door-kicking FBI agent finds his life spinning out of control when the drug gang kidnaps his son?” (The Tiger’s Cage) “What if a young woman with trauma in her recent past finds the dog she’s training is actually helping her heal?” (All That I Dread)
After I get that initial idea, I start playing around with it in my head when I walk, when I drive, when I clean or fold laundry. I start thinking about my main character, who she or he is, and most importantly, what are they feeling?
When I’m starting to work on a book, I have to limit listening to podcasts or even audio books. Chatty social events sidetrack me. Too many words clog my brain and I can’t “hear” my characters.
On the other hand, music helps stimulate my creativity, instrumentals especially. Lately I’ve been listening to the soundtrack from “The Pirates of the Caribbean” as I work on SAR 8.
I usually create a playlist for the book I’m working on. This is what I listen to when I’m not actively writing but I want to think about the book. Worship songs, hymns, and old favorites, like “All the Way My Savior Leads Me,” comprise these playlists. The works of Shane & Shane and Andrew Peterson are well-represented on these playlists.
Some writers are “plotters” (they work through the whole plot before they begin to write) and others are “pantsers” (they write by the seat of their pants). I’m a hybrid of these two types. Before I am ready to write, I usually have the beginning and the end of the story in mind, and several crucial points in between. The rest of the story gets filled in as I go along.
I carry a small notebook with me at all times, because ideas pop out at me like moles in a Whac-a-Mole game and I need to capture them. In fact, I stopped writing this post to make a note about Scott.
By the time I start jotting down ideas I have already begun praying about this work. I don’t want to waste my time. I want to do what God wants me to do. I don’t necessarily hear him specifically tell me what the plot should be, but I do try to discern themes. I trust as I remain deeply involved in Bible study, worship, and prayer that He will guide me.
When it comes to research, I’m a nerd. I love it. Whether it’s search and rescue, FBI, psychology, crime, the Bible, horses … whatever the subject, I’m on it. I do my best to present things accurately in my books and I’ve had a lot of help from kind people who share their expertise freely. And I’m so very grateful for them.
I typically begin writing early in the morning. My favorite place to write is out on my screened-in porch. I work for four or five hours, then take a break. I like to come back to my work in the evening and edit what I’ve done. I like to go to bed with the book on my mind. It’s amazing what story problems get worked out overnight!
After I finish the first draft, I go back and edit everything. There are layers to editing—story logic, flow, pacing, character arcs, the line edits in which I ask myself if every single line is as good as it can be. Whew! Editing takes a lot of time.
When I’m relatively happy with the book, I ask my daughter Becky, an avid reader, to check it out. This year, my granddaughter Noelle wants to take a whack at it too. After they read it, I’ll send the draft to “beta readers”. When everything is fixed, I send it to a professional editor.
When my manuscript is in the hands of a professional editor, I move on to cover design and all the nitty-gritty little pieces (back cover copy, description, etc.) that need to be done. It usually takes me a year to write and publish a book.
Here’s a secret: Earlier in October I finished the first draft of SAR 8! That’s two months early. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll have a new book in your hands sooner than we thought.
Thank you for joining me on this journey! Your support and encouragement means so much to me.