debramullins

I've been writing since I was in junior high, and I've been seriously pursuing my career as a writer since the last century...1992 to be exact. Of the nineteen years I have been working at this profession, I have been published for thirteen of them. And in those thirteen years, I have written thirteen books. Now you'd think after all those years and all those books, I'd be familiar with my process by now. But no. During the writing of every book, I get turned around and flipped inside out trying to give birth to the story. Every book, I wonder how I possibly did this so many times before. And if I can do it again.

Welcome to the Writer's Process.

Every writer has a Process, and each Process is as individual as that writer.  The funny thing about the Process is that while you're in the middle of it, you don't recognize it as the Process.  You are caught up in the emotions of the story trying to come out, while at the same time bombarded by the usual self doubts every writer experiences. Is this book any good? Will my editor like it? Will the publisher cancel my contract because of this book? Will my agent drop me? Add in the usual life things like health concerns and family drama, and you have a recipe for neurosis!

Thank goodness for writing friends. Every time I go through this, I talk to my writing friends, despairing that this is the end of my career. And they tell me: This is your process. You always do this.

There's something comfortable about knowing this is my Process. If this emotional maelstrom is my Process, then I must be doing something right, because my Process results in a finished book. Comforting thought.

In the interest of saving my sanity (and keeping some friends LOL), I decided to document the Process. This way the next time I go through it I can look back on these blog posts and realize on my own that this is indeed my Process.

I'm what you call an organic writer and also an incubator. This means that I work on the story in my subconscious, like having a stew simmering on the stove, where the characters and details of the story work themselves out. It would be helpful to me if all this happened in my conscious mind--much less angst that way--but alas, this is not the way. I write from the gut, and I write from character. The characters come to me first, along with the emotional conflict and the journey that must occur for the characters to move to the resolution of that conflict. Then I have to think up things for them to do (plot), so they are not just sitting around in limbo working out their emotional stuff. It really is like giving birth.

My first step to writing a new book is to write a synopsis. My synopses are usually lengthy summaries of the whole book, very detailed. I use the synopsis to work out the emotional journey in my mind and get to know the characters, as well as figure out the basic plot. From this I create a proposal to send to my agent to sell the book.

A few days ago I sent in a proposal for a new historical romance, the third book in a series I have been writing. This particular proposal took longer than usual to get going due to a serious heath issue in the family, which will be resolved in the next few weeks. These kinds of things naturally hijack your emotions and make it harder to focus, but I eventually got it done. I'm also in the middle of writing a book for another publisher, this one a contemporary paranormal romance. Again, it's been hard to focus on the problems of the fictional characters in my WIP (Work In Progress) when very valid concerns are making themselves felt in real life. But both of my publishers have been very understanding during this time, and now it looks like I'll be starting 2011 with a fresh outlook, the health concerns behind us.

So the proposal has been sent to the publisher, and now we wait. December is a tough month in publishing due to the holiday season. A lot of people are out on vacation, so things tend to get done more slowly. In the meantime, I have a book due with my other publisher, which is currently my primary focus.

Check back for more updates on the Writing Process. The next step: Chapter One.

In my original post I said I would be posting every Tuesday, but I've decided Wednesday is better.  It falls in the middle of the week, when people are stuck in that I-got-past-Monday-but-it's-not-Friday-yet place.  So I'll be posting to provide some entertainment for you to get you past Hump Day (as in the hump of the week--get your mind out of the gutter! <G>)

Last night I watched American Idol. I only started watching it around Season 6 and that was mostly to see what all the fuss was about.  Then I was hooked. I love music, always had a secret fantasy about being a singer.  However, one needs to enjoy the spotlight to make such a fanatasy come true, and I'm the type of person who would rather write the play than star in it.  So I did the next best thing and married a singer.  In the meantime I can be out there in the world, writing my books and saying what I want to say, tweeting on Twitter, facing on Facebook, blogging here on LiveJournal--all without leaving the comfort of my pajamas and keyboard.

Back to American Idol.  What I love about this show is that it stars real people. Everyone has a dream about being famous.  At some point in your life, you wanted to be an actor or singer or astronaut, didn't you?  Come on, you can admit it.  You had that dream even if you were 4 years old when you had it.  But these folks who audition for American Idol believe they can make that dream come true.  Yes, some people are deluded about the depth of their talent. (Just because your mom tells you that you can sing, that doesn't really count.  Your mom is always going to love anything you do.) Others make you wonder, "Why isn't this person a superstar yet?"

I started out the season cheering for Danny Gokey--probably because during group week his group did a kickbutt a cappella arrangement, and my husband is an a cappella singer.  I know how hard that is.  Then Adam Lambert came up during the culling out of the Top 13 from the Top 36.  He belted out "Believe" by Cher and made a blip on my radar. (Really, what guy sings that song?  And does it WELL?)  But I was still on the Gokey Train.  Then Adam stepped on the stage after making the Top 13 and did "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones.  Excellent performance, and boy does this guy know his way around a stage.  He followed that up with a killer rendition of "Black or White" by Michael Jackson and blew me away.  I jumped off the Gokey train and joined Team Lambert, where I have remained faithfully thoughout the season.

The thing I love about the contestants on this show--and Adam Lambert in particular--is that they're all serious about a career in music.  Gokey has been a leader in his church choir for years, as has Kris Allen, who is the remaining contestant up against Adam Lambert for all the marbles.  Lambert has been actively working in musical theater, trying to make a living at his art.  Speaking as someone who would like to do the same thing (except as a writer, not a singer.  Fantasies sometimes must make way for reality), I get what he's doing.  He was smart to audition for American Idol.  He got himself into the top 2 slot by way of hard work and honing his craft.  And even if he doesn't win tonight (perish the thought!), he has done what he initally set out to do.  He has gotten his name out there--and himself on the cover of Entertainment Weekly.  Love him or hate him, show me a person on the planet who has not heard the name Adam Lambert sometime in the past five months.

There are many creative people out there.  The difference between those who are making a living at their craft and those who aren't is persistence.  If you keep going, keep trying, keep learning about what you love to do, you will most probably be able to make a living at it.  Will you be a Top 40 singing sensation or a New York Times Bestseller?  Maybe. Maybe not.  Will you be able to earn a paycheck doing what you love to do best?  Entirely possible.  The key is to never give up.  This is a piece of advice I always give to aspiring writers.  Never give up. Get your name out there somehow.  You, too, can make the dream come true.

I truly believe we all have things we were born to do.  Human beings are creative people, whether that makes you a writer or a great auto mechanic or a wonderful cook.  Everyone expresses their creativity somehow, even if it's just in which cushions you pick for the couch in the living room.

Some people are obviously creative.  You can't ignore their talents because neither can they.  They are driven to exercise their creativity, no matter what else is going on in their lives.  Look at Nora Roberts or Elvis Presley.  These are folks who never denied their creative side or the need to share it with the world.  Other people are more subtle.  The housewife who juggles the schedules of four kids but decorates her house in beautiful and innovative ways.  The waitress who sings karaoke on Saturday nights.  The factory worker who doctors up the pizza he ordered with different spices and toppings.  The computer network guy who figures out a new and unusual way to set up his network.  The five year old who fingerpaints.

Excercising creativity is a part of being human.  Some, like me, are so driven by their creative muse that they attempt to make a living at what their soul demands them to do.  This is not an easy thing by any stretch of the imagination.  As a writer, I create something tangible (a book) from something intangible (my imagination).  Sure, there are days I don't feel like being in front of the computer, but making a living through a creative outlet requires discipline.  Sometimes the demands of writing books while still working a full time job and juggling the needs of a family can really stretch my energy to the limit.

So quit, someone might say.  You have a day job.  Why push yourself so hard with a second career?

I can't quit.  This is where the creative soul comes in.

Yes, I have a day job.  I enjoy my job, the company, and the people there.  I've been there a long time, and I'm good at what I do there.  It pays the bills.  But writing--this is where my soul is.  To stop writing would be to deny a huge part of myself.  If I stopped writing, I would die a little bit every day.  Life would never taste as sweet again.  I would never get the same satisfaction from anything else--because I was rejecting what I was born to do.

Yes, sometimes it's not easy.  Sometimes I have to get up at 5:30 in the morning to squeeze in my day's pages before work or a family celebration.  But you know what?  When I have accomplished those pages (or, on rare occasions, more than I needed to write that day), nothing else that happens for the rest of the day can bring me down.  I carry with me for the next 24 hours a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.  Anything can happen and I will roll with it, simply because I satisfied my soul for the day.

Whatever your particular creative outlet, make time to indulge it.  Don't make excuses or procrastinate or try and tell yourself that your particular passion is a foolish fancy.  If it fills you with joy, how can it be foolish?  Take that first step, and follow your soul.

Welcome to the inaugural post on my very own blog!

You know, I fought the blog craze.  I really did.  I thought I would run out of things to say.  Now those that know me personally would find that hysterically funny.  A wallflower I am not!  In fact, I once earned the appellation Motor Mouth Mullins--in grammar school, mind you--but earned it nonetheless.  However, yesterday's Motor Mouth turns into tomorrow's award winning author and cheerful social networker. :)

About blogging.  I resisted as long as I could.  Then I was asked to do a guest blog on someone's site, and when I sat down to write the post, I realized I can do this.  It's writing, and basically just writing as me and not one of my characters.  I can do this.

So welcome to my corner of the web, where the Coke is cold and the pizza is hot.  The special today is two slices and a Coke for $5 which, if you are from the northeastern United States, makes perfect sense.  So settle in and enjoy the ride.  I'll be posting on Tuesdays for now, and we'll see how it goes from there.

Tune in next Tuesday!