Author: Maya

One of my readers emailed me and asked me about my writing process and suggested I post a blog about it. And yes, I know, many of you can’t, for whatever reason, post a comment, and I promise I’m having my web chickie look at it. We’re in the process of redoing the website and blog so I’m hoping the problem is fixed when the new site goes live (fingers crossed)

So anyway, she asked about how my books comes together or if I have any special things I do as the story progresses. The short answer is uhm no. I am pretty regimented, which Amy would laugh at and say something snotty like that I sound ANAL, but I hate change. I get used to doing things a certain way and well, I just can’t deviate from it, especially if it works.

I write by chapter. For each book, I create a new folder in my books directory, and name it whatever the book title is. Then I create files in that particular book’s folder. I might have a synopsis file, a notes file, any research I do goes in its own file etc. Then I create a file called “working full” and then I start the story with chapter 1, and it’s its own file as well. So if I have 40 chapters in the book then I’ll have 40 individual files in that folder.

As I finish a chapter, when I reach the end, I highlight all and copy it into the working full so that I have the individual chapters but I also have one comprehensive file with the story in its entirety. It’s nice to see my page count and word count without having to go back and look at each individual chapter. I don’t do any editing whatsoever on the “working full.” It’s just for show and my own personal way of keeping track of my progress.

When I finish the story and it’s time for me to edit, I then start a new file with the actual name of the book. Then I go and open each individual chapter and I edit it chapter by chapter. As I complete each one, I then paste the edited, complete chapter into the file that has the book title. So when I get to the end, I have an edited, squeaky clean (ok somewhat clean) version of the book all in one file. This is the one that gets sent off to my editor.

That’s my process. Sounds convaluted, but lord help me if I ever changed it.

It’s always nice to get good news amidst the craziness of everything else. :cheer: This has been a nutty month workwise, even with taking a week’s vacation, or maybe I should say in spite of the vacation.

Anyway, I sold another project to Berkley. This one’s a bit different and it’s separate from my individual contracts with HEAT and Sensation. Shayla Black and I will be writing a duet anthology for HEAT. We’re both excited about it, as are our editors.

No idea yet when it will be released as we just closed the deal, but it won’t be any earlier than late 2010 because of mine and Shayla’s writing schedule. The good news is we both will have plenty of books out between now and then :woot:

I can guarantee that it will be hot and hopefully worth the wait for our readers. :whoo:

So, waiting for me in the pile o mail when I got back from vacation was line edits for The Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress and galleys for Be With Me.

Both are due next week.

I also have a book to turn in by Aug 1 (Desire book 2 which is still unnamed) and I also have to turn in proposals for books 2 and 3 of my Kelly series to Berkley.

Yeah, I know, welcome home…

The annual RWA convention is coming up fast and since I leave on the 29th, that actually cuts three days off my deadline. So yeah, I’ll be busy for the next little while.

Today, while I would have loved to have stayed in bed to recover from the marathon writing session of the last 48 hours, has instead been spent running around like mad trying to get lots of stuff marked off my “must do before vacation” list.

Because tomorrow? My ass is out of here.

An entire week. Ahhh.

I just wish it was two.

is finished :whoo:

Man that was a fun book. Lots of blood and ass kicking and action and more ass kicking.

And just because I’m sleep deprived and grumpy…the only thing that annoys me more than someone lecturing (or pontificating) is someone self-righteously lecturing. :puke:

:stfu:

I freely admit that girly endeavors like shopping send me screaming in the other direction :faint: Tomorrow, however, is the big shopping day at Chez Maya. :cursesign:

Vacation is fast approaching so shopping must be done for that. But wait. The RWA conference is also fast approaching, as in when I get back from vacation, I have like a week before I get back on a plane and head west again. Soooo, appropriate attire must be purchased for that occassion. :huh:

Yeah, flip flops and jeans don’t cut it for all the events.

So uh yeah, shopping. Tomorrow. All day event. God help me…

My daughter is rolling in girly glee. I, however, am whining.

I love summer time in the south. I love the almost daily thunderstorms that blow up suddenly from nowhere. The deep rumble of thunder, the quick darkening of the sky and then a burst of rain that lasts all of five minutes before it all clears away and there’s no sign that a thunderstorm rolled through. The build up is the best though, because I can hear the storm coming from miles away so I get to enjoy the thunder as it gets closer.

Today I’m writing. Lots and lots of writing. Yesterday I wrote 5 scenes to catch up the subplot in Into the Lair and then threaded them into the main storyline. Today I’m forging ahead as I count down to the finish date and then VACATION, which incidentally begins next Thursday, July 3rd. I can’t bloody wait. :weee:

So yeah, I’m writing (typing) and listening to the thunder roll across the sky :guitar:

so today hubby turned the big 4-0. I like to tease him unmercifully and tell him he’s married to a young chick while I am married to an old fart :lol2:

I’m mean that way…

This is sort of a random mish mesh, catch up post of “stuff” that’s been going on here. Middle son had another all star game last night and he made a monster catch in the last inning. Huge stuff. My heart nearly stopped. Bases loaded. Only one out. Tying run at the plate. Kid hit a hard ground ball to my kid at second base. Jake went to his knees to make the stop. It nearly knocked him over and he threw the player out from his knees. Much jubilation in the stands commenced. Very next batter hit another hard one right at the pitcher. Pitcher knocked it down and threw him out at first to end the game.

I was one proud mama :hug:

In writing stuff…things have been interesting. As most of you know, I was finishing up on Sweet Persuasion (Damon’s story) okay well I actually finished it a few weeks ago (ahead of schedule woooo!) but it bugged me so I put it away, went to work on other stuff (because really I have a never ending to do list *sigh*) and then went back to it. It still bugged me.

I have a couple of readers…okay let me break away and say that I’m extremely anal/protective/freaky about who reads my stuff prepublication. I don’t really have crit partners but I do have a few people I trust to ask for an honest opinion. First reader loved the story *sigh* Okay so Im thinking maybe it’s just her. The next will tell me wtf is wrong with this story. And this next person is always mean to me which is why I love her so. I mean she’s vicious. She loves it. She thinks it’s my best story yet. She has no idea wtf my problem is with it. *arg!*

In a rare desperate outbreak, I have two remaining people read it, and yeah, you guessed it, they loved it. Clearly I am either a moron or they’re all wrong :purplelaugh: Guess we’ll see…

I’ve been jamming on Into the Lair which makes me happy because I had a rather extensive break from it while completing multiple projects/tasks. I was worried it would take me awhile to get back into the story, but I find I’m enjoying it a lot. Katie is sort of shooting people at the moment, and I’m having a lot of fun with that. Blood and blowing shit up. What could be more fun?

Next week I’ll mail Sweet Persuasion and The Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress off to their respective publishers, two huge tasks out of the way and I’ll finish up Into the Lair so that in July I can dig into Theron’s story (The Silhouette Desire book which has no name yet)

And yes I’ve said it probably half a dozen times, but it bears repeating because I cannot bloody wait, but in August I get to jump back into The Darkest Hour which is the first book in my Kelly Group series and I love, love, love Ethan and Rachel’s story! :guitar:

So yeah, that’s all from my corner. You’ll know what I’m up to for like the next year or so lol. Books. Lots and lots of books to write, but hey, it means I stay employed, and that’s always something to celebrate :whoo:

So I’ve marked a few things of this month’s to do list :rockthefuckon:

Finish Sweet Persuasion, edit and revise check

Revisions on The Tycoon’s Pregnant Mistress check

Nathan’s proposal check

I still have two items on the list waiting patiently to be checked off by month’s end. But I still have two weeks! :weee: