I always enjoy learning about the writing process of other authors. When I first began reading craft books and taking classes several years ago, I thought I was doing it wrong. What I’ve learned is there’s no one way or right way. We each have our own path.
I didn’t know anything about blog hops until I met Susan Kicklighter on Twitter. We had a fun conversation about names before she asked me about participating in this Writing Process Blog Hop as a way to share writing insights through a short questionnaire. Since I’d recently read and enjoyed a blog on the topic by Catherine Bybee, I decided to accept the challenge.
Here are Susan’s Blog Hop answers. And, these are mine:
1. What are you working on right now?
I’m currently writing the third book in a small-town series set in South Georgia. It’s my first attempt at a marriage of convenience trope and I find it a little difficult to make it believable in a contemporary romance. I’ve had to really work on characterization and backstory so my characters feel like they have no other choice. It’s been fun though, too. I wrote a wedding scene that I laughed all the way through. I hope the humor comes across on the page in the end.
2. How does your work differ from others in the genre?
When I started writing, I wanted to write Southern small-town romances. As it turned out, the characters in my first two novels were jet-setters, so my focus shifted more to Southern characters and culture. I’m also a big fan of friends-to-lovers tropes, so my characters take time to get to know each other before they shuck their clothes off (in most cases *wink*).
3. Why do you write?
The reasons I write can be boiled down to creativity and entertainment. My mama is extremely creative, so growing up, she often made up stories to entertain us. It became second nature for me to see something that sparked an idea, such as a couple who appeared to be on a first date, and let my imagination take them to the altar with a few bumps in the road before they got there. I did that in my head for years before I ever considered writing those ideas down. I never thought I could be a writer because I was a dental professional. I didn’t know people did both. It wasn’t until I joined RWA a few years ago that I met nurses and lawyers who were also writers.
4. How does your writing process work?
I’m a panster and no matter how many plotting classes I take, I can’t change. I’m also a linear writer, so I write from beginning to end. I get an idea for my hero and heroine and how they will connect or reconnect if they’ve already met. Then, we all hop on the train to happily-ever-after and see what tries to derail us. It’s a fun ride. 
Thank you for letting me share my journey with you.
Next on the Blog Hop are Christina Kirby, Ali Hubbard and Nancee Cain, excellent writers who I’ve tagged to answer these questions and share their wisdom with you.
Links to their blog posts are coming soon!