I’m not a rewriter by nature. Whenever I started writing, I felt like it was a fait accompli—a done deal. And that nothing added or retracted could possibly make it better. After fifteen years of writing, I now understand, as my instructor told me again and again, “Writing is rewriting.”

It’s been hard for me to open my hand and let the words go that I have written. These are gems (at least in my mind) that I painstakingly mined that now must be culled from the manuscript.

The theory goes that the first draft is to spill your ideas and characters onto the blank page and breathe a story into existence. This can mean a quick jog to frame the story or a serious slog as you unravel the tale’s journey. Once that foundation is done--you have something on the page--the next step is revision. I find that my process starts even earlier, with each chapter getting a quick swipe of the pen before I leap forward to the next. During that process, the revisiting early chapters, I learn who my characters are and how each thinks and behaves.

Once I have a completed novel, then the hard work starts. Each character’s arc has to be scrutinized, each chapter arc gets a look. How are my secondary characters being treated? Are they strong enough or just taking up space? Maybe I should kill an extraneous character, add a plot line or rip out my very favorite line.  What’s the theme, can I reinforce it by adding or taking away something?

Chapters expand and contract, move around or sometimes die during this process. If a chapter doesn’t lend itself to the telling of this particular story, it must go.

After the structure is completed, there are additional passes: repetitive words search, language that jars, phrases that can be strengthened.

What I’ve described is not the entirety of the process, only a small part. But revision is the heart of writing. And while there may never be a valentine-like love between me and rewriting, I’m attempting to, at the very least, embrace the sucker!

I was fortunate to be asked to participate in the “My Writing Process” blog hop.  I want to thank James DiBenedetto for inviting me.

So what am I writing and how do I do it?

1)    What am I working on?

Ah. I have five novels in the works right now, all fantasy. Two are almost ready to go out. One is about ¾ done to a solid first draft. Two have a long, long way to go. The first chapters of each are available on my website.

2)    How does my work differ from others of its genre?

The Stone Lions and its sequel, The Jinn’s Jest are the most different. They combine math and storytelling with a middle grade multicultural fantasy. Not many people write about Islamic girls from the 14th century who solve symmetry mysteries.

With my young adult novels, each book has its own tone. In one story I play with a two women from disparate cultures joining forces, in another I explore longing—wanting something you can have but must let go of.

But no matter what I write, the female protagonists are strong, though in very different ways. Strength is not always physical, but often can be shown in doing what you know is right and staying true to your values.

3) Why do I write what I do?

I love exploring old stories and adding a new twist to them. Lady and the Tower has the kernels of Rapunzel and many other fairy tales in it, but with a very different heroine.Dark started with the question of who would be the best person to defeat a basilisk, The Dragons’ Chosen came from wondering about fairy godmothers.

I like to write about heroines who, each in their own way, confront and challenge the mores of their time and world. With The Jinn’s Jest, the sequel to The Stone Lions, I thought about Jinn, what they are in mythology and how they have been portrayed.Seven Demons, while still in its infancy, is looking at guilt and redemption in demons.

The Stone Lions was started because I was asked to by a friend of mine. And from that has evolved the whole line of work.

4) How does your writing process work?

I sit down in front of a computer. I scribble notes on a piece of paper. I take long walks. I do hours of research. I’ve found that there are lots of ways to get to the same place. In the early days of my writing, I made a simple rule for myself: to sit with no other distractions and work on my writing for twenty minutes, three times a day. It didn’t mean anything had to be written, just that I seriously committed to the process.

Now I have a writing group and also attend workshops and retreats when I can.

I’ve picked three fellow authors to continue the hop, so please visit them too!

Louisa Clarkson (LJ Clarkson) crafts whimsical, inspiring fantasy adventures that keeps tweens reading for days.

www.mastermindacademy.net


Rosie Morgan is author of a young teen fantasy series set in Cornwall, UK, which also happens to be where she lives.
http://www.rosie-morgan-cornwall.blogspot.co.uk
ND Richman  writes a series of middle grade books targeted at reluctant readers, called the Boulton Quest Series. The first in the series, Brothers, Bullies and Bad Guys was published in April of 2013.
http://www.ndrichman.com/blog/