Thoughts on the Process

I learned an amazing amout while writing Dear Samantha. I learned that:

• I can finish a large project like this;
• If you show up every day, the work will get done;
• If you write every day your writing will get better;
• If you show up and start typing, the words will come, and the ideas will flow, almost like water flowing from a faucet;
• Inspiration comes not when you're consciously thinking about it, but when you're in line at the grocery store, in the bathtub, stirring the soup, and walking the dogs;
• You become very attached to your characters, and are sad when bad things happen to them;
• Sometimes the things you plan for your story don't go exactly the way you want them to go. In other words, the characters have a mind of their own.

So, where do I go from here, novelist that I now am (LOL!)

• Print out all 82 pages and read it straight through (trying hard not to gag!)
• Think about revising and re-working (someday!)

What's next?

• This blog will become something new and completely different - a "craft" blog, where I can review and discuss the books I'm reading on the craft of writing, post recommendations and exercises, and post samples of my daily writing practice.

Stay tuned....