Writing Process Blog Chain

Recently, I was invited to participate in an author blog chain where I would answer a few questions about my stories and the way that I write. I want to thank my good friend and fellow fantasy writer Burnham Wycoff for the invitation. Check out his new blog as he discusses his forays into independent publishing as well as a variety of other topics tailored specifically to writers. I also highly recommend checking out masfiction, the steampunk writing team that preceded Burnham in the blog chain and are currently crafting an exciting mix of alternate history and Jane Austen in a Pacific Northwest setting.

What are you currently working on?

Right now I have four projects in the works. There’s The Keltin Moore Online Serial, the episodic adventures of my steampunk monster hunter with new episodes posted at the beginning of each month. I’m also working on a sequel to my first novel, Lost Under Two Moons, which involves my main character Richard going back to Other World to begin delving into some of its secrets. The last two projects are an epic fantasy and another steampunk adventure and will be specifically targeted for a more traditional book deal.

How does your work differ from others in your genre?

I try to be really careful in the kind of stories that I read to avoid inadvertently copying somebody else’s style. As a result, most of my influences come as a mixture of the classics, old favorites, and video games, my biggest weakness. Also, it seems that my characters tend to be primarily based on  observations of real people rather than the study of other writers’ work, and my settings come as much from my own dreams and memories of childhood make-believe as they do from anywhere else. I think it’s this variety of influences that set my writing apart as both exciting and yet viscerally familiar.

Why do you write what you do?

When I was a kid, I would go into the woods near our family home and play make-believe for hours at a time. As I paced my secluded hideaways, I would act out the stories I told myself, living out all kinds of fantastic adventures in the safety of my own imagination. I never grew out of that. To this day, I still feel the need to play make-believe, to explore realms of fantasy and imaginary worlds. Writing is my hideaway now. The thought that I could make a living by continuing to nurture that sweet, creative child inside of me is like a dream all on its own, and I couldn’t be happier.

How does your writing process work?

I recently posted an article about my weekly writing goals and how I manage my projects, so I thought I’d focus here on what I do to get in the mood for writing. I usually write and edit first thing in the morning and late in the evening, times when I feel the least demand for me to have to act like a grownup. I do most of my work at my desk, which I’ve surrounded with images and objects that remind me of the small, coastal town of Long Beach, Washington. Long Beach has been my family’s vacation destination every year since I was a child, and everything about its stormy shores inspires me with mystic potential.

Probably the biggest thing I do to get in the mood to write is listen to music. I’m a big collector of music, and spend many hours contentedly sorting, arranging, and playing with my ever-growing library. When I write, I have different types of music that I listen to depending on the scene that I’m working on. For action scenes, I prefer heavy metal and hard rock. For descriptive scenes, I like to listen to classical or new age. When I edit, I crank my music up loud to force me to concentrate on my work and avoid just lazily looking over what I’ve written. I love music for the way it can evoke emotion and sensations, and I try to use it as a tool to put myself in the right place when I’m working.

The Next in Line

I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading a little more of my writing process and what makes me tick as a writer. Be sure to check out Ty Roper, the next author in the chain who is working on an intriguing dystopian adventure and has a terrific blog on the ups and downs of crafting a novel.