Thanks to YVONNE VENTRESCA for tagging me. Here’s her POST |
The World Hop Rules
Start with a quote.
Answer 4 short questions
Tag another writer
“Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.” Francis Bacon
1. Why do I create what I do?
One answer is it keeps me out of trouble, but I guess the best answer to this is because I love to see if I can get the ideas from my head to the page. It’s a true challenge, and sometimes it takes a lot of word wrestling before I succeed.
2. How does my creative process work? (note my editing of this question. There are days when the creative part just ain’t there.)
But when it is there, I start with a single sentence. That sounds sooooo simple, doesn’t it? But it’s the toughest part of my job. Once I get a sentence that has a character I can relate to, a goal I can imagine, and some obstacles I can dream up, I start the story. Sometimes I write the end first. Sometimes I write scattered but important scenes I have in my head. I never know how the book is going to come together.
3. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I guess one difference is my focus in never on romance. It’s always on the circumstances that the teen is stuck with. If love finds its way into the story, it has to have a purpose. In Sliding on the Edge, I needed the Sunday Boy to provoke my MC in a country boy lighthearted way and show her the truth. In The Princess of Las Pulgas I needed a no nonsense kid who could set the Princess on the right track. In Double Negative I needed one person Hutch McQueen could turn to and trust.
4. What am I presently working on?
I’ve gone back to middle grade adventure fantasy for a bit to clear my head and have some lighthearted fun. I’ve finished a sequel to Alligators Overhead and called it The Great Time Lock Disaster. I’ll be subbing that starting December. I’m also in the middle of editing an ancient manuscript, Dragon Child. I say ancient because this is something I started years ago and never finished. I did a lousy job crafting it, so it has taken some doing to fix my mess. Still I’m fond of the story and hope to whip it into some kind of shape soon.
Next up on the blog hop, I’d like to tag CATHERINE STINE. Catherine is the author of several novels. Among them her Fireseed Series. She’ll be joining this HOP in December.
Now. . . about that Jack-O-Lantern
Got your pumpkin ready to carve? Here are some ideas. Simple, and then the Not So Simple.
Love the Bats |
My Carving Level |
Ahhh. Sweet Bird Nesting |
Shudder |
Hats Off Corner
A girl.
A dream.
An accident.
A dream shattered.
Eleven-year-old Kate Taylor dreams of being the star of her basketball team, Angels. When Kate’s tooth is knocked out at one of the games and her mother, who is also her coach, says she can’t play until the tooth the dentist replants heals, Kate’s dreams are in jeopardy. Add Emily, the new girl at school who claims she’s the best, and Kate faces a challenge to prove that she is the star.
Will Kate succeed? Or will Emily ruin Kate’s plans?
Available on AMAZON, BARNES AND NOBLE
About BEV!
Most of the time, you’ll find Beverly in front of her computer, writing the stories little voices whisper in her ear. When she’s not writing, she takes long walks and snaps pictures of clouds, wild flowers, birds and deer. To some of her friends, she is affectionately known as the “Bug Lady” because she rescues butterflies, moths, walking sticks, and praying mantis from her cats.
For twenty-two years Beverly taught children in grades two through five how to read and write. They taught her patience. Now, she teaches a women’s Sunday school class at her church. To relax she plays the piano. Her cats don’t appreciate good music and run and hide when she tickles the ivories.
MY REVIEW HERE.
You can visit her here.
BEV’S BLOGSPOT
BEV’S WORDPRESS
Zanis says
One answer is it keeps me out of trouble, but I guess the best answer to this is because I love to see if I can get the ideas from my head to the … halloweenlanterns.blogspot.com
Sherry Ellis says
Hey, you won copies of my books from the Trick or Treat blog fest! Please let me know where you'd like me to send them. My email address is [email protected]
Donna McDine says
Terrific post. I enjoyed learning about your process, keeping up to date with Beverly and pictures! Love your feature in Blend Radio & TV Guide Nov 2014!
Timothy Brannan says
Happy Blitzday and happy Halloween!!
TBM says
Happy Halloween! And Bev is a sweetheart and I wish her much success. that last pumpkin is pretty creepy.
Deniz Bevan says
Happy belated blitz day! And congratulations to Bev!
Tammy Theriault says
PS happy belated blitz day!!
Tammy Theriault says
Bev is so sweet, and the pumpkins were amazing!! I too hope everything in my head looks right on paper 😀
BECKY says
I'm a day late for the Blog Blitz….my apologies….but Happy Blog Blitz Day! 🙂 Nice to meet you!
Loni Townsend says
Great answers to the hop. And those are some creepy pumpkins.
Mark Noce says
Great interview:) And I loved the pumpkins!
KAT Writer says
Good luck with your submissions and with editing Dragon Child. I had a similar older ms that I, eventually after a lot of editing, found it more freeing to take the characters and what I liked about the story and start over from scratch.
Elise Fallson says
I like the sound of Dragon Child and hope you're able to edit it into shape. I know what it's like to have an ancient ms that needs fixing, I've got one on the shelf but I'm not ready to dive back into it yet.
Happy Blitz Day!!
Kelley says
Yay! It's great to meet you!
Happy Blitz Day!!
Shannon Lawrence says
Good luck with your Dragon Child edits! I definitely agree that sometimes it just takes that sentence to get started.
Mary Hill says
Really neat pumpkins. I love your "creative" process. LOL 🙂 Happy Blitz Day.
Jenni Enzor says
I loved your quote–and I loved what you said about the process not always being creative and starting with just a sentence. That's just how I am sometimes.
Happy Blitz Day!
lillian888 says
What a nice glimpse into your creative process! And the pumpkins are really cool. Happy Blitz Day!
Theresa Milstein says
Sounds like a fun blog hop. Happy Blitz Day!
dolorah says
Loved your creative process Lee. Yep, sometimes its just writing until something brings it all together. I like that the romance is not central to the story too.
Those pumpkins are so cool.
lifepostbrainhemorrhage says
Great ideas in this post! Happy Blog Blitz Day to you!! Hope you enjoy it! Eva
Nicki Elson says
Love that quote! I also like that romance only comes if the MC needs something from it.
Congrats to Bev & Happy Blitz Day!
Trisha F says
I like reading about other writers' processes. 🙂 I'm currently reading ON WRITING by Stephen King and finding it very interesting as well.
Happy Blitz day!!
GSMarlene says
Loved the background with the bats! Happy Blitz Day.
Lara Lacombe says
Lots of good stuff in this post! Happy Blitz Day!
farawayeyes says
How fun to come by here today and BLITZ you. I hope you're enjoying the day.
also, what an exceptional post to be blitzed about. Great to know a little bit more about your and your personal process.
Me, I like to being my stories at the end. That way I know where I'm going.
Love the pumpkins and what a nice intro for Bev.
Jeff Hargett says
You know I'm a sucker for dragons. Tough to beat a good dragon. Chop chop! Get that Dragon Child ready for reading! 🙂
Amy Jarecki says
Fun pumpkin carving ideas!! Happy blitz day!!!
M Pax says
I like how you go about putting your stories together, Lee. Nice pumpkims, and congrats to Bev! Happy Blitz, too.
Medeia Sharif says
Great content here from you and Bev. Happy Blitz Day.
Romance Book Haven says
Happy Blog Blitz!
2unpublishedgirls.com says
Great post. Love, love the quote!
Happy Blitz Day.
-RB
K. Nowinsky says
Loved the pumpkins 🙂
Happy Blitz Day!
Kimber Leigh Wheaton says
I love the jack o lanterns!
Happy Blitz Day!!
Laura Clipson says
Happy Blog Blitz! 🙂
Tiana Smith says
Yay for middle grade! Also, that last pumpkin is very creepy …
Jacquie says
Happy Blitz Day!
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
Happy Blitz Day, Lee. Sounds like you have some interesting projects under way.
Michelle 4 Laughs says
I think we are craving our pumpkins tonight. Nice family fun!
Happy Blitz Day!
Marci Koski says
Sweet pumpkin pics! And also happy Blitz Day! I hope it is fantastic! 🙂
Julie Abner-Abeita says
I love to carve pumpkins for Halloween, although my carving skills aren't worthy of anything to write home about. Happy Blitz day.
Stephanie Faris says
Great interview! I once heard an author say she gets an idea and she does housework until the words start turning into sentences, at which point she runs to her computer and starts typing. That sums up how messy the creative process can be, I think!
Gwen Gardner says
Sometimes I write scenes out of sequence too. When it's in your head, you gotta write it. But then I always have to go back to the beginning because of my sense of order and doing things in sequence. LOL. I fit the rogue scene in later. Lovely pumpkin work! HAPPY BLITZ DAY, LEE!!!
Bish Denham says
Happy Blitz Day!!! Guess who nominated you?
Chippyminton13 says
Happy Blitz Day!!! 🙂
Chippy
Inderpreet Kaur Uppal says
Dragon Child sounds like an interesting book, I like the name and the mystery about it. Your answers are so relevant and I agree that sometimes it is just writing and there is nothing creative about the writing.
Happy Blitz Day.
Johnell DeWitt says
Congrats on all your successes and Happy Blitz Day.
Susanne Drazic says
Great jack-o-lanterns. HAPPY BLITZ DAY!!
Corinne OFlynn says
Some of those pumpkins I've seen are incredible works of art, but I'm with you on my carving level. 😉 Happy Blitz Day!
J.L. Campbell says
Interesting answers, Lee. I know about switching things up and lightening my head space.
Hats off to Bev!
Heather M. Gardner says
Nice. These are good questions and great answers!
I like that you have pulled an ancient book out to work on. I have one of those that needs so much work I'm afraid to look at it but I love the story.
BAZINGA!
You've been blitzed!
Have a great day!
Heather
Dan Koboldt says
You are a classic pantser, that much is for certain. Hat tip to you from another one of your kind. Congrats on the new book, and good luck knocking the dust off of Dragon Child!
Guilie Castillo says
Happy Blitz Day! And much, much success with the new release 🙂
Conny Kaufmann says
I'm part of the same blog hop (writing process). Happy Blitz Day from Study. Read. Write! 🙂
Jaclyn Canada says
I love the creative process question and answer. Creativity can definitely be missing sometimes and it's hard to grab onto and other days can be overflowing with it. Happy Blitz Day! Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.
Ella says
I have a Scooby Doo vibe over here and I love it~
Happy Blitz Day to you!
Feather Stone says
Great video and awesome pumpkin heads. Happy blitz day.
barbtaub.com says
I just watched the trailer for Alligators Overhead. It sounds like so much fun. Loved the pumpkins too. Happy blitz day.
Gina Ciocca says
Happy blitz day! Love those pumpkin pics!
Emma Adams says
Happy blitz day! 🙂
Sheena-kay Graham says
Happy Blitz Day. The writing process differs from person to person. Hope Dragon Child turns out well. Congrats Bev on your book.
Ink in the Book says
Hi sweet friend! And Happy Blitz Day. I love carving pumpkins. It's the first step toward the long holiday season ahead:)
Kate Larkindale says
I'm always amazed at how creative people can get with pumpkins. Happy Blitz Day!
Stephen Kozeniewski says
I can carve all of those. I just don't wanna.
Beth Ellyn Summer says
so fun! that bird nesting pumpkin is amazing. Happy blitz!
Connie Keller says
I love your Francis Bacon quote! And the pumpkins were cool.
Happy Blog Blitz Day!
Greg Pattridge says
The book trailer made your story sound like loads of fun. Can't wait to give it a read. Also enjoyed the interview and pumpkins – I've got two ready to carve in front of me. Most of all…Happy Blitz Day!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Wow! Blitzed and I didn't even know it. Thanks so much.
A. B. Keuser says
My third grade teacher carved amazing pumpkins like that last one. Happy Blitz Day!
Lisa says
Okay, I was a bit confused as to who was writing what here on this blog post, but got it now. Thanks for sharing Bev's information and, I really enjoyed your book trailer! I'm here to help with the blitz!
Chrys Fey says
That bird nesting pumpkin is amazing! I don't think I'd ever be able to do that though. haha
Happy Blitz Day!!!! 😀
Jeff Chapman says
Enjoyed your self-interview. Happy Blitz Day!!
Lisa says
Love your pumpkins and your world hop information. Nice to get to know how you work! Happy blitzing today!
Susan Flett Swiderski says
I saw a cool pumpkin on TV the other day that had been grown inside of a Frankenstein mold. Talk about cool! I'd like to have something like that to remove my lousy pumpkin-carving "skills" from the equation.
How ya feeling? A little woozy? You should, because you are getting BLITZED today! Enjoy.
Elizabeth Hein says
No pumpkins for me either this year. That blog hop looks like fun. Happy Blitz Day!
Suzanne Sapsed says
No pumpkins in this house this year – and wouldn't have that third one anywhere near the house ever! Happy blitz day! x
AJ Lauer says
Haha yeah.. starting with one sentence. It sounds so basic, but it really is challenging sometimes!
Happy Blitz Day.
Mark Means says
Actually, we're carving our pumpkins tonight! Happy Blitz Day 😀
dawnall says
Fun! Enjoy your day…Happy Blitz!
Arlee Bird says
Happy Halloween! No Jack-0-Lanterns on my doorstep. My how time flies!
Have a proliferaceous Blog Blitz Day!
Lee
Wrote By Rote
Suzanne Furness says
A fan of MG fantasy myself! Great to hear more about your creative process and those pumpkins are fabulous.
HAPPY BLOG BLITZ DAY TOO!
John Harp says
Happy Blitz Day!
~Sia McKye~ says
I like lighthearted stories that make me laugh while dealing with some serious issues in the background. It's a hard edge to walk when writing but also fun. I liked your editing of question 2 because you're right, sometimes the creative part of your brain won't connect. Course this is usually when I do some fine tuning of what has already been written. Surprisingly, the creative side catches up and off I go.
I enjoyed reading this. 🙂 And about Bevi's book. I can see such a scenario in real life. Hats off to those who can and do write books for kids.
Dianne K. Salerni says
How can there be so many children's authors out there, and yet the community of them seems so small? I met Yvonne in person at the Collingswood Book Festival a couple weeks ago, saw her again this weekend, and will see her again on Thursday. *waves at Yvonne*
Kathryn McKendry says
I'm working on an ancient manuscript of mine as well, trying to fix the mess.
Love the pumpkins, mine are always on the super simple side. Happy Blitz Day!!
Julie Dao says
Middle grade fantasy adventure is one of my favorite genres! I wish you the best of luck with it! HAPPY BLITZ DAY!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
And prepare yourself – it's Blitz day!
Kelly Hashway says
Congrats to Beverly!
Happy blitz day, Lee!
Susan Stuckey says
Interesting post and reflects many of the sentiments of a great many writers I know. Happy #Blitz
Christine Rains says
That's why I write too! 🙂 Love the pumpkin carvings. Happy Blitz Day!
DL Hammons says
One of the many reasons I write is like you wrote…it clears my head and allows me to have total control of the universe for a short time. Loved your answers! 🙂
BTW,,,you're being BLITZED! Enjoy.
Sherry Ellis says
I like that – you write to keep out of trouble! Me too!
Cool pumpkin carvings. That one of the bird's nest is really creative.
Happy Blitz Day!
Madeline Mora-Summonte says
Love the pumpkin carvings! Enjoy the Blitz! 🙂
Carolyn Brown says
Lots of great pumpkins! Happy Blitz Day!
Zan Marie says
Great jack-o-lanterns! Wow! Happy Blitz Day, Lee!
Natalie Aguirre says
Good luck on the submitting! And love the pumpkins. Happy BlitzDay!
Miranda Hardy says
Sounds like you are keeping busy Lee, with all great things.
Happy Blitz Day!
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – congratulations to Bev; good luck with the revisions and that dusty manuscript … pumpkin carving – love the shuddery spooky one – so clever, as too the bird .. and it looks like Blog Blitz Day .. maybe that was yesterday!! Cheers from a sunny warm south coast – Hilary
Michelle Wallace says
Congrats to Bev!
Wow! You have some serious pumpkin-carving skillz, Lee!
…and *shudder* to that last pic – super-creepy!
HAPPY BLOG BLITZ DAY!
Mason Canyon says
Congratulations to Beverly. Interesting ideas for craving pumpkins.
Tyrean Martinson says
It was fun to read about your writing process. It's true that some days lend themselves to action scenes (at least for me), while others lend themselves to tense dialogue . . .
Congrats to Bev!
Karen Lange says
It's great to hear more about your writing process. I'm with you, some days are a little less creative than others.
Nice to meet Bev. Sending her a big congratulations!
Southpaw HR Sinclair says
I liked reading a bit about your process (creative or otherwise).
Patricia Lynne says
I'm not carving a pumpkin this year because I don't have a doorstep to put it out on. We have a front door to the apartment building, but it's everyone's so I don't want to put a pumpkin out there without knowing if anyone else minds.
Stephen Tremp says
I'm not big on romance in my books. But I do have enough smatterings strewn about that the element is there to give my characters more depth. But other than that I generally stay away from it.
DEZMOND says
those are some nice pumpkins!
Bish Denham says
Nice tag! I have several stories I'd like to go back to, but I've never been able to write a scene here, a scene there. I have to write in a very sequential order or I'd get lost.
I haven't carved a pumpkin in years…
Congratulations to Beverly!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thank heavens my husband is a talented pumpkin carver.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
What an adorable bird nesting Jack-o-lantern.
The hop looks like fun.
Thanks for spotlighting my book in the Hats Off Corner.
Thanks everyone for your nice comments.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Glad you have you here, Beverly. You're always welcome.
Misha Gericke says
I've also gone back and re-did a story. It can be difficult, but it's worth it.
Wow those are some creepy pumpkins. 😉
C. Lee McKenzie says
That last one gave me the shivers.
Carol Kilgore says
I've redone an old manuscript before. I thought it would be easy. Like you, I found out it was extremely difficult and basically rewrote the story.
C. Lee McKenzie says
What I find doing this is I've got the backstory in my head and I can write the new version with that information comfortably stowed in the back of my brain. Just have to feed in what readers need to know. Tricky, this business of writing.
Gina Stoneheart says
Fantastic pictures, Lee! They are perfect for this week=)
I love how you mentioned your process doesn't always start out creatively. Sometimes, we have to get the words out there first and then allow the creativity come along.
I also enjoyed learning how you don't always incorporate romance in your books and if there is a reason for it to exist within the story, it writes itself.
Congratulations Beverly!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks for your great comment, Gina. I always appreciate thoughtful and supportive words from readers.
Cherie Reich says
Good luck to what you're working on!
Congrats to Beverly!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I keep rubbing my hands together with "Shall this ne'er be done?"
Catherine Stine says
Pumpkin magic makes me insanely happy!!!
I write out of order sometimes too…
C. Lee McKenzie says
I wonder if Faulkner wrote out of order to create the time chaos that was so enchanting in his work?
Crystal Collier says
Yay for Bev!
I haven't seen the world hop yet, but I'm sure this is just the beginning. Love your answers.
Unleashing the Dreamworld
C. Lee McKenzie says
The World Hop will get you sooner or later.
Crystal Collier says
Oh, and I'm super late, but popping back in, I'm wishing you a happy blitz day. =)
L. Diane Wolfe says
The bird pumpkin is beautiful.
I don't think I could write enough to keep me out of trouble.
C. Lee McKenzie says
That's because you're so spunky!
Angela Brown says
It was fun reading your answers and looking at the interesting pumpkins. I hope you get a speedy, happy response when you do your submissions for the MG sequel.
C. Lee McKenzie says
We'll see. MG is a hard sell these days.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Congratulations to Beverly!
Dragon Child – anything with a dragon is cool.
And those pumpkins are wicked.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I can't carve a pumpkin at all. My talents like elsewhere.
Julie Flanders says
Oh my gosh that last pumpkin totally gave me the creeps. Yikes!
Enjoyed reading your answers and especially fun to learn that you are reviving an old manuscript. Good luck with it!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Some stories just need to be finished. Fingers crossed on this one.
J. Lenni Dorner says
Very cool. Sounds like a fun hop. Great answers.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's been around the world. I may have done it already. Can't even remember anymore.
J. Lenni Dorner says
LOL! I love when that happens. When you've reached the point of being at something for so long that you don't even remember doing little things anymore. Good times. 🙂
I want to wish you a happy blitz day, too. Lots of lucky folks will get to find your blog today. Enjoy it! 🙂