Writing Process Blog Hop

Thanks to Nancy Kelley, author of the Brides of Pemberley series, for inviting me to participate in this blog hop. To find out more about Nancy’s writing process, books, and upcoming releases, visit her at Nancy Kelley Writes.

Moral Hazard Ebook Cover2What am I working on?

Moral Hazard (Southern Fraud Thriller 4) will be released in mid-March, and I am currently completing the last edits and putting the final touches on the cover and interior art. In honor of its upcoming release, the ebook editions of Absolute Liability (Southern Fraud Thriller 1) are on sale for $.99 for a limited time.

How does the Southern Fraud series differ from others in the thriller genre?box-set-crop

When I began the Southern Fraud series, I wanted to write a heroine who worked in a law enforcement field, and haven’t they all been done to death? There are zillions of books, movies, and TV shows about police officers, detectives, private investigators, FBI, and even state bureaus of investigation (CBI anyone?).  I wasn’t interested in writing a cozy Miss Marple type character. So what else is there? Well, there are state fraud investigators. These law enforcement officers are licensed by states and have the power to arrest.

Why do I write what I do?

I love TV crime dramedies like The Mentalist, Castle, etc, and I constantly searched for their literary equivalent. I found blood-and-guts thrillers and slapstick comedies, but I had a difficult time finding a series that blended the two. So I decided to write what I wanted to read.

How does my writing process work?

I begin each manuscript with the following information:
  • main characters
  • general plot/crime
  • final scene

I don’t create a detailed outline beforehand. I prefer to free associate as I write and record my ideas in outline form as I go. I don’t have any fancy tools. I keep a notebook handy for recording ideas in the middle of the night or on the go. I write on Scrivener, but I edit using Word. (Try to contain yourselves. I know this is fascinating.)

My writing process includes a three-step editing process. A story editor assess the plot and themes, a copy editor sees to the details and grammar, and a proofreader culls out the typos at the end. I’m a big believer in thorough editing and am lucky to work with so many talented, patient people.

Next up

REBRebecca at A Word’s Worth: Rebecca is a Librarian by trade, and a Dreamer at heart. Easily distracted by book covers, she is an avid reader – and a surprisingly passionate sportsgeek. (In truth, she is a geek of all trades). Her writing is as varied as her reading tastes, but the main project is to answer the question “If Jane Austen wrote fairy tales …” – this process would make better progress if her friends didn’t keep writing such amazing stories of their own. You can check out her reading blog at AWordsWorth.blogspot.com

4 thoughts on “Writing Process Blog Hop”

  1. I just downloaded Scrivener a couple months ago and am trying to use it on a couple of projects (one for fun, one for my day job). I haven’t entirely decided if I like it yet. What do you think are its best features?

    1. The ability to move text easily: that’s the main reason I use it for writing. I divide my text up by scenes, and then I can drag and drop them on the outline or corkboard. It’s a lot easier than cutting and pasting in Word.

      1. I’m replying to myself. Forgot to add that as far as a word processor, I think Scrivener could stand some improvements. (At least the Windows version could.) I put up with it for the drag-and-drop feature.

  2. You’re right, there’s a real gap in mysteries coming from the Big 5. Why can’t thrillers occasionally be funny?

    Hmmm… I wonder if I’d have better luck working on my Robin Hood story if I wrote the last scene first. Maybe then I’d have something to work toward.

    (As for Scrivener, the Windows version is a little more raw/less polished than the Mac version, since it’s so much newer. Hopefully it’ll come up to the same level soon.)

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