Thank you so much to author Tracy Reed for stopping by the blog today. Many readers and writers love to hear about authors' writing processes. Here, Tracy shares what she does.
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I’m sure there’s a writer out there like the one I described, but it ain’t me. I know that’s not good English.
I am what’s known as a “Panster.” In case you don’t know what that is, it’s a writer that just goes with the flow. The only things I note about a story are the beginning and the end. How they get there, for me is part of the writing process. It’s like reading a book, if that makes sense. I tried to plot once, but I never referred to it. When I did find the file, the story had completely changed.
When I sat down to write GENERATIONAL CURSE, it started with an idea. A loose woman attracted to a chaste man, who only wants friendship. At first, I didn’t think it would work. Then I jumped ahead to the end of the story and knew it would.
I started writing the story with the ending in mind. In order for Kyla to be attracted to Sean, I knew he had to be an incredibly good looking man. And for him to be tempted, she had to be very beautiful. In my mind, he was always tempted by her, but he never gave into the urge. In an early draft, I had them kiss very early in the story which led to confusion for both of them, but the follow up didn’t make sense. So I delayed the kiss. Without giving too much away, once they did, it opened the door for a lot of speculation, anticipation and temptation.
The only real to planning I do is with my Pinterest boards. I am a huge fan of Pinterest. I use it to research my characters. If I’m trying to describe a character and get stuck, I visit Pinterest. I have a board devoted to good-looking men. As well as on for curvy women. [Most of my female characters are petite and packed with lots of curves and most of the men are very tall and well-built.]
I’m working on a book for Summer release and one of my character descriptions was off. I headed over to Pinterest and did a little pinning and found the perfect man. I stared at him [my job is so hard…staring at hot men] until I could put his looks into words. For me, it’s the best way to do character development.
Once I’ve completed the book, I let it sit a few days and then start editing. I give myself about two weeks. Then I make the changes and start the revision process. I try not to let this step drag out. Then I send a clean copy to my editor. When I get it back, I deal with her edits and then it’s on to print formatting.
Print formatting takes a little while, because this is where I’m designing the book’s personality. [cover, font, chapter headings, etc.]. While I’m writing I look for possible cover images. This can be a tedious process searching for the perfect image. I’ve learned not to jump the gun, here. I bought the image for my Summer release a while back and now it doesn’t work with the revised story. So I had to shelve that one and start over. Now I have a cover I love.
Once I have both files, I load them, get a proof and do another edit. On this edit, I’m looking for anything I missed and make sure the story reads well. If I’m happy with it, I give it to my content readers. That’s how I refer to my advance readers. I have three ladies that read for me. At this point I’m looking for any typos, grammar errors and story flow.
These ladies aren’t writers, but readers. They represent my audience. I take their comments and make any necessary corrections and changes and then it’s on to a final print proof. I’ll read the book again and if everything is good, it’s on to the ebook formatter.
While the book is with the eformatter, I’m setting up marketing and starting the process again with the next book.
Generational Curse
by Tracy Reed
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What happens when a celibate Christian man befriends a woman involved with a married man? Sean knows he should run in the other direction, but Kyla tempts him to abandon his Christian beliefs for a taste of the forbidden. But if he continues the relationship, can he convince that being with a married man isn't the fantasy life the generations of women in her family made it appear to be?
Sean Prescott and Kyla James are business associates playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse hoping the other will give in. But in this high stakes relationship game, is there really a winner or will both be losers?
Read an excerpt:
“What do I do about Sean?”
“What about him?” Mike asked.
“I think I’ve fallen in love with him.”
“Okay, I know this is a female thing.” He started to leave.
“Honey, sit down.” DeeDee patted his leg.
“You know I’m no good with the dating stuff,” he pleaded with DeeDee.
“I know, but you’re his friend.”
He took a deep breath. “He’s a great guy, but you already know that. And you probably know how much Francesca hurt him. Has he given you any reason to think he may feel the same?”
“Kyla, forgive my husband. Honey, you’re right, I’ll handle this. Go check on Michelle.”
“Thank you.” He stood up, “Kyla, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thank you Mike or is it Pastor?”
“It’s still Mike. We’re friends, remember.” He smiled and walked down the hall.
“Okay, tell me everything,” DeeDee urged.
“I can’t get him out of my head. He told me he was going on a blind date and I got upset. And after I told him I broke up with my boyfriend and how hurt I was, he came over with ice cream. Well, gelato. It’s one of the things we like to do, eat gelato. We meet twice a week for coffee and lunch, and occasionally we go to dinner or brunch. And when I’m not feeling well, he comes over with groceries and rubs my feet and takes care of me and Winnie. Then he drove me to my parents and stayed with us the weekend. He said I needed to be around my family. He and my mother have become friends.” She chuckled. “I think they’ve been conspiring to get me to change.”
“I think it’s pretty safe to say, he feels the same way.”
Buy links
I’m a single Christian Woman who loves God, Fashion and Cute Guys. I live in California, but consider myself a partial New Yorker because of the two and half years I lived there. I own www.thepinkduchess.com, a lingerie site for curvy women. GENERATIONAL CURSE is my debut novel.
WEB CONTACTS
Website: www.readtracyreed.com
Blog: readtracyreed.wordpress.com
Facebook: facebook.com/readtracyreed
Tumblr: writertracy.tumblr.com
Pinterest: pinterest.com/readtracyreed
Twitter: twitter.com/readtracyreed
Goodreads: goodreads.com
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