Thursday, April 24, 2014

WRITING PROCESS BLOG TOUR- SHELLY ELLIS

       MY WRITING PROCESS BLOG TOUR-SHELLY ELLIS


         Today I am happy to put the spotlight on a fellow author and great lady who has been out here in the writing world a lot longer than I have, Ms. Shelly Ellis.  Shelly was gracious enough to stop by my humble blog and share a little bit about her own writing process.

 
 


What are you working on now?
I’m working on two projects simultaneously, which is turning out to be a very interesting juggling process. I’m working on the first book in the second series that I’m writing for my publisher. It’s a follow up to my Gibbons Gold Digger series and it’s about a wealthy family. It’s set in a small, fictional town in Virginia. My editor compares it to the TV show, The Haves and the Have Nots. I’m calling it the modern, black version of Downton Abbey. My other project is a paranormal YA that I’m writing just for fun. I’m not sure if it will ever see the light of day but I’m hoping that it’ll keep my creative juices flowing.
 
How does my work differ from others in that genre?
That’s hard to say. I think every writer would like to believe that their work is distinct and groundbreaking, that they’re their own special little literary snowflake. But, let’s be honest, most stories that are written now have already been written. Ralph Waldo Emerson had it right when he said, “All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients.” We’re simply rehashing the same old stories with a slight spin or with a new perspective/voice—and some of us aren’t even doing that!
 
But I guess if there is anything of myself that I bring to my writing (which focuses primarily on African American romance and women’s fiction) it is my quirky and sometimes dark sense of humor—it comes through a lot in my dialogue.
 
Why do I write what I do?
I write because I feel compelled to do it. Even if I never got published at all or published ever again, I’d be writing stories. I’ve got to get it out. I’d go crazy or become depressed if I didn’t. I write romance and women’s fiction specifically because I grew up reading those books. I grew up idolizing authors like Danielle Steel, Nora Roberts, and Debbie Macomber. It was either write romance or horror novels. (I’m also a long-time Stephen King and Dean Koontz fan.) And who knows what the heck I’d put on paper if I let that dark side fly!
 
How does my writing process work?
My writing process has definitely evolved over the past few years. I used to be mostly a pantser, meaning I didn’t use chapter outlines. I’d have a basic overview of how the novel should go (maybe a two paragraph synopsis in my head) and work from there. I’d write chapters according to what mood I was in with no respect to the chronological order of the story. (I might write the last few chapters first, the middle chapters second, and some of the beginning chapters last. I’d add a line or two between chapters reminding me to put a scene here or there to bridge the gaps.) It was a great way for me to prevent writer’s fatigue and keep up the mood/momentum of the story so the novel wouldn’t sag in the middle, which is a continual battle as an author.
 
But now that I’m under contract with a publisher, and contractually obligated to come up with a more detailed synopses/chapter outlines, my pantser days are pretty much over. I have a set idea of what’s going to happen, how many chapters are required to hit word count, and what scenes will go where. I still jump around in my writing, but now instead of just draping fabric on a dress form and assembling the chapter pieces based solely on impulse and feel, I’m working from a set dress pattern that I've pre-designed. I’ll diverge from the chapter outline on occasion, but I stick to it overall.
 
I thought my new method would be inhibiting, but it seems to be helping, particularly because the new novel I’m working on is told from four different characters’ perspectives. Making sure each character’s storyline gets ample attention as well as paying attention to the cohesiveness of their stories overall, would be hard for me to do if I was flying by the seat of my pants.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
Shelly Ellis began her romance writing career when she became one of four finalists in a first-time writers contest at 19. The prize was a publishing contract and having her first short-story romance appear in an anthology. She has since published more short stories, a few novels, and was chosen as a finalist for the 2012 African American Literary Award in the romance category. Shelly released the first book in her critically-acclaimed Gibbons Gold Digger series in 2013. The latest book in the series, Another Woman's Man, will be released April 29th.
 
When she isn't writing novels or editing and writing articles for her day job as a magazine editor, she and her husband are chasing after their 1-year-old daughter and catering to their tabby cat.
 

Friday, April 18, 2014

MY WRITING PROCESS-- BLOG TOUR



Today is Blog Tour Day on my humble blog. This particular "writing process," blog has been circulating around for a little while and I am honored to have been tagged by my fellow agency mate Kelly Lyman. You can check her out here: http://www.kellylyman.tumblr.com/. So allow me to humbly share my writing process. It's actually great that I've been tagged in this as some things have changed since the last time I shared my process. http://erinashleytanner.blogspot.com/2014/01/my-writing-process.html

WHAT AM I WORKING ON?

Right now I am currently about three-fourths of the way finished with Goddess By Chance, the second novel in my Demi-God Daughters urban fantasy romance series. I am also working on a romantic suspense novel called Dirty Little Secrets.

HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS IN ITS GENRE?

My work differs from others because all of my novels feature people of color in stories that are normally only written for a white audience. As a young girl I was a vivid reader and read everything I could get my hands on, but the thing that bothered me the most was I never saw any heroines or heroes that looked like myself. So when I decided to get serious about writing I vowed to myself that I would write and showcase characters of colors in genres they normally would not be seen in such as urban fantasy, fantasy romance, ect. I think my work is also different because I am not afraid to push the envelope or go outside of the box.

WHY DO I WRITE WHAT I DO?

I write what I do because at a later stage in life I finally realized writing is my calling. It's something I enjoy doing too much to ever stop. Some of the stories I write because they are stories I would like to see told. The writers I idolize most in the world are Jackie Collins, the late L.A. Banks, James Rollins and Steve Berry. Just like all those fantastic writers are not afraid to bring to life the stories they want to see, I am not either. I enjoy everything from romance to historical fiction so eventually I would love to have a story out in all the genres I so love.

HOW DOES YOUR WRITING PROCESS WORK?

As I'm learning your writing process can change as you learn new things. I start with flashcards. On the first card, goes what the basic premise of the novel will be about (fantasy romance, urban fantasy, etc.) On that same first card goes a list of dramatic situations I might want to include such as the healing power of love, vengeance for a loved one, etc.

The next flash cards are devoted to character profiles of my hero and heroine. It includes their age, physical description, what character archetype they most identify with and any little quirks about them. I try to include an aspect of myself in every heroine I write.

The next flashcard contains a list of possible plots that might be woven into the story. (FYI: There are about 20 plots that are used to comprise almost every novel ever written.) Examples include: Temptation, Transformation, Forbidden Love, etc.

The last flashcard is a list of things or scenes that come to mind that I would like to include in the novel.

The last thing I do before getting started is a new tool that was recommended to me by my fellow agency mate CJ Matthews, The W. Method. This method is basically a way for you to keep track of the important places in your story. You include: Regular Life, Inciting Incident, Challenges, Turning Point, Bigger Turning Point, Conflict, Black Moment and the Resolution. After I've filled all these things in as best as I can I'm ready to start. On a sticky note I usually jot down what I think will happen in each chapter as I write the chapter. Now I'm finally ready to write.


COMING NEXT

Check back next Friday when I will be sharing best selling author Shelly Ellis' writing process.


Shelly Ellis- Shelly Ellis began her romance writing career when she became one of four finalists in a first-time writers contest at 19. The prize was a publishing contract and having her first short-story romance appear in an anthology. She has since published more short stories, a few novels, and was chosen as a finalist for the 2012 African American Literary Award in the romance category. Shelly released the first book in her critically-acclaimed Gibbons Gold Digger series in 2013. The latest book the series, Another Woman's Man, will be released April 29.
 
When she isn't writing novels or editing and writing articles for her day job as a magazine editor, she and her husband are chasing after their 1-year-old daughter and catering to their tabbie cat.
 




Wednesday, April 9, 2014

MUSICAL INSPIRATION- Goddess By Chance Playlist

MUSICAL INSPIRATION
 
 
I know there are a lot of writers that say they listen to music when they write to help put them in a particular mood. I'm not usually one of those people, but for the fourth novel I am writing, Goddess By Chance I decided to give it a try. These are a few of the songs I listened to while writing.
 
 
Jessica- Damn About Me
 
Janelle Monae- You Are My Everything https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGnp4D8mzSw
 
 
Bobby V- Never Give Up On Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTNB27PGw0E
 
 
 
Janelle Monae- Can't Live Without Your Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0L4TPC9fFc
 
 
Are any of these some of your favorite songs? Drop me a line and let me know. Or please share some of your favorite music to listen to when you write.