What Would Replace Writing if it Ever Could?

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

Thank you, cohosts Patrcia Josephine, Diedre Knight, Olga Godim, J. Lenni Dorner, and Cathrina Constantine!

June's question - If you ever did stop writing, what would you replace it with?

Well, I have to admit that I have stopped writing, and in the middle of a story, too! It had an outline and everything and I'm a pantser. *sigh*

I'll tell you what I've replaced it with, and it's self-care. There's no creative outlet right now, but I've been filling my life with meaningful relationships and strengthening the ones I already have. It's quite the remarkable journey.

I know that when I'm ready to pick back up on my writing, there'll be no stopping, because I already  know what it takes to get a book off the ground.

What about you? Has writing ever evaded you to the point that you lost interest? What replaced it? If no, what do you think would?

Please enjoy my latest book's aesthetic book trailers!

IWSG and guest June Holder: Writing at a Different Angle

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

November 2 question - November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

Thank you, co-hosts, Diedre Knight, Douglas Thomas Greening, Nick Wilford, and Diane Burton!

Once upon a time, I did participate in NaNoWriMo. I dreaded the competition because, as an artist, I've never appreciated putting a deadline on creativity. You're either feeling inspired or not! Needless to say, I was able to write that entire novel in a single week at 10k words a day.

It was so fun! I'd spent the week with Karen Hoover at her timeshare condo, doing nothing but writing and forcing ourselves to eat once in a while. Haha!

Today, I have a special guest writer. She doesn't write fiction, but something else entirely extraordinary--welcome, June Holder!

 When Elizabeth asked me to share some thoughts on writing for executives, I immediately thought of the story below, which I posted on LinkedIn a while back. Elizabeth was curious to know more about the “how,” specific to the writing component.

When writing for fictional characters, you fully create them and there are no boundaries. When writing for real people, there’s an inherent responsibility to both the person and the audience. I spend some time getting to know the person, listening to recordings of their previous speaking engagements if they are available, tuning into their pacing, phrases and expressions they embrace. I learn as much as I can about who they are, what they are passionate about, what they represent for the audience. My goal is not to recreate them. My goal is to offer them a way to bring their authentic and beautiful true self into words that will help them share their thoughts and ideas with others. As I write, I try to envision them speaking the remarks so I can stay tuned into their energy. While I’m weaving in the key messages that form the structure of their remarks, I’m building in places for them to connect with their audience, always aware that each person listening should feel a connection with the speaker that is personal and, ideally, profound. My writing often feels symphonic, as I build a bassline of foundational ideas and add intrigue, emotion and movement. 

I find it critical to spend some time researching the topic to gain a reasonable level of understanding of what the speaker will be discussing. That means I am on a constant learning curve, always expanding my perspective and gathering insights from some of the most lovely and brilliant people. 

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to write speeches for the leaders of a Fortune 50 company?

Behind the scenes there’s a highly coordinated effort involving not just the speaker and his/her staff, but also the event organizers and the people who will support production and promotions before, during and after the event.

There’s also plenty of research taking place to assess the event, the audience, the topic and the moment in time. 

All of those connections and conversations are developed into a “roadmap” that contains the remarks that will be delivered and an event brief that provides the speaker with the details needed.

For me, the most exciting part is when the words I’ve provided become a runway… when the speaker fully steps into that timeless space with the audience where you can feel the room lifting and the resonant energy brings everyone together as one.

Once you’ve felt that you understand the incredible power of having someone breathe life into your words.

June Holder is an accomplished communications leader and trusted advisor to senior executives on corporate and personal brand positioning and messaging. Her passion for puzzle solving has taken her on a journey spanning external, employee, executive and sustainability communications, public relations, brand, co-branding and rebranding strategies, program management and as managing editor of websites and newsletters.

#IWSG: Writers, Unite!

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

September's question of the monty - What genre would be the worst one for you to tackle and why?

A shout out to the wonderful cohosts for the month: Kim Lajevardi, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguirre, Olga Godim, Michelle Wallace, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

I will address how writers need writers instead of answering the prompt. First, writing is a lonely place to be with our scribbling, imagining, and creating. Social interactions might become awkward to some of us as we prefer to scuttle back into our caves where our keyboard is safely tucked away.

photo by me--parts cannibalized from pixabay images. Muahaha!

But sometimes we feel brave enough to stir from our holes for a breath of fresh air or some warm sunshine and, yes, we meet other writers. We need others who share the same interests, who understand how it feels to have voices take over our thoughts, the voices that jump to life and seize the reins of a scene, and even the voices that refuse to be silenced when it's supposed to be The End.

photo by MysticArtDesign@pixabay

Who else can we turn to but those who experience such things?

I come from a place where writers are busting at the seams; where they can be found under books and hiding in the mortar of the libraries as well as at book stores (who knew, right?).

Well, moving to where I'm at, it was a shock to see what an antithesis it has been. There are no writers anywhere. Impossible! Where did they all go?

photo by Luismi Sánchez@unsplash

Inspired and feeling brave--finally!--after years of hiding under a rock, I found the courage to start a writing group. It isn't just any group, but an Insecure Writers Support In-Person Writing Group!

the coolest flyer you'll ever see

I started out with one the second week, then another, and another, and another--the first one as loyal as ever to the cause of writing. The numbers have stabilized to seven, but it is a good number. Everyone is at a different stage of writing but we all love it and take it very seriously.

photo by Donald Giannatti@unsplash

I like to follow the Knights of the Round Table concept where we follow a schedule but, since we are all adults, we are free to touch on what we need to do the most. It's not stiff and formal but relaxed and comfortable. I hope I'm doing okay with it because I'm insecure. Perfect, right? Haha!

I'm also reaching out to writers on other platforms to share their love for writing here on my website. We will do spotlights, interviews, guest posts--whatever feeds the muse.

I started my career this way, reaching out to others and lifting them high because everyone deserves the chance to shine. We are all in this together and books are like delicious bonbons--it's our responsibility to keep the readers well-stocked with our beloved craft. Right?

photo by GDJ@pixabay

Can you name a time when someone reached out to you and lifted you upon their shoulders for a better view (literally or figuratively)? How do you feel about connecting with other writers? Would you be interested in participating in a spotlight, an interview, or possibly as a guest?

IWSG: Write for Me or Write for Thee?

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Co-hosts for August are Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery!

Aaaand here is the question of the month:

August 3 question - When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?

thommass68@pixabay

I knew the answer right away when I read that question--which usually doesn't happen to me. Ha! Honestly, I write to appease the demons inside me. The story is waiting to burst through this thin veil of bubble skin and it flows like a movie on a cinematic screen.

Sometimes I have to set it aside on the backburner like I did with Awaken but that came in an instant gush ten years later.

It is a cathartic experience to live through our characters, to puzzle through the challenges that unfold before them, to fight the foe and vanquish evil. Sometimes we mourn with losses and death but in the end, we come out the victor as the writer, the gods and goddesses of the worlds we create. The reader will sense our passion and rise with our truth!

I went crazy with a few book photos below and thought to share them. They are so fantastical, I couldn't resist!

thommass68@pixabay

mysticartdesign@pixabay

mysticartdesign@pixabay

mysticartdesign@pixabay

                           0fjd125gk87@pixabay

mysticartdesign@pixabay

How is it like for you? Do you write for the love of writing or do you do it to please the masses?

#IWSG: Pushing Forward and What's Next.

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

Thank you, SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray for cohosting this month's IWSG posting!

June 1 question - When the going gets tough to write the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If you have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?

geralt@Pixabay

I typically don't have a hard time writing to the end. Most of the time, my stories hit the ground running. As for the times when my story becomes slow-going, I use a flow chart to plug in the plot structure. This forces me to see ahead and break through the bottlenecks! 

IWSG: I've Been Living Under a Writerly Rock!

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

Welcome May! Here is this month's question:

What are your writerly highs and writerly lows?

Co-hosts for May are Kim Elliott, Melissa Maygrove, Chemist Ken, Lee Lowery, and Nancy Gideon! Thank you so much for your help!

My highs are delving into the characters' thoughts and navigating through their trials alongside them! Writing is my cathartic state of mind.

Mediamodifier@pixabay

Despite having stories published through these past few years, I am woefully out of touch. My writerly lows are the struggles of enduring a learning curve!

#IWSG: Battling the Beasts of Life, a mom lecture

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

Thank you, Joylene Nowell Butler, Jacqui Murray, Sandra Cox, and Lee Lowery for hosting this month's IWSG!

February's question is: Is there someone who's supported you that isn't in your life anymore that you miss?

Thank you for the prompt, but I will write on dredging up creative intuition today.

The other night, one of my children lamented how they were unable to create fantastical depths compared to the authors they admire. To their frustration, they've worked on the same novel for over four years. They're frustrated as to why they struggle to move forward, why they're constantly rehashing the same scenes.

IWSG: My Pandemic Challenges

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

August 4 question is about a favorite craft book, but it's been years since I've picked one up, so I'll need to go with my own this month!

Thank you, co-hosts!

PK Hrezo, Cathrina Constantine, PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, and Sandra Cox!

It doesn't help how the pandemic has turned this world topsy-turvy, nor does it help how conflicts have sapped my creativity in real life, either.

The story I submitted for the IWSG Anthology Contest, Dark Matter was my last before hitting a rut. All I've been doing is going down the list of books I've already written and editing them since my creative flow has suffered so much.

When Dreams Fall Apart

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

Sometimes the path we have set changes so suddenly, we lose ourselves especially when it shatters our dreams. A perfectly-not-so-perfect world is thrown off its axis and it becomes difficult to hang onto.

Without saying too much, something in my life has changed so drastically that I've lost my will to write, to create! I've been living in survival mode to the point that almost everything has lost its pleasure. I think of writing as something glorious I once enjoyed and yearn for those days of old (it was only earlier this year that I'd written something, so 2 months without writing is a lot for me).

Today, I decided to read a few children's stories to my 7 year old that I'd written several years ago and am feeling some small stirrings awaken.

Writing has always been a part of me--through thick and thin. It's my source of escapism, my place of sanity. Knowing this brings peace because I've always come back to it.

Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash.com

I find the best way to awaken my desire to get back into writing is by reading a few of my works for the fun of it. I will start there. I hope to bring it back to life.

Photo by Johen Redman on Unsplash.com

As for the rest of me, I will be good to myself and appreciate the little things in life that have always brought a smile.


How do you get back to your writing after facing a crisis?

#IWSG Lone Wolf-itis

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IWSG: a place where writers and friends share woes or hugs.

Welcome to mine!

Photo by Jason Abdilla @ Unsplash.com

I have a problem that I struggle with and it's being a lone wolf. I'm the wolf that wanders the wild countryside, feeling forlorn as the rest of the pack frolics in the streambed while I look on. Yet, when I am called to join, I suddenly feel shy and resistant.

Photo by Jimoody8 on Pixabay.com

This is the way it is with my writing. On social media, many of my writerly peers gather and share and swap while I look on. I do feel left out as I watch from the borders. However, if I'm invited to join the group as a whole I feel caught and bound.

Photo by FRESCO on Pixabay.com

Another instance is the critique group: I love hearing about the camaraderie and friendships borne and nurturing that happens there. I watch with envy and yes, you guessed it: The moment I'm invited I have a slew of concerns I'm immediately faced with: 

1- I struggle with just doing 10 pages at a time, especially when I have a stash of completed novels. 

2- Can't we just swap entire books? Because my mind works one book at a time when critiquing, not in tiny segments which drives me absolutely bonkers! (Yes, that means I'm willing to swap entire novels with a single partner as well.)

3- Dividing my work with 2 people or more feels too much for me, especially when I relish the idea of hoarding a single person's attention all to myself (critique partner anyone?).

4- Most of the time, a person in a group doesn't want to meet on an individual basis, feeling it's not worth their time. Really? The power of one is fabulous--think of a tutor with a student. Right?

I'm sure there's more but I can't think of any right now...

Photo by Papafox on Pixabay.com

I realize that I'm an introvert by nature. I thrive with a dedicated writing partner who takes me and my work seriously (and in turn, I am just as loyal and dedicated). I love soundboarding ideas, working through writer's block (I'm good at helping with detangling sticky block messes), cheering and encouraging and carrying, I love the idea of getting together on a regular basis just to write in silence. Ha! I make a good writing coach and partner. Who will take me seriously and not give up? In all the 20+ years I've been writing, I've yet to find someone who fits this. I can't be the only person out there who's this weird!

Am I?

(this video fits me--haha!)

               




How do you go about writing? Are you a lone wolf? Are you a social butterfly? How do you handle 10 pages at a time with critique groups? Do you ever feel the need of having one dedicated writing partner?

My Writerly Confession #IWSG

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Ever since my paranormal romance, Darkspell, was published, my career has been a huge struggle. My publisher restructured her company (personal choice, has nothing to do with going bankrupt), and I've had many fantastic opportunities present themselves. Just as quickly, they each slipped from my fingers. It has been a long, frustrating and hard road to travel.

Writing is my love. It is and has been my favorite pastime since my early teens! I am not published because I'm in it for the money. Anyone who believes authors are rich needs to realize that you are only viewing a tiny scope based off the famous ones. It's like being a teacher: you do it because you love it and if you go into it for money, you will be disappointed.

Though I've signed on several of my works with another publisher, I've decided to go a different direction along with mighty prayer. I don't do things lightly.

My family comes first. I have taken a step from my authorly career to dedicate my time on raising my five kids. I feel strongly the Lord's hand in my direction and will go where He dictates.

Though, for the most part, I am breaking from being a published author, I am not breaking from writing! I have taken down most of my works over on Wattpad (Darkspell, Eros, Kursed, Baby's Breath, Hidden, and Rock Star), but will be putting them back up. I promise I WILL get those out one way or another when it is my time.

Thank you for bearing with me. I apologize for disappointing those who have been waiting for pending books to release!

For updates, please visit and "like" my author page on FaceBook, or Twitter here. 

What unexpected forks in the road have you taken?

#IWSG Does it bug you when ...

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Movies get away with impossible things, but authors cannot?

Saturday, I had a conversation with a good friend of mine over dinner and we talked about that very thing. She said that maybe it is because viewers are caught up in the moment and expect to be entertained.

Here are my thoughts:
Uh, no, a puddle of petroleum gas will not burst into fire and explode if you shoot it with a gun. Uh, no, that villain would not get back up after having been shot in the gut. Uh, no, a man cannot possibly squeeze through a drainpipe no matter how alien the antagonist is.

Do you see where we're going here? As authors, we get lynched for writing in the word "Okay" during the 1800s (perish the thought!)! Or if we aren't scientifically correct in making sense of technicalities in a sci-fi book. Or a famous rock star doesn't get recognized while strolling down the street. (those happen all the time in movies, why not books?)

A friend of mine complained from a review how her book didn't sound realistic. Uh, well, how does a flying vampire sound realistic? LOL

There are many times when something in real life has happened and we insert it into a book. Sometimes, readers will say that can't happen--but it has, and it did! Have you ever reenacted a scene from your book just to see how it would work out? Maybe something didn't happen during that era or couldn't possibly have happened.

That's when I build the plot (or plant an idea) to where it doesn't come as a shock to the readers. Or at least try to. If all else fails, why not put an author's note and pull the last "creative license" declaration card?

What do you think? Do you feel the same way? What are your writerly pet peeves?

Digging into *this* Writer's Brain

I’m not going to talk to you today about quick secrets of success, or how to write the perfect book. I’m going to share with how believing in myself changed my life as a writer.

It all started in 4^th grade with poetry assignments. I was terrified to come up with words that rhymed, much less read them aloud in class! I honestly thought that would be the end of writing assignments. In 6^th, we were given a bound book with blank pages to fill up with a short story. The mountains suddenly stretched tall into the vast skies in my little brain, and the world of novel-writing was born.

I fell in love with fantasy in high school as most young kids do, though reading was something I did not like. The reason for that was my mind would wonder as I read; I failed most required reading tests. At 17, I started my first book, a high fantasy novel about an elf who had lost her sense of self through the evil sorcerer who destroyed an entire nation. I completed that 700 paged novel by hand 8 years later.

An Author's Failure ... or is it?

I wish I had excellent words of wisdom oozing from my brain to share with you regarding my writing journey. Though my love is found in writing fiction, I often feel inadequate when it comes to my experiences with my career though I have experienced quite a bit!

I started out with a small publisher who simply extended her service under CreateSpace, though she is an excellent cover artist and formatter. I crashed and burned when I tried to get my books to book stores and though CreatSpace's distributors could get your books directly into brick and mortar stores, I learned the hard way that my books were NOT set up that way.

I had to bring my own box in and sell it differently than other authors at book signings. I have been taken advantage by these stores (not all, most have integrity). What's sad, is that this is a race of one as an author.

I understand that we are networked and support one another, but realistically, we are so busy surviving life with a regular job that writing is a side thing though it does NOT feel that way. How can we make more time for flailing writers who need our expertise? Oh, yes, there are many writers out there who are willing to mentor and share secrets, but those are very rare to find!

Needless to say, I lost all confidence in my career when my old publisher decided to restructure her company and everyone became Indie: we would utilize one another's expertise and help get our individual books published that way.

Though Darkspell was my first published, it was not my first written. I have been writing for over twenty years and decided to push that one the hardest. I became lost and eventually orphaned from my publisher, but I kept writing and writing.

Though I have stumbled much thereafter, I have not given up on my love of writing and have come across second chances that feel like a slow take-off, but I have been led where I am at for a divine purpose that only the future will tell.

As Emily Mah had mentioned, Cinderella stories are far and few and success is dependent upon the view of the beholder. For some, success is simply getting that book published. After all, that is a significant goal accomplished!


What valuable lessons have you learned as a writer?  (Every step is important, even if you're not published!)

#IWSG The Glory of Being a Writer!

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They say that being a writer is a lonely occupation. I agree. We hole ourselves in our writing cave and create vast worlds filled with colorful characters. We research and study hours and hours of material. 

There are many times I feel forlorn as I meet with others who share the same obsession through a 12 inch screen and type away my conversations. Then I move on to my writing cave and I am alone again.

But there are those moments when we shake off those quill feathers of ours and dare to venture into the sunshine, to venture into the world where other writers convene and share our love of our common craft!

Of course there are other aspects of the writer's life like family, a 9 to 5 job, illnesses, rain, walks around the neighborhood! Let me liken a writer's life to Harry Potter: my writing world is witches and wizards, with Voldemort and Buckbeak--my creativity has no limit while my real life is with Muggles (nonwriters) who scurry about their lives never knowing any better of the thoughts that churn in my head that create worlds of every kind. Muahahahah! >:D

How I love being a writer! How I love other writers! No matter where I am, I love being surrounded by others who are as crazy as I am! We are a magical folk.

What are your thoughts on being a writer?

Not Using "Was"

Okay, really quick! Go to your WiP and do a search for the word WAS. How many do you come up with? Musketeer's Daughter, my YA historical novel, has 943 out 102,748 words. Thank goodness it's only a first draft!

All of my writerly life I have heard to not use was because it is a passive voice and passive voice makes for a passive read and readers like powerful stories that stick to their ribs. I cam across J. Timothy King's post on 7 ways to eradicate the copulative [word was]. After reading it, that was when I suddenly became obsessed with its abolition.

Here are some examples from another WiP that had me busting my brains to remove the offending word:

This was not home, nor was it anywhere near.
TO
It’s very strangeness declared he had entered a realm far-removed from home. ...


There was no doubt where the Princesses headed, a cobblestone lane led the way through the thick forest.
TO
A cobblestone lane led the way through the thick forest, leaving no doubt where the Princesses headed. ...

A minute ago, I happened across another post from Meljean, declaring the mistake writers do by advising newbie counterparts NOT to using was. WAS isn't as bad as we think. Okay, conflicting time! Click here to read her post.

Now my obsession to destroying WAS has slowed, but I am not sure anymore which is true. However, I did some more research and asked a friend I trust, my editor, on what he thinks about WAS. This is what *Clay Gilbert has to say about the infamous word:

"The main trick of avoiding the passive is to make sure you don't have a lot of sentence constructions where PEOPLE are having things done to them. You don't want your PEOPLE consistently being acted upon, but objects--well, that's what they're for."

Brilliant, Clay! It's so much clearer now.

What are your thoughts on WAS?


*Clay has a fabulous work of art in his Trilogy. Drop by and say hi!

Square One

Life has been really crazy since Babykins was born. Finding time to write is scarce, but I have a stash of books previous that I've submitted to a publisher and they *love* my work, so you will be seeing those SOON!

I miss my blogging buddies and the fun I had when I blogged. It is barely enough that I can keep up with Facebook (updating in single sentences and hitting enter is so much easier than composing here as well as feeding my blog!).

As a writer, I feel that I've slipped ten steps back from the start of my career. I haven't really been connecting with my fans as much as I'd like, especially during my pregnancy.

Darkspell was published with a small publisher who restructured her company and I lost all confidence in myself as an author. Sad, isn't it? But I haven't lost confidence as a WRITER! I like to reminisce upon the good old days when all I had to worry about was writing, but then again, a new world has been blessed upon me as a published writer because I've met *so* many wonderful people and gained many great skills (public speaking for starters).

I will try to blog and visit your blogs when time allows--I also want to change the look and feel of my blog, this one is much too dark for me now. I'm sorry for neglecting my blogdom world!

How do you climb back on the horse after a huge separation?

New Beginnings

So I took longer a hiatus than I intended and life has become so full, I don't know where to begin! From having a new baby, to my hubby being laid off and finding a job a month later, then having to commute over an hour away, to raising all five kids ranging from 16 years to 0 without my man around is giving me handfuls of white hair! Not to mention we're planning on moving closer to his job come the end of the school year and selling our house ...

On the meanwhile, I am focusing on breathing day by day and enjoying my kids--especially the newest one!
My little boy is healthy and strong and growing oh so fast! Here are his cute little feet that I'm using as my profile pic over on Facebook:

As far as my writing is concerned, my muse has been patient with me and decided to hibernate all these many months past. But I can feel him stirring and his ravenous appetite has me almost at a loss because ... how am I going to squeeze his demands in with all the rest?

I guess writing is a survival need for my sanity, I will force the time to write. I hope.

What have you been up to these past 12 months? Share with me your successes, I'd LOVE to hear them!

Are You Afraid?

Let's face it. It is human nature to be competitive. Ever since those diaper-clad days, we wanted everything for ourselves and refused to share. It is natural. It is a learned behavior to be selfless.

As a writer, I've come across many writerly people. As a whole, writers love to share because it's a mutualistic relationship. We learn from what we give and we learn from what we take. Where does our competitiveness come to play?

To some extent,  we want to keep all the glory to ourselves. Why should we mention our marketing strategies that worked fabulously for us? Why should we endorse another author's work if it might be the next bestseller and leave ours behind? Why should we share our little cool gadget thingies that work great for us?

Writers are of a different breed. Being a writer is a lonely kind of thing. We don't meet at a huge building, plugging our laptops in and taking a lunch break at noon in the lunch room. We don't have life insurance we can apply for at HR. We don't carpool together to work so that we can spend 8 hours of nonstop pure blissful writing... (Imagine such a place????) No, we work when we can--between the cracks of life.

I know that I've come SO far because I gave so much of myself and made so many writerly friends. I have not lost one thing by sharing my writerly secrets. There are people out there that refuse to share because it is their hard earned sweat and blood, or maybe because they are narcissistic. 

Writers are human despite of the many faces we wear as we become every MC we write about. 


So, the question is, are you afraid to share your writerly secrets? If you are, why? If not, share away! ;)


Click here for some fun writerly quotes!

Sequel Slushee

Okay, this is a post for all you sequel geniuses out there. Even if you've only written one sequel, I consider you a master, so don't go away!


I've recently sent an email plea to a bloggie friend of mine asking him on sequel-writing. Mind you, I am a 100% bonafide  true blue through and through pantser. Well, this friend of mine has never written a sequel, yet due to popular demand, he's written a sequel! He mentioned to me that parts are easier--which I can see how that happens--and that parts are more difficult, and I believe I've hit that rut!


I've had another friend say that I can pants my sequel like I did the first.


Here's the thing: The infamous 2 word stinker all writers despise has hit me: Writer's block! My muse is sending me conflicting messages. Keep writing what comes to your heart and make this book refreshingly different from the first. The second notion is daunting because I'm not sure just how different to make the book from the first.


I'm big for stand-alone novels and this is my challenge as a writer. I find this confusing because I'm not sure how to create another facet to the romance behind it.



So I have a question for the romance writers: How do you keep the romance interesting between the two MCs into the 2nd book, and 3rd? How would you handle it if the boy already "got the girl" in book one? 


and a general question:
How do you approach writing your sequels?