Every Monday, MYSTERY OF CHARACTER FEATURING SHANNON MUIR focuses on the art and craft of writing, from Shannon’s perspective or that of guest authors. To catch up on all posts, check out the MYSTERY OF CHARACTER FEATURING SHANNON MUIR portion of the website!
This week welcomes a guest post from author Kim Baccellia.
DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to MYSTERY OF CHARACTER FEATURING SHANNON MUIR by YA Bound Book Tours. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.
Guest Post from the Author
BUILDING A WRITING ROUTINE
As an educator, it’s been drilled into me to have schedules and goals. Even then, I’ve personally found that I need to have a plan whenever I start a new writing project. Otherwise, nothing gets done! Here’s some things that have worked for me.
- Write everyday
We’ve all heard this one. That in order to be an author, you have to be willing to write every day.
Well, I have a confession. I don’t write on the weekends. I do write during the weekdays though. One of my author friends shared something that works for her. Carry a spare notebook with you. Whenever you have a spare moment, pull that notebook out and write. It doesn’t have to be much, but it’s something. You can use a notes app on your cell phone too.
Make a small goal. Maybe write an hour. Or more. Start small and build from there.
- Have a writing space
My husband works from home which means it can be really hard to concentrate and write. I ended up taking over the guest room and made it into my writing office. I also write at the coffee house. I take ear bubs and listen to a Playlist I created for my book and write.
My favorite coffee house has to be Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf which just happens to have the most amazing ice tea lattes.
- Mapping out story
I happen to be a Plotter. I use a story map to plot out my stories. In my writing office, I have this huge whiteboard. I got this one at Costco. I have different color markers which I use for each different POV.
- Read
I think it’s important to read. I never understood those writers who say they don’t read. I read books that help with setting. I read for inspiration. I also read books outside my comfort zone. Right now I’m reading lots of romances and books that deal with WWII women resistance fighters.
- Early or late at night
Find a time that works best for you. When I was teaching full-time, I was able to write during my lunch break at the nearby Burger King. Now that I’m at home, I find that writing midmorning to early afternoon works best for me. I also am a morning person, so I tend to write better during that time. Someone else though might find that writing after work, or when the kids are in bed, works best for them.
- It’s okay to say ‘no’.
This one is huge. I try to not let someone guilt trip me into thinking that my writing time isn’t important. It’s okay to say ‘no’. Really, it is.
- Writer’s Block
This happens to the best of us! I totally believe in getting up and walking or doing some physical activity. For me, I power walk or go to a movie. Or to watch Netflix shows. It’s okay to take a break now and then. Some of my best writing came when I did this. And sometimes, I just write to get through it.
The big thing is to find out what works for you!
About the Featured Author and Book
Crossed Out (Book 1 Crossed Series) by Kim Baccellia
Published May 17th, 2010
Genre: YA/Paranormal/Fantasy
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8423309-crossed-out
Following the light can’t be that hard, right? So why don’t the dead just do it and leave Stephanie Stewart alone? However nothing is ever as simple as it should be, as Stephanie learns when her hidden ‘gift’ becomes more than a nuisance, quickly turning into a liability. If she can’t learn to trust someone with her secret, the world as she knows it will go to hell. Literally. But if she doesn’t choose wisely, she might just end up learning firsthand how hard it is to follow that light. Because she’s next on the list to be crossed out.
Selective focus
Stephanie Stewart is a typical sixteen-year-old girl—she loves hanging out with her friends, going to concerts, and sipping mocha lattes. Yup. Just your average teenager . . . Except for one difference—she can see and talk to the dead. In fact, Stephanie helps dead girls who who’ve been murdered or killed, cross over. Just as Stephanie is getting used to her unique “gift”, her mom stumbles into some dangerous witchcraft that backfires and triggers similar abilities in Stephanie’s best friend Cura, and nemesis Hillary.
Stephanie already has enough trouble trying to maintain a “normal” life between school and her cute boyfriend Dylan, who happens to have a supernatural talent all his own. But now she has to help her friend Cura and her “frenemy” Hillary cope with their new-found powers as well as cross over two murdered cheerleaders and battle an evil demon who wants to use Stephanie’s supernatural strengths as a free pass to The Other Side. And she needs to do it all while still getting her term papers in on time. She’s definitely going to need an extra-large mocha latte for this.
A member of RWA, Kim is currently putting the finishing touches on a YA multicultural thriller. She lives in Southern California with her husband and son.
Her website: http://www.kim-
Thanks for hosting me!