#mywritingprocess

I was tagged by Raymond Bolton http://www.raymondbolton.com to take part in a tag team blog tour. If you’re a Twitter user and enjoy this post, please Tweet it up and follow me, as well. Thanks for reading!

1) What am I working on?
I am currently working on the third installment of The Shapeshifter Chronicles, my young adult paranormal series. I am still without a title, but hope to settle on it soon. I’m in the last quarter of the book and things are moving pretty fast now.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I like to think that despite the fact that I write in the paranormal and fantasy genre I bring quite a bit of reality into my work. I like the reader to connect with my characters and truly feel like they know and understand them. I feel this is important with this genre when you’re making up magical and fantastical elements, that certain things remain true like feelings and connections. I’m not sure if this really makes my work different from others, but it’s something that I’ve found lacking in some work in my genre (definitely not all).

3) Why do I write what I do?
I love magical realism and what they used to call urban fantasy. I have always been interested in alternate histories and novels that play with another view on events or popular stories/fairy tales. I write what I’m excited about. I have many different ideas on potential stories, only so much time to write. The focus has been on my YA paranormal series and my MG fantasy series, but I am excited to expand in the future.

4) How does your writing process work?
I am probably a nightmare to the meticulous. I write based off a loose idea and I plan while I write. As I move through the story, I connect elements and devise my scenes. I will hash out my ideas with my husband who does his best to poke holes and help me come up with creative solutions to problems. I do my research as I move through, although I do tend to do my shapeshifter research for the region I’m focusing on before I start the book just so I can familiarize myself wit the culture I’m focusing on. Because I don’t often have everything laid out before I begin I do tend to have to go back through the earlier chapters of the book if I change an element which means it’s impossible for me send work to beta readers early.
Once I’ve finished my first draft I usually read it aloud to my husband. This allows me to hear repetitive word use, clunky sentences or other issues, which I correct as I read. When I’m done with this phase I traditionally send it to my editor for a developmental read through for a critique. After I get the recommendations back I make any structural changes I need to and then it’s off to my beta readers.
I address any issues my beta’s might have and then it’s off to have a line edit for the final draft.
Last but not least, it’s off to my readers 🙂

It’s my turn now to pass the baton to the following author. Visit their blog next Monday, February 24, to see how they write.

Rachelle Ayala is the author of dramatic fiction crossing genres and boundaries. http://www.rachelleayala.com/