I’m surprised at how often I get asked about my writing process. To be perfectly honest, I don’t think much about it. I simply write. How I wrote Book X doesn’t mean that is how Book Y will be written. Or Book Z. My process is extremely organic, which is usually due to the fact I had to learn how to write ANYWHERE. But that doesn’t necessarily answer those who are genuinely curious to maybe compare their process. However, IMHO, your process is yours, how it compares to someone else’s doesn’t matter for squat as long as it works for you and you get the book written.

I’m going to try to capture the process using Rock Your Soul as an example and dates I can remember (I still have all the old files). I’ll try to keep from being rambly…

July 2011 (don’t say I didn’t warn you) – Have a flash in my mind of a man walking into a room and breaking down. Know this is Patrick’s friend & fellow Sanctuary renter, Ryan, but little else. So, I poke. Based on what I discover, tentatively title book, White Noise.

September 2011 (really, I’m not kidding) – Have names now, Ryan & Beth. Who have now just frantically coupled against a post on Ryan’s porch. In chapter one. This is wrong, but I leave it for now. Beth is a boat broker from California, Ryan builds boats. This is also wrong, decide I will revise later because I don’t know why these things are wrong. Word count is sitting around 13K.

September 2011 (see, told you) – Do a bit of rearranging and housecleaning. Sex scene still chapter one, Beth still boat broker – KNOW these two things are wrong, but can’t figure out why. But, have better idea of Ryan’s issues. Word count is 14K.

November 2011 (Slow as molasses, I tell you) – Inspiration strikes as to why Beth seeks out Ryan. This is the storyline I’ve been looking for. Sex scene in chapter one is gone (it will end up revised and further in the book). Ryan is boat builder. Beth is a DJ. Both tortured pasts, she by a brutal Dom. Needs Ryan’s help. Word count is 32K. By this point, overarching plot is in place as well a bit of a mystery/suspense plot line I didn’t expect, but really like.

February 2012 (Wonder why books take so long to write?) – Book is re-titled Reverb. Have layered in details about the pasts for both Ryan & Beth, deepened the emotion throughout to reflect more “romance”, wrote a “trigger” scene that will need…more, added bits on secondary characters storylines, including Patrick & Allison. Word count is 60K.

March 4, 2012 (Think I’m hearing the Jeopardy! theme now) –  Book is again retitled–Command. New title falls more in line with other books of the series. Send book to my CP who sends back notes. I agree with them all. Debate trashing entire book. Hate writing. Wonder why I do this again and again and again. I suck. Hard. I’m giving up writing forever.

March 30, 2012 (People wonder why authors drink…) – Decide I will kick this book’s mother effin’ ass. Turn on “Track Changes” and start tearing apart the book chapter by chapter. Also add in more layers of depth, emotion and generally things to make the story richer. Also deepen the mystery/suspense plot line because I really, really like it. Word count is 64K.

November 2012 (*insert power ballad here*) – After accepting the first book of the series, editor wants a proposal for next three books – which includes Command. Entire series is named and given titles. Book is now titled Rock Your Soul and is due February 2013. Oh shit.

December 2012 – Write like the wind, Bullseye!

January 13, 2013 (There should be pills for this kind of thing) – Hate the book. Hate life. I suck even more than before. I’m never writing another book again!! *insert pity party for one*

January 14, 2013 (seriously, pills? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?) – Send book of to CP and decide I won’t think about the book anymore. Done. Finished. Over.

January 15, 2013 (Bueller?) – Book needs even more depth, more emotion. It’s not punchy enough. Needs more “geek” as well – Beth now has the largest, and coolest, collection of 80′s tee shirts on the planet (admittedly, that’s just one of many “geek” things added). And this mystery/suspense storyline? Creepy! Love. Word count is 69K.

January 23, 2013 (More power ballads) – CP comes back with two thumbs up. Sah-weet! Fix few issues, read through again to check where needs … more.

February 3, 2013 (I can breathe now, right?) Send off to editor – word count is 71K. Never doing this ever again. Seriously, I’m giving up writing forever, this is just too damn stressful and too much work.

February 4, 2013 (I am insane…) Open up file for Epic Novel of Epicness and….GO!

So that’s it, roughly, in a crazy little nutshell and really high level. It’s probably not much help, but entertaining nonetheless. Final word count for the book ended up coming in at 75,531 words. My editor wanted a bit more solidity to the HEA at the end. I didn’t see it at first, but once I did what she asked, I agreed wholeheartedly.

I love my editor. Hard.

I should note, while writing Rock Your Soul, I re-wrote Taking Over Me, went through edits for it, revised Her Master’s Collar several times, went through edits for it, started Break Me In & Glad You Came (the third & fourth books of the Geek Kink series, respectively) and plodded along on the Epic Novel of Epicness (which I just recently completed and subbed to my editor). So that is why there is sometimes long lags between time I worked on this book. And that is also normal for me. I’m never working on one book at a time, I always have a few going in various stages of the process. It actually helps me step away from the story, forget about it and when I come back I have a fresh, new perspective which allows me to see flaws, errors and such.