While I try to allocate a bit of time everyday to writing, it never works out that way.  Inevitably, I get tied up on a phone call or with another project and my writing has to take a back seat.  But, that doesn’t mean that the day passes without my giving some consideration to the book I’m currently working on or some idea I have for a future book.  It’s amazing how many ideas I come up with on the treadmill!  When I do have time to write, I find that sometimes I’m in the mood and sometimes I’m not in the mood.  If I’m not feeling it, it’s a total waste of time to sit at the computer and try to force it.  If I’m in the right mindset and feel the inspiration to write, I’ll use the time I’ve allocated and oftentimes more time than I’ve allocated.  It’s tough to stop when you have the creative juices flowing and you’re on a roll with what you’re working on.  That’s when I do my best writing.

The fans are everything.  If it weren’t for them, what would I have?  What’s the point of a band playing to an empty house or a writer creating books for an audience that isn’t reading them?  I love getting feedback from the fans.  Sometimes that feedback is good and sometimes it isn’t so good.  Some people really like a certain book, and some people don’t like it.  As a writer, you take the good with the bad, but overall the fans are very encouraging even if they didn’t particularly like the book they just read.  It is very humbling to get accolades from the fans and to have them tell you how much they enjoyed your work or how entertained they were by the book.  It’s very rewarding as an author to know that you wrote something that brought a bit of joy to a reader’s day or gave them a way to escape the reality of the world for a short time.  I’m very appreciative of my fans and the support and encouragement they give me.  When I have my doubts about writing or continuing to write, they inspire me to keep writing and keep the creative juices going a little longer.

It helps connect directly with fans and get a message or information out to them or to your targeted audience.  That’s the biggest benefit.  It can also help you reach potentially new readers and gain a better exposure, which is something that every indie author needs.  From time to time I will get messages that encourage me or inspire me to get some writing done, but other than that it doesn’t help me with the actual writing process.  Social media can be a detriment as well if you get sucked into the black hole; you can spend countless hours reading what people have to say and that can distract you from the matter at hand…writing.

I’m the paper and pen type to start.  I go through a lot of ink in my fountain pens, and I can go through a lot of legal pads when I brainstorm.  I can be out at a restaurant and have an idea, so I might scribble it on a paper or a napkin or make a note in my phone.  If I get an idea or an inspiration, I’ll make note of it somehow then transfer it to my brainstorming file as soon as I can.   I’ll have a lot of notes and ideas all over the place, then I’ll try to do a handwritten outline of the story and a profile of the characters that are more organized.  After that, I’ll put everything in a nice neat format on the computer.

The biggest challenge is finding time as it is with any book.  Writing is my passion, but it’s also something I do when I can make the time.  My business interests require a good deal of my attention, so that comes first and writing comes second.  I guess another big challenge has been the depth of this novel.  It’s a pretty intricate storyline; there’s a lot going on in this book, and it takes time to lay everything out in the book.  There are a lot of characters involved, and they all have to be developed.  Having said all this, the book is progressing nicely.  I’m happy with what I’ve done with it so far, and I’m very excited to get it completed, perhaps later this year.  I think it’s going to be very well received by the readers.  Not only does it have elements of a good drama, but I am working in a murder and plenty of mystery as well.