By Joya Ryan
I’ve been asked a few times about my writing process. Truth is…it’s a mess. Yes, there are a few key things I do with every book to help map out what I’m writing. I do love me some color-coded charts and spreadsheets after all, not to mention a healthy To-Do list. But even with my organizational efforts, there are days—ahem…weeks—where I fly by the seat of my notebook and get shocked when my book takes a spin I didn’t see coming.
Few things I always do including plotting. My ten year old son calls it, “The Mountain of Ideas.” It involves poster board, multi-colored markers (we’re back to the color coding here) and me sitting on the floor vigorously drawing writing up a mountain made of Shaprie. This helps me get the key scenes in order and see the book in its parts for the first time. Then comes the translation of the Mountain to the Bible. The bible is my bullet-point hand written outline. This is what I MUST have at ALL times to write my book. I could know the sucker by heart, but if I don’t have my outline, I’m screwed. And yes, since it’s handwritten and not—I don’t know, typed and saved on a computer like a reasonable person would do—this is like playing Russian Roulette with my environment that seems to swallow my most prized possessions when I’m not looking, leaving me a crying tortured mess. Thankfully, I haven’t lost an outline in a while.
Finally, with my trusty outline, I start writing. But not on my computer. I have a separate notebook where I free hand the scene I’m about to write. Could be a few lines of dialogue. The setting. Basically this pre-writing helps me see the scene then I can open my lap top and get going. Free-handing my scenes first has really cut down on my “stare lamely at my computer screen asking myself, what the hell am I supposed to be doing again?”
So if you ever find yourself stumped, trying writing down your scene in a notebook first to get your brain going. I promise it helps the writer’s block!
After that, it’s all about caffeine, way too much chocolate and trying not to take all the Facebook quizzes. Because why write when I NEED to know what my spirit animal is!
Everyone has their own rhythm, it’s all about growing and tweaking as you press on in the endeavor of writing. But it is always a fun adventure to pursue.
About the Rules of Seduction:
He’ll be the dream and the dirty fantasy…
Through with both her controlling ex and relationships, Ava Webber is determined to explore the spicy and sometimes forbidden appetites of the exclusive BDSM nightclub, Serve. Here, she’ll get exactly what she needs…as long as it’s from a man she doesn’t know.
Nolan Hart ensures that Serve’s clients get what they want, how they want it. But with one look at the curvy brunette, Nolan knows he’s the man to fulfill her desires. As the anonymous lover, he’s Ava’s dirtiest fantasy. Outside of Serve, he’s her charming, smartass friend.
But Nolan wants more. More than Ava is willing to give. And as long as the blindfold stays on, she’ll never discover that the two men she’s falling for are one and the same…