Recently I was nominated by the lovely author Carmen Stefanescu to participate in the Tour Through Blogland. In turn I nominated Jennifer Taylor and Ronnie Allen.
They both did a great job of carrying on the torch. In my segment on Carmen’s blog, I answered 4 questions about my writing process. Today I share those here, along with some of my favorite writing quotes.
CREATIVE PROCESS
1) Are you more plot or character driven in your writing process and why?
Plot driven. The stories I am called to write are adventurous, quick moving, and flush with surprising twists and turns. The heroes and heroines are otherworldly–Viking ghosts, guardians, goddesses, ogres, witches, fairies, and demons. They possess humanlike attributes and personalities, while exploring the depths of their unique abilities and powers. My characters must deal with challenges on the human earth world and other realities. Their lives don’t always unfold like a blossom opening to the sun. Sometimes a solar flare erupts and fries the pristine bud. Sometimes the flower morphs into a breathtaking, witchy siren. My characters seek beauty in the midst of darkness and devotion in the midst of bedlam. Simmering below it all is the immutable flame of eternal love.
2)Where do you find most of your inspiration?
By turn, in grandiose and inconspicuous places. Sources of inspiration are everywhere. I’m stirred by the mythologies of the world and the fairy tales I read as a child. Nature engenders sparks of stories, from the faces I see amid the trees to the jeweled brilliance of the night sky. People, places, events. Music, lyrics, dreams. All the world is alive and waiting to whisper the tales we come to think of as our own.
3)Do you work on more than one project at a time?
Yes, what happens is that during the writing of a book, one or more secondary characters will begin asking for their stories to be told. I try not to work in a haphazard fashion, but neither is it a linear fashion. I enjoy the energy of having numerous characters come to life at any given time to star in their own books. I also enjoy planning other series and getting to know characters from different worlds. 
4)Do you stick to a projected storyline or do you let a story flow and take its own life?
A blend of both. I like to plan and plot and then allow for the characters or the chaos muse to take the story in an unanticipated direction. As a writer, the initial planning provides a tether so that I’m not always floating in the stratosphere, while the openness to change gives life and liveliness to the project. I like a good surprise too.
Thanks so much for visiting. What is your favorite writing quote or saying?
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Romance
Flossie, it’s interesting seeing how you work. I’m much more of a character-driven than plot-driven writer, but like you, I do a little plotting and then allow the characters to take over. I liked your description of the “chaos muse” being a guiding factor, LOL. Also love your writing quote!
I too think it’s a blend, Mae, with the characters taking the reins as the writer gets into the story. My characters and what happens to them seem inexorably entwined to me, as if they had to experience that moment of richness, that breath of desire. Maybe one story should be about the Fates!
Flossie great blog! Love the fluidity of your words. Magical!
Oh, what a lovely thing to say, Ronnie. I appreciate your stopping by and commenting!
I always love to read how other authors work, how they find their “muse”, what triggers them into writing, etc. I learn something from their experience too.
Beautiful quotes. Thanks for sharing!
My favorites are:
“Easy reading is damn hard writing.”
―Nathaniel Hawthorne
and
“The desire to write grows with writing.”
―Desiderius Erasmus
Carmen, thank you for sharing your favorite writing quotes. They are both so wonderfully true. I also love learning from you and others.