Sara Bennett's Blog - Posts Tagged "regency"
Writing a new book after a big break
Dear Readers,
I didn't realize how long it is since I've blogged! I suppose it is about the same amount of time since I wrote my last Sara Bennett book!
It's not like I've been slacking. I've been writing, but after I finished with Avon I went on to other things. I think I was pretty much done. Wiped out. Drained. I'm being honest here. I was sucked dry.
But now the time has come. I am feeling a definite stirring for more Sara Bennett romance. Not just dipping my toe in the water but jumping right in! I'm starting with a series of novellas, because really that's all I can manage right now. I'm going to build up. The novellas are set around a fictitious square in London, called Mockingbird Square. The novellas will tell the stories of the residents in the Square, and their search for love.
Mockingbird Square is owned by the Earls of Monkstead, and the latest earl loves interfering in his neighbors lives. Unhappy in love himself, he enjoys giving others a happy ever after. When I finish the series of novellas I will write Monkstead's story in a full size book.
That's the plan anyway.
I hope you'll stay along for the ride, and I'll do my best to make it an interesting one, and make you laugh and smile, and sigh. Maybe shed a tear or two. A happy tear.
I'll also try to blog every week or two. I'll do my best anyway!
Sara Unforgettable
I didn't realize how long it is since I've blogged! I suppose it is about the same amount of time since I wrote my last Sara Bennett book!
It's not like I've been slacking. I've been writing, but after I finished with Avon I went on to other things. I think I was pretty much done. Wiped out. Drained. I'm being honest here. I was sucked dry.
But now the time has come. I am feeling a definite stirring for more Sara Bennett romance. Not just dipping my toe in the water but jumping right in! I'm starting with a series of novellas, because really that's all I can manage right now. I'm going to build up. The novellas are set around a fictitious square in London, called Mockingbird Square. The novellas will tell the stories of the residents in the Square, and their search for love.
Mockingbird Square is owned by the Earls of Monkstead, and the latest earl loves interfering in his neighbors lives. Unhappy in love himself, he enjoys giving others a happy ever after. When I finish the series of novellas I will write Monkstead's story in a full size book.
That's the plan anyway.
I hope you'll stay along for the ride, and I'll do my best to make it an interesting one, and make you laugh and smile, and sigh. Maybe shed a tear or two. A happy tear.
I'll also try to blog every week or two. I'll do my best anyway!
Sara Unforgettable
Plotter or Pantser
Well I have finished my 2nd novella, Enraptured, which will be for sale in May, and I am now working on my 3rd. I've enjoyed writing the Mockingbird Square series, perhaps because I really only have to please myself (and my readers of course) and no one else. I'm not sure yet how many novellas will be in the series before I finish it with a full size book.
I think I'll know when the time comes.
As I think you can guess I am not a plotter. I've tried to be. Several times before writing a book I have written pages and pages of summary, worked out sub plots, threads, themes, black moments, everything I could think of. And then ... I was bored, and started a new book. So I know by now I just have to go with my process, which is to write and rewrite and eventually find my way forward.
That's not to say I don't plot at all. Usually when I'm someway into the book, I realise I need to change something because I finally have an idea of where the story is heading, so I go back and do that. And then I spend quite a bit of time thinking, usually in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping. It's incredible how problems in the story can work themselves out in the middle of the night.
I wish I could plot more. I think it would be a far more satisfactory way to write a book, and probably far less stressful. But I have a process and like an old married couple we are comfortable with each other.
Look out for Enraptured on the 22nd of May.
I think I'll know when the time comes.
As I think you can guess I am not a plotter. I've tried to be. Several times before writing a book I have written pages and pages of summary, worked out sub plots, threads, themes, black moments, everything I could think of. And then ... I was bored, and started a new book. So I know by now I just have to go with my process, which is to write and rewrite and eventually find my way forward.
That's not to say I don't plot at all. Usually when I'm someway into the book, I realise I need to change something because I finally have an idea of where the story is heading, so I go back and do that. And then I spend quite a bit of time thinking, usually in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping. It's incredible how problems in the story can work themselves out in the middle of the night.
I wish I could plot more. I think it would be a far more satisfactory way to write a book, and probably far less stressful. But I have a process and like an old married couple we are comfortable with each other.
Look out for Enraptured on the 22nd of May.
Story ideas
Non writers ask: Where do you get your ideas from? I think as writers we know we get them from all over the place. A walk to the shops can result in an idea, overhearing a conversation at a cafe, reading a newspaper. There are ideas everywhere.
Usually when I have an idea I will play around with it, not write it down, but think about it. I find if I write it down then it just stops, as if my job is done. If I mull over it, it grows, begins to take some shape.
Not all ideas work out, sadly. I have plenty of half finished stories languishing on my computer. Sometimes something that seemed brilliant in my head doesn't translate to paper, or else it's already been thought of, and done better.
I'm enjoying writing my Mockingbird Square series because each story is different and yet they are connected by a central theme. Characters reappear or develop further. I have lots of ideas! I'm sure not all of them will work out, but I'm sure some will.
Usually when I have an idea I will play around with it, not write it down, but think about it. I find if I write it down then it just stops, as if my job is done. If I mull over it, it grows, begins to take some shape.
Not all ideas work out, sadly. I have plenty of half finished stories languishing on my computer. Sometimes something that seemed brilliant in my head doesn't translate to paper, or else it's already been thought of, and done better.
I'm enjoying writing my Mockingbird Square series because each story is different and yet they are connected by a central theme. Characters reappear or develop further. I have lots of ideas! I'm sure not all of them will work out, but I'm sure some will.
