Lynn Raye Harris

That’s what I’m talking about over at the Pink Heart Society today! Come by and learn the secret….

It usually happens somewhere in the midst of the book I’m trying to finish on deadline. As my relationship with the current book grows rocky, a new idea comes along, seducing me with its attractiveness, its promise not to be difficult, and its possibilities. I want to stop writing the deadline book and write this book instead!

I never do.

Because, well, there’s a deadline attached to the book I’m working on and an editor waiting for it. But I’ve turned in the deadline book, and now the idea is still there, seducing me. This is the stage where it’s fun. The stage where I’m collecting photos and pasting them into my Notes document (I use Word’s notebook layout feature for this, creating tabs for the characters, story, and settings) and thinking up all the lovely possibilities.

This story is a bit different than what I’ve written before, but it still features the exotic location, the gorgeous alpha male, and the determined heroine. The possibilities are endless! Of course I’ll eventually reach the stage where the book becomes work and the next new idea pops into my head. But until then, I’m going to have fun.

I believe this stage is essential, the fun stage, where you think and plan and maybe write a chapter or two. I’ve proven I can write a category novel in 3 weeks (not easy, but I did it), but there’s no need to write every book so quickly. There are always deadlines, of course, but the dream time is very necessary to creating. One writer I know takes a month off between novels. For her, it’s essential to her process and to writing the best book she possibly can. I don’t need quite so much time, but I’ve found that a week or two is a nice break. I read, go shopping, cook gourmet meals, and generally let myself enjoy every day without the pressure to get as many words on the page as possible.

Remember while on this crazy writing journey that you still need to have a life. People change, kids grow up, friends move away. So don’t spend every hour of every day hunched in front of your computer because one day you’ll look up and wonder where everyone went. Let the blush of that new idea have its time swirling in your head. Approach it slowly but steadily, like it’s a forest creature you don’t want to frighten. Soon, it’ll be eating out of your hand. (One day it’ll bite you and you’ll want to let it go and find a new idea, but that’s another story….)

Now I’m off to play with my shiny new idea…..

I’m the spotlight author over at the Minxes of Romance today! Come on over and see what I was up to five years ago — and which book I read recently that I wish I’d written!

Hey, y’all! Today I’m over at the lovely Kate Walker’s blog, talking about my favorite (or favourite, as Kate would say) Kate Walker book! Come on over and visit. And I do hope your weather isn’t as hot as mine; they’ve been saying that we are way above normal for June, and boy is it hot. If this is June, I can’t begin to imagine August.

Y’all, I cleaned out my office on Saturday — okay, I started cleaning it out (it’s going to take a while!) — and I ran across all this swag from conferences and reader luncheons. I don’t need it, so I want to give it to you. There are bookmarks, postcards, buttons, gadgets, sample chapters, pens, a lanyard and other miscellaneous goodies. I’m tossing in one of my lovely tote bags to hold it all. Leave me a comment for a chance to win (you can say “I want the swag” if you can’t think of anything else).

I’ll run the contest through the week. All the usual caveats apply – void where prohibited, etc, etc. If it fits in an international shipping box, I’ll mail it to any country that is served by US flat rate priority mail. All entries will be added to my spam free newsletter. It’s free, I do not share your email with anyone, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

UPDATE: We have a winner! Using the handy dandy random number generator, the winner is Sabrina! Sabrina, email me your details, and I’ll get everything in the mail to you!

Periodically, I go through this on the blog where I ask whether or not it makes sense to keep blogging. It seems as if group blogs, for example, come and go these days. One group of critique partners or contest finalists or friends decides to start a blog. Another group reaches the end of the line and shuts down (the Wet Noodle Posse, for one).

What causes a blog to sputter to a close? Is it a lack of readers? A lack of new topics? A feeling you’ve trod that ground before?

I think it’s probably a combination of all these. There are a lot of blogs out there calling for attention, and readers only have so much time. I know that’s the case for me. Some blogs I used to follow religiously, I’m lucky if I get to once every couple of months now.

Sometimes, you feel as if you’re recycling the same topics again and again.

With Facebook, Twitter, and even that old dinosaur My Space, time is fragmented. Blogging no longer has the appeal it once had. Oh, I have no intention of shutting this blog down just yet. I’ve long since stopped updating daily. I try to do so weekly, and I love the immediacy of being able to communicate about my releases or contests or just something on my mind and engage in a conversation with the people who comment.

So now I’m interested in what you think about blogging. Do you read as many as you used to? Do you spend more time on social media sites now? What kinds of things do you want to know when you visit author blogs? Are you interested in the author’s process and posts on writing? Or do you want to know what it’s like writing for a major publisher? Maybe you want to know how the author creates her stories.

Or maybe you just want to know she’s human and has a crazy life just like yours. That she doesn’t have breakfast in bed every morning, doesn’t climb into her limo to go shopping, and doesn’t jet off to fabulous locations at the drop of a hat.

What is it that brings you to this blog? If you blog, what are your feelings about the process?

The winner of my quickie blog contest for a $5 Starbucks card and a signed backlist book is Denise! Pop me an email with your details, Denise, and let me know whether you’d like SPANISH MAGNATE, RED-HOT REVENGE or CAVELLI’S LOST HEIR!

Here’s Denise’s photo of THE PRINCE’S ROYAL CONCUBINE in the wild:

Thank you, Denise! And thanks to everyone who participated!

First, I’m over at I Heart Presents today talking about storms!

And second, the Seven Sassy Sisters are giving away a copy of my July UK release, The Devil’s Heart. Just pop on over and see what they’re up to for a chance to win!

Today, I’m talking Beach Reads over at Tote Bags ‘n’ Blogs! Drop by and share your beach recommendations with us!