What keeps your focused on your story while writing? Do you have a writing buddy or group?
When writing I work hard to keep writing the story at hand. My biggest problem, of course, is my health, I’ve been very open and public about my health issues, but beyond that are the evil plot bunnies, lol. They are hard to kill, darn them, and sometimes they lead to significant additions to stories or to totally new stories, so I have to weed through them, not just toss them out-out of hand.
The biggest thing I do is have betas. I love my betas! Betas help by reading the story as it’s being written and helping to make sure you both stay on track and help keep you motivated. I love mine! (Did I mention how much I <3 my betas? LOL)
My main writing buddy also wrote a shifter story at the same time I wrote “Whiskers of a Chance” but hers is very different. She wrote wolves, insisted on mass conversion, … … …. It was a lot of fun to write in tandem like that, actually (though we spent a lot of time arguing playfully about how our shifters were better than the other person’s shifters, lol. If you’d like to see what comes of writing tandem, check out not only my story, but Devotions as well… since it’s the story that was written alongside mine and yet, is 100% different other than having shifters in it.). It helped keep me focused and driven when I had bad days, pain days, or days where my guys were being … difficult (Keith and Jason difficult? Naw, never… Ha!)
The biggest thing that helps me though is writing stories where the MCs are people I’m truly engaged in. Guys who I find myself caring about, thinking about when I’m not writing and thinking that they’re people I could run into on the street. Even when the story is paranormal, like with “Whiskers of a Chance,” I like to keep my characters are “real” as possible.
Whiskers of a Chance Blurb:
Jason Grant runs his own IT business from home, owns his own home, and has the best friend he could imagine. What he doesn’t have, or believe he will ever have, is love. When Jason catches a glimpse of his new neighbor on moving day, his libido ignites and his fascination in piqued. He even manages to concoct an excuse to go over and meet the man who makes him hope and want for more than he has in years.
Keith Skyler is a shifter in a world where his kind is known to only a few, but they don’t often mix and they never mate. Keith has been hoping for a mate since before he can remember, but gay lynx don’t have true mates. As far as he knows, they don’t have mates at all. However, while moving his little family across Seattle—and away from their tribe—his reality tips and spins more than he thought possible.
When these two men meet over a dish of five-cheese broccoli-noodle casserole, sparks fly. Who knew a welcome to the neighborhood gift could give both of them their chance at love?
Find it at Dreamspinner Press ♥ All Romance ♥ Amazon ♥ Goodreads
About the Author:
Tempeste O’Riley is an out and proud pansexual genderfluid whose best friend growing up had the courage to do what she couldn’t–defy the hate and come out. He has been her hero ever since.
Tempe is a hopeless romantic that loves strong relationships and happily-ever-afters. Though new to writing M/M, she has done many things in her life, though writing has always drawn her back–no matter what else life has thrown her way. She counts her friends, family, and Muse as her greatest blessings in life. She lives in Wisconsin with her children, reading, writing, and enjoying life.
Tempe is also a proud PAN member of Romance Writers of America®, Rainbow Romance Writers, and WisRWA. Learn more about Tempeste and her writing at http://tempesteoriley.com.
Find her here: Website ♥ Tempeste’s Temptations ♥ Twitter ♥ Facebook ♥ Google + ♥ DSP ♥ Blog