We’re with Tracy Krauss, author of My Mother the Man-Eater. Here is the conclusion of our time together.
One of my favorite topics, plotting. Please tell us how you plot your novels.
Once I have the basic idea or inspiration, I sit down and create fairly elaborate character sketches. I find this sometimes changes my initial course for the plot line. Next, I map out all the action. This is in either point form or loose sentence form. Then I try to expand on that and actually map out each chapter by writing several paragraphs. Once the actual ‘writing’ begins I pretty much know where I’m going, although I often find that characters will surprise me by saying or doing something unexpected and then I have to change things. But that is part of the fun of discovery. I like a framework, but I am quite comfortable deviating from it as creativity demands.
You are the first author I’ve interviewed who isn’t a SAP’s writer. So planning is successful as well, I always knew that 🙂 Your website indicates that you are involved with many online writing organizations as well as several writing related social networking groups. I struggle with time management. Please share with us how much time you devote to blogging and online organizations and social networking as it relates to the amount of time you spend writing.
Yikes! Time management is a huge struggle for me as well. There just isn’t enough of it! It is so easy to let all the social networking and promotional demands take over from your actual writing time. I spend anywhere from one hour to six hours per day on my ‘writing life’ as opposed to my ‘other life’, with the average being about four hours per day. I have purposed to make at least one hour of this time for actual writing, although sometimes I only spend one hour promoting and three hours writing. The ‘other’ category includes blogging, social networking, doing other promotional activities, and preparing pitches, queries etc. I try to fit larger chunks into my weekends, and because I teach high school, I tend to do much of my creative writing during vacations and breaks. This is not ideal, and I am looking at ways to manage my time differently, but …
When you have that time management thing all figured out, call me! What do you consider the greatest moment of your writing/publishing career?
That’s a tough one. I don’t feel as if I’ve ‘arrived’, so to speak. My first positive feedback (as opposed to rejection after rejection) was pretty awesome! The day I actually signed a contract for my first novel was also pretty cool, and of course, nothing beats holding that book in your hands for the first time.
Your baby in print – awesome! Tell us what your next novel will be about.
I am currently in the process of seeking publication for two different novels. Play It Again is a ‘sort of’ prequel to And the Beat Goes On in that it is the story of the main character’s parents – an ex rock and rock junkie and a stuffy accountant. The other one is called Wind Over Marshdale and deals with the spiritual forces of evil behind a small town’s gossip. I’m also in the midst of revising my NaNo creation as well as another WIP that is about half done. Busy, busy! Too bad working for a living gets in the way!
Let us know what happens with your next contract. Tracy, thanks for stopping by to visit today. I’ve enjoyed our time together 🙂
TODAY is the Amazon Best Sellers Launch of MY MOTHER THE MAN-EATER. Buy the book TODAY and get in on all kinds of other fantastic free gifts – everything from sample chapters, free editing, critiquing, and more!
For more about Tracy and her writing, visit:
Website – www.tracykrauss.com
Blog – www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com
Amazon link – www.kraussamazon.com