Harlequin Romance Book Review,Writer's Wrap Up

The Soldier's Homecoming by Donna Alward
Harlequin Romance March 2008

Through a serendipitous mailing glitch, I got my hands on an early copy of Donna Alward's 'The Soldier's Homecoming' and last night I gave myself a treat and sat down and read it. The story of Jonas and Shannyn hits all the right emotional notes. He's a man who's given himself to the service of his country. She's the woman he left behind. It's young love and growing up into love and a very relatable story. Tissues will be required when this book hits the shelves in March, and the online stores in February.


Writer's Wrap Up.
On A Messy Writing Process.

I've been thinking about my writing process. I've decided to try two new things (if you don't try, you don't know, right?).

What I'm going to try next book, is printing out each day's work as I write it, and polishing it, adding in depth, anything it needs on a paper copy, and entering that work before I start fresh writing the next day. This might not work, I don't know, but I'm going to try. I'd love to have a stronger first draft and there is something about working with a paper copy and pencil that is just different to working with material on a computer screen.

I'm also going to try harder to write the first draft all in one go, faster than usual, as little breaks and disturbances as possible. Ten pages a day, somehow, five days a week. A page or two on weekends to keep my head in the story. Plenty of writers probably do that much a day anyway. It will be a lot for me, but I'm going to try.

For now, I have my not at all tidy or tight first draft printed out in front of me. I've gone over it once right through, writing in changes in pencil. I feel I have about 1/3rd of a book worth of changes, though some of them are subtle things. Once I've typed these in, I'll print out again, read again, tighten, add, take away, and so it will go until I'm satisfied all the aspects are as strong as I can make them.

I'm forgiving myself for falling off the more exercise, better eating habits wagon yet again, as often happens as a story progresses. Life is too busy. I'll keep trying.

What's your writing process? What works for you and what doesn't? And while we're visiting - here, have some chocolate and Pepsi Max. I have plenty!

Jennie