Writing Blog Hop

I usually don't do blog hops (though funnily enough there's another one coming next week), but I had to do this one when I was tagged by Amy of Ten Penny Dreams (read her post). This blog hop is all about writing and since I like to think of myself as a writer (who's been slacking on the writing however) I wanted to participate.

What am I working on/writing? 

I'm working on two novels, though I like to think of one as "currently being written" and the other as "on hiatus." The first one I don't like to talk about too much because I'm protective of the plot (though you can read a little about it in this post and this post), but whenever anyone finds out that I'm writing a novel and ask what it's about I say it's an alternative history murder mystery.

The other story I'm working on is a YA/NA fantasy story about a young woman in New York City who realizes that she can manipulate all of the objects around her and turn them into anything she wants. Not only that, but there are more people who can do the same. There are two main groups of these people and when she discovers that the man who murdered her mother belongs to one group, she joins the other. There's more to the story than that, but that's the general gist of it. 

How does my work/writing differ from others of its genre?

With the first novel, my writing differs because it's more lighthearted. Murder mysteries are usually very gritty and dark, but since it's more about the two main characters friendship it's not a dark, fast-paced thriller. I want to say it's more like an adventure story. 

The second novel is different than other YA (young adult) stories because I would also call it NA (new adult, which is for twenty-somethings). The main character, Morgan, is in college and I don't shy away from sex and violence, but in a way that caters to feminism. Morgan knows what she wants and goes after it. She has sex and doesn't feel guilty about it. There are fight scenes between men and women and it's not a big deal. I haven't seen that in other YA, but I haven't read every YA book.

Why do I write what I do?

I started writing fantasy because it's what I love reading. I love the escapism and writing it also an escape for me. Who wouldn't want to get caught up in a world similar to ours but still different? Both of the stories I'm writing have strong elements of that. One is based in reality and one is fantasy, but they are both our world with differences.  

The first novel is a departure from what I normally write and read, but it's an important story to me and something that I think should be written and read. That probably sounds really arrogant. If I went into more details about it, I'm sure most of you would agree. Guess you'll just have to wait until I've finished it. *insert winking emoji here*

I write the second story because I like the plot and the characters and I find it fun to write. 

How does my writing process work?

To be honest: slowly. Though that's no one's fault but my own. I started the fantasy story back in my sophomore year of college, so that's seven years ago. Granted, it's been on hold for several years now because I started the murder mystery in my last year of college (four years ago). 

In terms of actual writing, when I sit down to write I'll read over the last few paragraphs of what I just read to get back into it and the notes I left myself. (At the end of a writing session, I jot down what I need to write next.) Then I'll start writing. If I'm feeling really inspired I'll just keep writing and writing, but if I'm having trouble with it then I might edit sentences as I go. Sometimes just staring off and "writing" the narration in my head helps. 

I enjoy writing with pen and paper at times because I don't feel like it has to be perfect. Something about writing on a computer makes me want all of my writing to be instantly amazing and it never is. 

After writing several chapters or after getting past a certain part in the plot, I like to print it all out and edit it with a colorful pen (usually purple or green). It's easier to spot mistakes when it's physically in front of me.

I tag:

My Life as a Teacup and Sonya Cheney!

Are any of you writers?

What do you write and what's your process?

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