Fiona McGier, EroticRomance Author

Why such big gaps between my books?

1/21/2023

Welcome to the first Round Robin Blog of the year. We even have a new logo for 2023, thanks to Connie Vines. Each month, we're given a prompt, and write to it. This month's prompt is:
New Beginnings - how do you motivate yourself to get back to writing when life has interrupted your flow and/or, how do you begin a new writing challenge?

Finding the time to write is always a huge challenge for me. I'm a teacher who subs in a local high school, and some weeks, I'm there everyday. I just looked at my calendar and today is the first day I've been off since we started back after the holiday break. Phew! As my author personna, I've got 2 new contracts, and the edits on one book have begun. But when I get home from subbing, I do a Jazzercise class (I do it on-line, from home, for safety and convenience.) Then I make dinner, eat when my husband gets home from the gym he stopped at after work, then we both read for a while. Then we have to get to bed early, to be up at 6am for another day. Saturdays are for chores and errands. Sundays we try to talk to one or more of our kids who live out of state--as well as to each other--LOL.

So for me, it's not that I have to force myself to sit at my laptop to write--it's that I have to find the time. But that doesn't mean there aren't always stories simmering away in my mind. A chance scene, a glimpse of a sexy man, or a bit of music can be all the inspiration I need. My brain joins with my muse and another story begins in my head. Then it's a matter of finding the time to sit and write. But the story is always in the background, writing itself, waiting--sometimes not so patiently--for me to put it into my laptop.

Currently I have 2 manuscripts about half-completed, and another story is simmering where my characters cool their heels waiting for me to let them entrance readers. Oh, and did I mention I also review romance books? I post reviews on Romance Junkies, Goodreads, and Book Bub--sometimes on my blog here. (See the previous post.)

How do other authors motivate themselves? Hop along on the blog to see!

Dr. Bob Rich            https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2OQ
Anne Graham          https://goo.gl/h4DtKv
Connie Vines           http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Diane Bator             https://dbator.blogspot.com/
A.J.                         http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Victoria Chatham     http://www.victoriachatham.com
Marci Baun              https://www.marcibaun.com/blog
Skye Taylor             http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Bob Rich link

1/21/2023 02:17:14 am

Fiona, in ancient days when I worked 9 - 10 hour days, I used the few-seconds method. I'd be with a client for 55 minutes, then I had up to 20 minutes to write up the session and do the reading for the next person. If that only took 10 minutes, I had time for luxuries like a bathroom call -- and writing a few paragraphs.

Fiona McGier link

1/22/2023 08:59:38 pm

I can't do anything on-line at school, because that would leave a trail leading to my author name. Since the teenagers are so much better than me at navigating the internet, I can't take any chances, since what I write is for adults only. So I have to wait until I'm home to do any writing. But thanks for your insights, Bob. And thanks for stopping by.

Skye Taylor link

1/21/2023 05:42:45 am

Like you, there always seem to be ideas simmering and like you, when I worked full time, finding the time was the challenge. I haven't got that excuse since I retired from the 9-5 rat race. Anyway, congrats on the contracts and wishing you lots of success with the books in progress.

Fiona McGier link

1/22/2023 09:01:04 pm

Thanks for coming by, Skye, and for your kind words. I hope to be able to retire sometime. But until then, I treasure whatever time I can give to my writing.

Aimee Mann

1/21/2023 06:17:01 am

I applaud you that you are able to find the time to write! Or carve out the time to write. There is something to be said about forced time away from the manuscript. Your mind has to think about and run through various ways a scene can go down before you even make it to the keyboard to write.

Fiona McGier link

1/22/2023 09:03:19 pm

Hi Aimee, nice of you to come by. Yes, my mind is always working on plot points and solutions to problems I might be pondering. By the time I DO get to sit and write, I'm usually able to get into the flow easily, for that reason.

Marci link

1/21/2023 01:58:55 pm

You sound incredibly busy. It’s amazing that you get any writing done. That’s a testament to how important it is to you and how much you love it. After reading your blog, I realize I have no excuse. 😊

Fiona McGier link

1/22/2023 09:06:46 pm

Hey Marci, all of us are busy people. After all, our brains are busy all of the time, since stories are always in there waiting to come out! I try not to compare myself to any other authors, since we're all in different situations. I'd love to find out how to capture the universal zeitgeist and find I have the newest best-seller! But I still get a big kick out of getting to tell my stories. Thanks for popping in.

Victoria Chatham link

1/23/2023 03:49:32 pm

Busy people are often more organized because they have to be. I think back to my working days when I got up half an hour earlier to write. Now I don't get going until after my second cup of coffee!

Fiona McGier link

1/24/2023 03:05:13 pm

There are 2 kinds of people in the world, Victoria. Morning larks, who wake up with a smile on their lips and a song in their hearts. And night-owls, who don't--but who can stay up late any day of the week. You must be the former. I'm the latter. Husband and daughter wake up smiling every day, even on weekends, at the same time. I sleep in whenever I can, so I can stay up later! Thanks for stopping by.

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