I’ve Been Tagged in an Author’s Blog Hop!

Here’s how this this whole HOP thing started:
The wonderful Nancy Viau tagged me to answer 4 questions about my writing. She answered on her own blog, and I have to answer the same 4 questions here.

So now, it’s my turn to answer the Blog Hop questions:

What are you working on now?
After finishing final edits on three new books this year, I am in that wonderful place where I am picking a project to focus on next. Usually, it is either setting or character that speak to me when I’m getting started. So, I’m listening carefully just now. Can’t wait to see what voice calls the loudest!

How does it differ from other works in the genre?
One of the projects I’m considering is a middle grade novel, my 4th, which right now is in verse. Most middle grade novels are not written in verse, but for some reason, the main character’s voice came to me in very short, very deliberate phrases, which seemed to fit well into verse.

Why do you do what you do?
I write because when I’m not writing, I’m usually thinking about what I could be writing.

What is the hardest part about writing?
The hardest part of writing is being patient. A writer must be patient enough to know that a first draft is never a great draft. And tenth drafts don’t come without writing the first nine.  A writer must be patient enough not to submit too soon. A writer must be patient enough to wait for agents and editors to respond. And, then, after a sale is made, an writer must be patient enough to get through edits and production. But the good news is:  While a writer is doing all that writing, she can  – WRITE!