Easter, Spring and Sunsine

Now, this is more like it!

Sunshine, blue skies, melting snow - I'm starting to believe Spring is finally here!

I like to write, in any season. Tapping away at my laptop with a blustery Winter day outside feels cozy. Working outside on a bright Summer's day is a delight. And tea, typing and a crisp Autumn day is also enjoyable.

But there's something about Spring that energizes me to come up with new ideas, brainstorm my next novel, finish what I've started, and simply to write, write, write!

My second manuscript is pretty much as done as I can make it. My critique partner gave me some valuable advice and my husband is reading it now to make sure I haven't made any embarrassing errors. At the very least, it's ready to sit for a few weeks before I review it again.

So I've started on manuscript Number Three. Right now I''m simply getting to know my characters, figuring out their back story, and deciding what part of their lives I will be documenting.  I took a great RWA course in January about letting your characters create the plot, which made a lot of sense to me.  For a "panster" (someone who doesn't like to spend a lot of time planning) like me, it means I have to figure out who my people are, before I can decide what they're going to do. And I really like that idea.  It opens me up to changing the plot of the book as I go, because as long as I know the characters really well, they'll take charge without me having to map out every chapter.

Spring Fever to me means getting down and dirty with another book.  I can't wait!