Cherise Sinclair recommended this blog post from Writers In The Storm Talking Back to Your Brain . As I read, there were several pauses and oh yeahs from me. The advice was aimed at writers, but it applies to so much of life.
Check it out then come back here and let me know what you think. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
The last twenty percent of every story I write is an emotional roller coaster ride for me. Beginnings chug along a word at a time, middles pick up the pace until it’s moving at a good clip and the end is a total speed rush.
By the final act I’m totally enmeshed in the story world and the characters are more real than my neighbors. When they hurt, I hurt, and when they find fresh hope I perk up again. So I’m trying not to get the keyboard too soggy while clicking furiously 
and trying to keep faith they’ll find a way to be together.
How’s your day?
The story is rolling past the three quarter mark and the couple has come a long ways. Both care about the other deeply and are connected in ways neither had never expected to find. Then lightening strikes at the love they fought so hard to build… They’re breaking my heart.
How’s your job going?
By this time I expected to be a lot further along with the contemporary. Thing have been rough.
The image at the top of this post illustrates how rocky romance is for the current couple. They aren’t even facing devious villains, rogue demons, or icy vampires. Ordinary humans cause each other plenty of suffering.
If I didn’t know there was a happy ending, I’d be discouraged.
How’s your job going?
Last week I posted about searching for your author voice and I mentioned finding your natural style was only the beginning.
Characters need a distinct voice too. Some of these arise naturally from the inner morass, thank goodness. While others have to be drawn out like flecks of gold hidden in river silt.
Once the characters are as nicely layered as a sweet onion, the story flows because if I fully understand who they are then I know what they would do in any situation. Building character remains the best and the hardest part of writing.
I love reading about struggles. Please share your frustrations with your own quest.
Beginning writers search for their voice as if it were a sacred relic. There are no shortcuts. Voice is built a word at a time.
I’ve read it takes about a million written words to shape one. Definitely not the answer I wanted when I started. But my experience bore out this particular piece of conventional lore. If you’re searching for a second, or third, opinion check out Chuck’s post: 25 Things Writer’s Should Know About Finding Their Voice.
Finding your voice is only the beginning of an endless quest to tell a good story…
Feel free to post agreement, rebuttal or irrelevant comments. 
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Warriors’ Woman releases this Friday! To celebrate I’m giving away a $25 Amazon gift card! All you need to do is leave a comment mentioning what you’d like for Valentines. Winner selected by random number drawing. Be sure to check back Friday to see if you won.
A couple of those cute rings must have slipped, because I’ve fallen a little behind on the current manuscript.
The good news is; I have two releases this month. 
Warriors’ Woman, Book One of the Seduction Mission series releases February 10th
Demon Hunters II, A Very Demon Valentine’s releases February 14th
Goodness knows what I’ll talk about next month. 
Do wonderful surprises fluster y’all too? Or is it just me?
The same way a baseball player wears the same lucky socks for each game, I practice my own superstitious rituals to coax the characters to reveal themselves. I sort through images to find ones that approximates the pictures in my head. I build a playlist of music that speaks for the story’s cast. Spreadsheets, notes, and sometimes drawings gradually fill a story’s notebook. Eventually the magic happens. The imaginary people take on life and the movie version begins to roll in my head.
And then the real work of capturing the right details to portray the action begins.
I keep adding to chapter one. By the time I’m satisfied all the important stuff has been included all I’ll need are a couple of graceful transitions and the first couple of chapters will done.
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Copyright © Evanne Lorraine 2008-2011. All Rights Reserved. | Design by Karen @ Swank Web Style
When both Hunter and Tru bond with Amber their mating triangle threatens everything they hold dear.
Determined to help rescue the princess, Cassandra agrees to act as the dragons’ sex slave, but can she guard her heart from the dominant males?
Camille, a plump, sweet-natured breeder, is caught in New Eden’s endless war with Baldor. Her mates, Jaxon and Aegis, need cunning and courage to rescue her. They need a miracle to capture her heart.
Werewolf-whisper Daniel is the only one who can heal Scarlet’s broken werewolf connection. If he succeeds then the pack’s needs will eclipse his claim on her heart. But if he fails, they'll both die.
A lonely woman finds passion with a dominant much younger lover, when she tries to leave she learns her new master plays for keeps.
One dangerous warrior woman plus two rogue demon males equals a love to threaten an empire.
Getting paid to watch Eduardo is Desiree’s dream assignment, but when he reaches out to her, crossing the line, everything changes.
Deep in her secret heart, she lusts for a sexy pirate who’d be her master and commander in the bedroom. But, this man may be too dangerous
She finds paradise in the arms of twin brothers, but their law demands she chose one warrior to mate and one to die.
One woman, two men, three wounded hearts--though already mated their love is still forbidden.