Monday, August 25, 2014

Hiatus Ends

So ... I'm back after my lengthy hiatus. 

I've missed you all so very much. (Yes, that's wordy, but I've really missed you.) 

I'd like to thank each of you - especially our newer Alleywalkers - for sticking with me during my summer break. It's ALWAYS tough for me to veer away from anything I do, me being the over-achieving control freak that I am, but with writing it seems to be worse. Taking a vacation from the whole creative process of writing is like pinching a knot in my oxygen tank. Part of the sustenance for my existence is zapped. 

Saying that, shifting gears for a bit can be productive. Over the past two years, I've found it necessary. It leads me to write clearer and more efficiently. My creative head-space heats up dormant/lazy neurons and ignites a fire deep inside that's only squelched by mapping out stories and meeting new characters. 

I love my characters, have I ever told you that? 

Weaving them from the first stitch is my favorite element of the writing process. That's part of what I've been doing ~ creating characters for two new novels I'm going to write. One will most likely be YA. But the other cast of characters has decided to lead me to the New Adult realm. Initially, I was scared to death to enter that arena of literature: the age where one is actively living in the world, being part of the world, yet still trying to form his or her mark in it all. 

So, how exactly have I been creating those new characters? Well, that, as well as my decision to dive into writing for older readers will have to be for another post - actually a few posts that will cover:

~ anxiety upon return
~ fifty shades of this writer
~ reading stimulation
~ letting go
~ writing age ranges & what they mean
~ emotions that draw
~ creative character traits
~ writing exercises
~ head space treadmill

Previous commitments have already been made to a few authors over the next few weeks. I will, however, sporadically squeeze in each above post as I can.

Now, enough about moi. How did summer treat you? 
 photo Sheri2.png  

39 comments:

  1. Yay! Good to read you're back. Good luck with the writing process. I've recently ventured into the New Adult realm, and enjoy writing those characters.

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    1. Oh, that's awesome! Looking forward to hearing more about those NA characters.

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  2. Glad your back. Hope you enjoyed your break. Good luck with your new writing projects. Hoping to get back to my writing after the Fall.

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    1. Thanks for the luck! Appreciate it. And back at you when you return after the Fall.

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  3. I love NA. It's so much fun to write. Good luck with it, Sheri.

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  4. Welcome back to blogging. Writing NA is fun. When I first wrote my series, it was classified as YA (since NA didn't exist) but it's really NA.

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    1. Ooh, that's interesting. I bet that happened a lot earlier on. That's actually one reason I put off trying my hand at the NA age group. I'm so glad there's a classification for it now.

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  5. Hey, Sher! Good to see you again!

    :)

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  6. Good to see you, Sheri. My summer has been productive with two book releases - your boy Ayden has his own story now ;) But now I've got my head buried way deep into the writing side of things and hope to finish the first draft of Super Villain Academy 3 THIS WEEK! Fingers crossed it all comes together. Have fun in the NA world!

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  7. Welcome back, Sheri! A creative break can recharge us. Look forward to your take on those topics.

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  8. You're back! Hope your break was productive (it certainly sounds as if it was). After writing three MG novels in four years, I'm attempting to write YA. Oh, and I was in Maine for a week at the beginning of August. It was lovely.

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    1. You were? That's awesome! Yeah, Maine is really love a lovely state. Just wish the winters weren't so dang cold. But, we're a hockey family so what else could I expect. LOL

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  9. Welcome back, and huzzah for planning to write a new adult novel. I'm having big fun writing NA!!! And I have a new one coming out on Sept 29! Cheers.

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  10. Sounds like you've got some intriguing stuff up your sleeve! Exciting! :)

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    1. Gosh, I sure hope so. I've really worked hard all summer long, just reading and letting my mind take me to places I haven't allowed myself before. I'll explain some of that in a few posts soon.

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. Welcome back! Writing NA is fun. Fighting the reputation that it's just young erotica is not. Good luck!

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  12. Sheri, Glad you're back!
    I find that I really need to take more breaks. I didn't get one this summer, and I think my creativity languished for that.

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  13. Glad to see you back! I find that I need to take breaks, too, and I'm more creative if I step away for awhile from writing, especially after I've finished a project.
    Good for you for tackling something new, like NA!

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  14. Nice to have you back. I write YA and my publisher keeps boinking me on the head telling me to dumb down the words. I understand to a point, but I also feel that teenagers that read are smarter than we think. Going NA would help with that, and I wish you luck.

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  15. Sheri, what a great post! I'm really looking forward to whatever you've got coming :) As for me, the season doesn't matter much other than whether we're using air-conditioning, heat or have to shovel snow. I'm indoors most of the time, don't vacation (haven't gotten to the beach in years *sigh*), and my son is married so I'm not in the "kids in school" part of my life anymore, plus the thing I prefer about winter is NO landscapers! :)

    I've been busy though, working on submissions post-conference and now finally concentrating on getting my blogs launched. Thanks for asking! Can't wait to hear about you and your characters :D

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  16. Welcome back, Sheri!! I missed seeing you around here, but I completely understand! So excited for your upcoming posts and this new turn in genre for you. I switched genres recently from contemp. romance to YA, so that was a bit of a jump for myself. It is amazing how it challenges you to reach beyond what you think you are capable of. It's such a great feeling! Good luck as you map out these new characters for your novels.

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    1. Ooh, I look forward to hearing what you have to say about writing YA! Best of luck with it.

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  17. Welcome back, Sheri!

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  18. Welcome back! Summer went by way too fast. Good luck with mapping out your new characters. Sounds like fun!

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  19. Sheri! Welcome back. Glad to have you back in the thick of things. Looking forward to the posts, and lady, here's to knowing when to take a break and being brave enough to do it!

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    1. Yeah, I wouldn't necessarily label myself as brave, but I did see the need to shift gears for a bit. It's great to be back!

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  20. Great to see you here again. There was a hole in my blogging universe while you were gone. Summer has been hectic, but I'm treading water. Will take my break in Nov.

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    1. Aw ... CLee. Now I'm blushing. Thank you so much! It's strange how much I miss everyone and all our writerly chats when I take a break.

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  21. Glad to see you back! Glad your summer was good :)

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  22. Welcome back. I love meeting new characters. Happy writing.

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    1. Thanks so much! Same to you. Looking forward to seeing what you've been up to.

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  24. Two new novels, that's great! Summer was good. I've been editing like crazy, finally got the revision back to my agents. Now I'm starting a new book too! Also in a realm I've never been, the Civil War. Exciting and daunting at the same time!

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  25. Welcome back. Sounds like it's been a reflective and productive summer. I look forward to reading your future posts.

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  26. YaY Sheri! So glad you are creating and loving it. I'm thrilled to be here to read those characters you're creating. xoxo

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    1. Right on! And thanks for your enthusiasm over my new characters. Still developing, but can't wait for you to meet them!

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  27. Welcome back! It sounds like you accomplished a great bit on your blogging hiatus. I am eager to read your future post and glad to be back from my blogging hiatus (disappearance) as well. I have a lot of bloggers to catch up with.

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