Tamra Norton's Blog

I've been at this writing thing now for six and a half years. And I've always been a one-project-at-a-time writer. I wrote this way through my first five novels--and it worked well. I simply wouldn't start into a new project until I'd finished the current WIP (work in progress).

But life can get complicated. It did for me. I was asked to write a non-fiction book on homeschooling by a different publisher (which will hopefully be released in 2008--fingers crossed). I started into a picture book project (which will hopefully be released in 2008--fingers crossed). I went on a month-long book tour in 2006. I went on an agent quest in 2007, with several prospects that eventually fell flat. And school visits.... And marketing.... And more marketing.... And throughout all of this "other stuff" I managed to get half-way through two different manuscripts--one middle grade, and one LDS YA. I seriously felt like I had writer's ADD. I simply couldn't focus because I had so many "spoons" in so many different "pots," and yet there was still no dinner on the table!

Am I alone here? Do you ever get so many writing projects going that you feel like your head is spinning?

So one by one, I finished each project to the best of my ability. I mentioned the hopeful release dates of the homeschooling book, and the picture books (all in the hands now of the publishers), and I finally finished the middle-grade novel, MAKE ME A HOME, which will be released in Feb., 2008.

That leaves me with a half-written LDS YA novel. And there is a reason I left it for last. IT SUCKS! Okay, not really. :) It has many really fun moments. But overall, I think I was trying to write a book that just wasn't ME! And the plot has serious issues. I think I've figured out how to fix it, but it would take a major re-write, which some day, I hope to get to. But overall, I've completely lost that lovin' feeling for this manuscript. I'm not even sure I had it from the beginning. It was more like a blind date that just wouldn't end. I've never before felt like I was "fighting" with a manuscript, like I have with this one. Am I crazy?!!!!

So what do I do?

I keep writing--but NOT on the previously mentioned LDS YA manuscript (we've pretty much broken up at this point, maybe for good). But, please, don't cry for me. You see, I'm head-over-heels-and-tingly-all-over in love with my current WIP--a totally different LDS YA manuscript. And this one is ALL ME!!! I don't feel like I'm trying be some other writer when I work on this manuscript. And it feels pretty dang good. To quote my character, Allie in MAKE ME A HOME, "I feel chocolate-chip cookie good!"

I'm in love again!

(And again, I must ask the question--am I crazy?)

Summertime is my care-free writing time. During the school year if I want to get writing in, it usually happens after my little ones are in bed (a.k.a. Quiet Time). Sometimes I can sneak off to my bedroom in the afternoon with my AlphaSmart and pound out a page or two. But often, because I was up late writing, I find that I'd rather take a nap than write. (sigh...)

I'm curious. When do YOU find quiet time to write? Do you even need quiet time to write? Do you write listening to music? Or do you need total silence?

Come to think of it, I can actually be quite productive writing in a noisy, busy Whataburger. I think the difference is that no one is tugging on my shirt asking for a cookie or asking me to tell their brother to quit calling them a stinkypoopooface!