The Sire

A little creative writing to brighten up your day…

Pitchfork & Pen—Harvey Wasn’t Just a Rabbit

I don’t think there is anyone in the U.S. that doesn’t know that our country is under the onslaught of Hurricane Harvey.

Traveling Foodie

 

I love being a writer. Really love it. But if someone said to me that I could never write again, and I could choose some other fun thing to do, I think I would be a food critic.

Progress

Finally!

Today I sent the last of the manuscript for book three in the Knights of Kismera series to my editor.

I can breathe a sigh of relief now. I had begun to wonder if I was ever going to finish The Dragon’s Tear.

I was about halfway through when the dreaded writer’s block happened—two months of nothing. Usually, I couldn’t write more than a line or two. Then the next day I would read over it and reject it.

I couldn’t even come up with blog posts or my newsletter. It was torture. UGH!!!!!

Then, one day it was as if the fog just blew away. The characters had things to say, and when I had time to write I couldn’t get it down fast enough. I still didn’t get the other writing responsibilities done, but it was because I was putting all of my energy into the manuscript.

I was discussing the progress of my writing and how I hated writer’s block with my family one day. My daughter looked at me and very calmly said, “But Mom, you get it at some point with every book.”

I thought it over and she was right. I lock up with every project. No clue why, but it happens with each novel.

Now I’m sitting here with mixed emotions. Is it just a normal part of my process? Do I have this issue to look forward to for any future work? Does that involuntary break make my writing better? Is being a frustrated writer “cool”?

The good news is that I have no shortage of ideas for future novels. I have at least four more in the file box in the back of my brain, as well as a few ideas that could become novellas.

So the plan of action is this: decide on the next project, sit down, start writing, and don’t sweat something that may or may not happen.

Read more from Tamara Hartl!

Pitchfork & Pen—Happy Little Sky

I am lucky enough to be up in the morning when the sun rises, and my drive home from work allows me to enjoy the sunset.

Pitchfork & Pen—What’s in Your Tack Room?

What would the non-horsey person expect to find in your average tack room?

I would imagine they expect to find tack of course—hence the term ‘tack room’, even if they are not exactly sure what “tack” is.

Pitchfork & Pen—The Voices Aren’t Always Nice

I did a post recently about how writer’s “hear” characters and their “voices.”

I’m at a point in the creation of my third novel, The Dragon’s Tear, where I’m working with an antagonistic character that at first didn’t really have a voice.