Hello everyone! I’m so glad to have acclaimed author and engineer, Linda Leigh Hargrove as our Friday Five guest today. I met Linda in 2019 at the Christian Book Lovers Retreat. We had a book table next to one another at their book fair, and we got to know each other during that time. I was so happy to learn that she is a multi-published author of many many books AND she is an engineer. (In other words, Linda is a-mazing)
Her latest book, Catch a Falling Star, is available now on Amazon. Click here to order it. Let’s dive into our Friday Five with Linda. She has so much wisdom to share about her writing process.
Friday Five Questions
Introvert or extrovert?
I’m an introvert which is not the same as being shy. Even extroverts can be shy or reluctant to present their whole self to the world at any given moment. Okay, now that disclaimer is out of the way. The best thing about being an introvert is that I enjoy my own company. I can go for long stretches of time and be very happy with my own thoughts and energy.
What is my writing style in a few words?
I’m an outliner. I used to just sit down and write but I tended to write directionless stories that way.
What is your writing process?
My outlining can take several different forms. Generally, I use either sticky notes or note cards to create the high-level outline of the plot then I’ll flesh it out bit by bit before sitting down to write. Things may shift and grow along the way but I try to stay the course. Before I even start the
outlining phase, I tend to write ‘in my head’ for weeks beforehand. When I realize that I’ve got characters and a story arc taking shape, I start putting the proverbial pen to paper.
How long does it take me to write a book?
That depends on the desired length, of course. Outlining helps me pace myself and ‘predict’ how many scenes, chapters, and pages I’ll end up with. I can easily write around 1,500 quality words per hour each day (I have a day job, by the way). By quality words I mean words that I will most likely keep in the final draft. Most writers call this ‘writing clean’. So if I write 1,500 “keeper” words a day, then it will take me 40 days to write a 60,000 first draft. I’ll probably take another week to revise and rewrite, and end up with 10,000 more words. That’s a novel, people. A novel! Created in less than two months by writing an hour per day. For me, an outline is critical to finishing successfully.
How do I deal with critiques of my work?
I used to fall apart when someone left a negative review on Amazon or Goodreads then I realized two things. Number one: My writing is not for everybody. Number two: Some critiques are opportunities for growth. Emphasis on SOME. Most are just people being haters. The trick is knowing the difference.
About her latest release, Catch a Falling Star
Mae Richards feels like a washed-up high school track coach. Should she quit something she loves doing (coaching track) because she’s no longer winning? When one of her track stars gets pregnant, Mae’s feelings of failure magnify. She’s reminded of her own crisis pregnancy in college that almost brought her stardom to an end. The sudden re-appearance of her old college flame Harrison Perry and former track star sends her reeling. Back in their college track days, Harrison had proposed marriage. She turned him down and regretted doing so. Should she let herself fall for Harrison Perry again or will it take more than she’s able to give?
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