Got questions? Back to Blog
I’d thought I’d open the blog up for questions for a few days. So, do you have any questions for me? If so, ask away!
Tweet It
I’d thought I’d open the blog up for questions for a few days. So, do you have any questions for me? If so, ask away!
Tweet ItWant to stay updated on Cynthia's latest releases, exclusive giveaways, and special promotions?
Available 01/28/2025
Cruel Ice
Ice Breaker, Book 12
Available Now
Wed Or Dead
A Hot Shifter Romance
Available Now
Holding Out For A Holiday Hero
A Ho-Ho Hot Holiday Romance
Available Now
The Fallen Box Set
Books 1 to 4
Hi Cynthia,
I have a question about discipline. Even though I am desperate to write, unfortunately it seems to take a beating to other things going on in my life. By the time I actually get the opportunity to sit down and write, I’m usually exhausted (I have a business, kids, husband, dogs, cats blah blah blah). Can you share any rituals, disciplinary practices, mindset or routines you put in place to help you find the time to write? Someone told me that his mentor told him, “if you can only find time to write at 4 in the morning, then write at 4 in morning!”.
Hi, Carlette! Oh, finding time to write can be a major challenge. I do have friends who get up early and write from 5 to 7 a.m. I’m not a morning person, so that option wasn’t possible for me. Instead, I’m a late night writer. If I get in bed before midnight, I think it’s something special. 🙂
My advice is this…start smile. Plan to write for 20-30 minutes a day. If you have a laptop, try taking it with you to work and maybe you can squeeze in some time during lunch. If you’re a morning person, set the alarm to ring 30 minutes earlier. If you’re a night owl, then type while your family sleeps. Experiment a bit and you will find a rhythm that will work for you.
I’ve also heard lots of writers use the oven-timer technique. In the evenings, they grab an old oven-timer and set it for 30 minutes. They tell their families that they can’t be disturbed until the timer rings. So you get 30 fast minutes of writing time. Now, sure the timer won’t work if you’ve got really young kids (my 4 year old would not respect the timer!), but it’s an option I wanted to throw out to you.
One of my friends has actually written a book on finding time to write. In case you’re curious, it’s at: http://www.amazon.com/Time-Write-Professional-writers-writing/dp/1598694383/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274196364&sr=8-1.
Good luck!
Whoops! Sorry, just saw my typo, Carlette. My second paragraph should have began: “My advice is this…start simple.” Though I’m sure smiling will help, too!
Cindy, I’m smiling. lol No questions, though I have the time thing too. My email is crazy on Mondays and Tuesdays, and I haven’t learned how to ignore it.
Cynthia, the timer is great idea! Thanks!
I have a question, are you planning on writing a story for Lucus from IMMORTAL DANGER? Think we have asked you this before but I can’t remember if you said yes or no. If the answer is yes, do you have know when you would have time to write his story?
Thanks Cynthia 😀
I have one more question 😀 You write the erotic scenes very well. I think I write erotica well also. However, my problem is (and I’m not sure it’s actually a problem) that I may give TOO many details. I don’t write smut (big difference) but I think sometimes I give too much 😀 How do you write sex without making it sound like a tag team or a gymnastics workout?
Start smile 😀 heeee!
O.K. What are you reading and enjoying at the moment?
When you have finished a book is it ‘done’ in your mind or do you ever think ‘oh I wished I had done x y z in that one’?
And is there ever going to be a sequel for Colin and Emily – heeee, couldn’t resist that one! 😀
Oh, Edie, I feel your email pain! After the weekend, sometimes I think my email box wants to explode. I belong to a ton of yahoo groups and they always get busy on the weekend!
My pleasure, Carlette! Good luck!
Hi, Michele! Oh, there will definitely be a story for Lucas! I’ve written it, turned it in to my lovely editor, and I am just waiting on a release date. It will be released after Zane’s story (ETERNAL FLAME) so I know Lucas’s story (which I gave the tentative title of CHARMING THE BEAST) will be out in 2011. As you can probably guess from the title, the heroine that I gave Lucas is a charmer. Um, literally.
I’ve used charmers as secondary characters in several of my books, but this was finally my chance to let one take center stage.
When I get more details about the release date, the blurb, etc., I’ll be sure to post right away.
LOL, Carlette, that is a fun question! Okay, when in doubt, just take a step back from the scene. If you think you’re getting into too many physical details, then switch to the emotional aspect. Focus on what your characters are feeling instead of what they are doing. Does that make sense? 🙂
Hey, Willa!!
Right now, I am reading MY SOUL TO TAKE and after that, I can’t wait to get my greedy hands on Amanda Quick’s BURNING LAMP (though I’m making myself finish edits before I get to BURNING LAMP).
And what an interesting question…hmm…no, once a book is finished, I don’t generally go back and wonder about changing scenes. But I *do* change during the writing process. Sometimes a scene that I have written just feels wrong and it nags at me until I change it. I think b/c of this as-I-go nagging, I don’t second guess when the story is done.
As for Colin and Emily…I do so love them! So anything could be possible in the future.
Squeeee! at the possibility of more Colin & Emily! 😀 Thankyou for answering my questions – all 3 of them (greedy I know!)
Is there a genre you’ve never written but would like to write and what is it? How did you make the decision to write? If you weren’t a writer, what would you do instead?
Yes, it totally makes sense. Thank you. LOL I could sit at your knee all day. Thanks, Cynthia.
If we may see Colin and Emily again, does that mean we may see Niol again? Pretty please? *G*
Oh wow. The possibility of more Colin??? **faints**
Hi, Sheila! One day, I’d like to try my hand at a futuristic or sci-fi. Oh–and horror (straight horror, no romance). Just for fun b/c I am addicted to horror movies.
And I always wanted to write. After I graduated college, life got in the way a bit and I had to re-find my passion for writing, but, once I found it, I didn’t lose it again!
Hmmm…If I weren’t writing, I’d be teaching. (I was a history teacher before I became a full-time writer.)
And glad that made sense, Carlette!
LOL, Brandy, I love Niol. He may pop up in a future book as a secondary character, just because he is cool like that. I’m open to lots of possibilities for my characters!
Hi Cynthia,
I enjoyed reading your book “Immortal Danger” and I am very happy to hear that you have written a book about Lucas’s character. I would like to know, if you are going to write another book to update us on Adam Brody niece Cammie?
Hi, Angela! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed Immortal Danger–thank you! Ah, Cammie…I would very much like to write about her. I added bits about Cammie and Lucas’s younger brother in Charming The Beast (I think that book will be out in 2011) so you’ll definitely be getting an update!