Memories of the Writing Process

Some memories are funny, let me tell you. Like the one time when I was doing a dance in my chair while I was writing. Billy was standing there, watching me without saying a word. Because it was dark in the room, I didn't know he was there. I was mouthing the words, wiggling my butt, and just happened to look up. Boy, did I jump! We both laughed. I can't sit still when I listen to music. I'm either tapping my foot, dancing, or wiggling something. The beat always gets me moving lol. I like to sing along too, but sometimes I can't do that lol.

Another time that I was caught in the middle of doing something was another funny moment. As I stared at the page, trying to think of the words, I was (again) listening to music and singing. I wasn't very loud. But it did get Billy's attention, and he came running into the room, making a commotion. Again, I jumped lol. I'm into the story, so sometimes I'm not as alert, and things come at me and I jump out of being scared. I wasn't expecting things, which by now, should be, especially with a funny guy like Billy. He has me laughing all the time!

I made my husband afraid once. Early in my career, Billy and I were on a walk. It was a late evening, and we walked by a darkened alley. As I looked down the alley, an idea for a new book popped into my head, and I blurted out, "What if a man was sleepwalking and he killed a guy?" He was like, "Amber, I don't know about you--you scare me." Later on, I took that idea and wrote the story. Of course, things were changed (was the sleepwalking guy the killer? I won't tell you lol). Sometimes, I have no control over my mouth, and things just fall out. I've gotten a few surprised expressions from people over my stories.

I tend to talk to myself too. I've been caught a few times doing that. I'll say something, and Billy will respond to it. Not knowing he's just around the corner, I'm like "what the..." And I'll tell him, "No, it's for my book."

I've physically yelled at some of my characters, telling them not to go into the room, or have a feeling like I'd been there before. I have this one book that is on my list to be written, which came from two separate dreams. During the second dream, I remember thinking to myself in the dream that I'd dreamed it before. That was how I knew I was dreaming. Just like that, I had to write it. And then other ideas came for other books to make it a series. That was when the idea went on the list.

There have been a few times, we'll be watching a movie and I'll blurt something out. Billy will turn and just stare at me. His eyes would be wide, and his jaw--drop open. Again, no control. I get super excited about these things, maybe more than I should. I chalk it up to being bipolar. It's the only explanation I can think of. At the drop of a hat, my emotions change.

They do say a writer is a writer 24/7, and I believe it. I can't look at something like normal people do. I'm not normal. I'm weird, and I love that about myself. My kids are weird too, so I know they get it from me.

I had a book that refused to move forward. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. I thought it was me for a quick minute. Writer's block can do that. As I stared at the page, words refusing to come, I started thinking--maybe the beginning is wrong. I went back and reread it several times. And then I figured it out. That's what it was, the beginning was late--I needed something else to happen before this beginning, and then I could play on that. I hit enter a few times to push those lines down and started writing, adding a new beginning. It was flowing again. The excitement grew, and the story became so much better. I had to edit what I had already written because of the big change, but it pushed those words out and made it so I could continue with the story. This happened two or three times now. It is one of the only times I'll stop to edit what I've already written before the ending is finished. I have poor memory, so this is a must-do so I don't forget things.

Speaking of bad memory. I remember once I was writing something down, and it felt like I had already written the scene. I was so worried that I was repeating myself that I had to stop writing, and I read through the entire book just to make sure. Of course, I hadn't, but the nagging feeling was too strong to ignore. That deja vu feeling I had went away, but I did feel odd that it hit me like that.

Some of my memories are sad. Before having my first laptop, I could only write at the library, which meant my books had to be stored on a floppy disc. I knew nothing about backing up different files. I had gone to Indianapolis with Billy, and I was able to get on a computer at the Indiana Purdue University Indianapolis. I inserted the disc and it said it needed to be formatted in order for the file to be read. So, I had it formatted. This deleted the entire file. I was so mad. After that, I had to rewrite the entire book. After that, because I was on different devices, the computers would mess up these files. I would have to fix them before I could continue to write. And then, all of my work (and the paper versions) were lost. All gone. I gave up on the one story--I had been through too much by this time. I thought it was a sign. About a year later, the main character started haunting me. This was how I knew she was real--let me tell you. I had tossed out the notes for the book because I didn't have the story anymore; I thought it was useless to keep the notes handy. After Emily Peterson started visiting my dreams and thoughts at all hours of the day, I gave in. I'm so happy I did because Peterson Estate wound up being the 3rd book I published traditionally. It was the first book I ever finished. I have to tell you, those people who say your first book will never be published are lying. That was my first thought when I was reading the acceptance letter. Don't ever throw out that first book because anything is possible.

Those are a few of my memories of the writing process. Do you have any memorable events during your writing process? Share them below. Thank you!!