Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Guest Blogger Karen Whiddon: Switching from Story to Story

Hello all - please join me in welcoming my good friend Karen Whiddon to DWT! Many of you may already know her as Karen W. from the comments. She's filling in for me today with her blog: Switching from Story to Story!


As a reader, I often am reading more than one book at a time. But truth is, if a book grabs me by the throat and won't let go, I can't read anything else.


When I'm writing a story, as I immerse myself in the world and get to know the people, it's sometimes difficult to let the story go. Sure, I type "The End" and email it off to my editor and sigh with relief and some sadness. It's over. At least until revisions or line edits.

Because I have tight deadlines, I often don't get to take too much time off between books. Ideally, I'd like to take at least a couple of weeks. But that's not always possible. The book I'm working on now - Broken Wolf, which will be out in September 2013 - I had to start the day after I turned in The Millionaire Cowboy's Secret (May 2013).

There were various reasons I had to do this, but because the deadline is December 1st and I have a writer's conference, a vacation, and Thanksgiving all occurring during that time period, I couldn't take time off. And while I really didn't have a choice, it might have been a mistake.

I keep confusing the two stories. Calling my hero Lucas by my other hero's name (Matt). Same with the heroine. And while I never forget that this couple are both Shape-shifters and the others weren't, it makes for a bit of confusion.

As a reader - or a writer - do you ever do that? Read a really great book and then find yourself needing to take time off before reading a new book?

Speaking of new books - please check out mine. The Cop's Missing Child was out from Harlequin Romantic Suspense in September, and The Wolf Princess is out from Harlequin Nocturne now (October). If you've never read me before, I have a free on-line read, Wolf Dreams, up at EHarlequin.net. A new chapter is posted every Monday, so chapter 4 goes live tomorrow. I hope to see you there!

Karen

9 comments:

Eileen said...

Congratulations on all the new books, Karen!

I do occasionally get stuck in a book. I don't necessarily take a break from reading -- I'm way too much of an addict for that -- but I do find myself returning in my mind to those characters or situations.

Maureen McGowan said...

I get confused between books all the time, especially when reading.

Congrats on the new book, Karen!!

Molly O'Keefe said...

oh it's awful - the name thing in particular!!! I'm usually able to take a little time between books, but what kills me is finishing a book and then rushing to get a proposal together - my brain HURTS!

Congratulations on the books Karen - and awesome to have you here!! We still have yet to have a drink together at conferences - we must remedy that soon!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the books and so great to have you here.. I get confused all the time. What's really bad right now is I've gone from writing present tense to writing a book in past tense and I'm mixing the tenses all the time right now..

Maureen McGowan said...

That tense thing gets me when I critique, Sinead... I've written so many books in present tense right now, that I start editing in my head for the first few pages every time I read something in past tense.

Stephanie Doyle said...


I'm having issues with writing continuing characters from book to book. I'm always like... when did he say that? Was that in the last book or this book?

Karen Whiddon said...

Drinks! Yes, that sounds awesome!

I'm slogging away - I've actually stopped going forward and am editing the nine chapters I already have written. I'm hoping if I do that, then I can move forward again.

John said...

Congrats on all new books

Accredited High School Diploma Online

Eileen said...

I keep forgetting what I've named someone's brother or cousin. Drives me nuts!

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