Confessions of a Pantster

I, Carol Ann Erhardt, do hereby swear that I am a pantster. I've tried to overcome this and become a plotter, but pantster roots are deeply imbedded in my creative genes. My latest foray into the plotting world was a storyboarding class. Why not? I thought. I liked the concept because it didn't take writing down a full synopsis prior to embarking on a new project. Instead I would have a nice neat foam board filled with pretty colored post-its and it would give me a picture of my novel in progress, keep me on track, and it would be easy to change as I went moved forward with the project. Great concept!

I actually created a beautiful storyboard. It sits in my office, looking impressive, but it intimidates me. Instead I started a totally different project with no outline, not storyboard, no synopsis. All I have is an idea of what the novel is to accomplish. I'm having a great time writing the project, and I'm not "curbed" by any outline or storyboard.

Maybe someday I'll write the novel I've outlined on my board, but for now, it sits...an idea...fully outlined...

I'm a pantster.

Carol Ann Erhardt
Coming August 29, JOSHUA'S HOPE
"A little boy who knows too much...a mother who will do anything to save him."
www.carolannerhardt.com

Who do you write like?

by Maggie Toussaint

I was recently asked this question at a booksigning for my romantic suspense, HOUSE OF LIES. Truthfully the question stumped me for several heart pounding seconds. I'd worked hard to write like me, so this question was especially difficult.

By a miracle a few NYT bestseller names in my genre popped into my head. "JD Robb, Lisa Scottoline, Lisa Gardner, Linda Howard." All the while I knew that my style wasn't like these giants, but at least our stories were both romance and suspense.

The woman said she'd never heard of them. I figured I'd lost the sale. Then she rattled off a list of straight romance authors she'd read and I had heard of them. When she paused for a breath, I said, "My book is like those books, but there's a big secret tossed in too."

Her eyes widened appreciatively and she handed me a book to sign for her.

Keep on writing!

Maggie Toussaint

House of Lies available now from TWRP

No Second Chance coming soon from TWRP