Writing Series

I've always loved series. Reading them and now writing them. I feel like the first book is setting the stage--introducing the characters, world, and premise. In this case, a divorced couple with major unfinished business. Most romance books end with weddings. That's where I begin. I like to know what happens after that.

When I write the first book, I don't know much. I'm trying to understand the setting and characters just like the readers. It's during the second and third book that I really get to have fun. Now that the foundation is set, I get to explore and dig. I love peeling back the layers and letting the story rise to the surface. No matter how much I think I know, the characters never fail to surprise me. The story always deviates from the path I meticulously set and I always feel this sense of wonderment when things start to come together. Books really are magic.

In book 1, I try not to give too much or too little because I don't want to box myself into a corner. You need options and opportunity because you don't know the whole story yet. I have my suspicions about certain things, but it isn't until I'm in the thick of the next book and lay out the pieces that I discover the jagged pieces I've carved don't quite fit together. Most of the time, they need to be refined. I had an idea for an event that Jasmine and Roth would attend. I thought it would be an interesting scene, nothing more. But from the moment they walked into this place, other characters I didn't even know existed appeared out of nowhere and took over. I had no idea how monumental this party would be or the shit storm it would unleash. Something keeps cropping up in Bitter Secrets that wasn't even in my notes, something briefly mentioned in book 1 that I never gave a second thought to and has now become a huge point of contention for Jasmine that she needs to overcome... I don't know where all this stuff comes from. I'm telling you, it's magic.

Her hand fell and her voice trembled as she whispered, “Roth.”

He must have understood the hidden plea in her tone because his eyes narrowed. “No."

Her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t.”

His eyes dropped to her lips. “Yes, you can.”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“Because I can’t help myself.”

Draft of Bitter Secrets © 2021 Mia Knight

If you want access to snippets hot off my keyboard, visit my Patreon where I drop nuggets from my WIP two to three times a week. Note: even if you join at the end of the month you will still be charged on the 1st so you may want to wait until then to join if you're interested :)

Question of the week:

This was submitted by Tasnia: How do you stop the expectations or doubts of others from interfering with your work? If you're interested in fantasy or dark romance, for example, and the people around you judge you for being interested in those instead of contemporary fiction, how do you keep writing? And as a writer with an audience, do you ever get intimidated by the expectations others put on you when you're about to release and how do you cope with it? I have never tried publishing any of my work, but I'm almost too scared to even try considering the amount of people who would be looking over my shoulder at my hobbies and judging them.

Wow. That's a lot. Okay, let's break this shizz down.

• How do you stop the expectations or doubts of others from interfering with your work?

The simple answer is, you have to not care what other people think. I know that this is easier said than done, but listening to yourself and not others is the only way you will succeed. A way to accomplish this is to remove myself from social media (which I have done) and I don’t read reviews. Unless someone personally writes me to tell me how terrible I am (and they do), I am none the wiser. And even if they get in my face or send me nasty shit, that’s okay. I shrug it off and move on. I’m not seeking anyone’s approval. If people like my work, that’s great and if they don’t, that’s ok. I’ll survive.

And if you’re around people who doubt you (not sure what you mean by this), you need to distance yourself from these people ASAP. You will battle self-doubt on a daily basis. You don’t need someone else putting their issues on your shoulders. You have work to do. Distance yourself from those who are putting you down and find new friends.

• And as a writer with an audience, do you ever get intimidated by the expectations others put on you when you're about to release and how do you cope with it?

This kind of goes hand in hand with the question above. Yes, I get intimidated and sometimes I freak out and want to hide under the covers, but eventually I return to the same realization I mentioned above: it doesn’t matter what others expectations are. All I can do is do what I’ve always done—write for myself and hope that someone will enjoy the story. It is impossible to write something that will please everyone, especially hundreds or thousands of people. You have to stick to your vision or you’ll end up with a messy book that makes no sense. There’s only room for one author, one director, one composer. You’re the master of your work. Don’t let anyone take that from you.

This quote seems appropriate :)

Focus on what you love and are curious about. You’ll be amazed how a story you write for yourself will resonate with someone halfway across the world. By staying true to yourself, you’ll draw like-minded people to you. You don’t have to change who you are to appeal to anyone. Those who are meant to find you, will.

• If you're interested in fantasy or dark romance, for example, and the people around you judge you for being interested in those instead of contemporary fiction, how do you keep writing?

This is an interesting question. I grew up in an extremely religious, traditional, and conservative family. They disapproved of Harry Potter so you can imagine how they felt about anything remotely sexual. So, how did I become a dark romance author? I ignored what they thought and did it anyway. I read what I wasn’t supposed to read. I wrote what I wasn’t supposed to write. I needed to write more than I needed their approval. I owned who I was and just moved forward.

• I have never tried publishing any of my work, but I'm almost too scared to even try considering the amount of people who would be looking over my shoulder at my hobbies and judging them.

If your family or friends are this fixated on you, I would run as far and fast from them as possible. What you want to do or what you’re interested in is none of their business. This is your life, not theirs. If you’re around people like this, I definitely wouldn’t tell them what I’m doing. When people ask me what I do, I say I either work online and if they push, I say I’m a book editor for some indie authors. This technically isn’t a lie since I revise my work. LOL.

The beginning when you’re an unknown should be the best part! No one knows you exist and that’s liberating. You have no audience so you can do no wrong. I think it’s why I keep writing under other pen names—there’s no expectations to live up to. It’s just you and the characters and that’s all that matters.

Now that I’m thinking about it, I may be able to shrug off criticism more easily than others because my family gave me such a hard time. To this day, I am still shunned and looked down upon by relatives who liken writing dark romance to being a porn star. If you can stand up to your family, you can take on the critics and haters. When you publish, everyone is going to beat you to a pulp. The further you progress into a writing career, the harder it gets. You have to love what you’re doing or you’ll quit.

This may not be the most inspirational advice, but it’s honest. I recently ran across this video, "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Summarized by the Author." This was actually amazing advice and his book is on my TBR. Have a listen. It may help you and save you a lot of pain in the long run.

Also, here are some quotes that I have collected that remind me why I do what I do and keep me focused: