Edie Ramer listed me in the I Love Your Blog tag. And said some lovely things about me, while she was at it. Just like her, I find it difficult to pick only seven favorite blogs, but between her and Cynthia Eden, who tagged Edie to start with, they’ve managed to cover most of my regular blogs, so I won’t choose any they have chosen, even though they are all every day stops for me.

1) History Hoydens: A group blog of 11 historical writers who give out great information, share references and generally ask thought-provoking questions. I love visiting their site.

2) Bookseller Chick: I’ve always loved this blog. BSC gives great marketing and trend info, and always has great links or posts that make you think.

3) Romancing the Blog: Time contraints mean I don’t visit this blog as much as I’d like, but I always find interesting, industry-related information at this blog.

4) Murder She Writes: A group blog of ten writers, there is always something interesting and informative up at this blog.

5) Editorial Ass: Witty, informative comment from an editoral assistant at a NY publishing house.

6) Lynne Simpson’s mix of philosophy, common sense and interesting stories from all over mean I always pay her blog a visit.

7) Beyond Her Book: Barbara Vey is a tireless champion of good books, and I’ve learned about more than one new title from her great blog on the Publisher’s Marketplace website.

You can list seven blog favorites of your own, or just bask in the light of the I Love Your Blog warm fuzzies.

I seem to relive every scene of my current WIP at the moment, especially while driving. I suddenly think of ways to deepen the scene, show more emotion, get a clearer sense of place. This happens with my other books, but this book I’m doing it for every scene.

I know it makes things better, so I’m not complaining, but it does slow the first draft down. I suppose it means there will be less to do at the end, not as much editing and polishing. Or I hope so.

And there is a popular song I hear a lot, and when I do, it triggers a movie trailer in my head for my WIP. What is nice about this is my imagination is forced to come up with the main events of the book to include in the trailer. Sort of a three minute summary to music. Keeps me focused, I can tell you.

Are you a get it all down and deal with the mess at the end writer? Or an edit and tweak as you go writer?

My writing has picked up, and I’m carving out time in my day, no matter what at the moment. My husband is away on business for most of November and December, and I’ll have to be really focused about getting my time in.

I just wrote a scene I loved. That great feeling when you write the last line of the scene, sit back and think, That ROCKED. I don’t get it often, but when I do . . . priceless.

American Title V started today. For those who don’t know anything about it, it is like the writer’s version of American Idol. 8 writers make it to the finals, and then they get voted off in 5 rounds. The first round started today, and each writer had to post the first line of their book. My supportive, brilliant and talented critique partner, Edie Ramer, is one of the finalists. Having critted DEAD PEOPLE, her finaling entry, I know how and why she made it to the finals of ATV. To vote for your favorite (no prizes guessing who mine is), you can go to the Romantic Times website and check out the first lines and vote. This is going to be so exciting. The prize is a publishing contract, so there is a lot at stake.

How are things with you? Any great news to share?

I’m making progress with my historical novel, but it seems very slow to me. Some days it’s hard to get down a page of work. Others, happily, I can write 7 to 10 without much effort. But I’m in the middle, and I know how that is for me. I just need to keep on keeping on, one step at a time.

My last two books and this book have definitely been easier in the middle, so maybe (gasp!) I am learning from my mistakes and getting better at it. Some of it is due to the sheer amount of obstacles my characters are facing. There is no time to sink into a middle muddle. There is too much happening.

Are there any writing problems or patterns you struggled with that you are now finding easier, and do you understand why that is happening? I’d love to hear about it.