Fresh Fiction Blog | Mia Marlowe | The Joys (& Horrors) of Being a Pantser

Sometimes readers like to peel back the writer's curtain and peek into the creative process. I'm what's known as a ‘linear pantser.' I start at the beginning of the story and write straight through to the end. That's the linear part. The pantser means I'm writing pretty much by the seat of my pants. Perhaps I should say "To my horror, I am a linear pantser."

I wish I was organized enough to plot out every scene ahead of time. My critique partner has tried to get me to fill in squares and use color coded sticky notes to lay out my plot. I've tried it but the prose that results feels flat to me. It's as if I've already told the story once so it's no longer fresh in my mind.

So I follow my characters around each day. That means I have to know them well, their blinding needs and deepest faults before I start writing. I discover some things along the way, but I must know basically who they are to begin with.

Then I devise the shape of a plot in my head. This is not something concrete. It's more like the dark shadow of the mountains that blots out the last stars a second or so before dawn. I can see the peaks and valleys ahead for my characters but not the details. Told you I'm not organized. But since romance is character-driven fiction, this process works for me, even if it does mean I'm fretting the whole way through that I'll take a wrong turn and end up scrapping large sections of story. On the plus side, if I'm not sure how things are going to turn out, it's a safe bet my readers won't guess either.

About research: I look for source documents—letters, diaries, newspapers, etc. from the time period to get a feel for the era. I create my characters' closets, outfitting them from the skin out with everything they'll need—from unmentionables to jewelry to the walking stick with a hidden rapier. I often draw floor plans of the great houses my characters inhabit. I need to know what books people were reading, what new scientific discoveries had happened, what political intrigues might be boiling.

I constantly revise. Each day I go back and revamp the previous day's output. By the time I type THE END, I could conceivably send the manuscript in. But I don't. I schedule my work so that I have a few weeks to let things settle. Then I go back through for a final pass.

I'm always juggling a couple of balls. I just started Book 2 of my upcoming Somerfield Park series, SAY YES TO THE MARQUESS (Spring 2015, Sourcebooks). Book 1, A RAKE BY ANY OTHER NAME will be out from Sourcebooks in November 2014. Revisions for my Scottish Christmas story ONCE UPON A PLAID (Kensington October 2014) will come any day now. I'm also tweaking a new adult/romantic suspense I hope will be ready for release in Spring 2014. If you'd like to see what else is in the works, please check out my Coming Next page.

Writing is an ocean and I'm still just dabbling my toes in the shallow end. The joy of being a pantser is that there is always something new to learn.

BETWEEN A RAKE AND A HARD PLACE BY CONNIE MASON AND MIA MARLOWE – IN STORES JANUARY 2014

Lady Serena's List of Forbidden Pleasures

Attend an exclusively male club.

Smoke a cigar.

Have a fortune told by gypsies.

Dance the scandalous waltz.

Sir Jonah Sharp thinks Lady Serena Osbourne will be just like any other debutante, and seducing her will be one of the easiest services he's ever done for the Crown. Then he catches her wearing trousers and a mustache in his gentleman's club and she demands he teach her to smoke a cigar. But what will truly be Jonah's undoing is finding out he's an item on her list too, which makes him determined to bring her all the forbidden pleasures she can handle.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Mia Marlowe is the award winning historical romance author of the Touch of Seduction Series and various Rock*It Reads. She lives in Boston. Connie Mason is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels. She was named Storyteller of the Year in 1990 and received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews in 1994. She currently lives in Florida. Together, Mia and Connie have written Sins of the Highlander, Lord of Fire and Ice, Lord of Devil Isle and the other books in the Royal Rakes Series: Waking Up with a Rake and One Night with a Rake. For more information, please visit http://www.miamarlowe.com.

To Purchase BETWEEN A RAKE AND A HARD PLACE:

THE PRIZES

Sourcebooks is offering a print copy of BETWEEN A RAKE & A HARD PLACE (US/CANADA only) and Mia would like to add another from her to sweeten the pot. Two winners will be chosen—one for the Sourcebooks print novel and one for a Kindle or Nook version of my newest Rock*It Read, DRAGONSONG. This sensual, adventurous story is perfect for readers who love the History Channel's Vikings, but want a hero who knows how to love with faithfulness!

All you have to do to enter is answer this question: Romantic balls and fashionable routs in the heart of London or rustic house parties at a country estate? Which do you prefer to read about in Regency romances?

Comments

I choose...the romantic balls. I love reading when the
heroine's dancing and the hero almost (or does) cross that
line re: what's proper. Because really, a rake can hardly be
expected to behave himself.

Wonder if the gypsy tells Lady Serena there's a dark-haired
rake in her future. :)
(Susan S 11:12am January 16, 2014)

I like the romantic balls. I love reading about the beautiful dresses and the wonderful dancing.
(Sue Galuska 11:43am January 16, 2014)

Oh I would choose both the balls and the country party... love stepping into the pages of a book and experiencing both... to see what little adventures the characters have to share with us! Thanks for sharing!
(Colleen Conklin 11:57am January 16, 2014)

Sounds like trying to force your writing style is not a good idea. And if someone else tried your style, it could be a terribly written story. If all writers were the same, imagine how boring that could be. :-)
(Lisa Hutson 2:59pm January 16, 2014)

House parties at a country estate...because the characters are forced to spend time with each other and there is time for a lot to happen. LOL
(Marcy Shuler 5:20pm January 16, 2014)

Wow, Congrats on your new book: BETWEEN A RAKE AND A HARD
PLACE. I love the book title and the book cover too!
Romantic balls sound nice but I am a country girl from
Kansas so the rustic house parties at a country estate are
more to my liking. I would love to win and read your
fascinating book in the New Year 2014. Thank You very much.
Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 6:41pm January 16, 2014)

I love the romantic balls. The sweeping beautiful dresses and the lovely women and dashing men. How romantic.
Marilyn Collins
(Marilyn Collins 6:50pm January 16, 2014)

I think I would take rustic house parties. An older house has a history and a rustic older house in the country would be a perfect setting for an intriguing party. I think it should be a masquerade party! Mardi gras is just around the corner you know!
(Sandy Fielder 7:17pm January 16, 2014)

I love the romantic balls, with the beautiful gowns, lovely women and dashing lords.
(Carol Woodruff 7:22pm January 16, 2014)

Hi Mia!
I must admit that while I do love reading about the rout's and romantic balls I LOVE the house parties! Is it just me that sees at those country parties that the characters are more relaxed (and willing to let their true selves be in attendance) then are the "fancy" balls in the city that must meet the Tons "rules"?

I love when they finally let their guard down and show the person they really are instead of trying to meet the strictures that "society" put on them and allows you to see they really are and not the one they pretend to be to meet the structure of society!
(Jeanne Miro 8:36pm January 16, 2014)

I'm a country girl, so rather read about house parties at a country estate.
(Sheila True 8:54pm January 16, 2014)

My vote is for a rustic house party. You can always have a
ball at a house party with the neighbors attending. It
doesn't have to be a crush in town to be romantic. :-)
(Glenda Martillotti 9:05pm January 16, 2014)

I like both, but I like the country house parties best, because there are so many opportunities for interesting things to happen!
(Janie McGaugh 9:33pm January 16, 2014)

I vote for romantic balls and fashionable routs in the heart of London for my Regency Romance.
(Kai Wong 9:41pm January 16, 2014)

I like both; each has its own time and place in my heart.
(Michelle Willms 10:47pm January 16, 2014)

I like the romantic balls and the fashionable dresses. Thanks for a chance to win your book.
(Linda Hall 11:55pm January 16, 2014)

House parties at a country estate. There's more that can
happen there, because guest are spending more time together
(most times over night) so there ismorethat can happen.
(Alexisa Neely 3:12am January 17, 2014)

I like stories of romantic balls and beautiful clothing. Thanks for the giveaway.
(Kathleen Beale 7:12am January 17, 2014)

Either one! Balls or routs can be awesome scenes in the
right story. Thanks for the contest! I'm going to go p/u
your free read right now. Thank you Mia!
(Linda Townsend 8:15am January 17, 2014)

I also just posted your freebie to Facebook :-))) Thanks
again.
(Linda Townsend 8:16am January 17, 2014)

Thanks so much for the great giveaway! I want to read this book!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 9:12am January 17, 2014)

I love both but ... if I had to choose ... I'd have to go with house parties at country estates. Thanks for the chance to win.
(Nancy Reynolds 9:22am January 17, 2014)

I love Balls because of the dresses, but it is so fun to hear
about house parties and the activities planned for them.
(Karin Anderson 10:40am January 17, 2014)

I love when the characters go to the rustic estates and are away from society for a while. Sometimes they let their hair down and we see a different side to their character.
(Sue Farrell 10:55am January 17, 2014)

I like the balls for the opulence, but more interesting things usually happen at the house parties.
(Kim V 11:53am January 17, 2014)

I prefer the romantic balls with all the beautiful gowns and intrigue.
(Anna Speed 12:13pm January 17, 2014)

I love the house parties with the guests staying the night ;-). Those restless nights
and a trip to the kitchen can get real interesting when more than one is up at night...
If I win, I'm only looking for Dragonsong as I have the rest already. You can gift those
to someone else...See I'm paying it forward =)
(Lenna Hendershott 4:39pm January 17, 2014)

House parties usually end with balls so I choose house parties.
(Sandra Spilecki 5:02pm January 17, 2014)

I love your books!! ...and I am looking forward to reading this one too!!
(Betty Hamilton 5:59pm January 17, 2014)

Romantic balls and fashionable routs in the heart of London. I love to read and am always carrying a book around with me to read. Thank you for this chance!!
(Carol Oddy 7:10pm January 17, 2014)

tho I love to read about balls too, there is something about
house parties that gives us more time to know the characters,
and for them to fall in love.
(Diane Sallans 9:29pm January 17, 2014)

Is Connie Mason one of your psuedonyms?
(MaryAnne Banks 11:15pm January 17, 2014)

I love your books Mia and can't wait to read Between A Rake And A Hard Place. I read DragonSong and the whole series and it was great. Please count me in for the Print of BARAAHP.
I love the Romantic Balls and the Rustic House parties both.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at)aol (dot) com
(Carol Luciano 7:49am January 19, 2014)

Definitely love the Romantic balls in the heart of London. There's just something about getting all dressed up in fancy gowns and shoes! And the dancing and foods!
(Anita H 12:12pm January 21, 2014)

Sounds like I need to have a ball at a house party! Thanks for your comments, everybody!
(Mia Marlowe 6:39am January 23, 2014)

What an interesting post! It is fascinating to learn how an author creates a story. For historical romance I love romantic balls in the heart of London.
(Bonnie H 9:37pm January 25, 2014)

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