by: Staci Stallings
You may think that being a romance author is all about reclining on a couch, eating grapes as you spin stories of wonder, love, and romance. I would love to tell you that is the truth, but for me at least, it is not.
Instead, it is dragging myself out of bed in the morning, getting my (last) child to school, coming home, and still dressed in whatever I happened to pick up from the floor in the dark, plopping myself down in my chair and trying like mad to remember something I thought of at 3 in the morning that I just KNEW I was going to remember at the time but that now has disappeared completely.
That’s part of it anyway. The other is one-part knowing you’ve done this in the past and three-parts having absolutely no idea how to do it now. Somehow my writing life always seems to hover over that ephemeral “whole” like Jell-O over a flame—precarious and sure not to last much longer.
There are many things about what I do that I simply can’t explain. I can’t explain them to you nor to other authors who I would truly like desperately to package this “how-to” and hand to them tied with a bow. For example, how to know precisely how a book will be written from start to finish, how it will turn out, if it will turn out, and how a single book turns into a sequel or a five-book series.
Honestly, I don’t know how that happens…. At least for me.
Take the series I’m working on right now.
I remember how it started about seven years ago. It was one small idea. A piece of his life experience that fit perfectly with a piece of hers. It seemed so simple at the time, and the first book was. When I got to the end of Book 1, I thought that’s all there was. THE END, and it’s done. Move on to the next project.
Then I got up the next morning, and I knew more of the story that I had thought was finished. So, to humor myself, I started writing Book 2—like five years ago.
Now, like I’ve said, I don’t understand anything about my writing life, how things work, why God chooses to start and stop projects much like the pillar of fire or the cloud in the desert. All I know is that things work better when I follow, going when He says, “Go.” Stopping when He says, “Stop.”
So about 100 pages in, Book 2 suddenly stopped—for like FIVE YEARS. During that time, I would think about the story. I loved what I had down, and I even knew certain pieces of how it would go going forward, but for whatever reason, those pieces stayed locked in my heart and mind until the middle part of January when my sister dragged me to the movie, “The Greatest Showman.”
I know I’m not the only artist in the world who was somehow set free with watching that movie, but it “gave me the key” and unlocked this story in a way I had not expected. After the release of The Hope Series and putting “For Love’s Sake” up for preorder, I was kind of floundering and trying to decide what to work on next. A day after watching the movie, I knew which one.
And now, here I am just a few weeks later, not just writing “The End” to Book 2, but fully ready to jump into Book 3, can’t wait to write Book 4, and in awe that there will be a Book 5 I didn’t even know about.
So what’s it like for me to be an author?
It’s a lot like being on a roller coaster in the dark. You never know what’s coming next, so you get really good at just holding on for the ride!
While you wait for this new series to hit the virtual shelves long about August, here’s another series that took me by surprise. Enjoy!
(Click on a Cover to read more about that Title!)
A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. Although she lives in Amarillo, Texas and her main career right now is her family, Staci touches the lives of people across the globe with her various Internet and writing endeavors.
Hi Staci! Thanks for sharing your writing process. As a teacher, I can relate to so much in your writing process. My mind was constantly learning, reviewing, revising the subject matter or processing handouts and projects. I taught classes 24/7. In my sleep and all day long. I also would get ideas in my sleep, dreams that I should have written down at 3 am. I had a student tell me, he used the Pennington method when he taught. I really did not know I had a method and he couldn’t explain it. I also observed other teachers, but what works for one, does not work for others. Must be the same for writing. So glad God created us as individuals, each unique and precious. Love your stories. Haven’t had time to start your new series. Best wishes. Happy writing.
Thanks for the post! I won’t even pretend to understand the creative process behind writing books since I’m not a writer, but this post was educational!
My favorite part of this post is this confession that “things work better when I follow”. That is so true for all of us! Great post!
Thanks for sharing this post. I find it really interesting to hear how the writing process is for different authors.
Hi, Renate! It’s been a long time since I was in your shoes as a teacher right out of college. I taught English (literature, writing, typing and journalism) for three years. There are a lot of times I wish I had known then what I know now. Back then, I had the idea that there was one “right” way to do most things. Now I know it’s not so much a “right way” as much as finding the way that works for you. That’s a messy, slow, sometimes frustrating process, and I’ve also found about the time you figure it out, it changes!
Teachers are such remarkable people. That’s one reason I so love the final scene in “The Greatest Showman” (not sure if you’ve seen it), but PT, the ringmaster, hands his hat off to the next generation. I happened on one of my 7 viewings of the movie to watch it with several teachers, and that scene affected me profoundly. The REASON the Barnum circus lasted for 146 years was because PT understood the value of “passing on the hat” to the next generation. That’s one reason I try to be as much of a mentor to other writers as I can–this isn’t about me. It’s about the readers that are inspired, the other writers who can learn from my mistakes (and maybe a few of my successes), and all of the others God chooses to touch through me. So, thank you for passing the hat, and thanks for stopping by today! I appreciate spending just a little time with you.
God bless!
HAHA! Believe me, I won’t pretend to understand the creative process either! I gave up doing that a long time ago. It is not controllable nor understandable. Thanks for stopping by and spending some time here with us InspyAuthors!
That is like my life motto because things really DO work better when I follow! Thanks for stopping by today! God bless you!
Hi, Jessica,
That’s why I say you have to figure out what works for YOU because what works for each one of us is so different! God bless & have a fantastic day!
Great post, Staci! This was really interesting to read. I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t always know where I’m going with what I write. Sometimes I’m certain a series will go on forever, and it stops at three. Other times, I’m certain it will be three books and I end up with six. Saying it’s like a roller coaster ride in the dark is a great comparison.
Your books look fantastic! :-D
Hi, Melanie,
I would certainly love to be an author who has everything plotted and only write what I know is going to work. HA! That is NOT me! In fact, the other day going through one of my files, I found a book I started like 10 years ago, and my mind was like, “Hmmmm…..” To which I said, “No. We’re not doing that. Don’t even think about it!” HAHHAHA! I sure which I had a process I could control. :) Thanks for stopping by! Have a great writing day!
Staci,
I enjoy reading your books. How many have you written to date? Each story has an interesting twist and storyline. Thank you so much for what you do.
I just finished #… 42? Something like that. I have literally lost count over the years. I keep thinking I need to go and write them all down so I know what I have. It’s so funny to me because each story has a different personality as a story and as to how it comes about to be written. There is literally a story about every story. So funny how that is.
Thanks for spending a little time with us today! God bless!
A very interesting post, Staci!
Thanks for sharing!
I’m very thankful for authors who feed my reading addiction. I’m amazed at how many different ideas and stories they come up with.
My sewing is similar in that it’s in my head and I get ideas for how to make something at weird times. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
God bless your writing!
Thanks, Alexa! Have a great day!
Thanks for stopping by, Margaret! God bless!
My daughter sews, and she is always coming up with cute quilting ideas and things to make for kids. Love that creative spirit no matter how it manifests!
Have an awesome day!
Hi Staci, thanks for explaining the process you go through when writing a book or attempting to write a book. I have been a big fan of yours for years. I read Cowboy a few years ago and enjoyed it so much. Was Cowboy one of the first book that you wrote? After reading Cowboy I went on to read Lucky and enjoyed it so much too. I have read several of your books and have enjoyed all of them.
This: “…one-part knowing you’ve done this in the past and three-parts having absolutely no idea how to do it now.” << Oh man, I wish I didn't relate so well! Every. Story.
Hi, Nancy,
Cowboy was one of my original “first five.” I wrote those first five before I even looked into publishing anything. I published my sixth (the original version of “The Long Way Home”) with a not-so-honest company. They did, however, give me an editor who helped in some ways but completely obliterated my voice. So when I decided to publish something again, that’s when I went “indie.” Yes, I was one of the original indies. I didn’t know it, but I actually broke a LOT of ground back in early 2,000. I had one of the first 10,000 websites on the entire web (before there was such things as blogs or WordPress).
One of the reasons it’s so hard to remember the books I’ve written is that I wrote them in one order and published them in a completely different order. So I have books that I’ve written that have never been published, and books that I published almost as soon as they were written. It gets kind of confusing sometimes!
Actually, “Lucky” was the 16th book I wrote around 2005, I think. The music tie-in was more what coupled those two books, and getting to have Ashton, Beth, and their girls make a cameo was extra-special. Like I said, each book has its own story!
Thanks for stopping by and for reading! I love sharing my stories with others who enjoy them too!
NO KIDDING, Val. Even as I sit here with this current one flowing like water, I keep thinking, “It’s going to stop any minute now. I’m so faking this…. What if next time or the next time I sit down, it doesn’t work like this…” It really is a lot like walking on water!
God bless & keep walking on water!
Your post was really interesting to read. I’m a “cross the item off the list” kind of person so I appreciate the creative process. I’m so glad God gave us all different talents!
I LOVE to-do lists becoming to-done lists. I think I’m kind of a hodge-podge of different wiring. I think God was up there going, “Okay, bring me all the leftover wiring and we’ll see what we can make.” HAHHAHAHA!
I would love to be more organized, but when I try to get that way, it drives me crazy. My mom and sister are super organized people. Took me a long time to realize I’m not them and that’s okay. I’m learning one very important lesson… BE YOU! whatever that means.
I love getting a behind the scenes look at authors and what it takes to get a story out there!
I love people who think writing is glamorous and easy…. HA! NOT!
LOL Staci!!! I don’t think that at ALL :-) I’m part of a vast number of author teams and they share what it takes to get a story out there and all the things they face. I know it’s not always glamorous and easy because they’ve shared their struggles. It’s hard work, sweat, and tears!
As a reader, I can’t express how much I appreciate you writers pushing through all the “stuff” to bring us stories. You guys work harder than I do :-)
HAHA! I’ve often thought that a “day job” would be simpler because it wouldn’t be keeping me awake 24/7. This story in particular is turning out to be morel like an addiction than a story!
But it was funny, a couple months ago, there was an advertisement on FB for an agency that would help you become a “best selling author.” Now I have no idea if what they were selling or going to teach you would work or not, but I am NOT kidding about this… the advertisement was a video of a woman in a long paisley gown reclining on a sofa that looked like it was made of the exact same fabric as her dress, and she said, “Have you always wanted to write that best selling novel? Come. I’ll show you how….” And I was like, “WHAT?!!!!!!!!” Seriously? Wow.
I don’t know about all the other authors out there, but believe me, I don’t descend a spiral staircase in my flowing gown every morning to begin writing. Wow.
Then again, maybe I’m doing it wrong. I bet Valerie Comer does that every morning! ;)
Thanks so much for your post! I enjoyed reading about the life of a writer!
Thanks for stopping by, Jenny! God bless!
Staci, what a great post! Thank you for sharing your writing story with us ? I believe it’s a great ministry. I love your books! Blessings!