Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Writer Routine Wednesday: Rhonda Stapleton

Hey, all!

It's another week of my new blog segment:Writer Routine Wednesday, where every Wednesday from now until the end of August, I will host an author. We'll get to know them better and their books as well as hear them describe their usual writing routine.

Maybe you'll pick up an idea they use for yourself!Lots of great prizes are scheduled too!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, please welcome YA author Rhonda Stapleton today and hear about her writing routine!


BIO: Rhonda Stapleton is the author of a teen romantic comedy trilogy--STUPID CUPID, FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, and PUCKER UP. All are out now with Simon Pulse.


For more information visit: http://www.rhondastapleton.com/

Thanks for stopping by, Rhonda!


Please describe a “typical” writing day for yourself. Usually, I plan ahead what my goals will be: anywhere from 3-6 pages a day, 5 days a week (depending on the production schedule). I can get a book written in 2-3 months this way. I usually write in the evenings or when I can sneak time in during the day. It only takes me about an hour to write 3 pages.


Do you have another job outside of writing? (Being a mommie definitely counts!!) If the answer is yes, describe how you balance the two and how much time you devote to each.

I have a bunch of jobs, LOL. I'm an editor for a legal publishing company. I'm also a freelance editor for Carina Press (Harlequin's new e-publishing imprint). I teach first-year composition at a community college. I have two kids, and I also squeeze in time to write. Basically, I do a lot of time management--when I'm doing one particular thing, I focus on that thing only so I don't feel guilty about not giving it 100% of what I have.

Are you a laptop, PC, Alphasmart, or by hand kind of writer? Totally a laptop writer. I type way faster than I write out by hand.

Plotter or panster? If you’re a plotter, how much time do think you put into plotting before writing. Plotter all the way. I like to plot pretty much the whole book before I write so I don't feel like I'm diving in blind. I still leave room for creativity though.

Some writers make collages or listen to or create music soundtracks for their work-in-progress? Do you do any of those or have you thought about doing one of them? I don't have a soundtrack, per se--I just try to pick songs that evoke the mood I'm going for. I find it highly effective in helping generate that mood in me so I can try to capture it in my pages.

What’s your favorite book on writing? Oooooh I like Julia Cameron's book THE ARTIST'S JOURNEY. It's all about treating yourself well and nurturing the writer in you.


What’s your favorite fiction book you’ve read so far this year? Wow, this is HARD. Um, I don't know if I can pick just one, but I loooooved SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater.


What’s your favorite way to reward yourself after you’ve finished writing a book? Buy a book and go out to dinner. LOL. :D

Thank you, Rhonda, so much for sharing a little of your writing routine and life with us today!



Rhonda's new book PUCKER UP is out now on Amazon and a book store near you!

Here's a little bit about it:

Felicity can't believe her luck. Her longtime crush is now officially her boyfriend, and just in time for prom. Felicity isn't just smitten with Derek, she's head-over-heels in love. So when she learns that her boss at Cupid's Hollow used cupid magic to make Derek fall for her, Felicity is devastated. What will happen when the magic wears off? Felicity has only two weeks to win Derek's heart for real—no matter what it takes!



CONTEST: Rhonda has generously offered to give away a copy of her teen book PUCKER UP.

Please leave a comment below to be entered to win. The giveaway contest will run from now until Thursday 11:59PM (EST). I will announce the lucky winner this Friday!


Good luck and get into your writing routine!

33 comments:

Heather Sunseri said...

Nice to meet you, Rhonda. Your book sounds like a fun read. Thanks, Jennifer.

Anne Gallagher said...

Great interview Jennifer, Thanks Rhonda. Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate, yet can balance it beautifully. Good for you.

Maria Zannini said...

Rhonda, you know I really shouldn't be here.

My editor sent me edits and I really should be working on them. *wink*

umm...Jennifer made me do it. Yeah, that's it. It's Jennifer's fault.

Back to edits. (Glad to see you here.)

Laura Pauling said...

Thanks Jennifer! I recognized Rhonda's picture from the blue boards! I love romantic comedies! They all sound like fun titles!

patti said...

Thanks for the intro to Rhonda, Jennifer!

Have a blessed day!
Patti

Jennifer Shirk said...

Oh, fine, Maria.
Blame it on me. :)

Jaydee Morgan said...

Good interview - thanks to you both! And I love hearing that others need everything outlined before they write :)

Kenda Turner said...

Rhonda's book sounds like a fun read. Great interview!

Karen Baldwin said...

Love these posts. It's alway interesting to take a peek into another writer's life.

R.M.Gilbert said...

Jennifer thanks so much for hosting another great author today.


Rhonda, I envy your ability to plot a book. Whenever I plot the characters tend to stray so far from the plot line it's impossible to find my way back. And I love that you write YA. We're doing blog rounds (writing a short based on a picture) today with my YA crit group. I'd love for you to stop by) http://rmgilbert.com

And I'll forward this to the group so they can read about your series and hop over to Jennifer's blog to comment.

Patti said...

I love hearing how other writers manage their time.

Laura S. said...

I like Rhonda's writing routine! 3-6 pages a day is very achievable and it gets the novel done in a couple months. Definitely something to consider!

Thanks for the contest!

Davin Malasarn said...

I always love reading about other writer's schedules. It comforts me to know that everyone else has to work hard too! Great interview. Thanks, Jennifer!

Unknown said...

Rhonda it was so nice to meet you and what an awesome interview you two!!!

This book is too cute for words! I would love a copy and hope to have the priviledge of winning, if not though it will definitely be on my TBR list, we all know those crushes and having cupid sneak in and mess up, well that's not right!

Tana said...

Great interview! Rhonda congratulations on your novel! The cover is absolutely adorable!! You wear many hats and they fact you can find time to write is a testament to your passion. Thanks Jennifer for the great interview!

Lydia Kang said...

Nice to meet you Rhonda! The novel looks like such a fun read!

RaShelle Workman said...

Wow, Rhonda congrats your book. You seem so organzied. Jennifer, thanks for the interview.
ps: Loved your mood status from below. It's so nice when we get a moment to ourselves. =D

Unknown said...

Sounds like a great book!

Terri Tiffany said...

Rhonda--your routine makes me feel like a whiner! How ever do you do so much and pump out those books!!

Unknown said...

I love learning about other authors' routines! I'm a plotter too. I go crazy without a road map of where I'm going in a story. (And, then, sometimes I go crazy anyway... ;)

Julie Musil said...

It's so fun to read how other writers work. I found it refreshing that she's a plotter, as I wonder how in the heck the pantser do it! Thanks for doing a book giveaway, I'd love to read Pucker!

Anonymous said...

This is such a great interview. I love reading about other writers' routines. :)

Kimberly Franklin said...

What a fun read this will be, and great interview! :)

Andrea I said...

Thanks Jennifer for interviewing Rhonda. This looks like a great beach read.

I always enjoy reading about a writer's routine.

Liz Mays said...

It really must be a treat to read someone else's book! I like how she rewards herself.

I'd love to be entered in the giveaway!

Jennifer Shirk said...

I read Rhonda's first book Stupid Cupid and thought is was GREAT! I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series. :)

Vicki Rocho said...

Okay, I feel like a complete slacker now! If you can manage to write a book with all the stuff you're juggling, I have no more excuses. Full-time job, pffffft. Kids, pfffffft.

Thanks for a great interview, Jennifer!

KaraLee said...

Rhonda, I was excited to read that you're a freelance editor for Carina Press. We've talked about Carina lately in my RWA chapter meetings because one of our members, Carrie Lofty, just sold to Carina Press. Her book is titled Song of Seduction and it was released this month.

You are a very busy woman! You inspired me to do whatever I have to do to find more writing time in these busy summer months.

Jenn, thanks for an awesome interview.

ali cross said...

Jennifer, I'm new to your blog (thank you for finding me!) and I LOVE this weekly article! Thank you!

Thanks to Rhonda too for sharing your routine. I loved that these were different questions than we normally get when authors do interviews. You are one busy woman! Wow.

Thanks to both of you ~ I really enjoyed this post!

Kristi said...

Great interview! Sounds like such a fun book!

PS-Jennifer what are we to do with BOTH Ellsbury and Pedroia on the disabled list??? What a season! :-)

Rhonda Helms said...

Thank you guys SO much for stopping by and reading my interview!!

Kerrie said...

Great interview. I always love learning more about authors.

Unknown said...

wow rhonda does a lot. i feel lazy now:)