Writer Routine Wednesday: MJ Fredrick

Hey, all!
It's another week of my new blog segment:Writer Routine Wednesday, where every Wednesday from now until Septemeber 1st, 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!
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So, please welcome author MJ Fredrick today and hear about her writing routine!

BIO: I’ve been writing as long as I can remember, and joined RWA 14 years ago. It took me another few years to take it seriously, to really work to improve my craft, and I started finalling in contests, including four times in the Golden Heart and three times in the Emily.
I sold my first book, Where There’s Smoke in October 2007, and Hot Shot a month later. After 12 years of writing, I had my first two books come out two weeks apart! Hot Shot went on to win the 2009 Eppie Award. Since then, I’ve contracted another novel and four novellas with The Wild Rose Press, two novels and a novella with Samhain, a novel with Carina Press and another with Lyrical Press.

You can visit her for more information: http://www.mjfredrick.com/

Thanks for stopping by, MJ!

Describe a “typical” writing day for yourself.
During the school year, I wake up no later than 4:30, read email and Twitter while I eat breakfast, then write until it’s time to get ready for work around 6. I can usually get about 500 words in. Then when I get home around 4 PM, I catch up on email again, do promo and such until it’s time to start dinner, then write after dinner until about 9. My goal is usually 1000 words a day, or 10 pages revised.
In the summer (I have another week and a half), I get up early, do the breakfast/email routine, walk before 8 AM, clean while the dh is getting ready. Then I settle in my big chair and write until lunch. If I’ve met my goal, usually 2000 words, I can spend the rest of the day reading, hanging out in the pool, having fun. If not, I work in the evening again.


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’m a fourth grade teacher. Balance—what’s that? You see my routine, so that’s as good as it gets. Thank goodness I don’t waste a lot of time at school, so I don’t bring a lot of work home. The rough times are when we’re putting on our PTSO program or when tutoring starts. I cut back my goals during those times. Writing keeps me sane, though, so I try to write every day.
I don’t read as much during the school year, which makes me sad, and I depend on my Tivo, because I do watch a lot, but this way I can schedule my viewing.
My son is 19 and has a job and a girlfriend and goes to a local college, and my husband is in a band, so they don’t miss me so much, but I do make a point of having a meal with them.


Are you a laptop, PC, Alphasmart, or by hand kind of writer?
I got a netbook this summer and I am IN LOVE. It’s light, has an incredible battery life and doesn’t heat up like the MacBook. I thought it would take some getting used to with the smaller keyboard, but I adjusted quickly. I don’t like editing on it, though.


Plotter or panster? If you’re a plotter, how much time do think you put into plotting before writing.
Oh, dear. I’m a bit of both. Beneath the Surface was plotted at a plotting retreat and completely changed as it was written. Usually I have a pretty good idea about the first half of the story, then have to stop and plot once I know the characters better. Yes, this results in a LOT of revisions. I’m trying to plot a series right now. We’ll see how that goes. It’s a first for me.


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 do both, though I’m having trouble finding music that fits my work in progress. But I’ve found listening to the music while writing helps you dive right into the story. Also, I listen to the music while driving to and from work and it helps me brainstorm.
As for the collage, I’m very visual. I always have a picture of my hero and heroine. For my work in progress, I have a map of a cruise ship, and pictures of icebergs and quotes that match my character’s outlook on life.


What’s your favorite book on writing?
On Writing by Stephen King. Very inspirational. I have a shelf of writing books and I haven’t read most of them.


What’s your favorite fiction book you’ve read so far this year?
Oh, that’s too hard. I’ve read a few I’ve really enjoyed, especially this summer. Soulless by Gail Carringer was my first steampunk, and I can’t wait to dig into Changeless. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was amazing, an incredible example of world-building. Shannon Stacey’s Exclusively Yours was a fun contemporary romance and I’m looking forward to the sequel. I’m currently reading and loving The Search by Nora. After a rocky start, I have fallen in love with it.


What’s your favorite way to reward yourself after you’ve finished writing a book?
Would it be too sad to say I start another book? Okay, it may be, but I love starting a shiny new story that has none of the issues of the old book—yet.


MJ's new Samhain book BENEATH THE SURFACE is available in e-book and print at Amazon.com

Here's a little bit about it:

When past and present meet, secrets lie beneath the surface.

In retrospect, perhaps archaeologist Mallory Reeves shouldn’t have delivered the divorce papers to her estranged husband mere weeks before her marriage to another man. She knew seeing Adrian again would stir up memories, but she didn’t expect so many of them to be good, not after the mess they both made three years ago.

She also didn’t expect to want to stay at the dig site on the Yucatan Peninsula. But the lure of the ancient ship and, yes, her sexy ex provide more of a draw than the white picket fence she thought she wanted.

Marine archaeologist Adrian Reeves has good reason to trust no one. His former partner—and former best friend—made off with his last archaeological find. And his wife left him, frustrated by his obsession for professional revenge.

Now both Mallory and his nemesis have returned, and it can’t be an accident that they’ve turned up in the middle of the most important excavation of his career. Seeing her again unearths old pain—and rekindles never-forgotten desire. Now he has to decide if he can trust Mallory again. More importantly, if he can trust himself with her.


Sounds cool, huh?

CONTEST: MJ has generously offered to give away a signed copy of BENEATH THE SURFACE, to some lucky commenter!



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!