Writer Routine Wednesday: Gina Ardito

Hey, all! Today marks the second 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!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please welcome author Gina Ardito today and hear about her writing routine!


BIO: Gina Ardito is the author of several light-hearted contemporary romances: The Bonds of Matri-money and A Run For the Money, both published by Avalon Books and A Little Slice of Heaven published with The Wild Rose Press. Under her alter ego, Katherine Brandon, she’s the author of several historical romance novels.

As president and co-founder of Dunes & Dreams Romance Writers (the eastern Long Island chapter of Romance Writers of America), she’s hosted multi-level workshops, booksignings, author talks, and mentor programs. Eventually, she’ll pencil in a nap on her calendar.
For more information visit: http://www.ginaardito.com/

Thanks for stopping by, Gina!

Please describe for our audience a “typical” writing day for yourself. For example: Do you get up have your coffee, check e-mail, then write to a certain time? Do you have a set word or page goal when you write?

Since my husband has a 2+ hour commute to work each day, he and I are both up early. By 6:30 a.m., I’m dressed and at the computer and hubby’s out the door. First I check email and handle any business I need to address. Then I open my document and review what I’d last written. For the next hour or so, I write and then head off to the day job with a printed copy of my most recent chapter of my story. During downtime at work, I read over that chapter, edit, and make notes for where I intend to take the story to finish the chapter. After work I come home, make my changes, and write until it’s time to start dinner.

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 lucky that I work part-time—between 4-6 hours a day. Sometimes, it’s exactly the break I need to figure out what my characters will do next! Other times, it makes me crazy that I have to leave my scene at a crucial spot to go to work. But my scene is still waiting when I get home in the afternoon.

Are you a laptop, PC, Alphasmart, or by hand kind of writer?

I use both a laptop and a PC. I have a private Yahoo group where I keep my manuscripts. Before I log off the computer, I upload the most recent version of my document to that Yahoo group. This way, no matter which computer I access, I can download a copy of my story and work. I can write anywhere and on any device, provided I have Internet access.


Plotter or panster? If you’re a plotter, how much time do think you put into plotting before writing.

I’m a total pantser. If I even suspect how the story will end, I get bored, rush through it, and wind up scrapping the entire story. That lady you see talking to herself in the car every day? Yeah…that’s me. And the conversation usually goes something like this, “Okay, what’s next? I’ve left my heroine in the sand dune with a plastic shovel and a flock of seagulls. What’s she going to do?” And then I begin running dialogue, playing all the character’s roles by myself. If I come up with a particularly scintillating piece of dialogue or scene idea, I’ll just keep repeating it over and over until I can stop somewhere and write it down.

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 am sooooo not artistic, but I love music and can usually lose myself in particular CDs or playlists when writing. I once wrote an entire book with one song from The Pretenders (where I got the original idea) and The Best of Simon and Garfunkel playing on a loop over and over and over for months on end. I know…weird combination. But it worked!

What’s your favorite book on writing?

Honestly? I don’t have one. I’ve read several, but I’m not a by-the-book kinda writer. Occasionally I’ll get an aha moment, but I firmly believe many writers read so many books, they wind up too confused to finish a story—or they steal the passion right out of their work because they’re worried about “doing it right.” If I have to pick a favorite research book, though, it’s called The Secret Universe of Names by Roy Feinson. An awesome, awesome little find that gives in-depth analysis of any person based on the syllables in their name. To help draft my characters, it’s a must-read before I start a story.

What’s your favorite fiction book you’ve read so far this year?


Can I choose more than one? I absolutely loved Suddenly Last Summer by Barbara Freethy, which spurred me to go out and buy the rest of the Angel’s Bay series (currently we’re up to Book 3) and Nora Roberts’s Vision in White, which had the same effect on me. (Also currently we’re up to Book 3—Coincidence? I think not!) Only Nora can make a nerd sound so danged sexy, you melt just reading about him!

What’s your favorite way to reward yourself after you’ve finished writing a book?
After I announce I’ve finished it to everyone I know, I send it off to my beta readers and then catch up on real life: a little alcohol is nice--wine, champagne, even a decent beer; a fabulous dinner with the hubster; some movies or television; and lots of family time. This lasts about a week, tops, before I start getting antsy. Then it’s back into the process for the next story!

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

Here's a little bit more about Gina's recent Avalon book A Run For the Money.

Blurb: Nicole Fleming and Dante LaPalma have nothing in common except an old man's legacy. Joe Corbet has promised them a great treasure awaits them--if they're clever enough to solve his riddles within a six month time frame. According to Joe's will, Nicole and Dante must participate in several excursions. After each adventure, a new clue will be presented and another requirement awaits. Only when they've completed every task in their journey will they discover the treasure meant just for them. Along the way, Nicole and Dante will be forced to share their secrets and place their faith in one another. But if they can learn to work together, they'll discover what's truly important in life. And maybe, just maybe, they'll find the greatest treasure of all: love.

Sounds great, doesn't it?


Well, it's up for order on Amazon.com now! Or leave a comment below and try to win a copy for yourself!


CONTEST: To some lucky U. S resident commenter, Gina will give away an autographed copy of A Run for the Money.

If you win and live outside the U. S, Gina will send you an electronic copy of her book A Little Slice of Heaven. Both are fantastic so it's a win-win! :)


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!