A Writer's Life (or How I Carve Out My Own Space)

I didn't always want to be a writer. However, I always fantasized, creating stories in my head. Funny thing is, I thought everybody did! If I couldn't sleep, I put myself into the jungle and set up an adventure, complete with sexy hero. His face changed as I grew up, but the one thing that stayed the same was the happily ever after. I believe I was destined to write romance. And now I get to roll out of bed, get the kids out to school and work at home. What's better than that?

The long/short story... I've always been a reader and more so when my first daughter was born. I quickly realized I loved happy endings and discovered the romance section of the bookstore where I bought and read LaVyrle Spencer and Catherine Coulter's entire backlist. At some point I discovered these authors started writing category romance and I began to devour Harlequin and Silhouette books, learning which series I liked best. And soon, the writing bug bit. I wrote for seven years and I had ten completed manuscripts before I sold BRAZEN. I suppose there's a lesson in there and it involves patience and perseverence! A few months after selling my first book, I sold my second, a Zebra Bouquet called PERFECT PARTNERS, published under the name Karen Drogin (my real name). Two of my three Bouquets were written prior to selling and had been through the rejection process, however Bouquet was open to more emotional stories and they were very well received. After the demise of the Bouquet line, I streamlined into only writing as Carly Phillips and I've never looked back!

The inner sanctum... Where do I work? I have an office right off my bedroom. A separate room from my room, a separate room that isn't on top of the kids, and yet right in the center of things so I'm always around when anyone needs me. So I can truly roll out of bed and work!

How do I get started? ... With an idea. A bare basic idea, much to my critique partner's chagrin. I don't normally outline in detail, just a basic floorplan. Then I let my characters tell their story, which means I'm always writing and rewriting until I nail the beginning. As for plotting, sometimes I learn things as I go along, which necessitates going back and building in, which is OK. I'd much rather write spontaneously as long as it works within the context of the story! But at some point, I do outline so that I have an idea of where I'm going—if not how I get there. I don't always use pictures of characters and sometimes I'll find a great photo that gives me inspiration, for example I had George Clooney posted for a long time. Also, there are TV shows that provide me with inspiration—used to be Ally McBeal and Robert Downey Jr.'s chemistry and these days it's Alias—Sydney Bristow and Vaughn. Whatever works is what I suggest!

Mechanics... I work in Word Perfect because it's a holdover from my law school, pre-Microsoft days and I work in order, from the beginning to the end. I revise as I go along, so by the time I hit "The End" all that's left is a final read through. My critique partner, Janelle Denison, also reads as I go along, which acts as a second set of eyes. If I get stuck, I call for Janelle first and chocolate second! I'm more a character driven than plot driven writer and I'm a stickler for sympathetic characters and usually create them through rich histories and backstory.

Schedules and Page Count... All writers deal with the dreaded "S" word. Schedule. How do you have a consistent schedule when you have kids? When life isn't consistent? You don't. At least I don't! First, I have a mental way of handling things. 25 pages per week. For me, that's 5 pages a day, five days a week. Or two pages one day and seven the next. I don't much care how I tally the pages as long as those pages get written. And I admit, when the weekend rolls around, if I'm running short on page count, I'm working a lot harder to make those pages up. Not necessarily the most effective means, but it works well for me.

Keeping myself honest... How do I keep myself on track and honest? I use something developed by my critique partner called a GOAL SHEET. (okay if she didn't develop the idea, she shared it with me. Same thing as far as I'm concerned!) In a binder, I print and put blank goal sheets, broken down by week. One page per week and divided by days. The top of each page/week has the page I'm supposed to be on when the week ends. It's an effective means of keeping me on my toes and every day I jot down page count—what I wrote, or didn't write, and why. I make myself accountable. Then there's my critique partner who I can count on to crack the whip if I take too many days off!

Avoiding Loneliness... Writing's a solitary profession. Friends, family and sunlight are the things that save a writers life! So if I don't feel like writing, I don't! Even when I have a deadline, if I need a break, I take it. I love shopping and I love spending time with my mom, and we do both together quite well! I have lunch with local friends, have long phone conversations with writing friends and effectively use the Internet to procrastinate. Writers organizations like Romance Writers of America are indispensable to a writer and I am a local member of New Jersey, New England and Hudson Valley Romance Writers. But no matter what, I have to write, not because of deadlines only but because it calls to me.