So Long My Friends

Have you found any hints or shortcuts to speed up your writing process? Energize your creativity? Minimize distractions? Do tell.

Brenda here for my final post!

Before I tackle this week's question, a note to say that this ends my run on 7 Criminal Minds. I began blogging five, six, ten? years ago and feel it's time to pass the torch on to a fresh voice. I've enjoyed sharing my thoughts alongside a stellar cast of authors, and will continue to follow their posts from the sidelines.

To my fellow Minds -- thank you for so generously including me in this special place. I will follow all your careers and lives with great interest and hope one day we can meet up in person. Onward!

I haven't come up with shortcuts to speed up my writing process. Each book takes about eight months to write and the editing takes what it takes. No matter what else is going on in my life, the timeline hasn't varied much. I try to hit a minimum daily word count now and find this helps to keep me on track and steadily moving forward, but my overall output remains quite constant.

The very act of writing energizes my creativity. I also enjoy reading and watching movies -- anything in the arts keeps me motivated. Talking with other authors and webinars also gives me a boost.

As for distractions, I'm fortunate that I can focus no matter what's going on around me. I'm not bothered by frequent breaks and actually find them refreshing.

On another note, we launched my most recent novel, Who Lies in Wait, this past week and I'll end with a few photos taken by my friend, Fred Taylor. The event was held at a local curling club.

I've enjoyed my years blogging here and hope you keep in touch through one of my sites. So long for now!

Website: www.brendachapman.ca

Facebook & Instagram & Threads: BrendaChapmanAuthor

Bluesky: @brendachapman.bsky.social