Jan Jackson

I’m a goal oriented person. I believe in making small, realistic goals I can easily achieve. However, I also have bigger, long term goals that are increasingly elusive.  Recently, I shared this frustration with a friend who made an interesting observation. She suggested that I focus on the process rather than the result.  The idea intrigued me.

My two big, long term goals are losing weight and selling books. I’ve had these goals for many years with varying levels of success. I’m a lapsed Weight Watchers Lifetime Member. That means I did achieve this big goal, but have since regained the weight.  I have yet to receive a publishing contract. But, I do have a body of work that has done well in contests, been requested by editors and agents, and come super close to selling.

So let’s break this down. If I make better food choices, watch portion sizes, and increase my water intake, I will feel better even if I don’t reach a magic number on the scale. And, if I continue putting words on the page, learning my craft, and submitting, I will be closer to success than if I did nothing! More so, I will be better prepared to hit the ground running when the time comes.

Instead of zeroing in on the fact that I have yet to achieve these two goals, and feeling like a huge failure, it’s beneficial to realize that I am doing the things necessary to get the results I want. If I stay focused on the process and the fact that I’m doing the work, I’ll be less likely to feel discouraged. And in the end, the results will be exactly what I hoped and dreamed.  I’m going to give it a shot.

So, I’ve been tagged. Fellow writer and friend, Debra Jess, wants answers to some questions. Read her post here:

Now you can check out my answers:

What am I working on?

I usually have more than one project in the pipe. Here’s a sample:

Soledad, paranormal romance-

How do you stop a hurricane? One woman has the power, but she can only harness it with the help of the man she loves, and if she does, it may cost him his life.

Navy Seal, Zander Travis wants to find out the truth about his father’s death. His investigation leads him to Soledad, but her memory loss, freakish powers, and the merc team on her butt, have to be dealt with first.

Soledad fears her power and never wants to hurt anyone again. Lured into a trap, she escapes with Zander’s help, but if she allows herself to trust him, she must face the pain of a past she prefers not to remember.

Criminal Heat, romantic suspense –

Heroine is the daughter of a crime family and criminal defense attorney. When she’s the only survivor of a shooting, the hero (US Marshall) must try to keep them alive while he figures out if she’s the victim or the perp.

How does my work differ from others in the genre?

My heroines are not in need of protection. They are more than a match for the hero. Everything I write has the element of suspense. Expect an extreme thrill ride.

Why do I write what I do?

I write what I’d like to read. I started writing to entertain myself. If it doesn’t hold my interest, it won’t hold the reader’s.

How does my writing process work?

Much of my work has come from dreams. The characters will get into my head and keep banging my doors down until I’m compelled to write about them.

And the burning question, plotter or pantser? I think I fall somewhere in the middle. I like to have a general outline of where I’m going, but it always changes. My characters lead me down some twisted trails.

I’ve tried a lot of different methods, but good ole Goal, Motivation, & Conflict (GMC) ala Deb Dixon is a must. As an avid reader, serial critiquer, and contest judge, it’s my observation that character motivation is where most stories need help. Characters are in need of compelling and believable motivation for their goals. Without it, there is not sufficient conflict to keep the reader turning the pages.

Now, who’s next? Who wants a tag? I’m counting. Better hide!