A Typical Writing Day for Author Elisabeth Naughton

A Typical Writing Day for Author Elisabeth Naughton

A typical writing day for begins with a mimosa. Fresh cut strawberries on a tray. Breakfast in bed. A masseuse rubbing my feet as I lie there thinking about my book characters. Then, when I finally decide to roll out of bed, I type away all day long in my office with its private view of the rolling Pacific and finish 50 pages before it’s time to load into my limo and head out for dinner on the town.

Okay, that’s the dream. Reality isn’t quite as glamorous.

Even when I’m not writing, I’m thinking about my characters. So I usually go to bed trying to figure out what the hell is wrong with a particular scene. Sometimes I dream about my characters. Sometimes I dream of murdering them. In the morning, I’m often more frustrated than I was the night before, but because I have kids who always need to be fed (why do they want breakfast EVERY morning?!), I roll out of bed and trudge through the morning routine while I look forward to (or dread, depending on the day) the hours I’ll be writing once they’re off to school.

When the house is finally quiet I’m usually faced with two decisions: 1) shower and work or 2) go for a run. Depending on my mood (notice my day is filled with “depending on…”???) I either jump in the shower or throw on my running shoes. Running helps clear my mind, and if I’m not able to work out a scene in my head, running often knocks something loose. When I’m done with one (or both), I head down to my in-home office where I spend the morning doing busy work like answering emails, organizing promo materials, sending out books and the ever-present time suck: posting on Facebook and Twitter.

FB and Twitter are necessary evils, I tell you.  I love interacting with readers on both, but I’m a procrastinator by nature so I can easily waste HOURS here if I’m not careful. I have to physically turn them both off and prepare myself to write or I’ll look up from the clock to find it’s 3pm and I’ve gotten zero words in for the day.

After a snack (or lunch depending on how much I’ve been stuffing my face through the morning), I dive into my current book. I’m a one-step-back-two-steps-forward writer, so this often starts with rereading what I wrote the day before, then moving forward. My goal is 2,000 words per day when I’m not on deadline, closer to 3K when I am on deadline (or 4K or 5K, depending on how much time I’ve already wasted). Sometimes 2,000 words flow from my fingers, and other times every word is painful. I live for the painless days. I run because of the painful ones.

My kids get home around 3:30, so my day is shot then. If I’m on deadline I’ll often escape the house before my afternoon writing session and go to a coffee shop where I can stay as late as I want without being interrupted. (They’re building a Panera Bread near me and I can’t wait until it opens. It’s going to be my new office!) After the kids get home I can edit, FB & Twitter again, but any new words that flow from my fingers at that point are usually garbage. To say my kids mess with my writing mojo is no joke.

In the evenings, if I’m watching TV, I always seem to have my laptop. I’m usually not writing then (even after the kids go to bed…too tired), but I do research and fact check at that time.

And then, around 11pm (or 12 pm or 1 am depending on how wired I am), I shut off the light, think about my book and drift to sleep with my characters foremost in my mind.

The next day, I start all over again.

It’s a viscous cycle. But one I absolutely love.

ENSLAVED

BY ELISABETH NAUGHTON

IN STORES NOVEMBER 2012

“Do not miss this series.”—New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione

GRYPHON—Honorable, loyal, dependable…tainted. He was the ultimate warrior before imprisonment in the Underworld changed him in ways he can’t ignore.

She calls to him. Come to me. You can’t resist. But Gryphon will not allow himself to be ruled by the insidious whispers in his head. And there’s only one way to stop them: kill Atalanta, the goddess who enslaved him. But with so much darkness inside, he can’t be sure what’s real anymore. Even the Eternal Guardians, those who protect the human realms and the gods, want to exile him.

Finding Malea is like a miracle. Somehow he doesn’t feel the pull of the dark when she’s near. And he’s determined to keep her as near as possible, whether she wants him close or not. But she’s a temptation that will test every bit of control he has left. One that may ultimately have the power to send him back to the Underworld…or free him from his chains for good.

Praise for Elisabeth Naughton:

“Entertaining and smoldering.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review of Tempted

“Creative worldbuilding and ever-present danger pull the reader into this mesmerizing tale.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ star review of Enraptured

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A former junior high science teacher, Elisabeth Naughton traded in her red pen and test-tube set for a laptop and research books. She now writes sexy romantic adventure and paranormal novels full-time from Oregon, where she lives with her husband and three children. Her work has been nominated for numerous awards, including the RWA RITA© Award, the NJ RWA Golden Leaf, and the RWA Golden Heart. When not writing, Elisabeth can be found running, hanging out at the ball park, or dreaming up new and adventures. Visit her at www.elisabethnaughton.com and follow her on Twitter, @ElisNaughton.