I am so excited to feature Morgan L. Busse, author of the new book Secrets in the Mist, on this week’s writer’s desk.
Writer’s Desk with Morgan L. Busse
Later this week, I have the opportunity to interview Morgan about her new book — and would love for you to join us! Make sure you’re in the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction Facebook group to be able to watch (plus we’ll be taking questions from those that are joining live). But first, a little more about Morgan.
Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series, The Soul Chronicles, and The Ravenwood Saga. She is a three-time Christy Award finalist and winner of both the INSPY and the Carol Award for best in Christian speculative fiction. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.
Be sure to stick around until the end of the post to learn more about Secrets in the Mist + enter to win a copy!
Q&A with Morgan L. Busse
Do you have a writing routine? When/Where do you write?
Definitely yes! With a pastor husband and four teens, I need a routine, or I would never write! Here’s my typical day: after my kids and husband take off for school and work, I sit down and spend quiet time with God so my heart and soul are prepared for the day. Then I get my cup of tea and sit down at my computer in my office and start typing. I’m a slow writer, so I write only 500-1k words a day, but they’re usually very clean and I rarely go down rabbit holes, so when I’m done, I have a clean draft. Usually, this takes me all morning. Then I spend an hour or two on marketing, social media, or other writing-related stuff.
When are you most productive?
Morning. By afternoon, my brain is exhausted. Nighttime is when I might pull up the chapter I wrote that morning and see how it sounds in my head.
What do you snack on or drink while writing?
Tea or coffee. I love sipping on something hot and delicious while I type away!
How do you overcome writer’s block?
I usually don’t get writer’s block because I have most of the story plotted out. However, there are days when I can see the scene in my head, but the words won’t come, so I will jump ahead in the story and write a different chapter, one that I can both envision and I have the words for. Other times I will take a shower or go for a walk to clear my head. If my creativity feels depleted, I will step away and recharge either by reading a book, watching a movie, or playing a game.
What is your outlining process? Are you a pantser/plotter or something in between?
I am a plotter. But I’m not a detailed plotter. More like I know all the main events, how I want to start, and where I want to stop. I liken it to a map. However, there are times when I get into the thick of the story that my characters will surprise, much in the same way when you enter a forest with a map, you start to see the details more clearly (you see the trees, hear the birds, find the best picnic spot, get caught in a storm). It’s the right combo of knowing where I’m going, but can still be thrilled by discovery when I write.
Best advice for someone who is just starting out.
Practice. Writing improves with practice, just like a pianist gets better with practice. Then go to writing conferences, follow writing blogs, and purchase a few good writing books. Those will help you learn your craft, but then you need to put what you learned into practice. And the second piece of advice: allow yourself some grace. You are learning many things at once. Slowly add one thing at a time and before you know it, you can write dialogue, description, and plot without having to think a lot about it.
Quickfire questions:
Favorite to binge-watch: Lord of the Rings
Currently reading: I’m in between books. The last book I read was These War-Torn Hands, a great Arthurian Legend retelling in the Old West.
Favorite Song: Morning Vibes on Youtube.
Favorite Starbucks: Cinnamon Dolce Latte
Enter to win a signed limited-edition hardcover copy of Secrets in the Mist*
Don’t miss the upcoming video interview with Morgan HERE on Friday, August 20th at 1 PM CT!
More about Secrets in the Mist:
What’s lurking in the Mist is the least of their worries…
In a world where humanity lives in the sky to escape a deadly mist below, Cass’s only goal is survival. That is, until she finds a job on the airship Daedalus as a diver. Now she explores ruined cities, looking for treasure and people’s lost heirlooms until a young man hires her to find the impossible: a way to eradicate the Mist.
Theodore Winchester is a member of one of the Five Families that rule the skies. Following in his father’s footsteps, he searches for the source of the Mist and hopes to stop the purges used to control overpopulation. But what he finds are horrifying secrets and lethal ambition. If he continues his quest, it could mean his own death.
The Mist is rising and soon the world will be enveloped in its deadly embrace, turning what’s left of humanity into the undead.
Amazon | BookShop.org | Enclave Publishing
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