I’m finishing my current full length book SINS of the UNDEAD PATRIOT. Somehow writing this book feels like coming full circle from the younger me that was terrified of the mindless creatures. But are they mindless? Guess, you’ll have to find out what I think when you read the book. I’m in the home stretch of completing the book. 

I’ve written the pitch, blurb, synopsis and I’m polishing as I go.

All the while, I’ve got a serious case of zombies on the brain. Not literally of course but figuratively. When I set out to write a story with one of the main characters an Ancient Zombie, I had no idea, he’d be my most complex character yet. Nor the how he and the ensemble of other characters would mesh into the world I was creating. What a fun journey writing this book has been.

As the book unfolds light is shed on the dark parts of the reality the characters are thrust into. The reader uncovers what the characters do, not only about the world but themselves.

I’m looking forward to moving into the next part of the process with SINS of the UNDEAD PATRIOT. Until after Nationals, I’m going to saver the overload of Zombies thoughts going on in my brain. 

Mason
a.c.Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

Oh my, I think, I might just do that. Lol. All jokes aside I enjoy showcasing some fellow writers I know and the work they are doing.

As the title suggests I’m going to strip down my writing process to the bare flesh.

Idea: a realization of a possible way of doing something or of something to be done

Example: NIGHT REINS. Ancient immortals fighting to keep us safe from Vampires. The immortal race lives one image out in the open and a secret society.

Issue: a source of conflict, misgiving, or emotional distress

Example: DEAD AND ADORED. I don’t like Zombies. I’m stunned at my own prejudice against beings that have done nothing to me. It’s not their fault they want to eat people. What kind of world could I create where Zobies are “ok”. What kind of zombie would be a hero of sorts.

Once I have something in my head it ferments or masticates in my brain.

Ferment: to cause, develop, or evolve something, or be developed or evolved 

Masticate: pulverize food inside the mouth, using the teeth and jaws

I prefer to say masticate, which is a Masonism, my brain chews over the idea/issue until scenes and dialogue start to take place. My characters take form in my mind and I have them rehearse the scenes playing them out a number of ways before I write. I think my camera operator background and floor directing experience help. Is this a wide-angle scene or a close up? I play out way more material in my mind then I’ll ever need for the book. Often I add in scenes after feedback from a first read from a critique partner as what they point tells me they need more of the contents in my head. I know information the reader will never know but I draw on the content and context to add the layers to the story.

Oh, I should note that usually I have multiple plots going on at once because I was blessed with three muses, affectionately known as Dark, Darker and So-Not-Funny. Darker has a really disturbed sense of humor. Warning my next comment may disturb some people. Read at own risk.

Example: DEAD AND ADORED. Vaihan doesn’t like eating human brains because they taste like cheap pâté. Plus he doesn’t much enjoy the texture.

I do a lot of planning in my head before I put one word to paper. I write synopsis or scene outlines. Those are my road map. I’m still working on the planning part of writing not happening so much in my head.

That’s the velvet rope tour of how my writing process works. I hope you enjoyed.

Mason

Good luck to everyone who’s entering I hope to see you in the winners’ circle.

Kiss,

Mason

I’ve been having a great time working on my entry for the modern heat contest.

Read more HERE.

My entry is called the Merger and it will only be the second contest I’ve entered plus the only Harlequin one. I find myself getting excited about the idea of having my writing read by them. Why? Well, it’s a little know secret about me but I love Harlequin Present. I have a huge stack of them shsh.. don’t tell people that. It might get them thinking about my dark and mysterious persona, I’ve admitted, I’m really just the sweet looking girl that lives next door.

Kiss,

Mason