How I Write: Julie Arduini

Welcome, and thank you so much for being here. Let’s start with: what do you write? How/why did you pick your genre?

My preference is contemporary romance. I did write one series, Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’, with my teen daughter for YA/Women’s Fiction. I love reading romance, but overall I believe God picked the genre for me.

How long does it take you to: write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?

Does it take and should it take are two different time frames for me. I think barring any interruptions, I can write a book in three months, edit in a couple weeks, and finalize in a couple weeks. The reality is life gets in the way. I have a husband with a demanding job. I have two children who live at home. I’m active with my church. My family lives 300 miles away and because it’s just me and my sister helping our mother, I travel there as often as I can. My upcoming release, Anchored Hearts, has taken nearly two years to write.

If you’ve written multiple books, which was harder: the first book or the following books? Why?

I think the following are harder for me because they were never in my plans, only God’s plans. The first book, Entrusted, I pictured for almost two decades before writing it for publication. I didn’t take being an author seriously until I finished Entrusted and knew within the story there was an open door to write another book. Entangled was the next one, and I struggled. I really agonized on how to write the second one because I stressed myself out.

What’s your writing day like?

No day is the same. As I type, I’m out of state helping my sister move, so my writing is delayed for a few weeks. When I’m home, I tend to get everyone ready for their work/school, then exercise, shower, and read devotions and pray. By then it’s late morning, so I try to get a couple hours writing in before I have to make dinner and deal with home issues. Some evenings I can get back at writing. But it’s hard.

How do you prepare to write your books: pantser, plotter, both, something completely different?

I think I’m a little of both. I have a bulletin board with index cards everywhere. Each book has a card with the overall goal. Then I create cards for each character. If I have a certain chapter where I have goals I want to achieve, that gets a card as well. Otherwise, I have a team that prays for me, and I pray as well. I ask God to direct me and write from there.

If you’re self-published, why did you decide to go that route? If you’re traditionally published, why did you decide to go that route?

I was with a small publisher and enjoyed it, but I felt a nudge from God to go indie. In doing so I felt it would be more than a small business, but a ministry where everything I do—writing, speaking, or mentoring—can fall under my surrender and chocolate brand. Being self-published gives me that freedom to do all these things.

What advice do you have for new authors?

Set deadlines for yourself. Whether it’s a first draft, submitting to an agent, or handing chapters in o a critique group, deadlines are essential. Treat your writing like a hobby and you’ll get hobby results. Treat writing like your calling/business, and your work will show.

What does your revision process look like?

I go through a chapter at a time. Once I’ve cleaned it up, I send to two critique groups. Once I receive their marks, I make changes. I finish the manuscript and go over it a couple more times before sending to an editor. I make those changes, and then to BETA readers.  After they return their comments, I go over it one more time.

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Her other latest release, YOU’RE BRILLIANT, is for girls ages 10-100, written with her teenaged daughter, Hannah, and is book 3 in their SURRENDERING STINKIN’ THINKIN’ series.She blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read, as well as monthly with Inspy Romance. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to opt in to her content full of resources and giveaway opportunities.

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