IWSG: The Voices in My Head

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Wednesday, November 05, 2014

IWSG: The Voices in My Head


I glance at the clock.

3:45 a.m.

Cursing Daylight Savings, I try to go back to sleep. Just two more hours. Is that too much to ask after grueling weeks of non-stop editing, blogging and proofreading on top of my full time job? But it’s too late and I know it, because my mind is already drifting—not toward that desired sleep. The voices begin. I recognize them. Just whispers at first from those who’ve been part of my every waking hour for the last few months as we worked together toward Release Day in mid-October. Then a scene begins to unfold, rolling like 35mm film, filled with action and passion. Not one of the many that I’d been tweaking and polishing in that frantic race to meet deadline. But something new.

Something from the next book.


I try to ignore them. I’m SO not ready. Still in the middle of a blog tour, just having finished a fun and frantic week on my Haunted Open House, all I want to do was NOT think, NOT plot, NOT listen to those murmurs of dialog. Just a week or two of blissful decompression. I have tons of mental and physical housecleaning to do that’s been piling up during the scramble to produce my first self-published book, REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT. I don’t want to get sucked into the next project, but those greedy, persistent characters won’t leave me alone.



Even as I roll over and grumble to my pesty felines that their breakfast is not imminent, the conversation picks up again between characters old . . . and new. I close my eyes and listen, letting it play out, teasing up images to go with the words. And then I can’t sleep. I’m up, heading for my desk, turning on the computer, anxious for it to boot up so I can commit that dialog to page before it escapes me. Not even waiting for coffee!

Smiling, I reread the scene, nod, then head for the Keurig instead of the sheets.

Whether I like it or not, whether I’m ready or not, the new project has just begun.

While I’m busy sketching out an outline for that next book, here’s a glimpse of the nagging scene that got me started writing my new release, REMEMBERED BY MOONLIGHT:



Where was Max?

Had she expected it to be easy having him here so close and yet so agonizingly far away? Bad enough watching him in that antiseptic clinic cell, a prisoner of his own panicked madness, raving, raging, out of control. Worse was having him here in the lush, sexy surroundings he’d built for them to share, temptingly near yet impossible to reach.

A bargain made in heartbreak hell.

Though she might be tortured by cherished memories, he was not. She was nothing to him but a protective port in his emotional storm. And that knowledge was driven home like a stake through the heart every time they were together. Every time he stared at her through those cool green eyes without the slightest flicker of response. Every time he took that distancing step back to evade the casual graze of her hand. Every time he lay next to her in the night and silence created a force field of discomfort.

Tripping over him every minute of the damned day only emphasized how much she wanted, needed him back.

And underlined how far away he was. 
Praise from Publisher’s Weekly for the “By Moonlight” series:

“A paranormal romance series with intriguing characters and zippy action . . . Gideon masters the tension required to keep her complex and engaging story moving.” (Starred Review) 

“Vivid writing, plot twists and a satisfying ending will keep readers coming back to Gideon’s magical NOLA.” 

“Rich and complex. Enticing new dimensions to the Shifter world keep things fresh. Gideon delivers well-crafted prose and page-turning tension.” 

Do you have those annoying voices, too? Do you listen or ignore them? At least they woke me up in time to get this post written! Follow along the links below to see what’s on the minds of my other Insecure Writers Support Group friends . . .


Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post.

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!


21 comments

  1. As sleep-deprived as it makes us, that is the way that great novels begin, right? Good luck getting all your new thoughts down! :)

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    1. It's even worse when that great piece of dialogue comes to you when you're driving to work and you keep repeating it over and over so you won't forget and the people in the next car thing you're mental.

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  2. Nancy, it's always nice to realize I'm not the only one who wakes up in the middle of the night (or, since it's am by then, is it the middle of the morning?) with way too many thoughts tumbling around in my head. Ideas bounce off the walls: need-to-dos, plot possibilities, voices. Only another writer understands I'm not going crazy. It's stimulating, but by afternoon, I sure wish I'd gotten another two hours sleep.

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    1. Yaaaaawn! What were you saying? By 2:00 pm, I'm mainlining ice coffee.

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  3. I love it! Sorry for your mental health and the state of your housekeeping, but glad to hear you already have a new project percolating. :)

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    1. It's pretty much the constant state of my mental health and housekeeping!

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  4. OMG, you just described my nights! Voices, I hear voices! But if it wasn't for those annoying (in the middle of the night) voices, I wouldn't have the ideas. Lately the worst voice is the one telling me to finish the short story for the Roses of Prose Christmas anthology--free stories during the month of December. And December is coming sooner than expected. Oh, yeah. It does come after November, doesn't it? :)

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    1. Every year, Diane! Every year, even though the stores would like you to think it comes right after Halloween!

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  5. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who has to get up in the middle of the night to write what's on my mind! And yes, it happens BEFORE I finish the project I have going. Love the excerpt. No wonder you're such a legend.

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  6. Ecstatic to hear that the voices are already pushing you to write the next one, Nancy! You know I'm patiently waiting. :) I was awake this morning at 3 a.m. running a scene through my mind also. Misery loves company so I'm glad to hear I'm not alone!

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    1. And while driving home from work, those voices told me how to link the next two books together. Now . . . if I could only teach them to type or use a Dictaphone!

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  7. Voices, yes! Story of my life. Don't those voices know when we're trying to sleep? You'd think they'd be more courteous...

    I absolutely LOVE the excerpt—beautiful writing at its best! Congrats on your newest release! I HAVE to read this one!

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    1. Thanks, Kristin! It's when they're quiet that you get to wondering what they're up to . . .

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  8. I have this problem every single night. It makes sleeping impossible, but what my voices tell me is usually good stuff, so I always listen. I get my best ideas while struggling to fall asleep.

    Congratulations on your release!!!!!!!!!!!

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  9. Its tough when our characters never sleep. They are such devious taunters.

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    1. As long as their ideas are better than mine, I'm not going to complain!

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  10. I have the best ideas while driving to or from work... but I can't stop to write them down... so frustrating! I feel for you!!

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  11. Good thing they don't certify us as troubled or worse by admitting we hear voices! Me, too.

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  12. The worst is when new characters and stories whisper in your ears trying to seduce you away from the hard work of editing and polishing the stuff you've already written so it can be sent out into the world!

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