How I Write

Where I’m at…

~ rachellepaigecampbell ~ Leave a comment

This has been a very busy and very exciting time for me.

In July, while Tiny Island Summer was campaigning on Kindle Scout, I started another new book. I love writing. It is my hobby and my passion. But I have to set time limits on myself or I would never complete anything. My time limit was to get the first draft finished by July 31st and spend all of August editing.

And I’ve been doing just that! This month has flown by in editing. I’m so excited to share this story and will be getting it up on Wattpad by September 12th. In editing this book with a new critique partner, I think I’ve really hit a groove. This new story is a sweet romance and not writing steamy scenes has been a fun challenge! I’m encouraged to write another (already have the idea).

This month I also have been editing Tiny Island Summer and can’t wait for that book to be published. I’ll update you with the news as soon as I hear. I’m nearing the end of the marathon and have a little bit of a break scheduled for myself.

But more than anything, I can’t wait to get started on the next book. I still have two True North books to finish and this other sweet romance. My goal is to write three first drafts in three months and then take my time editing over the winter and early spring.

I’ve also started reviewing romance novels as well. I’ll be posting some of my reviews here for books that I loved and want to share.

Thanks for your support and hanging in there with me! Couldn’t do it without you!

Inspiration for Tidal Patterns

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I’m finishing up the first draft for my entry into this year’s So You Think You Can Write contest. The setting is a break from my beloved North Woods of Wisconsin. This time I’m heading south to the stunning Golden Isles of Southeast Coastal Georgia.

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I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of time on St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. The landscape is both tropical and familiar. The typical palm tress and luscious plants along the beaches and the sea contrast the spectacular maritime forests of oak and pine tress mingled in amidst marshes. It’s a special and unique place and I hope to do it justice!

I’m updating my entry with each chapter as they are edited. Come check it out on Wattpad and please read through some of the other entries. There are some amazing, undiscovered authors over there. And be sure to vote for your favorites!

The best part of writing romance is the community of authors who raise each other up! If you love romance, come over to Wattpad and find your next favorite book during Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write 2015.

So You Think You Can Write 2015

~ rachellepaigecampbell ~ Leave a comment

Cover Wattpad

When I first started writing, I had no real plans for publication. I wrote purely for my own entertainment and accomplishment. I dreamt up a story, I wanted to fully develop it and finish it for myself.

In 2012, I started exploring publication. Of course I looked into submitting to the major publishing houses first. One advantage of writing romance novels, is the ability to bypass the middle man of an agent and submit directly to a publisher. I discovered Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest and submitted an entry, but didn’t promote myself and didn’t get very far at all.

I took a break in 2013 to have my second baby but leapt back into action for the 2014 So You Think You Can Write competition to much different results. I told my twitter friends about my entry and got feedback from readers that I didn’t know personally.

That was huge for me and a turning point. I’m proud of my work and my stories. I don’t think my style is for everyone, but I hope that the people who do read them enjoy my books.

I decided to be fearless. Every time I took a chance on myself in my early twenties, the dividends were huge. Why not go for it this year? Why not make my dreams of publication come true in 2015?

I wrote out an ambitious business plan for myself that I’ve had to majorly scale back (money!). But I’ve kept writing new stories, editing books, and working with editors to finalize each project. I’ve pushed myself out of my comfort zone and challenged myself. I will publish the four novels in my True North series myself and I consider that a HUGE success.

But I am still working towards being an author with a major publishing house. If nothing else comes out of So You Think You Can Write 2015 but a few more people discover me and my work, I’d be thrilled. I vow to keep writing and learning and pushing myself.

If you are reading this post, thank you for your support! I can’t tell you what that means to me.

My entry for this year’s contest is Tidal Patterns. It’s a sweet romance (aimed at Harlequin’s Heartwarming line) that I hope you’ll love as much as I do.