This month, in celebration of Father’s Day, the Candlelight Reads Hop topic is ‘Tortured Heroes.’ What makes our hearts break when we come across a tortured hero?

I’m focused on fantasy lately, so my favorite tortured hero is Herrel, one of the were-riders from Andre Norton‘s Witch World book, Year of the Unicorn. Although a close second would be the tortured hero Ylon from Mirror of Destiny, charm-blinded by magic and seen as less than a man by all. In fact, the “seen as less than a man” is a commonality between Herrel and Ylon, and yet the heroine still comes to love them. These tortured heroes aren’t judged by their challenges but by their actions. It is this which makes me love not only the tortured hero but the heroine.

Even though they themselves have come to believe they are “less”, they don’t allow this to prevent them from protecting the women they love. Another great quality about a tortured hero (or villain, for that matter, although that is a different post). They face challenges head on and overcome, eventually coming to realize they aren’t “less” at all. Or, if anything, their faults have served to make them stronger.

Their torture and redemption gives me hope of the same.

• This has been a blog post as part of the Candlelight Reads Giveaway Blog Hop. Head to their site at the link attached to the image below to enter the drawing for the swag pack, the Amazon Gift Card, and the Rafflecopter giveaway.
• Be sure to visit the other blogs on this blog hop by following the links provided.
• Commentators on this site will be entered into a drawing for a free paperback of their choice: Searching for Sara, My Fair Princess, or The Story (all romances). You can read a summary of each book HERE.
• If you share this blog post, you will receive extra entries, so be sure to let me know in your comment.

Other blogs in the blog hop & giveaway:

• Bonnie Blythes Pure Romance
• Taylor Michaels – Heart Stopping Romantic Suspense
• Pauline Creeden, Author
• J. L. Mbewe, Fantasy Author
• Nona King’s Word Obsession (you are here)
• Nona King’s Spirit Driven Fiction
• Emerald Barnes’ Dreaming Awake Blog

Below are links for free Nookbooks. Click on the book covers to be navigated to the About the Book page on Barnes & Noble‘s website. Make certain the books are still free before you confirm download.

Don’t worry. I won’t be only posting updates about free Nookbooks.

Below are links for free Nookbooks. Click on the book covers to be navigated to the About the Book page on Barnes & Noble’s website. Make certain the books are still free before you confirm download.

Frustrating, right?

You read and re-read the before and after portions where you want to insert the scene and then–bam–nothing. You know what you want to insert, but that first segue just won’t come into fruition.

But then I get a moment’s inspiration of how to possibly start it: take into account my main character’s thoughts and feelings at the moment. To be honest, she doesn’t quite know how to approach the scene either. It’s the first time she’s venturing out onto an adventure with this particular person, so imagine the awkward aura!

Bingo! That’s what I use for inspiration into the beginning of the scene. Be it verbal or narrative thoughts, it presents a step 1, which will help me as the scene goes forward.

Well, that’s what the plan is, anyway.

What do you do when a scene idea puts you into a bit of a block?

Of course, my inability to stay focused contributed to the issue. I can’t help thinking it would have helped if I had outlined the new content at the intended location within the current manuscript . . . but hindsight is always 20/20.

Yes, there was a move from North Dakota to Washington, but when I take into account all the lazing about before and after . . . there really is no excuse. Each day I didn’t work on the manuscript I knew it would bite me in the end. But the amount of content simply overwhelmed me, bringing about my tendency to procrastinate.

It would have helped if I had outlined the new content at the intended location.

Writing journal (Photo credit: avrdreamer)

So, now I find myself in the awkward position of re-organizing my goals and targets. Unfortunately, this also effects my work on book 2 of Heart of the Blessed (Releasing Yesterday), which was to have a December 2013 release. I haven’t done more than summarize the first half of the outline, to say nothing of completing the first draft. In fact, I am embarrassed at how I’ve failed to keep myself on task, especially considering the amount of free-time since losing my job in March.

My challenge now is to learn and, instead of allowing myself to continue down this road, to make a conscious effort to change–and stick with the routine.

That is a big thing: routine. Goals and targets are well and good, but routines are key in helping me complete a project. Once I get into that productive “rut”, as it were, I stick to the cycle with dogged determination. When I have a completed project, that is when I set a target/goal for the finishing of the manuscript and coordination of its release.

Once I get into that productive “rut”, I stick to the cycle with dogged determination.

I cannot stress how important it is to understand how you function successfully as a writer. Every writer is different, and what works for me won’t necessarily work for you. There are a lot of writing books out there which tell you a variation of different approaches but, in the end, only you can truly understand what works. Dabble. Experiment. Incorporate and mix until you find what works for you and then stick to it!

What helps keep you on task?