My writing journey differs from many other authors in that I don’t impose any restrictions or guidelines on my work. I don’t make myself write a particular number of words a day and I never map out my stories ahead of time. It’s like my books are out there in the ethos somewhere and they pick me to write them. When the muse strikes, its go time! I love to sit down and work on an inspired project because I never have any idea where the story is going. Even in the midst of typing, I’m not thinking, I’m not reading, I’m just getting the words out. When I’m done I get to sit back, read what I wrote and it’s like I’m seeing it for the first time. I love the process!
I’ve started several books that dry up half way through because I try to get too involved in them. I’ve tried to “create” characters and tell them what to say. And they’re all, “Step back, this isn’t about you and what you want us to say. We’ve got our own agenda.” You’ve got to admire fictitious people like that. They know what they want and they refuse to let me get in the way.
I’ve also written in different genres. So far I have one Middle Reader novel, Wilhelmina and the Willamette Wig Factory, published, in a series of six. Clearly these characters feel I’m doing a good job telling their story so they keet telling me more.
My latest project is a sequel to The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan. I’ve received such amazing feedback on this book with so many readers wanting to know what happens next. So I sat down last week to see if the cast of Mimi had anything else to say. Four writing days in and they’re already 25% done with the story. And let me tell you, there are surprises beyond all surprises in this one! I can’t wait to see how they tie it all together.
After I finished my first novel, She Sins at Midnight, I got an agent in New York City. He loved the book which is why he took it on but promised it would be hard getting one of the big publishing houses to pick it up. Apparently the big guys don’t believe in chick-lit anymore and don’t want to publish it unless you’re an already established author. Having said that he thought the book was good enough to try.
One of the editors at a big house (who shall remain nameless) also loved She Sins and asked for rewrites. I got her the revamped work ASAP and by the time she got it, read it and approved it, she was transferred to another genre—something as far away from chick-lit as Eastern religion. Sadly the new editor wanted to pick her own books and refused to give She Sins a shot.
My agent suggested I start writing women’s fiction. It didn’t matter that I didn’t want to write women’s fiction, he felt it was my best bet in getting published. So I sat on She Sins for a while and wrote other things. Then one day, I thought, “What am doing? Why am I letting other people dictate my worth?” That was the day I got on the internet and started to figure out self-publishing.
What I found was this; there’s a huge number of readers that want to read romantic comedies and chick-lit! So I joined a couple of writing groups and began the journey. She Sins at Midnight just won the 2015 Reader’s Favorite silver medal in chick-lit. Both She Sins and Mimi have reached #1 bestseller status in their genres on Amazon. Boy, am I glad I didn’t let someone else tell me what I should be writing!
The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan
Thirty-four year old, Mimi Finnegan is the third of four daughters and in her eyes, by far, the most unremarkable. She has no singular accomplishment that can stand up to any of her sisters. And if that isn’t enough, she is the only single sibling in her family.
Mimi’s sisters decide that it’s time she gets serious about husband hunting, so they begin a campaign to find Mr. Right for her. Considering her most recent dating encounters include a night club owner who stuffs bratwurst in his pants and a WASPy trust fund baby, living happily under his mother’s thumb, Mimi is more than ready to meet THE ONE. Enter celebrated British novelist Elliot Fielding.
Sexual tension and anger heat up between the duo and it isn't until Mimi discovers that Elliot is almost engaged to another that she realizes she is head-over-heels in love with him.
The journey will make you laugh, cry and want to pull your hair out from frustration! Mimi eventually learns that she is quite remarkable in her own right and never needed to worry that she lived in her sister’s shadows.
The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan is the perfect laugh-out-loud, feel good book for any woman who has ever felt that she wasn't good enough.
About Whitney Dineen
While attending the University of Illinois in Chicago, Whitney Dineen was discovered by a local modeling agent and began an unexpected career as a plus-size Ford model. She modeled in New York City before moving to Los Angeles with her husband. When she wasn’t modeling, she was in the kitchen, baking delights to share with friends. Soon, her friends began asking her to send baskets of her wonderful candies and cookies to business associates, agents and production studios. Word spread like wildfire, and the rest, as they say, is history. Whitney’s sensational creations are still in great demand by her loyal celebrity clientele (www.WhitneysGoodies.com). During “The Hollywood Years,” Whitney was bitten by the writing bug and started creating characters that are inspired by strong women with a great sense of humor. In addition to her love of chick-lit, Whitney has also written a series of adventure books for middle readers The first of which, Wilhelmina and the Willamette Wig Factory is available now. Whitney and her husband, Jimmy, have relocated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest to raise their children, chickens and organic vegetables.
Her first rom com, She Sins at Midnight recently won 2015 Reader's Favorite silver medal in chick-lit and Mimi was #1 or #2 in humor satire on Amazon for over 2 weeks.
Facebook | Twitter: | Goodreads:| website
I’ve started several books that dry up half way through because I try to get too involved in them. I’ve tried to “create” characters and tell them what to say. And they’re all, “Step back, this isn’t about you and what you want us to say. We’ve got our own agenda.” You’ve got to admire fictitious people like that. They know what they want and they refuse to let me get in the way.
I’ve also written in different genres. So far I have one Middle Reader novel, Wilhelmina and the Willamette Wig Factory, published, in a series of six. Clearly these characters feel I’m doing a good job telling their story so they keet telling me more.
My latest project is a sequel to The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan. I’ve received such amazing feedback on this book with so many readers wanting to know what happens next. So I sat down last week to see if the cast of Mimi had anything else to say. Four writing days in and they’re already 25% done with the story. And let me tell you, there are surprises beyond all surprises in this one! I can’t wait to see how they tie it all together.
After I finished my first novel, She Sins at Midnight, I got an agent in New York City. He loved the book which is why he took it on but promised it would be hard getting one of the big publishing houses to pick it up. Apparently the big guys don’t believe in chick-lit anymore and don’t want to publish it unless you’re an already established author. Having said that he thought the book was good enough to try.
One of the editors at a big house (who shall remain nameless) also loved She Sins and asked for rewrites. I got her the revamped work ASAP and by the time she got it, read it and approved it, she was transferred to another genre—something as far away from chick-lit as Eastern religion. Sadly the new editor wanted to pick her own books and refused to give She Sins a shot.
My agent suggested I start writing women’s fiction. It didn’t matter that I didn’t want to write women’s fiction, he felt it was my best bet in getting published. So I sat on She Sins for a while and wrote other things. Then one day, I thought, “What am doing? Why am I letting other people dictate my worth?” That was the day I got on the internet and started to figure out self-publishing.
What I found was this; there’s a huge number of readers that want to read romantic comedies and chick-lit! So I joined a couple of writing groups and began the journey. She Sins at Midnight just won the 2015 Reader’s Favorite silver medal in chick-lit. Both She Sins and Mimi have reached #1 bestseller status in their genres on Amazon. Boy, am I glad I didn’t let someone else tell me what I should be writing!
The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan
Mimi’s sisters decide that it’s time she gets serious about husband hunting, so they begin a campaign to find Mr. Right for her. Considering her most recent dating encounters include a night club owner who stuffs bratwurst in his pants and a WASPy trust fund baby, living happily under his mother’s thumb, Mimi is more than ready to meet THE ONE. Enter celebrated British novelist Elliot Fielding.
Sexual tension and anger heat up between the duo and it isn't until Mimi discovers that Elliot is almost engaged to another that she realizes she is head-over-heels in love with him.
The journey will make you laugh, cry and want to pull your hair out from frustration! Mimi eventually learns that she is quite remarkable in her own right and never needed to worry that she lived in her sister’s shadows.
The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan is the perfect laugh-out-loud, feel good book for any woman who has ever felt that she wasn't good enough.
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About Whitney Dineen
Her first rom com, She Sins at Midnight recently won 2015 Reader's Favorite silver medal in chick-lit and Mimi was #1 or #2 in humor satire on Amazon for over 2 weeks.
Facebook | Twitter: | Goodreads:| website
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2 Ecopies of this book
I love the idea of writing when you feel like it - that's my kind of process. Also interesting to see the downsides of traditional publishing. Great post.
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