That question comes to me at every event I appear at. Especially once a book comes out, like of late with the release of Murdered in Craven and Burned in Craven. The non-writer thinks that I finished the latest book just a week or two ago, and then someone put it on Amazon for me, sending me copies to sell on the side. I never make fun of their logic, but I do like to clarify.

When a book is released, I’m usually finishing up writing another. That surprises so many. In this case, I already sent the next Edisto book to the publisher, and have cracked the wrapper on the next one, having written a couple thousand words of the story.

Usually it’s only then that they realize that I do this for a living.

This isn’t about writing when some fictitious muse hits. It’s about writing everyday. I know I preach that ad nauseum, but whenever I’m interviewed and asked, “What advice do you have for new writers?” . . . I always say the same thing. Write every day. Show up to work.

Of course I’m working on a book. I’m always working on a book. I have three books in my head now for down the road. It’s what writers do in order to remain employed. It’s what writers do to remain relevant to readers.

But where do you get your ideas? The news, a seedling of a story from what someone experienced, a WHAT-IF question that pops into my head that spins into a tale, or maybe my own experience. All it takes is a spark, then you spin and spin and spin . . . like you’ve wound up your character then set them down and let them loose.

But the conclusion to all of this is that I love writing and I love my worlds I’ve built. But to preserve them, to keep them alive, I have to write every day. It might be an outline, it might be taking copious notes about a thought or scene, or it might be an entire first draft of a chapter . . . but I sit in the chair and show up to work.

Am I working on a book now? Yes, and always will be until I can’t. And yes, anyone can do it. The diligence is what pays. Everything else . . . the imagination, the word count, the spin . . . takes place so much easier if you give it the momentum of writing daily. Those wheels  have to remain greased to work best.