• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Bookshelf
    • Audio
    • Complete List of Chautona’s Books
    • The Rockland Chronicles
      • The Vintage Wren
      • The Aggie Series
      • The Hartfield Mysteries
      • Sight Unseen Series
        • Sight Unseen Series Archives
      • The Agency Files
      • Christmas Fiction
    • Legacy of the Vines
    • Meddlin’ Madeline
      • Madeline Blog Archive
    • Ballads from the Hearth
      • Ballads from the Hearth Blog Archive
    • Legends of the Vengeance
    • Journey of Dreams
    • Wynnewood
    • Webster’s Bakery
    • The Not-So-Fairy Tales
    • Heart of Warwickshire
  • Start HERE
    • If You Like…
    • Characters
    • Suggested Reading Order
    • Free Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Guest Information
    • Podcast Interview FAQ
  • Merch Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Bonus
  • New & Coming
Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

L-ists

by Chautona Havig · 5 Comments

You know, I think most people are list makers.  Some use complex organizers, others notebooks.  Some like post-it-notes, and some are more techy types with smart phones, iPads, and laptops.  I have a daughter that puts everything into her iTouch.  From what to buy at Burger King, to when to switch out laundry, she’s got ’em all.

When writing, I tend to have lists of things in my manuscript.  At the end of the current chapter, I’ll have notes like:

Gets in argument with stranger at store
Don’t forget that she has a black eye
Lose the cell phone somewhere
Check when Sally in that other book lived there

Those notes are actually lists of things to do.  In a sense, it works as kind of an outline for the book.  As I do things, I delete them.  I love deleting.  It feels great.  It’s the electronic form of striking stuff off a list.  I remember thinking that it wasn’t quite as satisfying because you don’t have that list of completed items, but then I laughed at myself.  I mean, really.  I have AN ENTIRE BOOK as proof that I completed a LOT of things!

Several times I have made a list of all the books I have in progress.  I thought about doing that again for this post, but I really don’t think I can handle it right now.  You see, it’s a LOT of books.  The last time I did it (and I’ve added at least thirty books to it since then) it was over a hundred.  I scare me.  However, I now have a plan for getting things done.  I’m actually pretty excited about it.

So, do you have lists of all your intended projects?  Do you ever finish them?  😉

To see what other bloggers are doing this month, check out the HUGE list of bloggers HERE!

Share
Pin
Post
Email
Share
Pin
Post
Email

Filed Under: General Information Tagged With: Blogging from A-Z

Previous Post: « K-indness
Next Post: M-ovies »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. Jocelyn Rish says

    April 17, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    When I have an idea for a new project, I start a new Word doc and type out what I know. It might be an opening sentence, a general plot, a character, sometimes it’s just a title. And then I keep all those in my “idea” folder, and I go back and add thoughts about it as they come to me. It seems to work for me.

    Wishing you continued success with the A to Z challenge,
    Jocelyn

    Reply
  2. Rebekah says

    April 16, 2012 at 10:26 am

    I make lists just like that in the margins when I’m writing – only I usually strike out, since you can’t delete on paper and I can’t convince myself to write with pencil. :p

    Every time that I think I have a lot of books in progress, I can think of you and realize I don’t. I mean, 10-20 books isn’t even a quarter of a hundred! ;p

    To the KING be all the glory!
    Rebekah

    Reply
  3. Annalisa Crawford says

    April 14, 2012 at 6:38 am

    The only lists I make are shopping lists, and inevitably I forget to take them out of my pocket, so I always forget something. Lists when I’m writing would be great, if I remembered to make them.

    Just dropping by from the A-Z list! Nice to meet you.

    Reply
  4. Dawn Malone says

    April 13, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    ‘Hi’ from a fellow list-maker! I, too, blogged about lists today. I can’t live without them, and make notations at the end of my chapters (and before, and within…) as reminders. Nice to meet you!

    Reply
    • Chautona says

      April 13, 2012 at 1:13 pm

      Glad that I’m not alone. It feels strange, sometimes, but it works. Nice to meet you too!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 565: A Chat with Taylor S. Newport
byChautona Havig

Love a fast-paced suspense novel? Listen in as I chat with Taylor Newport about her newest release!

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Don’t know about you but this series sounds AWESOME.

Overdrive by Taylor S. Newport

The mission looked simple. But the enemy is closer, faster, and deadlier than they imagined.

Tyler Reid needs a break, but trouble finds him first. A call from London pulls him into a missing-person case linked to a powerful surveillance project that’s suddenly worth killing for. The deeper he digs, the more bodies he finds—and the more obvious it becomes that someone wants the entire system for themselves.

Alexandra “Alex” Romanova is looking for an escape from Veritek and the weight waiting for her back home. A trip with Tyler should’ve been the break they both needed. But when the case escalates and puts her company in the crosshairs, she goes with him—trying to keep him grounded even as the danger forces him to speed up.

The investigation spirals into a breakneck pursuit, ambushes snapping at their heels as their unknown enemy stays one move ahead. Someone is erasing anyone tied to the project, leaving bodies instead of answers. With the elusive threat closing fast, Tyler and Alex are fighting to get ahead long enough to expose who’s hunting them.

Learn more about Taylor on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

Don’t miss the first episode HERE.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

  • Apple
  • Castbox
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Amazon
  • YouTube
  • and more!
Episode 565: A Chat with Taylor S. Newport
Episode 565: A Chat with Taylor S. Newport
August 1, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 564: A Chat with Sheri A. Bradley
July 27, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 563: A Chat with Stephanie Mack
July 25, 2026
Chautona Havig
Bonus Episode: A Chat with Becca Wierwille
July 21, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 562: A Chat with Laura Thomas
July 20, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 561: A Chat with Laura Frantz
July 18, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episod 560: A Chat witih Melanie Dobson
July 13, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 559: A Chat with Lisa Phillips
July 11, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 558: A Chat with Felicia Hurd
July 6, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 557: A Chat with Laura DeNooyer
July 4, 2026
Chautona Havig
Search Results placeholder

Love Audio Books?

audio book ad

Featured Books

Take Cover

Take Cover

CrossWords

CrossWords

Be My Inspiration

Be My Inspiration

Upcoming Posts

Sorry - nothing planned yet!

Or just subscribe to the newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • So, There Was That Time I Forgot What I Knew…
  • “Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say” Ain’t No Lie
  • Why Romance Is a Hairy Proposition (or is that proposal?)

I buy my stickers here! (affiliate)

Custom Stickers, Die Cut Stickers, Bumper Stickers - Sticker Mule
Tait Stedtmann just wanted a nice quiet life, pref Tait Stedtmann just wanted a nice quiet life, preferably with a wife and a few kids. He didn't plan on an unwanted roommate and a deal to adopt her baby. Life as a single dad of an infant? Rough. He needs help. Actually, some say he needs a wife. If it worked for Bentley...
Tempting Tait: He has convictions about abortion, and now it's time to put his life where his stance on life is.
https://amzn.to/3TrUTNr #affiliatelink
#ChristFic
#ContemporaryChristianRomance
#ProLife
#KindleUnlimited
Lita's always been curious about the top ad exec i Lita's always been curious about the top ad exec in her office. Curtis keeps himself to himself, wears worn out clothes, and disappears at random times during the day. So when she has a chance to sign him up for the Secret Santa exchange, Lita goes for it. The result? The biggest Christmas surprise of her life. Love. https://amzn.to/44Ob7TH #affiliatelink
#ChristFic
#ChristianChristmasRomance

#KindleUnlimited
Lita's always been curious about the top ad exec i Lita's always been curious about the top ad exec in her office. Curtis keeps himself to himself, wears worn-out clothes, and disappears at random times during the day. So when she has a chance to sign him up for the Secret Santa exchange, Lita goes for it. The result? The biggest Christmas surprise of her life. Love. https://amzn.to/44Ob7TH #affiliatelink
#ChristFic
#ChristianChristmasRomance
#KindleUnlimited
Tait Stedtmann just wanted a nice quiet life, pref Tait Stedtmann just wanted a nice quiet life, preferably with a wife and a few kids. He didn't plan on an unwanted roommate and a deal to adopt her baby. Life as a single dad of an infant? Rough. He needs help. Actually, some say he needs a wife. If it worked for Bentley...
Tempting Tait: He has convictions about abortion, and now it's time to put his life where his stance on life is.
https://amzn.to/3TrUTNr #affiliatelink
#ChristFic
#ContemporaryChristianRomance
#ProLife
#KindleUnlimited
He's the world's most recent billionaire. She's ju He's the world's most recent billionaire. She's just glad he lives on the other side of the world. Their "paper marriage" makes both their lives easier. Until he shows up on her... um, that is HIS doorstep, injured and with his net worth significantly reduced. She doesn't trust men. He's sick to death of fawning women. And now they're stranded together in the family mansion alone. Mostly. There is the cat. Zyrtec.
Book two of the Independence Islands: The Book Barrow series, Dual Power of Convenience includes a contemporary marriage of convenience combined with a semi billionaire romance. Available in print, on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited), as well as audio (which is also free on YouTube on Christa DelSorbo's channel). https://amzn.to/3SDXwvd #affiliatelink
#ChristFic
#ContemporaryChristianRomance
She just wants a chance to film helping restore th She just wants a chance to film helping restore the islands in the wake of a hurricane. He just wants to keep his job when the islanders find out they're going to be on TV. This loathe to love romance includes a found dog, a found family, and a bit of a mystery, too. Book four of the Independence Islands: The Book Barrow series, Flipping Hearts is available in print, on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited), as well as audio (which is also free on YouTube on Christa DelSorbo's channel). https://amzn.to/3R6OcQ6 #Affiliatelink
#ChristFic
#ContemporaryChristianRomance
#KindleUnlimited
Bible Study can be life changing. Just ask Bentley Bible Study can be life changing. Just ask Bentley. Okay, so maybe her conclusions about how we glorify God might be a bit extreme, but no one can argue that it worked out well for her. Proposing to a guy she's not in love with (yet!)? Not easy, but no one said living to the glory of God would be easy, right?
Book one in the Marriages of Conviction series, Blessing Bentley explores one woman's approach to a happy marriage--start with God!
https://amzn.to/4prbRYd (#affiliatelink)
#ChristianFiction
#ContemporaryChristianRomance
#MarriageOfConvenience
#KindleUnlimited
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2026 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

Don't go before you grab your FREE short story collection!