• 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

Author Q & A: Stick-to-it-iveness?

by Chautona Havig · 3 Comments

I get lots of questions from readers, but some of them are perfect for my Q & A segment. This one on “stick-to-it-iveness” really struck home for me.

stick-to-it-ivenessNote: links in this post may be affilliate links and clicks on them will provide me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

From Megan:

Hi Mrs. Havig. I was thinking recently about the times when I’ve explored the idea of writing a book or a story. But it seems that I never have the push to keep writing and I just become bored of my ideas. I wanted to ask you what your motivation is to continue to write [where do you get your stick-to-it-iveness, in other words] all of your fantastic novels? And are there any times that you just take a step back and stop writing for a while? Thanks for taking the time to answer my question! 🙂

-Megan

Answer on stick-to-it-iveness in writing:

I don’t think my answer will be very encouraging, Megan.  You see, I can’t say I get “bored” per se, but I need variety to keep the juices flowing well.  If you’re truly bored, I recommend looking at them and seeing if it’s just you needing space or if your current direction IS boring.  Because if you’re bored, so will your readers be.

That said, I doubt it’s as boring as you think.  Someone said, “Variety is the spice of life.”  Well, if that’s true of general life, then it’s definitely true of writing!  People often wonder how I can work on two or three–or six–books at a time.  This is how.  Because if I don’t, my writing suffers.  I need time for ideas to percolate.

It used to be that I’d get an idea and start writing it.  No matter what book I was working on, I’d stop.  Open a new document.  Write a hundred words.  A thousand.  A chapter–three.  I’d write until I had a solid idea of where I wanted that story to go–sometimes halfway through the silly book!  It’s how I published so much so quickly when I first started really publishing a few years ago.  I’d been doing that for ten years!!!!

But things changed.

Now I write down a general idea–not the actual story, but notes that come to mind.  And I leave them there.  Then when I need a break from something and don’t want to work on what I already have, I just go flip through them until one excites me.  It’s how I start my year off ready to work on new books.  I look at what I’ve conceived over the past 15 years and go, “THAT ONE!”  Usually, they’ve been sitting in that folder…. languishing there.  But  not in my mind.  My mind has been percolating them ever so slowly.  And by the time I pull them out, they’re ready for life.

Madeline did that, you know.  Years ago, I found those pictures.  I knew what I wanted to do with her, but I didn’t actually DO anything.  So, I waited.  Thought about them now and then.  Wrote down notes.  Some of those were things like, “She has a reason for wearing the bowler in the picture–Russell perhaps?”  others were more like, “She needs to flounder at first.  Just because she notices something doesn’t mean she instinctively and automatically knows what to do with it–or even that she trusts it yet.”

Aggie was another book the percolated for quite a while.

Yes, I said “book.”  Singular.  See, originally, the Aggie books were all just one volume–of about sixty-thousand words.  60K.  It started where the current Aggie does and ended with her and Tina planning a wedding over messenger.  I pulled it out after a year or two of sitting there and really looked at it.  It seemed choppy–more of a laundry list of events than a story.

So I started writing what eventually became Ready or Not.  Instead, I took scenes already there and fleshed them out.  I filled in gaps.  And when I hit 120K words I panicked.  I was JUST at the part where the house was done.  Now what?  Cut some out?  I did.  Then I had to wrap up a bit.  Back up to 120K.  ARGH.  So, I split the book in two.  Book one: Aggie inherits and tries to establish a life for themselves. Then in Book two: men vie for Aggie’s heart for different reasons.  That worked… At 130K, I had already deleted a bunch (thanks to my amazing editor, Barbara).  I had a dilemma.  One I ended by adding a third book and taking some stuff out of the end of the second.  All was well.

Book three percolated a bit and then practically wrote itself.  I knew what I wanted and where to send it.  It wasn’t as long as the first two, but it told the story I wanted to tell.  I was done.

But my readers weren’t; they wanted more.  They wanted to know what marriage was like for them–would they have children together? How would the kids feel about new children?  How did homeschooling go?

A fourth book was planned back in 2012.

Here it is, 2016 and it’s finally done.  It percolated for over three years!  I had so many things I wanted to cover, and I had to limit them.  It was going to be a Christmas novel.  I changed that.  It was going to be just about the kids–I decided to make that a separate book.  I came up with another one–about Vannie at 18.  It’ll be coming, too.  But it’s about her.  This one–this is about Aggie and clan.  I’m so excited to share it.  But if I hadn’t put it aside, written other books (like all of HearthLand, Carol and the Belles,  Tarnished  Silver,  Not a Word–so many others), this book wouldn’t be the book it is today.  I love this book.  It is full of things my heart has been aching to explore.  And now I’ve done it.

So, dear Megan, write your stories.  When you get bored. Put it aside.  Work on something else.  Talk about it with a friend, talk about it to yourself when you’re driving down the road or walking to class.  Record yourself.  Get enthusiastic again.  Then write some more–THAT is stick-to-it-iveness.  I think you’ll be pleased with the results.  If you are still bored, ask yourself, “What could go wrong here?  Should it?  If you can’t make it go wrong, can you make the reader THINK it will?  When all else fails, zip me a scene.  If you can stand the honesty I promise to give you, I’ll do what I can to help you get enthusiastic about it again.

NOTE!  Megan, zip me an email with your preferred email address.  You won a $5 Amazon Gift Certificate!

Share80
Pin
Post
Email
81Shares
Share
Pin
Post
Email
81Shares

Filed Under: Author Q & A, Writing

Previous Post: « Making Her Debut: Meddlin’ Madeline!
Next Post: A Unique, Hilarious Interview with Essie from Madeline »

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. Alicia says

    May 4, 2016 at 1:27 am

    Just catching up won’t Eberk
    E

    Reply
  2. Emma Filbrun says

    May 3, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    Finding out how the conflicts between Luke and Aggie are resolved (yes, I’ve been reading the quotes you posted!).

    Reply
  3. Tina at Mommynificent says

    May 3, 2016 at 5:18 am

    That was fabulous to read! I love the insight into your process! Thanks for sharing this!
    Tina

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 472: A Chat with Shelley Shepard Gray
byChautona Havig

 It may seem weird, but my favorite way to read Amish fiction is with mystery or suspense added. I think I like the juxtaposition of the “simple, quiet” life and the upheaval. Listen in to my chat with Shelley Shepard Gray about her newest book, Unshaken.

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

There are so many questions about the Amish, their ways of life, and their differences from us and from each other. We talked about the differences between people, sure, but we also looked at how the Amish look for the ways people are similar to them etc.

Of course, we also talked about the Rumors in Ross County series and how her newest book connects.

 Unshaken  by Shelley Shepard Gray

He helps her hide until danger has passed. She hopes her cover lasts long enough. When Stephanie Miller planned her visit to a dollar store in southern Ohio, she was expecting to pick up a few items she couldn’t find in her Amish community. She was not expecting to find herself an innocent bystander as a drug deal went horribly wrong. The sole witness to a murder, now Stephanie is targeted by the gunman. Hardy Anderson is always ready to help his social worker sister, Bev–which now includes hiding an Amish woman until a killer can be brought to justice. Surely if they dress her in English clothing, Hardy can hide her at the sprawling ranch where he works. But the killer is desperate–and there’s no telling what lengths he will go.

You can learn more about Shelley on her WEBSITE.  Don’t forget to follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

AND!!!  Don’t miss her Buggy Bunch group on Facebook, too! 

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

  • Apple
  • Castbox
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Amazon
  • and more!
Episode 472: A Chat with Shelley Shepard Gray
Episode 472: A Chat with Shelley Shepard Gray
September 29, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 471: A Chat with Heather Wood
September 27, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 470: A Chat with JPC Allen
September 22, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 469: A Chat with Niki Florica
September 20, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 468: A Chat with Ann H. Gabhart
September 19, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 467: A Chat with Elizabeth Goddard
September 15, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 466: A Chat with Jennifer L. Wright
September 13, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 465: A Chat with DiAnn Mills
September 8, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 464: A Chat with Amy R. Anguish
September 6, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 463: A Chat with Jenelle Hovde
September 5, 2025
Chautona Havig
Search Results placeholder

Love Audio Books?

audio book ad

Featured Books

Be My Inspiration

Be My Inspiration

Pointed Suspicion

Pointed Suspicion
Buy This Book Online
Purchase with Paypal
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Pointed Suspicion
Buy now!

Courting Miss Darling

Courting Miss Darling

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
What makes an office manager go "rogue" and get al What makes an office manager go "rogue" and get all "agent-ified?" Danger to their best agent's girlfriend, that's what. She doens't know what she's doing (the girlfriend knows more!), and she's terrified they're one blink away from certain death, but if sheer force of will can keep Erika alive, well... they've got a fighting chance.
Book 5 of the Agency file is available FREE, chapter by chapter on YouTube AND... after 2/28/25 also available in one full-length video.  Listen in individual chapters to keep easy track of where you are or in one long chunk so you don't have to keep moving to the next. Whichever works best for you!
PLEASE consider subscribing to Christa's YouTube channel. We'd both appreciate it.  https://bit.ly/ChristaDelsorbo
#ChristianAudiobooks
#Audiobooks
#FreeAudiobooks
#ChristianRomanticSuspense
Ever feel like you've lost control of your house.. Ever feel like you've lost control of your house... and your life?  Yeah. You're not alone. Meet Kaye. Wife, Mom, and competitive shopper (or so she wishes--erm, wished). But when the day comes that she can't find even ONE of the half dozen whatzits that they've bought over the years, she sort of loses it (her mind). Then her whole FAMILY loses it (their stuff, that is!).
Narrated by the FABULOUS Christa DelSorbo, Confessions of a De-Cluttering Junkie is availble FREE on YouTube at https://youtu.be/WPgAaOP-cvA?si=MZtVxW39q7RMmwBF
#FreeAudiobooks
#KindleUnlimited
#ChristFic
#ChristianFiction
#ChristianWomensFiction
#Decluttering
#Minimalism
#Humor
I picked a great big berry For a jaunty little hat I picked a great big berry
For a jaunty little hat.
It wont last long, I fear, 
But I think I'm okay with that. 
@ourtravelingcircus
Good morning, Virginia. It's a beautiful misty m Good morning,  Virginia.  It's a beautiful misty morn here. Continuing to wor on Take Cover. Eeep!
#TheAgencyFiles
#AmWriting
#AuthorsOfInstagram 
#WritersRetreat
Who is he, who is after him, and why is a woman ab Who is he, who is after him, and why is a woman abducted to protect her from him?  Bioterrorism, Russian mafia, and what? Another agency?  What's going on in The Agency now?
Listen to the whole book FREE, narrated by the fabulous @ChristaDelSorbo (don't forget to subscribe!!!). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-TZlGhUFcE&list=PLGJaJiSo6mQ1Cg738W1MSQlHIuFe45v_WListen to a chapter a day OR to the whole thing at the end of the month.  The previous four Agency books are also available to listen to FREE.
#TheAgencyFiles
#ChristFic
#ChristianSuspense
#kindleUnlimited
Annual writing retreat has commenced. In my favori Annual writing retreat has commenced. In my favorite place because I'm with my favorite writy folks.
@pamtheeditor @christadelsorbo @nancycwilliamsauthor @angiehycheauthorandspeaker @ourtravelingcircus 
#BecauseWriting
#BecauseRetreat
#JosieParkerForTheWin
Keith can’t help but wonder: will his first assi Keith can’t help but wonder: will his first assignment with The Agency be his last?

One missing man. One new agent. One chance to keep the (uncertain) client alive
The prequel novel to The Agency Files, Induction is Keith Auger's interview and... well.. induction into The Agency. Listen FREE on YouTube to the audiobook narrated by @ChristaDelSorbo .
Listen to each chapter separately for ease of finding where you are OR the whole book in one video (after Sept 30, 2024).
Also available from most audiobook retailers!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGJaJiSo6mQ2AIQHYt1g3cWoBPneeilsa

#ChristianRomanticSuspense
#ChristFic
#Audiobooks
#ChristianAudiobooks
#FreeAudiobooks
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

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