By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Recently a reader asked about my hardest task as a writer. I had to think before answering. I’m working line edits before turning in my next story, so I’m immersed in every word, goal, voice, gesture, motive, plot line, romance, suspense, symbol, character(s), emotion, dialogue, narrative, transition, spiritual impact, as well as grammar and punctuation of the story. I’m sure to have missed something in that list! 

I couldn’t think of an answer. 

Honestly, if each step in the writing process isn’t a challenge, then I’m bored and have to struggle to stay on task. My adventuresome spirit is one of the reasons I write romantic suspense, and my commitment to the craft leads me to accept the difficult tasks over the easy ones. That means weaving a slowly developing and realistic romance with the high stakes of a crime or potential crime in which the plot twists and turns. Predictable behavior is kicked off a cliff and replaced with a short rope that gives the character neither enough length to reach the summit nor enough to safely reach the canyon floor.

My ramblings and metaphors about the writing life didn’t satisfy the reader. He still wanted an answer. What is my hardest task? After much thought, I responded: 

Striving to write a perfect story in an imperfect world. 

I considered all the items I listed in the first paragraph and added a few more:

Characterization

Dialogue

Emotion

Every word

Gesture

Goal

Grammar

Literary technique

Motive

Narrative

Plot line

Punctuation

Redundancy

Romance

Show Don’t Tell

Spiritual Impact

Suspense

Symbol

Transitions

Voice

Weasel words

Creating story is like juggling balls. We writers have to keep our eyes on each one or the story falls flat with a thud. The constant task of concentrating on where those balls are going is the reason I strive to write a perfect story in an imperfect world. It won’t ever happen this side of heaven, but I’m going to give it my best!

What do you believe is a story’s hardest undertaking?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and Mountainside Retreats: Marketing, Nonfiction, Novelists, and Speakers with social media specialist Edie Melson. DiAnn continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn or her website: diannmills.com