Several days ago, I joined a few hundred others–and at least that many gnats and critters–along the banks of the Arkansas River to watch the annual Fourth of July spectacular. And it was…well..spectacular.

We arrived early with comfortable chairs, cold drinks, mosquito spray, and our patience. Anticipation of the big event kept us swatting bugs, checking our phones, and watching for the first pop and bang that signalled the beginning of the show.

For me, writing is a whole lot like this. When a book is in the planning stages, I spend a whole lot of time getting ready for the actual writing. I get comfortable, fill my mug with a nice Diet Coke (splash of lime required), and then I swat bugs (real life interruptions, ideas that don’t work, etc) while I await the big show (an actual synopsis I’m happy with). Or I skip the synopsis and just start writing. And somewhere along the way, the fireworks begin.