Thursday 28 March 2024
Tips & Tricks: Writing Rules [CC]
Tuesday 26 March 2024
#TeaserTuesday
Jessie had no idea about her friend...
BUY NOW: http://www.books2read.com/PANG
[ID: A dark blue background with the title CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE SECOND PANG at the top and out now in ebook & paperback just below the title. The except reads:
“What?” I asked, wondering what he knew that I didn’t.
“I’m sorry, Jessie, but if she was your friend, Mia wasn’t just hurt, she died. Her parents were killed too, by a drunk driver about three weeks ago. Marcus was off school, but by all accounts, he walked away without a scratch on him.”
At the bottom is Joey Paul and just below that the website www.joeypaulonline.com, in the bottom left corner is the Readers' Favorite review seal, and in the bottom right corner is the logo for Bug Books. END ID]
Monday 25 March 2024
Discovering Your Story - The Creative Process
DISCOVERING YOUR STORY
I have drafted almost 50 books, and in that time I've stuck to a very similar process of planning, drafting and all of that. I've found sometimes that I have a clear idea of what the story is, and then at other times I've been kinda working on a sliver of an idea and it takes me a while to really flesh it out, either through planning more, or drafting. There have even, in the early years of my career, been stories that I've not really worked out until the revision and rewriting stage.
I tell you all that simply to give you some idea of where I'm coming from when I talk about discovering your story. I am, but no stretch of the word, a planner when it comes to writing itself, everything else in my life, sure, but I don't do extensive planning before I begin drafting, so if that's what you're after, then I am not the person for you because I'd feel wrong to give you advice when I, myself, have never used it. I stand more on the pantsing side, though I do do a very bare bones plan when I first start writing.
So what can I tell you? I can tell you how it works for me when I first start with the seed of an idea, and I can tell you how it sometimes works when I'm mid-draft and have finally discovered the big plot of it all. I don't go into ideas generally knowing the genre, unless I'm a lot more solid in my plans, which has happened before, but if I don't have that, it doesn't hold me back and I usually cement the genre later, during the revision and editing phase of my writing.
So how do I approach discovering that story? Here's some of my steps and if they help you, great, if they don't, then you at least know what not to do, which is still a win in my book!
STEP #1: THE IDEA
This is where, I think, most people start. They have an idea, they know that they want to write it, but most writers won't just get the idea and instantly start writing. I know of some who do, but usually there's a brewing phase in there somewhere. For me I'll write down everything about the idea, and all the little bits and pieces that come along with it, and then slowly think it over, let it brew, and finally when I feel like I have a good handle on the characters, and the setting, and the vague plot, though sometimes it's a stronger plot than others, I move on to the next step.
STEP #2: THE MINIMAL PLAN
When I say minimal plan, I really do mean Minimal. My plans are usually 2 A4 pages printed, and the second page only has about 5 lines on it. I will block out my chapters, and then take myself through the points I already know, leaving space in there for ideas to come to me during the drafting stage, and note done a word, maybe two or three about what I think should happen in that chapter. It's never more than a few words. It never takes up more than one line, and it doesn't always stay as written in stone, but it's there to guide me, and only when I know I have that as neat and tidy as I can, do I move onto the next step.
STEP #3: THE DRAFTING
This is the step that will take me a long time. Anywhere from about 5-6 months to over a year. While it's been a long time since I've needed that long to finish a project, I like to have it out there because sometimes projects in drafting take a serious amount of time to get finished. Usually I will write a chapter a day, with some days off in there, and will keep going until I hit the end. Sometimes I won't hit the plot, and my story until the third, fourth, or fifth chapter and when that happens, I make a note for revisions because I realise that I probably need to cut those earlier chapters. That's more just how I work, knowing that it takes me a while to hit my stride, but you gotta do what works for you. It's only when I've got a complete draft that I move onto the next, the longest step of them all.
STEP #4: THE LAST OF IT
The first thing I do when I finish a draft is make sure I have it all printed out, and then I file it away. I do not look at it again until I've reached the stage where I need to start revising it. And that's when the serious hard work, for me at least, starts. I will go through as many drafts as it takes to get the story right and then go through it again and again to do minimal edits to the lines and such. Once it reaches the professional edit, I've probably spent a good 9 months to a year reading and rereading, sending out to betas, sensitivity readers and so on, and I usually, hopefully, by then have the story clear in my mind and I know exactly what it's about. It's a long process, but so very worth it.
So there we go, those are my ways that I discover my story. Every writer works differently, and that's completely normal. I do find that I've gotten better at doing things the longer I do them, but if you're just starting out, don't fret, you will get there.
Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!
Friday 22 March 2024
Review of Curse Of The Arrow by Maggie K. West
The Sorcerer Gisborne has claimed his throne. The safe house of Lake Cloudia is in danger as the Golden Arrow, the only remaining source of pure magic, has resurfaced. Nations across the world spring into a frantic search to recover it before the Ealdra can use it to rekindle the power of the long-dormant Gold King and end their feud with the Áccyn forever.
Dark secrets surface when Connor Avidor, a strange agent, arrives from the hidden third descendants nation of Narruncen to call Jack to join the search. Meanwhile, the Gold King and Gisborne repeatedly urge Jack away from the Narrunceni. They warn of a powerful warrior of legend, a sorcerer to rival Guy of Gisborne who will sweep in a wave of violence across the world.
Jack is forced to confront his great-grandfather's past while struggling with the weight of loss, the volatile power he is only beginning to control, and the growing uncertainty of who he can trust. In a race across continents, how far will he run?
Join Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact Joey here
Thursday 21 March 2024
Starting An Authortube Channel: Pitfalls [CC]
Tuesday 19 March 2024
#TeaserTuesday
The army will do whatever they can to silence the rebels...
BUY NOW: http://www.books2read.com/LOFF
[ID: A dark forest background with the title LIGHTS OFF at the top and out now in ebook & paperback just below the title. The except reads:
“I... not fire!” Decker shouted.
The other man in overwatch moved to give us a better angle without giving himself away, his comms were spottier than Decker’s, giving us less of an overview of what was happening at the exchange point.
“Article two-zero-point-four,” the army man closest to Decker shouted. “You are...arrested...a weapon...safe point.”
At the bottom is Joey Paul and just below that the website www.joeypaulonline.com, in the bottom left corner is the Readers' Favorite review seal, and in the bottom right corner is the logo for Bug Books. END ID]
Monday 18 March 2024
5 Facts About My Current WIP: Disability Detectives: The Computer Science Hacker
5 FACTS ABOUT MY CURRENT WIP: DISABILITY DETECTIVES: THE COMPUTER SCIENCE HACKER
Last week I talked about my other WIP, which can be found here, and this week I'm talking about Disability Detectives: The Computer Science Hacker. Previous pieces about the other books in the series can be found here, here, and here.
This is a YA crime/mystery series that deals with a group of teens, Veronica being the main point of view who all have a disability of some kind and attend Rosewood, a boarding school for mostly disabled teens. So far they've solved a murder, a spate of thefts, and caught a stalker. All of which have been at great personal cost to the group. This is the final book in the series, and it feels like it's coming in at the right place, and with the right story to tell. So let's get into the facts!
FACT #1: DAISY IS BEING TARGETED
All of the friends have been the target at some point in this series, and it seems that this time it's Daisy's turn. When someone hacks a school record, the code is tied to Daisy and even though she would never do anything like that, she does fall under suspicion. Daisy is more concerned with making sure Veronica and her friends are okay than standing up for herself. She's pretty sure that whoever did this, they'll get caught without the need for Veronica to put herself in danger. Only Veronica is not about to stand by and let her bestie get accused of something she didn't do.
FACT #2: ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR
While there had been some romantic subplots in the other books, this one brings together a couple that has been in planning since the first book. I just didn't want to rush through it, and they both had some things to sort through before they could finally admit what they felt for each other, and actually act on it. While some people might be looking at the pair and thinking there's no chance, the two of them know what they feel is real, and nothing, disabilities, parents, schoolwork, is going to get in their way.
FACT #3: VERONICA HAS SOME HARD CHOICES TO MAKE
Given everything they've all been through over the course of the series, Veronica is left with some choices that she wishes she doesn't have to think through and decide upon. With her parents not being the most supportive and the changes in her life since the start of the series, she'd been hoping that things could be put in a corner and kinda forgotten about, but that's just not going to happen and she's gonna have to bite the bullet and make some decisions.
FACT #4: SOME ADULTS AREN'T DOING THEIR JOB RIGHT
One of the big things about writing YA is that sometimes there are adults who let the side down, and the fact is there are very much some in this series and book. While Veronica and her friends first got involved for personal reasons, now that there's been some big changes, it's time for some of the adults to step up to the plate and do their job. Veronica and her friends are aware of the issues, but getting someone to listen to them is harder than you'd think.
FACT #5: THINGS MIGHT NOT TURN OUT THE WAY THEY ALL HOPE
While Veronica and her friends want this all to be resolved, done, and then be able to settle into the last of their schooling years, sometimes things don't go the way they planned. They all want there to be a happy ending, but sometimes those just don't happen, no matter how well deserved, and wanted they may be. Veronica and her friends might have to make do with the outcome, no matter what it means for all of them.
So there you go, those are my five facts about this WIP. I have to say that I've been loving getting back to my mystery/crime roots and it's just been a lot of fun to write a series that didn't have any paranormal elements to it. I've loved writing Veronica and her friends, and I can't wait for these all to be ready for you guys to read!
Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!
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Friday 15 March 2024
Review of Angel Of Fate by Zachary Jefferies
High school sophomore MaKayla Colfax was perfectly happy with her life until she inherited a mysterious pair of scissors. They don’t cut, but when holding them, MaKayla begins seeing things like lines between people, connections. With the scissors, she uncovers the ancient power of her lineage of Greek Fates.
If Grim Reaper-in-training Cain Morrigan messes up one more soul harvest, he’ll remain a disgusting human for the rest of his existence. But his new target has supernatural connections tying it to Earth. Now Cain’s only hope is to find some force powerful enough to cut these ties.
Can MaKayla embrace her destiny fast enough to preserve the balance of life and death? Can Cain tolerate a human long enough to make MaKayla into the Fate he needs? And for the love of gods, can the two of them work together for one minute without fighting?
My Review: 5 STARS
I picked this up not realising that I’d read another of Jeffries books and not been too fond of it, so to say that this was a complete change around is an understatement! I was hooked from the first scene and then dived into the story as if it were my lifeblood. I loved the characters MaKayla, Cain, all of them lead you down through the plot with so many twists and turns that it’s hard to guess what’s going to happen next! I can’t wait to read book two, and think this is a series that I will definitely be following. Highly, highly recommended!
Join
Joey here on the blog on Fridays for interviews, reviews and guest
bloggers. If you'd be interested in doing any of those, you can contact
Joey here
Thursday 14 March 2024
Life Of Joey & Bi-Monthly Goals - March 2024 [CC]
Tuesday 12 March 2024
#TeaserTuesday
BUY NOW: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE
[ID: A red checked background with the title CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE at the top and out now in ebook & paperback just below the title. The except reads:
This had to be my worst idea ever. Yes, I needed to keep working on a way to solve Meera's family problems, that wasn't the bad idea. The bad idea had been listening to Gray, and not thinking more about how to approach the subject. Now I stood the chance of losing the only two friends I had at this school, along with having to put up with Miss Trigger Point.
At the bottom is Joey Paul and just below that the website www.joeypaulonline.com, in the bottom left corner is the Readers' Favorite review seal, and in the bottom right corner is the logo for Bug Books. END ID]