Monday 30 September 2024

Knowing How You Write - The Creative Process

KNOWING HOW YOU WRITE

As someone who has been writing for more than half my life, I think it's a good idea for any writer to know how they work, to know what their way of doing things is. I've always been someone who mostly doesn't plan. I have a minimal plan, always have, otherwise I get lost along the way, but I rarely follow it to the letter. I allow for a lot of discovery along the way and to be honest, I don't think I'd have written half the books I have if I tried to plot and outline them the way other writers do. No shade, you gotta do what works for you, and that's completely valid.

But if you're new to writing, or you're trying to find a new way of working, I think it's important to have some idea of how you write. I started writing when I was 19, though I had written 'books' before then, they weren't very good and they haven't ever been looked at since. I knew that I had this idea brewing in the back of my mind for the past five or so years and I was desperate to get it onto the page. And I did, ten days later, I had a novel.

The point there is not to try and toot my own horn, but to lay the groundwork for what I'm about to say: I had no idea what I was doing. I had no idea how I personally worked, and it showed. It showed when it came time to revise and edit and eventually publish that novel. I thought that I would always write books in days, but nope. My second book took me about three years to get out because I'd not put together any kind of plan. I didn't know how I worked, I didn't think about all the steps I should take, I just put pen to paper and got writing thinking that it would all sort itself out.

Spoiler, it did not. I wrote myself into a corner because I didn't have a chapter plan. I was just taking one character and having them go through the whole thing discovering the information. Some of it was vaguely in the back of my mind, but because it took me three years, and I didn't write half of it down, I forgot a whole lot of it. Because of that, I struggled to even finish, let alone revise and edit!

One of the big things I learnt from that was you have to know how you personally write. Whether that means trying all the different outlining methods you can find, or trying to pants, or even just doing a mix of the two like I do, it's so important that you work that out. While yes, it can change from project to project. Like for me it's been mostly the same, but I do outline extensively when I revise, the core components will guide you along your path and allow you to find a way to both get the book written, but also set yourself up for success when it comes to future projects.

I started writing before the internet was as big as it is now, before things like google (yes I'm old) and before social media, so there weren't as many resources around for me to try and learn, but there are now and that's very much a good thing. It means you can watch things like Authortube, and you can find blogs like mine, and you can work out what works for you, because it's the biggest hurdle, to me at least, to finishing your book.

I did, eventually, fix the issue with that second book. I worked out what needed to be done, and then when it came to writing the next one, I did my minimal outline because I had learned from my mistakes. Of course that book took me about the same amount of time - years - because I was still struggling to work out how to plan my time, but that's a story for another day.

Take the time to find out how you write, to find out what works best for you, you will thank yourself later! And good luck!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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Friday 27 September 2024

Review of Tell Me You Love Me by Gracie Graham

Brynn Nichols is an enigma wrapped up in a riddle I can’t decipher.

She’s my best friend’s twin sister, the only girl immune to my charms. Far too wholesome for a player like me.

Getting under her skin is my favorite pastime. And it’s not hard to do considering how much she hates me.

But when football and summer classes take us to the same college, her brother makes me promise to watch over her. Keep an eye on her since he can’t.

I try to resist her, I really do.

She’s off-limits.

Too good for me.

There are a million reasons acting on my attraction toward her is wrong.

But her biting remarks and constant scowls aren’t enough to keep me at bay. Especially when her psycho roommate leaves her in need of a place to stay.

Inviting her to bunk with me for the summer is the worst possible idea.

But I never said I was smart.

Several kisses and one heated encounter later, I’m in over my head.

If her brother finds out about us, he’ll kill me.

So, we agree to keep it quiet.

But there are demons lurking behind her smooth skin, soft lips, and long blonde hair. Reasons for her ire I don’t know about. And when I discover the truth, the lines between loyalty, love, and friendship are drawn.

Now I’m so far away from the line, I can’t even see it anymore.

And with the way I’m feeling, I’m not sure I want to.
 
 
My Review:  5 STARS

Having read all the other books in this series, I was itching to get into this next one. There were a few parts that had me a little apprehensive about how they’d be handled, and I have to say that Graham nailed it. The characters were engaging, and relatable, and it was just a beautifully told story that allowed you to sit along with the two of them, cheering them on and hoping for that perfect happy ending for them both. I adored Brynn and Jace, and I loved the way they came together. Their backstories, their history and just all of it was done to a tee. Highly recommended for all those who love a good romance, even with the harder hitting topics involved! 

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 26 September 2024

Tuesday 24 September 2024

#TeaserTuesday

Jessie doesn't know what's causing Tyra pain, but she's not sure she wants to help...

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Of course, I wasn't sure if Tyra was actually hurting because of a medical condition. Maybe she got into a fight and wanted to hide that from her parents. Maybe she'd had a fall or something. I wasn't a doctor, I couldn't diagnose her. Yes, I could feel that the pain wasn't fake, but I didn't know the actual cause.
On top of that, there was a part of me that thought: fuck it. She'd threatened me. She'd gone out of her way to attack me. She'd knowingly hurt me. This wasn't like with Meera, who had been a bit of a bitch when we first met. This was active bullying.

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 23 September 2024

Why Self-Care Can Help - The Creative Process

WHY SELF-CARE CAN HELP

Last week I talked about taking care of your writer self (found here) and this week I thought I would touch on why it's a good idea to do so. For those who may not realise, I'm chronically ill and disabled and have been writing since I was 19, and published since I was 23, I'm 42 now. I have almost 22 books out, with the 22nd coming in October, and I've also drafted nearly 50 books. I don't tell you all of that to brag or to score points, but to give you an idea of where I'm coming from, when I tell you that self-care is a massive help to keeping on track, and also managing to write full stop.

I have always been a big advocate for taking breaks, even when you don't think you've 'earned' them, which to me is not true, because we're all human and we all need a chance to recharge and regroup before going back to work. Being creative is a drain on your body, and I don't mean that negatively, but just that it takes a lot of energy and time to get to the point where you have something that works. It's a lot of work being an author, being a writer, being any kind of creative, and a lot of the time, people don't realise just how much of it happens behind the scenes.

But self-care, while it may be a buzzword, is also a massive part of being successful at writing, at publishing, at any kind of creative pursuit, because if you don't look after yourself, then you're going to end up in burnout and that is hell and harder to get out of. I've not always been someone who did take the breaks I should have. I didn't always set aside time off, and I bought into the idea that you had to earn your days off, that if you didn't meet this deadline, then oh well, just work harder. It's not the way it should be, because that is not sustainable, and if you want this to be your job, whether full time or not, then you have to be able to sustain that level of creativity.

I have been lucky enough that being an author is my full-time job. For transparency I'll be clear it doesn't pay me full-time, but I don't have any other job that I need to be doing to manage. I've also been very lucky in that I have tools at my fingertips that help me manage to create, to keep on top of things, and to also stay on target. But again, even if you aren't on deadline, you still need those breaks!

So why and how does self-care help? I'm gonna break down a few points and ways to give you an idea about why you should be adding it to your routine.

#1 YOU CREATE BETTER WITH REST
Have you ever been really stressed and trying to think up something? I have, and maybe it's just me, but I always find I have my worst ideas while trying to think while stressed and anxious and struggling to put one foot in the front of the other. When I've had some rest, and I've not pushed my body to breaking point, then I find it a whole lot easier to come up with things on the fly. Our brains work better when we're not pushing them to their limits, and because of that, it will help you write and create, if you're able to give your body the downtime you need.

While yes, I know deadlines happen, that doesn't mean that you should skip out on sleeping or recharging however you may do so, because of said deadline. Things will happen that make your working time stressful, been there, done that, but I've also found, like I said, that I do better in those stressed times when I'm not also working on a sleep debt, or having overdone it.

#2 RECHARGING CAN LEAD TO THE BEST IDEAS

You know that a lot of the time creatives will have their best idea about a plot hole or issue while in the shower? There's a reason for that. It's because your body is finally having a break, and is turning the problem over without all the pressure of needing to go go go. So it comes up with an idea, or a way to fix things, and that stress is instantly eased because now you know where to go and what to do, and you also have some idea of how to bring about the outcome you want.

I've always found when that happens that the next time I sit down to work, it all flows so much better because I've disconnected for a time, and my mind has been turning it over without me applying all different kinds of pressure. It's allowed me to sit back and really think about it, which is how I've solved a lot of my plot holes when they've been bugging me for a while.

#3 FUN THINGS CAN LEAD TO NEW IDEAS

I've found that while doing my wheelchair walks, something I do for a variety of reasons, one of which being it gives me a chance to relax, I will have ideas about how to fix things. I've also had ideas about new books, about series, about what to do about this issue I'm having. My point is that switching off can also bring about new book ideas. It can give you a chance to really delve into your subconscious and come out with a whole series of books that you wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

Fun things, whether they be self-care, or a day out with the family allow you to relax and switch off, and in doing that, those creative juices get flowing and you're soon able to find this plot and this character and boom, you're off with something brand new!

So there we go, some ways that self-care can help you as a creative. I really have found that it's a big tool for me in getting through the work, and I hope these help you too!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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Friday 20 September 2024

Review of Summer Kisses And Boy Bands by Kimberly King

 
Want to date a celebrity? Just don't lose your heart.

Val Hartman can hardly believe it when dreamy Zac Miller, lead singer of the Spud Rockets, is in town for the summer. Even more shocking is when they hit it off and he asks her out. But dating a rockstar has its own set of rules, and she’ll have to follow them to stay in the game.
It doesn’t take long to discover that nothing is fair when dating a celebrity, and when a secret is exposed, all that they’ve built falls apart. Add in a troubling phone call that takes Val out of town in a hurry, and everything important in her life is about to be lost for good.
The only way to make things right again will have to be something huge, but it will be the last thing Val ever expects.

My Review: 5 STARS

King is a new author to me and I’ve so far read three of her books and I adore them! I love the quirky characters, but how real they feel, how normal, how relatable and everything else that goes with it. This book was no different in that it had so many twists and turns, a hint of mystery through it. I adored the romance, and how things all came together at the end. I’m so glad there are always solid friendships in her book too, even with their own angst and twists. Just a delightful read and one that I only stopped reading because sleep isn’t optional! Very much recommended for all those who love a sweet romance! 

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 19 September 2024

Writer Reflection: Approaching Writing Life [CC]


Doing a bit of reflection about what goes into the writing life! #Authortube
 
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Tuesday 17 September 2024

#TeaserTuesday

The worst person to overhear them talk about the twitch...

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[ID: An orange background with the title CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE THIRD ACHE at the top and coming October 15th 2024 just below the title The except reads:

“You're triggered?” she said, loudly enough that it felt like she'd shouted it across the quiet room.
She snorted a laugh. I was hoping she'd leave it at that, but she'd drawn the attention of Tyra and Cassie, who came to join her.
“Did you say she's triggered?” Tyra said in a faux whisper.
My cheeks burned, and I wanted to just crawl under the table. The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to myself, but as they all stood there staring at Meera and me, my pain spiked and my arms felt like they were burning.

At the bottom is Joey Paul and just below that the website www.joeypaulonline.com, and in the bottom right corner is the logo for Bug Books. END ID]

 

Monday 16 September 2024

Taking Care Of Your Writer Self - The Creative Process

TAKING CARE OF YOUR WRITER SELF

As someone who's been writing for longer than she wasn't, I've become very good at knowing when I need to take a step back and work on looking after myself. I've always been a big advocate for taking breaks, and how necessary they are, but when it comes to taking care of you as a writer, it can be hard sometimes to know where to start. Self-care is all very well and good, but if you don't actually know what works for you, then how do you know what to do, and how to go about it?

I thought I would give you some places to start. I've been lucky to land on things that work for me, and are things I can do even on bad health days. Of course some may be better than others, and you may find that some don't work for you and that's fine, but taking care of yourself is a very important part of being a writer, of being any kind of creative. We all have to refill that well somehow and it's a good idea to have multiple ways of doing so within your arsenal.

#1 READING IN WHATEVER WAY WORKS
I've never been someone who finds it easy to listen to audiobooks. I think it's because of my inability to concentrate, and also just that I've always done better with reading text than listening to it. My brain just works that way. So when I talk about reading, I usually mean Kindle or ebook format, but I will be clear that audiobooks count as reading, no matter what anyone says.

So if you find that you need some downtime, maybe find a book that isn't heavy on the thinking, and just lose yourself in someone else's world for a time. It can be a great idea to switch off the creator side of your brain, and just relax and get a chance to recharge using someone else's words. Whether that's with an audiobook, or a paperback, or an ebook. It all counts.

#2 GAMING IS VALID
I've never really been someone who does much gaming in the true sense of the word. I don't have a set up on my computer, and while my best friend is a big player of The Sims 2, I've never gotten as much out of it as she does. I get bored of it, and it just doesn't help me relax. Mobile games though? I have a ton of those, and will happily spend an hour or more just lost in levels and enjoying myself. For me it's more about getting to switch off the planning and writer side of my thoughts and instead focus on just having fun.

However you go about doing this, just like with reading, it's valid. I wouldn't call myself a gamer, but I do enjoy the art of it all. I'm not about to spend hours on a gaming console, but I can very much see the attraction and it's a great way to unwind.

#3 THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Now those who've been following me for a while know that I'm a wheelchair user, they might also know that in 2023 I started doing wheelchair walks. As in, going to our local part, and doing laps pushing myself around in my chair. Before this I couldn't really wheel all that much because I wasn't conditioned, and my lungs hate me, but since I started with just that one lap, I've built it up so that we go three days a week and I do a whole bunch of laps. Right now it's been a massive help with pain, and mental health issues, but it's also a good thing to just get moving.

You don't have to be going out there and doing marathons, even if it's just a fifteen minute walk, that's okay. Even if you're super slow, and you don't get heart-rate up, also good. It's all about just getting yourself moving, however that may be. If you are looking to start a routine, and I am by no means an expert, then start small and slowly, and I mean that, slowly build up. You might find it helps to refresh your thoughts and your mind and body as well.

So there we go, three ways that you can take care of your writer self. Burnout is not something anyone wants, and it sucks, and I hate it, as do most creatives, but the best way to avoid that is by taking time to recharge and allow yourself to unwind and breathe, however that may be.

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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Friday 13 September 2024

Review of All Out Of Love by Gracie Graham

 
My senior year was supposed to be easy. After all, I'm Graham Scott, son to a football legend and guaranteed a scholarship.

But now, I'm so far off the beaten path I barely recognize myself anymore.

My father is a cheat.

My best friend broke my heart.

And I owe ten thousand dollars in gambling debt.

The only thing I seem to find solace in anymore is the bottom of a booze bottle.

But my problems are catching up with me, and soon, I find myself making a deal with the devil, only to meet an angel in return.

Skylar Davenport.

She might be the one thing to break through the darkness, but even if I can get past her hate for me, I have one too many secrets.

And it’s only a matter of time before they start coming back to haunt me.

Amazon

My Review:  5 STARS

I read the first two books in this series and had complicated feelings about reading Graham’s story. That said, when I dived in, I started to realise it wasn’t going to go the way I worried about. Instead of being self-absorbed, we got to watch the character grow and change, become the person he was all along, and find love as well. I adored Skylar, and I loved the many twists and turns this book took. There were parts of it that had me sure they wouldn’t work out, parts where I was on the edge of my seat trying to guess how things would go, and that ending, the way it all came together, chef’s kiss, it was amazing and beautiful and I adored it! Very much recommended!

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Thursday 12 September 2024

Life Of Joey & Bi-Monthly Goals - September 2024 [CC]


Letting you know what I got up to last month, and reviewing and setting goals! #Authortube
 
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Tuesday 10 September 2024

#TeaserTuesday

Jessie is desperate to be able to turn down the pain...

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[ID: An orange background with the title CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE THIRD ACHE at the top and coming October 15th 2024 just below the title The except reads:

I didn't think I'd done anything to begin with. But as I let out another long, slow breath, my hand on the doll started to burn a little. Not painful, just feeling hot and a light buzz in the tips of my fingers. I gasped as I felt it there just out of reach, and just as quickly as it appeared, it slipped away. I tried to keep hold of it, but either Meera's headache was too low on the radar, or I needed to work on grasping hold of the buzz and pain.

At the bottom is Joey Paul and just below that the website www.joeypaulonline.com, and in the bottom right corner is the logo for Bug Books. END ID]

 

 

Monday 9 September 2024

Creative Characters: Writing Jessie & Tyra

CREATIVE CHARACTERS: WRITING JESSIE & TYRA

It always sneaks up me, the releases I mean. I've been having a reduced schedule the past few years so I've not yet gotten back into the groove of releasing books. Hopefully that will change next year, but my point is such that I didn't realise how close we were to release, and since I always planned to talk about the third Cramping Chronicles book around this time, it was a bit of a surprise when I came to writing my blog posts this morning and found it was already time!

So for those new to my blog, I generally, around the time of release, go into a bit more depth about what it was like writing the main characters of the story. For those who know nothing about the CRAMPING CHRONICLES series, lemme give you a little insight. It's a YA urban fantasy series that deals with Jessie, who's 15, and disabled with M.E and Fibromyalgia. She's also an empath. She has the ability to feel certain people's emotional and physical pain, and in the first two books, she was trying to get a handle on it, in book three, she's finally found a tutor in all things empath and is hoping to learn how to control her ability.

Only there's a problem, while learning, Jessie also has to deal with another new trigger, Tyra, and Tyra happens to be the school bully. While Jessie wouldn't want to leave anyone in pain if she could help it, the fact that Tyra has taken an instant dislike to Jessie doesn't help matters. So while dealing with Tyra's pain, Jessie also has to juggle some other issues, like whether or not she should tell her parents about her ability, and learning more and more about the empath life, and what it holds for her. This third book also launches us into finding out the background and lore of what being an empath means, and you're gonna be in for a ride!

So what was it like writing Jessie, a character I've grown close to, opposite the school bully who has her own secrets to hide? Lemme jump into it!

WRITING JESSIE


Jessie has been through a lot in the first two books, she found Meera, her girlfriend, but she also found a whole lot of pain to go along with it. While she knows a little about being an empath, it was really only dealing with Marcus' pain in book two that pushed her into getting a tutor, and bringing Lucas into the picture. Jessie has always been sure that she wants to deal with things on her own. She doesn't want to tell her parents about her ability, and now isn't any different. The problem is, that after what happened with Meera, and then again with Marcus, she knows she doesn't always have the tools to deal with problems that arise and even though she wants to be an adult about it, there are some things she's gonna need parental help with.

Bringing Lucas into the picture helped, but once things started to become clear that there was a whole lot more about Jessie, and her ability, that he wasn't going to be able to help her with, she's kinda stuck between making a choice that might backfire, or going it alone and hoping for the best. Enter Tyra, a bully who seems to think Jessie, and the world, owe her a favour and it's no wonder that Jessie is hesitant to help. Of course she wants to minimise Tyra's pain, but not at the expense of herself.

Jessie is always a delight to write. I love her wit, her way of dealing with things, and I really do feel like had I been at school with her, she'd have been a fast friend. Of course, there are complications, and Jessie is learning things about herself, her distant relatives, and her ability fast, and there doesn't seem to be any one around to lend a hand. She's in the deep end now, and she's gonna have to learn how to swim.

WRITING TYRA

Tyra was a character that I knew would show up eventually. Most schools have bullies and even if you're popular, you're bound to come across one in some form. Tyra Meadows is the kind of bully I grew up with. The one that seems to think everyone owes them something, and because they've not gotten it handed to them, they'll happily take it by force. Her story is a sad one though, and without giving spoilers, I will say that Tyra has her reasons for acting the way she does, though of course it doesn't excuse it.

Tyra was never going to be someone Jessie instantly got on with, and because of that, they were always going to be at cross-purposes, but the story behind her, the reason for her pain, was one that needed to be told. I did like getting to write Tyra, to bring the kind of person she was to life on the page, and I'm really happy with how she turned out.

Like I said, this book is the start of something huge in the CRAMPING CHRONICLES universe, and because of that there is little I can share about that stuff, but if you're wanting to dive into the series, and pre-order the third book, you can do so here!

I hope you enjoy them!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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Friday 6 September 2024

Review of Happy Singles Awareness Day by Kimberly King

 
Getting dumped right before Valentine’s Day is bad enough, but things only get worse for cheerleader Carlee McAdams when an incriminating picture of her lands in the school paper. In the middle of her public, very complicated break-up, someone is desperate to see her fall, and they’ll stop at nothing until she hits rock bottom.

Just when life can’t get any more messy, ex-model Alex Coleman enters the picture: cute, interested, and totally off-limits. He’s everything she doesn’t want in a guy, so staying away should be easy. But that proves harder than it looks. The more she gets to know him, the more she starts to question if he’s really the guy she thought he was. Can she put her prejudices aside and give him a chance? But before she can decide, the one person she thought she could trust ends up being the one who’s about to bring everything down.

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

I read the first book in this series and fell in love with King’s way of setting the scene and telling stories. I adored Carlee and Alex, and loved the way the twists and turns both pushed them apart and pulled them together. The story was beautifully written, engaging and kept me turning the page so much so that I finished it in one sitting. I loved that ending, and the big reveal was amazing, kept me guessing the whole way through. It was a delightful story and so glad I have the next in the series so I can dive right into that! Recommended for all those who love a sweet romance with a bit of a mystery woven through.

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 5 September 2024

Tuesday 3 September 2024

#TeaserTuesday

Controlling the twitch for the first time isn't as easy as she'd hoped...

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[ID: An orange background with the title CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE THIRD ACHE at the top and coming October 15th 2024 just below the title The except reads:

“So how does it work?” Meera asked, her voice soft.
Her green eyes were filled with pain, they’d have clued me in even if I hadn't been able to pick up on it myself.
“I don't know the science behind it,” I said. “If there even is any science behind it. Lucas didn't exactly go into a lot of detail. But I did some research on the forum, and they said physical is harder than emotional.” I swallowed down the lump in my throat as my eyes began to water from the intensity of her migraine. “So, I have to keep the doll in my hands, have to keep the sand on my body, and I have to focus on what is my pain and what is yours,” I said, trying to sound like I knew what I was doing.

At the bottom is Joey Paul and just below that the website www.joeypaulonline.com, and in the bottom right corner is the logo for Bug Books. END ID]

 

Monday 2 September 2024

Approaching Rewrites - The After Process

APPROACHING REWRITES

I have spent the past two months not drafting. I finished my last two drafting projects for a while at the end of June. I then dove into revision and rewriting two older projects that I knew needed a lot of work. I wanted to be able to spend some time with them without the editor deadline hanging over me. I especially didn't want to get to that point and find that I needed to cut and rewrite the whole project with little time to get it done. So, I decided to do this instead, and I have to say that it's been a real eye opener for me.

One of the projects, a YA urban fantasy/romance, was one that I really thought would be in somewhat okay shape. I knew that when I wrote it, I was pretty on the ball with the idea and what came after it. I knew how I wanted things to play out and I was less worried about the word count being too high because a lot of the story involved fantasy elements that needed a little more explanation. I was also pretty sure that the pacing was about right, with a few tweaks it should hold up.

The other project, a YA thriller, was the one I was extremely worried about. I felt like it was way too long, that I spent chapters here and there going around in circles. I was worried that it would need stripping down to the bone and starting all over again. The word count would almost be cut by a third and the whole thing would just need to be rewritten and restarted, but with a bit more of an outline and idea with how the story would go.

Both of these projects surprised me. The first was in much better shape than I remembered, though there were some things that I'd like to lean into more, and feel like the pacing needs a little bit more work to get things to hit the right way. There are some plot holes, which I've managed to find an answer for, and others that I need to think about a little more before I really call them solved. I adore the characters and think that their romance works really well. The ending was a little lacklustre, but at the same time, I can work with that.

The second project was pretty tight already pacing wise. Those chapters I worried about that would need to be cut were not in as dire shape as I thought. My biggest issue right now is how to cut a third of the word count without rushing through the whole thing and knocking the pacing out. I spotted a couple of plot holes, but overall, it's actually not too bad. I still think it's way too long, and I knew that as an overwriter, I was going to have to work out what I could cut. I assumed I'd be able to lose a few chapters at the start and in the middle, but found that I jumped right to the action so there were none of those to worry about. It's making me wonder just how I'm going to cut it down.

I tell you all this not just because it's interesting to me, but because approaching rewrites can be daunting. If you're anything like me, it's been a while since you read the book, and you can remember bits and pieces, but that doesn't mean you can remember both the good and the bad. I always remember the bad. I did it with THIRD ACHE in revisions too, thinking that there was this whole plot thread that would need to be bulked up. It was already done, I just didn't remember all of that.

Rewrites can be scary, they can be daunting, because you're taking this thing you wrote, and poured all your energy into and basically saying that some, or all, of it is not good enough to remain. It can be disheartening and while I plan to stay doing rewrites and revision for this year and next, it's also hard to focus on the end goal rather than just seeing the mess of the first draft.

That said, I know I can craft these into better stories. I got this, and so do you. We're gonna make them amazing!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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