From Joey's Instagram

It's Thursday and today I'm talking about what to do with all those ideas and how to know if you're on the right track! 🤔🤔 . Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/JoeyPaulOnline or the link in my bio! . What do you do with your ideas? . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #books #bookish #writinglife #joeypaul #readers #readersofinstagram #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #authortube #lovemyjob #ilovewriting #igwriters #igauthors #writingtips #authortuber #writingvlog #vlogger #smallyoutuber #booknerd #bookworm #writing #reading
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Ideas Everywhere: The Start [CC]

Writing always starts with an idea, but what do you do when they're everywhere? #Authortube

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From Joey's Instagram

Some reason the caption got eaten! But I got some sleep last night! Yay! 🤗🤗😴😴
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What are your plans for Wednesday?
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#authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #books #bookish #writinglife #joeypaul #readers #readersofinstagram #bookworm #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #booknerd #bookworm #writing #reading #lovemyjob #ilovewriting #igwriters #igauthors #chronicpain #flare #fibromyalgia #ME #wheelchairuser #oxygenuser #chronicillness
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From Joey's Instagram

#TEASERTUESDAY Tara's gift has it's downsides and seeing people die is one of them. 😱☠☠😱 . Buy here: www.books2read.com/DTTW or the link in my bio! . What paranormal gift would you like? . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #books #bookish #writinglife #joeypaul #readers #readersofinstagram #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #bookworm #bookboost #yaauthor #booknerd #writing #reading #lovemyjob #ilovewriting #igwriters #igauthors #dyingthoughts
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From Joey's Instagram

Early start again today but I had some things to get done on the admin side of indie author life. So I'm doing blog headers and other little bits and pieces! 👩‍💻👩‍💻💁‍♀️💁‍♀️ . What's the ideal time to work on creative pursuits for you. Morning or night? 🌝🌚 . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #books #bookish #writinglife #joeypaul #readers #readersofinstagram #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #readers #readersofinstagram #booknerd #bookworm #writing #reading #lovemyjob #ilovewriting #igwriters #igauthors #writingtips
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Planning A Series - The Creative Process

PLANNING A SERIES

I did a series of pieces on series and standalones, which can be found here. But I wanted to touch on this again on a piece on its own. Simply because when I've written series before, they've not had an overreaching plot, but instead have been, mostly, able to read as standalones. However in the time since then, I've written a trilogy, and started two new series and so therefore have a little bit more experience with the whole planning of a series process. I will warn you that when it comes to planning - even as a series - I am not big about thinking ahead. I'm a minimal planner and I'm not someone who feels they are always able to plot beforehand, however I have picked up a few tips along the way that I wanted to share.

#1 - START SMALL AND WORK YOUR WAY UP
This is another way of saying that don't get too far ahead of yourself. While you might have an idea for a trilogy of duology, you may find that as you build up that plot and story that it's morphing into a longer series and that's okay. So long as it works for the genre and each story itself is somewhat resolving, then you're doing fine. What I mean by somewhat resolving is there should be a point to the break. It shouldn't be one huge story broken up into smaller chunks, there should be a reason for the end of each book to fall where it does.

#2 - MAKE SURE THE STORY WORKS
Touching a little again on that last point, you need to make sure that each book has a plot of it's own, even if it's a minor one that's mostly overshadowed by the main series arc. This is because the majority of readers want to feel like they've accomplished something when finishing a book is that they've been told a story, not just fed snippets of an upcoming release that will then tell them the rest of the story. This is imperative with a series that has a long reaching arc because otherwise you're gonna have a lot of people feeling like there was little point to the books that came before the main story started.

#3 - MAKE SURE YOU'RE STARTING AT THE RIGHT POINT
Carrying on from that last point again. Sometimes the story starts later than we realise and there's no need for readers to know all that happened in that first "book", it's nothing that can't be explained as exposition or through smaller chunks of text. Sometimes we start writing or planning a story and writing a lot of filler that's actually unneeded. Sometimes you can cut out whole books by just bringing the start to a point where it makes more sense. So be sure that when you're planning, even if it's something that strikes you later on, that you're starting as close to the inciting incident as possible.

#4 - USE THE BEST CHARACTERS TO TELL THE STORY RIGHT
Making sure you have the right character either in first person or from their eyes if you chose a variation of third person. You want it to be the right person to tell the story, and while it may be tempting to have it told from various different points of view, too many can be hard to track and it can sometimes make it more confusing for the reader and harder for them to relate to the characters. It's a balancing act to find the right point of view and also tell the story in the best way you can.

AND FINALLY #5 - SOMETIMES THROWING THINGS AT A WALL WORKS
By this I mean that sometimes you can do that thought-dump where you throw things at the wall and see what sticks. This can be the same for any planning, but especially something that works with a series. I've found some of my best ideas by talking things through with a friend and just letting my ideas lead me. It doesn't always work, and you don't always end up perfect on the first try, but it's something that's worth giving a go. You never know, you might find your answer and then some!

So those are my five tips for planning a series. As I said, the Dying Thoughts series wasn't one that had an over reaching arc, but the Lights Out trilogy, the Invisible series and Cramping Chronicles, all do, and it's something that you learn as you do. So go forth and plan your series, have fun and remember to keep writing!

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From Joey's Instagram

Some days it feel like the easiest thing and other days it's super hard. Not sure what kind of day it's gonna be. Writing is going to happen though. ✒✒🤯🤯 . How's your writing Sunday going? . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #books #bookish #writinglife #joeypaul #readers #readersofinstagram #bookworm #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #booknerd #bookworm #writing #reading #lovemyjob #ilovewriting #igwriters #igauthors
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From Joey's Instagram

Oh a snowy Saturday it is then! Planning to write a chapter under a blanket! It's flipping cold! ❄❄☃️☃️ . What's your plans for Saturday? . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #books #bookish #writinglife #joeypaul #readers #readersofinstagram #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #booknerd #bookworm #writing #reading #lovemyjob #ilovewriting #igwriters #igauthors #yaauthor
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From Joey's Instagram

So I have a QFR video planned for March so time to get those questions in! Anything you ever wanted to ask fire away and it might get picked! 🤗🤗 . It's a snow day today! But very cold with it! What's the weather like where you are? 🌨🌨☃️☃️ . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #books #bookish #writinglife #joeypaul #readers #readersofinstagram #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #booknerd #bookworm #amreading #reading
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Interview with Trish Beninato

I am delighted to welcome back Trish Beninato to the blog for a second interview. Here's a little bit about her:

Trish Beninato is a young adult fantasy/scifi indie author, who has an unhealthy love for Marvel comics and Star Wars. She is desperately trying to make thirty the new twenty and lives in Colorado with her husband, three children and her adorable rescue pup. She was born in Indiana and raised around the world, spending most of her youth in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. She has a love for traveling and moving to new places thanks to being a child of the military and now spouse to a military soldier. In her spare time she works with young children, paints and hikes around the Rocky Mountains.

And onto the interview!

Do you write in the genre you love to read?
I have several genres I like to read but yes I do write in one of them! J

Do you have any favourite authors to read?
There are so many! I love Victoria Aveyard, Marissa Meyer, Bella Forest, Laura Sebastian, Charlene Hariss, Lauren Kate, Karen Marie Moning and Christopher Pike. Just to name a few!

Are you an organised writer or not?
I try to be, but mostly I’m flying by the seat of my pants- literally!

What's your idea of a perfect writing day?
Complete freedom to lock myself away and smack into the keys! Alas, it almost never happens.

Do you like editing or is it something you loathe?
Without a doubt, loathe.

What's your favourite social media? And why?
Facebook because I’m old and am apparently very bad at the rest!

Do you do character profiles? If so, why/why not?
Yes, it helps me stay grounded in the various characters.

How would you describe your writing process?
I write a very limited outline and then work some magic on the rest. Enough to make Harry Potter proud.

Do you prefer ebooks or paperbacks? Why?
I love the convenience of ebooks, but the smell of paperbacks will always hold my heart. However, I must say I’ve been obsessed with audio books lately just because of my busy schedule.

How do you plan a book launch?
With a ton o help! No, really though there is a ton of work that leads up to big grand finale. Including newsletter swaps, giveaway, trying to drum up hype, have my friends share the book on multiple platforms, run a sale and even sometimes, depending on budget, I’ll hire a marketing company and or personal assistant.

Do you have a favourite writing food? Drink?
Junk food and hot tea/coffee….. it’s so bad but sooooo good!

What's your favourite idea of a cozy afternoon?
A book, a soft blanket, and a warm fireplace.

How often do you write? Do you have a schedule?
I try to write every day even if it’s just a few words. But if I write too much, like nano, I usual will take a few days break.

You can follow Trish on Facebook or Twitter.

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.