Breaking Down My Day :Writing

BREAKING DOWN MY DAY: WRITING

Back in the day, I would do photo day in my life posts for a private blog and community. I don't do it any more simply because Facebook and the like aren't really geared to those kind posts. I thought, therefore, that it'd be nice to break down my day when it comes to writing. Depending on what I think of, I might do more of these kinda post, breaking down how I go through the day and what I manage.

I can tell you're on the edge of your seat and/or wondering why I'd want to break down my day. So for those new to me, I'm Joey Paul, I'm an indie author with almost seventeen books published, and I'm pretty much a writer full time, though health constraints have put a cap on what I can do. So with that outta the way, let's move into the break down!

05:00 - 07:00
With the way my sleep pattern has been messed up, it's a toss-up as to whether I wake with my alarm or wake up before it. The reason I start here when it's linked to my writing is because if I wake up super early, I will write my chapter then, if I don't, I move my writing time.

08:00-12:00
This time is spent talking with a friend, going through social media, posting instagram, blog, and authortube content depending on the day. It's also when I'll pull up what I wrote last and go through it with the editing eyes on. I know that editing as you go is seen as a dangerous path to walk, but it's something that I can pretty happily do without it distracting me from my work.

I'm not someone who can keep writing when I know there are huge mistakes in the document. If I know I've had to take out this chapter or change this scene, then I will go back and fix it before I start writing for the day. It means I can focus on what's ahead of me, and not worry myself silly with the idea that I have huge problems awaiting me in the editing stage.

13:00-15:00
It usually takes me anywhere from an hour to three to finish a chapter, depending on the day of the week, what else I'm doing, and how easily the words are flowing onto the page. This used to be my peak writing time, but with the change in sleep schedule, I find I do better in the morning and then use this time to catch up on reading or doing other admin duties that I couldn't do before.

16:00 onwards
At this point, my writing day is usually over. I get achy and want to set up in bed with a good book, and if any writing does still need to be done, then I'll take it up there with me and set up on my tablet to finish off the chapter or whatnot. Overall, my day is usually done at this point.

So there we go, my writing day! I recently, at the start of the year, cut back to 20 chapters a month because of health issues. I wanted to be able to have more days off, and get more time to relax. I got that by cutting back and while I wonder from time to time about increasing it, since I've shown I can now do more than two chapters a day if need be, I know that I was very close to burn out and I don't want to put myself through that.

How does your writing day go? What does it look like? Lemme know in the comments below!

Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books

Review of Conscript by Pamela Stewart

Conscripted and forced to fight for her life.

Seventeen-year-old Vega Volante was almost done with her mandatory service to the Axis government. Everyone had told her it would be easy--in and out.

Then, the hostile aliens invaded.

Now, she slaves away training and retooling a mining ship for war as part of the Star Defenders. All Vega wants is to get home to her family. So, when a chance at officers training opens up, she jumps at the opportunity for more freedom. But there are only five slots, and Vega must use all her planetborn skill to fight for her place.

As if that wasn't enough, the ship's condition continues to worsen. "Accidents" may not be accidents. The lines between friends and enemies blur, and Vega realizes there's a lot more at stake than her chance at freedom.

Amazon 

My Review: 5 STARS

I picked this up because the blurb sounded interesting and that cover is amazing! I'm not usually a bit sci-fi reader, but this was an amazing book and pulled me in on the first chapter. Following Vega through her conscription, through finding out what's really going on on the ship and everything else that goes with it. It's beautifully written and will make you love the characters, even the ones that seem unlikable! I very much enjoyed it and will be looking forward to the next in the series!

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.

Life Of Joey & Bi-Monthly Goals - March 2020 [CC]

Telling you all about what I've been up to in the last month, as well as reviewing my goals for January and February! #Authortube & #GIVEAWAY ALERT!

FROM MARCH 12TH TO MARCH 29TH 2020 SUBSCRIBE AND COMMENT ON THIS VIDEO

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON APRIL 9TH 2020!

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#TeaserTuesday

Martha claims to be younger than sixty, but her chip reads otherwise....

BUY NOW: http://www.books2read.com/LOUT

Sign up for the #LightsOn cover reveal here.

[ID: A graphic with a fading lightbulb, the header reads: LIGHTS OUT, with a small header underneath reading: out now in paperback & ebook. To the right of those is a New Apple award seal. The excerpt reads:

“Yes, sorry, I didn’t mean to leave you waiting,” I replied. “Can I have your ID please?”
“I came, but I didn’t think I should, but I’m here like the email said,” she rambled as she handed over her ID. I placed it on the scanner and checked the name.
“Martha Connors?”
“Yes, that’s me, but you see there must be some mistake,” she said. “I mean, I’m only thirty-five, but I got the email and I didn’t want to ignore it in case I got in trouble.”
I paused for a moment. “Thirty-five?” I asked, grabbing her ID off the scanner before it could finish. I checked it over and sure enough, her date of birth matched with what she was saying. “When did you get the email?”

END ID]

Authortube: Juggling It With Writing

AUTHORTUBE: JUGGLING IT WITH WRITING

This is a topic that comes up a lot within the Authortube community, how do you juggle good quality content, while also getting time to write, revise, edit and all the rest of it. I'm lucky in the fact that I don't have a regular full time job so I can, mostly, do what I like when I like. I did, however, think that doing a blog posts, with a few tips for those either new to authortube, or thinking about joining, on how I juggle the load of one video a week, and still find time to write on days when things are just too stressful.

#1. PLAN AHEAD
Now this might seem obvious, it might be one of those things you already are doing and it doesn't seem to help, but stick with me here! Planning ahead gives you some idea of what content you want to record and when you want it to go live. It might not always work out neatly, but having some idea of what you want to do and when, can help you then manage your time to make sure that the videos and writing aren't fighting for space in the same time slot.

#2. DON'T ENCROACH ON YOUR WRITING TIME
By this I mean that if you have a set routine and schedule writing wise, that you always write for an hour in the morning/evening, then don't let Authortube take away that time from you. Guard your writing time and make sure that things stay separate. That way you still get to do your words, and the videos are relegated to a different time.

#3. BATCH FILM IF POSSIBLE
I know a lot of Authortubers who batch film because they only have a small allotted space of time to record. This way they can get their videos filmed all in one go and edit and such when they have spare moments. I don't do this because it's not something that works for me, but I do record all my videos a month in advance, bar the ones that have a time limit on them. Like, for instance, my life of Joey videos don't get recorded hugely in advance because they deal with what I've done over the past month and it'd make no sense to record them before everything had happened. But if you can batch film and you think it'll work for you, then go for it.

#4. SCHEDULE UPLOADS, AND YOUR TIME
I also don't do the scheduled uploads, because I like to cross-post and all of that so I figure why schedule the post when I'm gonna be going in there anywhere to do all of that. But if you can schedule them so that the video goes live at a certain time, then go for it, it takes that pressure off you to remember and to fit it in to your busy schedule. Again, make sure you don't plan for them to go live during your writing time, because then you end up spending that sacred time dealing with comments and the like.

Also, plan your time. This is something that I think most writers do, especially when working a full time job. They plan the time they're gonna be writing and working and all of that. The same applies to Authortube, whether that's recording a video, dealing with comments, or anything else that goes along those same lines. Personally I go between sticky notes and a journal so that I know what I'm supposed to be doing that day and when, but you can find what works for you!

And finally, #5. DON'T BE AFRAID TO CHANGE THINGS IF THEY DON'T WORK
By this I mean, say you find batch filming really stressful and end up struggling to find time to edit, then you need to rework how you approach things. If you don't batch film, and you want to, give it a go, it might work for you. There is no point in going along with something if you know it's not working for you. It's setting yourself up to fail, and it just adds to your stress levels.

Personally, I set aside a day in my schedule to film, edit, upload and all the rest. Like I said, I record, mostly, a month in advance, but that doesn't mean that you have to. I've had the stressful moments of worrying if I'll get a video up in time, and so far, it's not happened, but the worry is still there. You gotta find what works for you, and you might have to do a bit of trial and error, especially when it comes to keeping time to yourself so you can write.

Lemme know in the comments any tips you have for writing and balancing Authortube, or if you have any questions for me!

Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books

Review of The Loner by Alex Villavasso

I always knew I was different, but I never knew why. My name is Aiden Cross, and if you asked me a month ago if this type of thing existed, an academy for the exceptional, I’d call you a liar.

The supernatural exists, and apparently, I’m one of them. It’s in my DNA, just like all of the other students here at the academy.

I thought it was cool to be around others like me, but it turns out that this school is like high school on steroids. Having powers just makes things worse.

There’s Tristen, a pyro, who bullies me every chance that he gets. His powers are more developed than the rest, so he has no problem pushing me around. If that wasn’t enough, his goons also join in on the fun, especially when Kaci is around. I like her. I think she’s amazing, but I’m pretty sure Tristen likes her, too. And who wouldn’t? She’s smart, funny, resourceful, and can move things with her freaking mind.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why sharing a crush with your nemesis sucks. Him showing off usually means me looking like a loser, and I already have a hard enough time as it is fitting in.

And then, there’s another girl, Summer. A literal ice queen who does whatever she wants, whenever she wants. Her parents picked her name as a cruel joke, because anything bright and sunny is like death to her, and to be honest, I don’t even know how she’s still at the academy. I’m sold on the idea that she high-key hates everybody and everything, but we always seem to cross paths at the worst times.  

Which…yeah… (Is her hair really jet-black? She has to dye it, right? That’s not natural, right?)

Anyway, my classmates aside, the academy is full of its own challenges. The classes are tough, the exercises are brutal, and to top it off, I’m at a major disadvantage because I can’t access my powers at will, and I'm in the advanced courses.

I’m doing my best to stay afloat, but Tristen isn’t making it easy. The academy is fast-paced, but I still have other things to focus on besides academia, like why I was attacked before I came here and the true nature behind my abilities.

And don’t even get me started on dealing with the wild things that pop up at any given time on this crazy campus.

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS
I picked this book up because of the blurb and the cover. I adored Adien and his story, it was engaging and pulled me in from the first page. His journey through finding his ability and everything else that the academy threw at him, was amazingly written and beautifully crafted. It was a quick read because once I started, I didn't want to put it down. I adored the book and will be looking forward to the sequel! 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.

Disabled Characters: How To? [CC]

Giving you my five starter tips for writing disabled characters! #Authortube

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#TeaserTuesday

 Lock makes a huge mistake that may put an end to their journey...

 Coming May 2020

Sign up for the cover reveal here.

[ID: A graphic with a smoky grey background and the header of: Lights On, with a small header underneath that reads: Coming May 2020. The excerpt reads:

Standing in the thick of overgrown plants and bushes, I felt the bite before I joined the dots, and saw the movement at my feet.
“Shit!” I cried as the snake brushed past my ankle..
Clara must've felt it too, because she jumped back and away from me, turning around just as I fell forward. I saw her reach out to catch me, but I don't know if she did.
Everything just went black.

At the bottom is Joey Paul, her website of www.joeypaulonline.com and the logo of a green and purple bug in the far right corner.

END ID]

Spoonie Writer: Coping With Reliance

SPOONIE WRITER: COPING WITH RELIANCE

There are two things that brought this piece to mind. One is the part of spoonie life when you're realising that you need to rely a lot on assistive technology. Whether that's a wheelchair, or walker, or using text to speech software so that you can keep writing. The other reason is the feeling of being unreliable when you're a spoonie, not just for personal things, but for the parts of being an author where you need to be doing something at some time, and your body just doesn't get with the program, and you end up having to cancel, or move the deadline.

Now both of these are more than okay. There's nothing wrong with needing help, and it's more than understandable for you to need flexibility as a writer because of you chronic illness. But that doesn't make either one any easier to cope with. I've been published for over fourteen years, and I still look back at the years I didn't write because of health issues, as a bit of 'wasted' time, even though, logically, I know that I couldn't have managed it then and needed that time to focus on other things, like getting my degree.

But yet the brain can be against you and the whole idea of needing to be productive to be valid is a hard battle to fight within yourself, and within the writing community. It's never, usually, framed in a bad light, people are never, usually, telling you that because you don't write this much, or because you need this or that, or because you weren't able to get to this thing, that you're not really a writer. But that doesn't stop the brain gremlins from speaking up and letting you know that's what they think.

I've been really lucky in my writing life that I've always had the support from my friends. I've always had people, even though at the beginning they weren't all writers, telling me that I was doing the best I could, and that was okay. But it took me a long time to be okay with the fact that I needed that reliance, that extra help, and also to be okay with the fact that to some people, I would always be 'unreliable' or 'unable to follow through'.

And for that I really don't have much advice, other than to remind yourself that it's okay to take your time, and it's okay if you need help, and it's okay if you have to re-schedule something because of your health being a pain in the butt. And it's also okay to not be productive. I spent NaNoWriMo last year going at double speed, and while I don't regret doing it, I am still paying for it now. It's something that I'm having to pull back on because I pushed myself so close to burnout. And for what? To prove to my brain gremlins that I was valid?

I AM valid! Just as any other writer is, any other author. You don't have to be madly productive to meet that limit of suddenly being valid, to somehow proving that you are doing this. You're doing what you have to do, to keep yourself healthy and the words coming, and if that takes you months and years, and takes someone else less time, that's not because you're doing it wrong. You are valid. As a writer, as an author, and as a person. End of story.

So I know this isn't the usual tone of my writing advice pieces, but I felt like it needed to be said. I'm struggling right now on a year of limited sleep and still no end in sight. I know that it's hard to get going, and I don't need brain gremlins trying to convince me that because I find it hard, I'm somehow doing it wrong.

So remember that, you're not doing it wrong. Keep going, keep writing, and keep knocking down those brain gremlins!

Follow Joey here on her blog, or on Facebook or Tumblr to be kept up to date with the latest news regarding Joey and her books

Author Tag: Favourtie Part Of Writing Tag [CC]

Starting the month with a bonus video and another tag talking about my favourite parts of writing! #Authortube

FAVOURITE PART OF WRITING TAG

1. Reasons why you love writing
2. Why you started writing?
3. What is your favourite part of writing?

CREATED BY MACIENDA ALENA: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8NnhLV7TcymIDrhwieRX2Q

TAGGING:

DAL CECIL RUNO: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFR5phjFlbMiTpoRiNBMJ2Q
CAT BOWSER: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxTMg_dotzA3u4Ml_JI2tcg
NALEY GONZALES: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCawSppswttLyZ0WNRKs8Tnw

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