Being A Writer/Author - The Creative Process

BEING A WRITER/AUTHOR

For my first post of 2025, I wanted to talk about being a writer and an author. I will have been published for 20 years in August which just blows my mind, and I'll have my 23rd and 24th books coming out this year too (hopefully)! I have been writing since I was at school and it really only became an option for me as a career when I was medically retired from the working world at 19. (For reference, I just turned 43, today in fact!) My plans for my adult life were very different than the one I ended up with, and to be honest, I'm now okay with that because I couldn't think of anything else I would rather do.

But what does being a writer/author mean? I mean beyond the obvious, that you write, that you publish, that you keep telling stories however you wish to do so. For me it has meant a lot of things. It gave me an outlet for all those stories rolling around in my head. It gave me a chance at a career when I didn't know if I would ever do anything with my life again. It gave me friends and loved ones that I would not have met if it hadn't been for my writing. Writing, and being an author, have opened up my world and I love every second of it.

That said, I always have stories, I have a deep abiding need to share those stories with the world, even if they don't go on to become bestsellers, even if they don't reach a wide array of people. I just want those stories told and out there, and for them to come alive for the people who need them most. Being a writer and author is a very big part of my identity and while I know we're encouraged not to make one thing about us our whole personality, I can't help but feel like writing is very much a core piece of who I am and what I do.

Life can have a way of knocking you down, and to be honest, this past year has not been great for me. I'm hopeful for 2025, but I'm also ready to get back into making my writing and career into something I've not been capable of for a while. I don't know what I could do if I couldn't write. I know that's always a possibility with my health as fragile as it is, but I also know I would find a way to keep telling my stories, because these are stories that need to be told.

If there's one thing I've learned in all my years as an author, it's that things can change in an instant. You can go from selling poorly to selling well, and vice versa, with just a few days in between. It's a long hard slog, and I know that doesn't apply just to indies, but trad pub as well because they have to work just as hard as we all do.

For as long as I'm able, I plan to spend my days writing, publishing and all that goes with that, and getting my words, my stories, my characters and worlds, out there for people to see. After all, there are people out there who need to be seen, and maybe they will find that in one of my books. It's all about just keeping moving forward, no matter how fast or slow you may go.

I hope 2025 holds great things for you, and keep writing!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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Review of The Trail Rules by Melanie Hooyenga

 

Junior year’s looking up for sixteen-year old Mike. Her new BFF isn’t a sadistic control freak, her boyfriend adores her, and she’s learning to bike in the mountains without decapitating herself on a tree.

Well, almost.

When she meets a group of riders who welcome her into their pack, she feels like she’s finally found where she belongs. One particular rider—a boy with an amazing smile and an even more amazing ability to see what she’s truly capable of—gives her the confidence to go after what she wants: her own life with her own rules.

There’s only one problem—he’s not her boyfriend.

Just as things seem to be falling into place, her parents put on the pressure to figure out her future—one that doesn’t include riding. Mike soon realizes that having everything isn’t that great when she’s not the one choosing it. She needs to decide if she’s going to continue to be a follower or step out of the shadows and find her own trail.

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

I loved Mike when we met her in book one, and while I was itching for her to get back with Evan, picking up this book I kinda wanted to see how things were gonna go. I was a littler hesitant, but Hooyenga has a way of pulling you in and making you see the realness of the characters as well as falling for the people they fall for. I adored Mica as well, loved the way he was with Mike, and the whole story, with those serious issues included, was a dream to read. I love the hint of more and will be diving into book three as soon as possible. Overall a beautifully crafted story and one I recommend!

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

44 Facts About Being Organised [CC]

Giving you 44 facts about being organised! #Authortube

 

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#TeaserTuesday

Tara has no idea how to find her friend, and bring her home...

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[ID: A dark room with the title DYING THOUGHTS - FOURTH WEEK at the top and out now in ebook & paperback just above the title The except reads:

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Lenor…” I started.
“Call me Julia,” she interrupted without looking at me. Instead she had one eye on the corner of the couch, and one eye on a photo of Kaolin. It had probably been taken before they’d moved here, as she was wearing a different school uniform.
“Julia, I’m sorry, but I don’t know where Kaolin is. I just wanted to ask you a few questions,” I explained, instantly feeling bad when her face crumpled and tears starting appearing in her eyes.

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

 

Joey has a shop!!

Joey has opened a shop! 🎉

If you’re looking for signed paperbacks, signed bookplates, or the VIP SWAG packs that have previously only been available at signings, you can now get them all at Joey’s Ko-Fi shop!

Link: https://ko-fi.com/authorjoeypaul/shop

Experimenting With Pantsing - The Creative Process

 

EXPERIMENTING WITH PANTSING

For those who know me, either as a long time reader, or just out in the writing community, you'll know that I pants more than I plan. I know it's seen as the 'wrong' way to do things, but it's also a way that really works for me. I thought that today I would talk to you about how you can experiment with pantsing yourself.

Now I know it's not for everyone, and like I've said recently, there is no wrong way to draft (found here), but I thought that it might be something that spoke to people who'd never really considered pantsing, or just think it's a case of ending up with a book that doesn't make sense. It's never been that way for me, though I do find there are plot holes, or threads that get left behind, but I think even if I extensively planned, those would still happen. No first draft is perfect no matter who you are.

In truth, I'm more of a mix between the two extremes. I do some limited planning and then take myself off with my characters and experience the story that way. I rarely, if ever, have the ending all planned out in my head. And the handful of times I have, it has not gone that way. I like to basically see the story play out on the page, and take myself along for the ride.

Now, I don't see myself as superior to planners, I don't see either option as better or worse than the other. It's about finding what works for you, and your process. I will say that following as many authors as I do, I see a lot of what I do in the drafting process, happens for planners when making their outline and the like. So we all work towards the same goal, we just do it in different ways.

So what can you to to experiment with pantsing? I'm glad you asked, because I'm gonna try and give you some thoughts on how to try it out.

#1 STRADDLE THE TWO FOR A BIT
Like I said, I'm both a planner and a pantser. I just do more of the latter than I do of the former. If you're wanting to pants, even just to try it out, try and do a mixture of the two to start with. This way you have some goalposts for your story, but you're also discovering other parts as you draft. It's perfectly valid to sit in the middle of the spectrum and I truly believe that the majority of writers do this naturally whether they realise it or not.

#2 LEAN INTO DIVERSIONS
Whether or not you're a planner, I know that there are always parts of the drafting process when an idea pops up and you have the choice to follow it along, or just stick to your outline. Neither one is wrong, but if you're wanting to see where this diversion goes, lean into it. It might lead nowhere, I want to make that clear, but it also might bring you back to a point you'd planned later in the story, or it might bring about a part that you hadn't thought of, and is absolutely perfect for your story. It's all about making it work!

#3 LOOSEN THE OUTLINE
This is similar to both of the above points. This is basically letting the outline be more of a guidance if you get lost than something that you stick to religiously. It depends on how comfortable you feel with this as to whether or not it's an option, but if you can, try this and see what happens, you may surprise yourself!

So those are my three tips when it comes to trying out pantsing. I know if doesn't work for everyone and there is no wrong way to do this, but if it's something that you want to try, then go for it!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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Review of Falling For The Firefighter by RosaLinda Diaz

 An arrogant fireman, a frazzled teacher, and the kids who need someone to believe in them.

Will they get a second chance to salvage their horrendous first impression?

Fifteen minutes into first period Delilah's classroom is on fire, the whole school is evacuated, and it’s her fault.
Add in the hot firefighter accusing her of being incompetent and she’s had about the worst start to the school year imaginable.

Now she’s assigned lunch detention with her students for the rest of the semester...unless they can create an awesome science project for the Fall Festival—in six weeks.

She’s trying to put the whole ordeal in the past, but it’s impossible when the arrogant fireman turns out to be the barista in Clifton’s only fancy coffee shop. He also makes sinfully delicious lattes.

The thing is, Delilah didn’t need a hero on the first day of school, but she does now.

Just when Delilah thought she has Brad pegged as the cocky know-it-all, the hot fireman starts showing her an unexpected, sweet side. Like when he volunteers to help her students build their pumpkin launcher, or how he always has her specialty latte waiting when she’s running late, which is daily.

Brad seems determined to come to her rescue.
Is Delilah ready to let him?

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

I picked this up because the blurb and cover pulled me in. I was looking for a sweet romance that would fill me with lightness, and having read some of Diaz's books before I knew I was in for a treat. This was a beautifully, delightful love story with a few twists and turns hidden among the pages. I very much loved it, and will be diving into the rest of the series. Very much 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

Goals For 2025 [CC]

Setting new goals for the coming year and seeing what I'd like to achieve! #Authortube

 

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#TeaserTuesday

Zack doesn't know whether his mum is going to make it...

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[ID: A turquoise background, with the title WAITING ON YOU at the top and out now in ebook, paperback & audiobook just below the excerpt The except reads:

“Get better, Mum, we need you. I love you,” was all I said before hurrying out of the room. I didn’t say anything to anyone until we got home, and even then, it was only because I’d shifted back into my role as the caregiver when our parents were absent. I tried my hardest not to think about the fact that Mum was so ill and Dad was with her at the hospital, but needless to say, I totally forgot about my promise to meet Angelina online that evening. My mind was filled with other things, like wondering if I’d ever see my mum alive again.

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]

 

Experimenting With Writing Routines - The Creative Process

EXPERIMENTING WITH WRITING ROUTINES

It took me a very long time to get to the point where I had any kind of writing routine. For a long time, writing was something I did when I felt like it. Once I started publishing and began my career, it became something I had to squeeze in somewhere. It didn't always work out though, and I ended up taking about four years off writing when I was doing my degree simply because I didn't have the spoons to do both that, and still write. I say all that to say that it's completely normal for it to take time to find a way for you. It's also normal for you to switch routines at some point in your writing life.

For example, I was always an afternoon writer after my degree. I wanted to get all the things done in the morning, the chat with a friend, and then finally, get onto the writing. In the last four or five years, I've been very much an early morning writer and worker. It's currently almost 3am and I woke up at midnight with no alarm set, my body just went: okay we're awake now!

My point is that everyone changes the way they do things, and that includes set routines. There can be changes in your life, in your health, in your priorities, all of which can lead to you needing to try and find a new routine. My big change was my sleep schedule got all switched around and doesn't seem to be going back to where it was. So I flipped to working in the wee hours, and I actually prefer it. But it wasn't an instant thing, it took time, as does any routine and finding what works for you.

So what can you do to experiment should the need arise? Glad you asked, I'm gonna give you a handful of tips to try and work with.

#1 FIND A TIME THAT WORKS FOR YOU
For me, like I said, it's been all over the place. But that doesn't mean the same will be true for you. If you know that you do better creatively first thing in the morning, see about finding a time then when you will be able to write. If that means getting up a little earlier, and you're able to do so, maybe that's how it will work for you. If you know that you much prefer writing at night, and you're able to manage to do that, then focus on setting up your routine there for a bit and see how things go. I recommend a week as a minimum just so that you have an idea of whether it's going to be something that's sustainable for you, and actually works.

#2 IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T MANAGE, KEEP TRYING
It's really rare for people to hit on the one way that works for them straight away, so if that happens to you, if you find that the way you're trying doesn't work, don't lose heart, it's normal. Keeping switching little parts of the routine, whether that's the time, or the place, and see if these changes will allow you to keep writing on a routine. Don't worry if it takes time, it will, and that's fine.

#3 CHANGE ONE THING AT A TIME
By this I mean, it's hard to know what exactly isn't working. It might be all of it, or it might just be one little part. If you can change it one at a time, then you might find out just what part isn't working for you and land on something that does help. Like I said above, it can take time, and that's okay, it's about finding a way that you can sustain and also have a good time doing it.

So yeah, those are my tips for experimenting with writing routines, I wish you all the best of luck finding one that works for you!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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