Final Tally for December 2018: #JoWriMoGo

I managed 24 chapters, 101 pages and 54,529 words in December!

Onwards to the new year!

From Joey's Instagram

A present from @apollostowel And I love it! A piece of Finnish culture. #kalevalakoru #livehardliveyourdream . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #livingmydrean #writinglife #joeypaul #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #readers #readersofinstagram
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Being A Writer Full-Time - The Creative Process

BEING A WRITER FULL TIME

I've been asked about this before and wanted to do a whole piece on it as it seems to be something a lot of people want to know about. Firstly, a little background. I have been writing since I was 19, when I was retired from the working world on medical grounds. I was first published at 23 and started getting more serious about writing in 2011. I have now written over 24 books, and have 13 released with 3 more coming in 2019. I am a full-time writer in that I am unable to hold down any other job, and it's the only thing I can do.

With all that covered, I need to be honest and say that the bulk of my income does not come from book sales. I am not full-time because I made it as an author, but because of my disabilities and health conditions that prevent me from working a different kind of job. So a lot of my advice is going to be taking that into account and on top of that, comes from a place of someone who is very much a small fish in the writing world.

So, how do you know when it's time to quit the day job and become a writer full time? I wouldn't know, I also wouldn't advise that anyone follow the advice of someone who doesn't do that. I did however want to touch on the fact that the majority of writers don't make it to the point where they don't have to work a second job, or a main job, or have a partner who is able to provide for them. The norm as an author is to be juggling writing with everything else. And that's completely okay. Taking all that into account, I can give you a few ideas about what it's like to write full-time and how to maybe judge whether you're in that kind of circumstance yourself.

#1 - BILLS NEED TO BE PAID
This is, sadly, a fact of life for everyone. Some people have it easier than others, but the majority struggle with bills. If you're writing and your income isn't enough to meet your bills, then you're probably not going to be able to quit that day job and focus on your writing 24/7. However, one of the benefits of doing both is that you are getting some income from your books, along with some outgoings because of marketing and the like. The way I've heard it told, the majority of authors will only use the royalties they make to pour back into marketing and this allows them some wiggle room. That way they don't have to worry about spending a huge chunk of money they need elsewhere. Personally, I do this. The royalties from my books go into advertising and ARC copies and all the rest. It's the only way to make sure I have enough for my bills and for my writing.

#2 - ALLOW YOURSELF SOME BREATHING ROOM
Writing and books are something that fluctuates. One month you may make a lot and then the next you make half that, or nothing at all. And that's a big problem when it comes to the whole doing only writing. If you're not relying on that income for things like food and bills, then that gives you a lot of breathing room. Personally, doing it this way allows for me to not get super anxious when my sales are low at the middle or end of the month. On top of that you get royalties (as an indie author, I can't speak for traditional) two months behind, so things take time to get to you. If you have an amazing month, you're not going to see that money for two months.

#3 - BOOKS, BOOKS AND MORE BOOKS
Part of being an author is writing books. Along with writing comes the cost of editing, covers, publishing and the like. While a lot of people will say that the more books you have out there, the better you're going to do, not everyone writes at the same pace, which is more than fine. I write fast yes, but I also had a long time to garner up a back-list which helps me stay afloat. It also helps me pay for editing and covers and all of that stuff that comes along with a release. While I will be releasing three books in 2019, it's only going to be that way because I'd budgeted for that. Otherwise it would be completely beyond my reach.

So those are my three points. These are, I feel, pretty obvious and while I'm not someone who makes a huge amount, nor lives off the royalties, I do want to add a caveat. You are the best person who can decide what you need to be making before you're ready to start doing this full-time, and it's not common for that to happen. A lot of the other writers I know who do work full-time as an author are either very popular and a rarity or are, like me, disabled or have a partner who makes enough for them to not work. It's the dream for so many, but be careful with how you go about it. Just because you're not there, doesn't make you a failure and if you never get there, that's okay too. Just look after yourself. That's the important thing.

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

Interview with L. Danvers & Review of Fate Abandoned

I am delighted to welcome L. Danvers to the blog for both an interview and a review of her bok, Fate Abandoned. Here's a little about Danvers:

I’m L. Danvers. My goal as an author is to offer you an escape from reality—one where you can explore new worlds, go on daring adventures, fight the bad guys and fall in love... all from the comfort of a cozy chair. 

I’ve been writing since I can remember, but I finally had the guts to hit “publish” in 2016, and I haven’t looked back. I do genre-hop a bit, but everything falls under sci-fi and fantasy. What can I say? I enjoy spending my days creating and destroying worlds. I write what I like to read, so my books have memorable characters, tons of action and are real page-turners. And, of course, there’s a little romance in there, too. You have to have someone to fangirl over, right? And the best part? My books are all suitable for YA and adult readers alike.

And onto the interview!

How long have you been writing?
Like many writers, I’ve been writing since I can remember. I used to love making up stories when I was little. But I never could manage to finish them. It wasn’t until the idea for my first novel, Conspiracy Unleashed, came to me that I went all in. The book played out like a movie in my head, and I just had to get it all down. And I’ve been taking my writing seriously ever since.


Do you write in the genre you love to read?
Yes! I’m a huge fan of YA books. The teen years are filled with so much passion and angst, and it’s fun to tap into that both as a reader and a writer. I really enjoy fantasy and sci-fi, although I read a bit of everything.


Do you have any favourite authors to read?
One of my new favorite authors is Michelle Madow. Her stories are all fun, fast-paced and super imaginative. And I am currently reading V Games by Caroline Peckham and am blown away by the quality of her writing—it is incredibly vivid without the descriptions being superfluous.


Are you an organised writer or not?
Not at all! I’m currently working on a new series, Vampires of Crescent Cape, and decided that for once I was going to use an outline. So I spent a good deal of time planning out every little detail. But by the time I finished actually writing the first chapter, everything had changed. The villain ended up being part of the family, the simple love story turned into a love triangle, etc. But it’s all for the better, so it’s okay. I love it when my stories take on lives of their own!


What's your idea of a perfect writing day?
Any time I can tap into that creative magic where the words just flow out of me faster than I can type them is good in my book!


Do you like editing or is it something you loathe?
I love it! That’s the fun part. I don’t do massive rewrites, so I don’t have to deal with the headache of scrapping half the novel and starting over. It’s mostly just getting the words right and checking for typos.


What's your favourite social media? And why?
Ooh, that’s a hard one. Facebook is still my favorite as far as getting book-related information out to readers, but I’m really enjoying Instagram these days, too. I’m fairly new to the platform, but I love the whole “bookstagram” scene and connecting with fellow readers and authors.


Do you prefer ebooks or paperbacks? Why?
As a writer, I love that ebooks allow me to get my books into the hands of so many readers. But as a reader, I have to confess that nothing beats the feeling of having a physical book in my hands.

She's a sword-wielding princess.
He's the outlaw who kidnapped her.
They should be enemies, but he might be the key to finding her brother - and herself.

Princess Daphne is sick of being treated as the king's pawn. So even though she's supposed to be hanging back at the castle and choosing a suitor, she doesn't hesitate to follow her brother on a treacherous quest. Especially after learning there's a prophecy predicting his death.
She devises a plan and sets out with her maidservant to rescue him - which seems like a great idea until they're kidnapped by outlaws.

But Daphne's not one to give up so easily. Realizing that aligning with their captors might just guarantee their success, she cuts a deal with the dangerously charming Gregory.

Forced to work together against impossible odds, she and Gregory learn that they need each other more than they knew. And as they race to save the prince, Daphne must decide if she's willing to give up everything she's ever known for a love she never expected...

Amazon

My review: 5 stars
This isn't my usual kind of read, but I liked the cover and the blurb sounded interesting. It was an amazing book, an adventure, a quest and a love story intertwined in the words. I loved Daphne and everyone she met along the way. The ending was a twist I didn't see coming, and would love to read the second book as well. The author has a way with words, painting beautiful pictures and bringing you along for the journey. I very much recommend this book to all those who love fantasy and even those who don't.

You can follow L. Danvers on Facebook, Instagram and Pintrest.

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.

From Joey's Instagram

And the last video of 2018! Discussing my goals for the coming year! Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/JoeyPaulOnline or the link in my bio! 🎊🎊🎊 . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #authortube #lovemyjob #ilovewriting #igwriters #igauthors #writingtips #authortuber #writinglife #joeypaul #smallyoutuber #readers #readersofinstagram #bookworm #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #newyear #newgoals
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Goals for 2019 [CC]

Looking forward to 2019 and everything that I hope to get done! #Authortube

GIVEAWAY WITH #THEBOOKROBINHOODS: FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul & ADD #WALKAMILE TO YOUR GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38904511-walk-a-mile CONTEST ENDS ON DECEMBER 31ST!

BUY WALK A MILE: http://www.books2read.com/WAM
THE BOOK ROBIN HOODS: https://therobinhoods.wixsite.com/thebookrobinhoods
BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/1UcS61E

End Of Year Sale!!

SMASHWORDS END OF YEAR SALE

ALL EBOOKS ARE 50% OFF WITH COUPON: SEY50

(excludes The Friendship Triangle)

HERE.

ENDS JANUARY 1ST 2019.

From Joey's Instagram

And with one more chapter to write, may I wish you all a #MerryChristmas! I should be back online shortly! Have a good one! 🎄🎄🎄☃️☃️☃️🎉🎉🎉 . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #Christmas #christmasiscoming #booksinprogress #selfie #oxygenuser
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Festive Wiiting

FESTIVE WRITING
 
It's that time of year again when everything stops for a few days while we have Christmas and the end of year fun. I personally plan to take tomorrow and the 27th off for family commitments and also to just enjoy myself during this period. But today's Monday which means I wanted to have something up on the blog to see you all into Christmas. It would normally be a writing advice piece, and it'll still have some level of that, but I also thought it would be nice to talk about some of the fun things going on around the writing community.

So, for one, myself and Dal Cecil Runo put out a Winter Tag on our authortube channels. You can find the videos here & here. This is a tag that anyone can take part in, you don't have to be on authortube, but can, if you wish, do it on your blog. We wanted to encompass the period not just Christmas itself, but Yule and Winter as a whole. If you do decide to take part, please feel free to tag me on Twitter or my other platforms.

Two, the amazing Erin Kinsella also did a WIP Christmas Tag on her channel which can be found here. I'm sure that she would be happy for people to do it on blogs and spread the cheer around the internet.

Three, there's also the Ho Ho Ho tag by the amazing Kim Chance and Melissa Hope. Here's her video, and here's the one Bethany Atazadeh did as well as some others. I'm sure you'd be able to do this one on a blog as well!

Those are just some of the awesome things happening around the writing community this December. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday period and I will see you next week for a proper post!

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

From Joey's Instagram

And it's a bonus video up on the channel! A writer writes and the giveaway is still on going. All you have to do is follow me here on Instagram and add #WalkAMile to your tbr on goodreads! 🎉🎉 Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/JoeyPaulOnline or the link in my bio! . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #authortube #lovemyjob #ilovewriting #igwriters #igauthors #writingtips #authortuber #giveaway #books #igreaders #igauthors #igwriters #amreading #readersofinstagram #bookworm #bookboost #WAM #yalit #reading
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#AmWriting - #007 [CC]

A writer writes... #Authortube

GIVEAWAY WITH #THEBOOKROBINHOODS: FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul & ADD #WALKAMILE TO YOUR GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38904511-walk-a-mile CONTEST ENDS ON DECEMBER 31ST!

BUY WALK A MILE: http://www.books2read.com/WAM
THE BOOK ROBIN HOODS: https://therobinhoods.wixsite.com/thebookrobinhoods
BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/1UcS61E

Guest Blogger - Megan O'Russell - My Writing Process

I love writing. I love sitting down with my laptop and creating a whole new world filled with unique characters. Making choices like what kinds of technology exist, what religion people follow, what is considered a marriageable age all affect how a story is built. It’s my privilege as an author to be able to arrange those details in a way that not only shapes my characters’ experiences, but also will (hopefully) affect my readers’ experiences.

All that said, writing is not always easy, nor is it completely fun. Every author has a different process, and through my writing I’ve found a way to smooth out some of the more painful bumps in the road. Thus far, I’ve always gone the traditional publishing route, so my experiences have been fairly consistent. At this point, with four novels currently published and six more written and contracted, I can safely say the process goes something like this. 

1) Find a scathingly brilliant idea.

Usually, my ideas happen while hiking a really hard trail. When my legs start hurting so badly I don’t want to walk anymore, it’s really easy to start picturing fantasy worlds where I am not, in fact, climbing up a mountain.

2) Plot the world. 

What I really mean by this is deciding what kind of mayhem I want to inflict on my characters. For example, in Girl of Glass I knew I wanted to mix Sci-Fi, dystopian, and paranormal. The idea morphed into a mid-apocalyptic Sci-Fi with chemically induced vampires. When plotting out the world, I had to decide what the restrictions/weaknesses of the vampires were and how non-vampires reacted to the creation of chemically changed humans.

3) Choose a cast, and start writing.
I am a pantser. I know where I want my story to end, but I don’t know all the back alleys I’m going to take to get there. Once I have my cast in hand and my destination set, I go for it.

This is the super fun phase. I set daily word count goals to keep on track and start each day by doing a rough edit of the work from the day before.

4) Revisions—aka I suck and never should have started this project to begin with.
Once the rough draft is finished, I go through and do a round of revisions. This is the phase where I am most tempted to hit delete. It gets to the point where I’ve stared at the same page so many times I’m fairly certain words no longer have meaning.

5) Beta reader and read aloud.
If the manuscript survives my revisions, I give it to my Beta reader and then do a full out loud reading of the whole shebang. It may seem excessive, but it helps to find a lot of errors my eyes glance over. Reading aloud also helps make sure the characters’ speech patterns are consistent and the voice of the narration keeps to a tone that will be pleasing to the reader.

6) One more edit.
Just to make my eyeballs bleed.

7) Writing a blurb and synopsis. (Also known as the dark time where you regret ever wanting to be an author.)
By this point, I’ve spent anywhere between three months and a year getting a manuscript ready. Somehow, writing a blurb and synopsis is way more painful. Condensing your whole world into a tantalizing few paragraphs or summarizing your plot in a few pages that don’t make you sound insane is way harder than it should be.

8) Submissions. #TheWorst
But at least you’re only waiting.

9) Signing a book deal. #TheBest 
But don’t delude yourself into thinking your work is over. Now you get to do more edits with people leaving tons of notes on your manuscript so all you see is an ocean of changes that need to be made. You will end up going through your manuscript a dozen more times. You will always miss a typo.

10) Book release!
You’ve done it! A whole book out into the world. Now it’s your job to care for the book. To find it reviews and readers. To make sure you maintain a good relationship with your readers so they too will love your book baby.

11) Start again from step one.
And that’s it. Eleven easy steps to writing a novel!

Okay, so it’s not easy, but it is worth it. I’m sure my process will shift with time, and what works for me may not work for anyone else. No matter how you build your world, get the words down, and reach your readers, happy writing!

You can follow Megan on her website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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.

Review Of The Year [CC]

Looking back at 2018 and all that I've achieved! #Authortube

GIVEAWAY WITH #THEBOOKROBINHOODS: FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul & ADD #WALKAMILE TO YOUR GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38904511-walk-a-mile CONTEST ENDS ON DECEMBER 31ST!

BUY WALK A MILE: http://www.books2read.com/WAM
THE BOOK ROBIN HOODS: https://therobinhoods.wixsite.com/thebookrobinhoods
BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/1UcS61E

From Joey's Instagram

And time to look back at 2018! There's also a giveaway to talk about! 🎄🎄🎉🎉☃️☃️ Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/JoeyPaulOnline or the link in my bio! . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #authortube #lovemyjob #ilovewriting #igwriters #igauthors #writingtips #authortuber #books #igreaders #igauthors #igwriters #WalkAMile #writinglife #joeypaul #smallyoutuber #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #readers #readersofinstagram
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From Joey's Instagram

#TEASERTUESDAY Hetti isn't going to get much sleep but that's the job! 👮‍♀️👮‍♀️👮‍♀️ Buy here: www.books2read.com/WAM . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #books #igreaders #igauthors #igwriters #indiesofinstagram #readers #readersofinstagram #writinglife #joeypaul #writingcommunity #yalit #WalkAMile #bookboost
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End Of Year Goals & How To Do Them - The Creative Process

END OF YEAR GOALS & HOW TO DO THEM

It's coming up to that time of year again when we all look back to the year behind us, and forward to the year ahead. We all talk about how this time we're gonna do this or that and then we make goals that most of the time, we have every intention of doing, but forget about by the end of January. I have always done monthly goals on a private blog, and recently started to do bi-monthly goals on my Authortube channel. I also do end of year goals and had done that for a number of years, both here on this blog and on my channel.

So why did I add bi-monthly if I already did goals every year? Because I found that people were really interested in how I was doing goal wise. It also made sense to start working on the short term as well as the long term. I have my goals for 2019, but I also have the goals for every two months and those are widely varied. While one goal on my list for 2018 was to publish two books, my bi-monthly goals are based on writing chapters, reading a certain number of books, and also hitting certain smaller targets that get me on the path to publication.

2019 is gonna be a big year for me. It's not just because every new year I feel like I'm doing something different and going bigger and bigger, but I'm releasing three books and with it, the series that has been by my side for the majority of my writing career will come to an end. It's gonna be strange in 2020 to be releasing a brand new series and not have Tara and the Dying Thoughts series on my goal list. But I'm getting off target here. What happens to the end of year goals and what have I learned in the time since I started them, and then changed to focus more on the bi-monthly ones.

#1 - A YEAR IS A LONG TIME
While I always made sure to keep my goals broad and long-term, there were some things that when I made them in December, I didn't realise I had no chance of doing. Like choosing to do 12 events in the year. What was past me thinking? Others were fine because, as I said, they were always going to happen. It was just how I went about doing them. So my advice for anyone wanting to make long term goals is to bear in mind that things can change in an instant and from there you may find yourself not wanting to do a certain thing, or not being able to.

#2 - THINK LONG-TERM
I mentioned this a little in the first point, but you're wanting to think beyond one month. I always do the Goodreads reading challenge and one of my goals for this coming year is to do that again. But I didn't think to include that in my yearly goals for 2018, though I did include things that I expected to take a year - some did, some didn't. If you're looking at where you are right now and wanting to think further ahead, decide what seems reasonable. I always include things like getting to a certain level of reviews on Goodreads, and while I don't have a lot of control over that, I did make the goal in like November time.

#3 - REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER
Going on from that last point, don't set goals for certain number of followers on a social media site. I've done this over and over and have ended up being unable to meet the goal. Why? Because I don't have any control over who subs on youtube or follows on Twitter and the like. It's nice to have an idea of it, but in practice, it won't help you and it's just something to stress over and not be able to do anything about. On top of that, the numbers will change, they'll spike up and down and really, does it matter that much about followers when you're wanting engagement. That's not a criticism, I've done the same, but in the past year I've realised that I actually am okay with being a small fish, who gets people talking to them.

#4 - DON'T SET YOURSELF UP TO FAIL
Now one of my main goals for the majority of the past few years has been to finish two books and start two new ones. This is a good goal for me because it takes me about 5/6 months to finish two books. This is something I know I can manage. But setting that for someone who takes longer to draft would be pointless because all it's going to do is set yourself up for failure. Remember what you're capable of and remind yourself of this if need be. There's nothing wrong with being realistic.

And finally, #5 - CHECK IN FROM TIME TO TIME
I did, for the first time actually, a six month check in. I realised when I did that that so many of my goals were easily met or were never going to be. That's why this year, I've made them more broad and within my own scope of ability. Don't push yourself to check every few weeks, but also don't leave them unchecked until December rolls around and you realise you could've reached this one or the other if you'd actually remembered it!

So there you have it, my five tips for making end of year goals. While I will continue to do my monthly and bi-monthly ones, I do like the idea of yearly goals as well. I think it's nice to have something to strive for in the long term and with that it means I'm able to look ahead to the year coming up! Good luck with your goals!

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

From Joey's Instagram

☃️Christmas Giveaway☃️ I have teamed up with #TheBookRobinHoods And some other authors who I'll tag below. 🎄 To enter all you have to do is follow me @authorjoeypaul and add my book #WalkAMile to goodreads. 🎄 Contest runs until December 31st! 🎄 Other authors to follow! @mcfrank_author @readcommendations @anniewoodsauthor @taralamesauthor @mstorialvarez @valtobin2 @mpsmithauthor @lilyluchesi @jaidisshaw @brandi_nicole_s @bellaemywrites @dlpitchford @kathylynncrossbooks @alyssadrakenovels @lichelleslater_author . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #readers #amreading #readersofinstagram #bookworm #bookboost #WAM #yalit #reading
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From Joey's Instagram

Nothing better on a rainy Saturday than cuddles with #MissPenne while I write my chapter! ✒✒✒😺😺😺 . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #writinglife #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #readers #readersofinstagram #bookworm #catsofinstagram #kitty #snuggles #pastacats #purplehair
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Christmas Giveaway! - From #TheBookRobinHoods

Want to win 20 ebooks from amazing authors, like myself?

All you have to do is follow me on Instagram, and add Walk A Mile to your Goodreads.

OPEN UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST 2018!

From Joey's Instagram

What a good year it's been. Here's my #topnine2018! They all symbolise great moments in 2018 for me! Wheelchair, books, signings and hair did! 🎄🎄🎄💜💜💜 . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #joeypaul #writinglife #readers #readersofinstagram #indiesofinstagram #writingcommunity #wheelchairuser #oxygenuser #chronicpain
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Interview With Ian Pattinson

I am delighted to welcome Ian Pattinson to the blog for an interview. Here's a little about Ian:

I've been writing almost all my life, but it kicked into a higher gear when the Kindle came along. Writing under a number of pen names, I try to tease away at the edges of genres, looking for the stories that haven't been told yet.

And onto the interview! 

How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing stories ever since I learnt to write, and self published my first book in 2001 through a print on demand service. But I started doing it seriously when the Kindle came along and I was able to publish for it.

Do you write in the genre you love to read?
My favourite reading at the moment is non-fiction, but I find it inspires and informs my fiction. I’m a fan of science fiction and pulpy adventure and horror, and write in those genres. I also write crime, but I tend to consume that genre as films and TV shows, rather than prose.

I also have two pseudonyms who write the sort of erotica I'd love to read, but which isn't easy to find.

Do you have any favourite authors to read?
I was a big fan of Terry Pratchet, but, since his passing, I haven’t had any one author whose work I have been involved with in the same way.

Are you an organised writer or not?
I was organised for the first half of this year. Then I finished two novels within a couple of weeks of each other, without a plan for the next projects. I also started doing two webcomics around this time, and my prose production hasn’t been the same since then.

What's your idea of a perfect writing day?
Any day when I can get writing done early on is good. It sets me up for a productive day all round.

Do you like editing or is it something you loathe?
I’ve learnt to enjoy editing more in the last couple of years. I let a project sit for a while before doing two edits- one on screen, and then another on a printed copy.

What's your favourite social media? And why?
I’ve recently started posting to Instagram, and I’m enjoying that more than the other social media I use at the moment. I don’t know how to use it for promotion so much, though.

Twitter is something of an essential, but it’s becoming ever more infuriating because of the bots and problems with hate speech etc.

Do you have a favourite writing food? Drink?
Tea. Always tea. (Oh, okay, occasionally coffee.) I try not to snack whilst writing.

How often do you write? Do you have a schedule?
My schedule for the first half of the year was, when I could, to write before breakfast, which would get me off to a good start for the day. When I’m on a roll, I can write every day, but I don’t always manage that.

You can follow Ian on 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

From Joey's Instagram

And it's that time of the month where I talk about what's been going on in my life and all I've managed in November! Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/JoeyPaulOnline or the link in my bio! ✒✒✒ . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #authortube #lovemyjob #ilovewriting #igwriters #igauthors #writingtips #authortuber #writinglife #joeypaul #smallyoutuber #readers #readersofinstagram #bookworm #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram
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Life Of Joey - December 2018 [CC]

All about my life in the past month and what I've been up to! #Authortube

BUY WALK A MILE: http://www.books2read.com/WAM
THE BOOK ROBIN HOODS: https://therobinhoods.wixsite.com/thebookrobinhoods
BUY MY BOOKS ON AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1VhLHog
BLOG: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/
TUMBLR: http://authorjoeypaul.tumblr.com
FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/JoeyPaulOnline
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/MsJoeyBug
INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/authorjoeypaul
GOODREADS: http://bit.ly/1UcS61E

From Joey's Instagram

#TEASERTUESDAY Tara has never been one for school work, except things are changing. 👩‍🏫👩‍🏫👩‍🏫 Buy here: www.books2read.com/DTFS . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #books #igreaders #igauthors #igwriters #DyingThoughts5 #dyingthoughts #readingcommunity #writinglife #joeypaul #writingcommunity #indiesofinstagram #bookworm #bookboost
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From Joey's Instagram

It's a Monday and #MissPenne has decided to watch over me as I write. She's actually just jumped up on my shoulder! On with the chapter! 🤯🤯🤯😺😺😺 . . . . #authorslife #authorsofinstagram #indieauthor #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #writinglife #writinggcommunity #indiesofinstagram #readers #readersofinstagram #joeypaul #cat #catsofinstagram #kitty #snuggles #pastacats #igauthors #igwriters #booksinprogress
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Imposter Syndrome - The Creative Process

IMPOSTER SYNDROME

As someone who's been writing a number of years, has been published for a while too, I wanted to do a piece on imposter syndrome. Because I wanted to make it clear that it happens to everyone. It's not limited to writers either, though of course that will be what I focus on today. In case you've not heard of it, imposter syndrome is that feeling that you're faking it. That everyone around you is a professional and you do not belong. That people are gonna eventually find you out and expose you for what you are. It's common in writers and other creative pursuits, but it happens outside of that too.

So what can you do about it? I wanted to give you some tips to work through it. I've personally had trouble with it for the majority of my writing life, and even before that. It's part of writing life and I think the majority of writers and authors would admit to having it happen at some point in their career. It doesn't make you weird, it's just part of being creative.

So, #1 - FACT CHECK
One of the big things with imposter syndrome is that you're only in the position you are because of a mistake, whether that's a mistake made by readers, or an agent or publisher. Or even your own mistakes at thinking you could do this. The best thing you can do when hit with this kind of feeling is reach out to the people you trust and talk to them. This means fact checking. Did you land that agent by luck? Probably not. Do your readers love you work by some misconception, or is there more to it? Whoever it is you go to and whoever it is that you talk to, I guarantee they will be able to point out solid facts that will help bring you out of that cycle.

#2 - REMIND YOURSELF OF THE TRUTH
If you've fact checked, it might be a good idea to keep some kind of record of the good things people have said. I personally have a random good things folder on my computer that contains screen shots of nice reviews, of letters I've been sent, of fan reactions. I keep it so that when I'm having a moment of imposter syndrome, I'm able to remind myself of what people are saying. These are people who I don't know who have sent me random praise. And it helps so much! It can be the thing to lift you up when you have a bad writing day or even just when you feel like patting yourself on the back - which y'know, is okay to do!

#3 - LOOK BACK AT YOUR JOURNEY
This ties in to both points one and two, in that you'll need facts from friends and colleagues, but you'll also possibly need to do some digging for your own random praise. If you look back at where you started and look at where you are now this can be a big help with imposter syndrome. Because it reminds you that you didn't get here by accident, you worked hard and managed all your achievements because of that work. It can be a nice way to ground yourself and kick that gremlin and imposter syndrome to the kerb.

And finally, #4 - BREATHE AND REMEMBER IT HAPPENS TO US ALL
It can be an isolating journey being a writer. A lot of what we do can be done behind closed doors and in solitude. Some writers thrive better in that environment, but having said that, remember that you are not alone. This isn't some gigantic mistake that happened to you and put you where you are today. You did the hard work and you put in the words, the hours, the struggle of the journey. So give yourself a break, breathe and just remember that you're not alone and you will get there.

Imposter syndrome can be something that pulls you down, and it's never nice to feel like you don't belong. For a long time I didn't have a group of writers that I felt like I could go to with this kind of stuff. It's only been in the last 12 months that I've had that and I can't advocate enough for making the time to connect and find that group for yourself. You are working hard and you deserve to be here. Remind yourself of that and keep writing. Good Luck!

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