The Trials Of An Indie Author: Answering Difficult Questions

THE TRIALS OF AN INDIE AUTHOR: ANSWERING DIFFICULT QUESTIONS

Last week I talked about making small talk with strangers as a crime writer (found here) and I mentioned in it that I would be delving more into the awkward questions that you get as an indie author this week, so here we go. I've been published now for seventeen years, and I gotta say that the difficult and awkward questions don't get better with time. I know you all probably know exactly what questions I'm about to talk about, but in case you don't, I won't go on for too long.

One thing that I've gotten used to when people ask what I do for a living, is being asked whether or not  I make money at what I do. Those questions I don't mind so much because it's pretty much a general thing. I'm not someone who feels comfortable talking about money with even my closest friends and family, so telling a complete stranger would freak me out. But being asked if I actually make money is a lot different to the one where you're asked how much you make a month.

I don't understand why people ask this, like it might be my British side poking through, but would you go up to another stranger, or even someone you kinda know and ask them their salary or monthly income? I mean, if you would, then I guess at least you're consistent? I don't even like that question from my parents, though it's usually my dad and step-mum who are interested and I still stammer over the amount because I feel like I'm being asked to prove that I've made some contribution to the world by placing a monetary value on what I do for a living.

Now you might think that's me being precious or me thinking that I shouldn't have to be open and vulnerable with even my parents, but to be honest, I wouldn't, and have never, asked what they make, and it would be just as awkward for them to scramble for an answer as it is for me. I know it's a common one among authors of both paths. Those who are indie, and those who are traditional are asked this one the regular. It's not always family or friends either, people hear you're published and they wanna know how much your advance was (for traditional) or how many copies you've sold and made (for indie) and both of these are such personal questions that I really do question why it's different, it seems, for creatives than it is for those working a regular nine to five.

I know that transparency is a big thing in publishing. People want to know for legitimate and good reasons, and for those people, I would, somewhat awkwardly, open up about what I've made and how and all the rest. For some writers it's not a difficult question, they're happy to talk about it, and in that regard I feel like it's okay, because it's their choice, but for me, and a lot of the writers I know, it's very much a difficult question and one I'd like people to stop asking me.

I didn't want this to turn into a long rant and whine about being asked about money, so I'll move onto some other difficult questions, but I hate to say it, they will touch on the money angle as well. I've been asked how many copies I've sold in total. I don't know about you, but when people ask me this, they don't want vague numbers, they want the exact total. I have no idea and it would take me a while to work it out. I know I've sold over ten thousand, but I passed that in 2012 I think, so it would be above that now. Even typing that sentence, despite the fact that it's something people could find if they wanted to look for it, makes me feel like I'm bragging on myself, and I've never been comfortable doing that!

There's also the questions about marketing costs, which is one that I don't think is too awkward, because there's a real reason behind it. After all, if you're trying to budget for yourself, then you need to know what kind of ballpark the advertising and marketing are going to cost you so that you can save accordingly. Overall, the awkward questions, the difficult ones. I feel like they go hand in hand with being published, and while some of them make me wince and cringe, I think it's just a case of clenching my teeth and getting them over with. People are curious by nature and you can't help that.

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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 Challenger by Anders Aaslund

I can play along. Be Imogen Hart, the Planetwalker. Imogen Hart, the aerobatics champion. But all of that comes second to my most important mission: to learn why Ellinor Bowman died.

Things are going wrong for AI nerd Imogen Hart. Her best friend takes her own life just as they prepare to set foot on planet Alamea—mankind’s new home. When the ruling elite aboard the colonial spaceship Conestoga attempt to rewrite the past, Imogen connects the dots and uncovers an age-old secret that threatens the future of a quarter of a million passengers.

Her destiny shattered, Imogen must employ every dirty trick in her arsenal and fight for the truth. But shaking things up turns out to be much more dangerous than Imogen ever imagined—and time is running out.

 

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

I picked this up because the blurb called to me, and I was hooked from the first page. The emotion within this story pull you into it and make you feel things you didn’t realise you would. The story is engaging and thrilling with many twists and turns that you won’t see coming. I adored Imogen and the fight she was up against to find answers. Overall it was a nice immersive read where I lost all time, and ended up along for the ride with all the characters. Aaslund is an author to watch and this is a series that I will be wanting to finish. 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

 

My Current WIP - October 2022 [CC]

Giving you all the details about my current WIP, and what's going on with them! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE SECOND PANG: http://www.books2read.com/PANG
GRAB THE PRE-ORDER SWAG: https://forms.gle/VhF8Xr1yTUayxiAu7
SIGN UP TO BE AN ARC READER: https://forms.gle/kFmXPakRDvPRB5hT7 

BUY CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

#AUTHORCITY BIRMINGHAM JULY 2023 SIGNING TICKETS: https://bit.ly/3fRLjxg 

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html

SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/h89_5f 
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://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

#TeaserTuesday

Telling Meera about the twitch is not going to be easy...

PRE-ORDER NOW: http://www.books2read.com/PANG

PRE-ORDER SWAG: https://forms.gle/VhF8Xr1yTUayxiAu7

[ID: A dark blue background, with the title CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE SECOND PANG at the top and coming November 15th 2022 just below the title. The except reads:

"So...," she said. "You had a headache in class because I had a headache?"
This was the tricky bit. Well to be frank the whole bloody conversation was the tricky bit. I'd painted the sympathetic pain as being because I loved someone, or at least cared for them. How was I going to explain Marcus triggering my pain, even though I had an inkling it was because he was the brother of my empath friend?
"Not you," I said, carefully choosing my words. "I was already feeling bad anyway, and then there had to be someone in class with a headache and I guess, my sympathy pains picked up on that?"

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]

 

The Trials Of A Crime Writer: Small Talk With Strangers

THE TRIALS OF A CRIME WRITER: SMALL TALK WITH STRANGERS

One of the things I've learned over the years of being a writer, and then a published author, was that there are always going to be times when you have to try and make small talk with strangers. Whether that's about your job, or whatever you're working on, the questions come, and sometimes you avoid them by being vague and making noises about just being a writer with books out and everything and other times it's just not possible.

I have plans to talk about the awkward questions of being an indie author next week, so I'll avoid some of the big ones here, but I do want to talk about the questions and small talk that come about from writing crime, mystery, thrillers and other similar genres. Now you may not know this about me, but I don't get out much. Usually my months pass along in a similar fashion. I write, I record videos, and I take time off to read in bed and the like. I go to my monthly hospital appointment and that is, usually, that. However, these past few weeks I had a friend staying and we went out quite a lot, so I got all my socialising done for the year!

When most people see me, they see the wheelchair, the oxygen and they automatically assume that I'm either unable to work (which I am in a conventional job) or just unable to do much. I've been really lucky in that writing has been such an amazing passion of mine, and has also allowed me to work while not having to put in the hours and time that I would need to do in a conventional job. I set my own hours, I work when and if I'm up to it, and if no work gets done for a week or more, then no one is going to fire me. I am my own boss, and while it has its downsides, it's also a big positive.

But because of the visible disabilities and because I generally have B, my best friend and carer, with me when I'm out and about, people make a lot of assumptions, and then it inevitably comes up that I'm a writer and published author. I get the usual questions about what kind of books, and whether any of them have hit the bestsellers list, but when I get to the point of saying that I write young adult and also crime, some of them get really really quiet.

I don't know if it's just the fact that I'm writing young adult and am in my forties, or whether it's because people don't realise that teens love the crime and mystery genre, or some other factor that I've not thought of yet, but people really do start to wonder *how* an innocent looking disabled woman could be thinking up stories and plots about dead bodies and killers and all of that stuff. They don't understand how I could think, and write, such dark stories, and actually enjoy it.

I've gotten some strange looks. I've gotten some weird questions. I even, years ago, got asked if I realised that by writing about a drug overdose in one of my earlier novels, that I might be perpetuating the idea that teens should do drugs. It didn't make sense to me then, and it still doesn't make sense to me now, but it sure does make things awkward when I'm trying to just pass the time and hold a conversation with someone. Now 90% of the time, they are the ones that ask, and I'm always happy to talk about being an author and the books I write, but I have gotten to that point after seventeen years published and over twenty as a writer that I start to inwardly wince when said questions come up, because there are only so many times you can be asked whether you like writing dark fiction, say yes, and then get that weird look because of it.

As I've talked about before here, (piece found here) I honestly believe that we need to be writing about the dark sides of humanity. I don't mean there should be graphic scenes for the sake of it, and of course not everyone likes that kind of thing, but there are always going to be people who need those stories, who need to know that their struggle and such have not be stricken from the record and ignored. I will keep writing my dark stories and celebrate them because I'm not ashamed of having written them.

Now there may be some who disagree and think that while of course it's okay for me to write them, I shouldn't be doing so to the audience that I do. I remember once while I was getting my hair did, one of the helpers was talking to me about this and that, asked what I did, and winced at the thought of kids reading about crime. She even said that she didn't think it was appropriate. I smiled and nodded, because it wasn't the place or time for me to be saying that crime happens to teens too, and they love solving mysteries too, and that I'm not trying to recruit them to a life of crime.

Either way, you all know my stance on it. I will write the stories that call to me, and there are those readers out there who need to hear them, who need to feel seen and assured and get the ending that they want. I will say I suck at small talk though, I mean, I don't think anyone actually likes it, but for me it's just not fun, and maybe that's another reason why staying inside and talking to friends is the better way to do things for me!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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 Other Lost Souls by Lindie Dagenhart

There's little Baen Balcrome fears more than being powerless.

As the youngest son of five, Baen has always known he has no shot at the trickle-down blood magic that runs in his family. Even before the magic went dormant, rendering them all but useless to the organization that owns their contract.

When their allocated Healer turns up with an unexpected offer to teach him how to unlock those hidden abilities, it's surely too good to be true. He knows he can't trust her. She might be a little old lady, but she's mean and vindictive, and has always blamed him for his family's downfall.

Baen already has enough on his plate: ghosts, a brother who wants him dead, AP Calculus, and Eli, the annoying kid next door who won't stop following him around.

Yet that promise of power is so alluring, he might just have to say yes.

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

I picked this up because the cover and the blurb made it sound like an exciting and thrilling read, and I was not wrong there. I adored the story from the first page and was hooked to the point where I couldn’t put it down, finishing it in one sitting. Baen, Eli and everyone else were engaging fully fleshed out characters, the arcs of them all entwining and making the reader desperate for more. This is a series that I will have to read more of because after the way this book ended, I had to know what is next in store for Baen and the others. Highly, 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

Questions From Readers - October 2022 [CC]

Answering questions from you guys today, and giving you all my thoughts! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE SECOND PANG: http://www.books2read.com/PANG
GRAB THE PRE-ORDER SWAG: https://forms.gle/VhF8Xr1yTUayxiAu7
SIGN UP TO BE AN ARC READER: https://forms.gle/kFmXPakRDvPRB5hT7 

BUY CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

#AUTHORCITY BIRMINGHAM JULY 2023 SIGNING TICKETS: https://bit.ly/3fRLjxg 

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html

SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/h89_5f 
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://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

#TeaserTuesday

Jessie had no idea what happened to Mia, and finding out is devastating...

PRE-ORDER NOW: http://www.books2read.com/PANG

PRE-ORDER SWAG: https://forms.gle/VhF8Xr1yTUayxiAu7

[ID: A dark blue background, with the title CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE SECOND PANG at the top and coming November 15th 2022 just below the title. The except reads:

“What?” I asked, wondering what he knew that I didn’t.
“I’m sorry, Jessie, but if she was your friend, Mia wasn’t just hurt, she died. Her parents were killed too, by a drunk driver about three weeks ago. Marcus was off school, but by all accounts, he walked away without a scratch on him.”

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]

 

Knowing When To End A Series - The Creative Process

KNOWING WHEN TO END A SERIES

I have, over the course of my writing, written and completed a few series. While there are only three of my series out right now, with only two completed, I have written the whole of the Cramping Chronicles series (you can pre-order the second book here) and am just working my way through revising the last three books. I've also written a few more series, but there's no point in listing them because they won't be out for a few years yet. I simply state that because I want to be clear that I know what it's like to be at the end of a series or be in the middle of it, and not know for sure whether now is the time to end it.

For example, in the Dying Thoughts series, I originally planned for five books. They would see Tara up until she finished secondary school and that would be the end. Only as I sat down to write the fifth and final book, I realised that ending it there wouldn't do. The plot of that book puts Tara in a really bad place at the end, and I also knew there were more of her stories to tell. That said, I didn't want to go on for too long. I've read super long series where it feels like the author gave up around the ten books mark, and took the plot with them. I didn't want to be that kind of author. I wanted to make sure that every single book had a purpose beyond just being the next one in the series.

So how did I know when the right time was? How did I know that book eight in that particular series was going to be the final one? And how does that translate into advice for books and plots I have never seen nor read? I'm glad you asked, because I have a few pointers that I feel, might, just be universal to the whole series question.

#1 WHERE DOES THE BOOK LEAVE YOUR MAIN CHARACTER?
Like I said above, with the fifth book in Tara's series, I knew that leaving her there was going to leave a lot of questions for my readers. It was going to leave her hanging in the space where characters go when their stories are done. I wasn't going to answer those questions because while I would've had my own ideas, I did want to, somewhat leave it up to the reader, but to do that I had to give Tara, and my readers, a firmer foundation to end on.

Now I could've done an epilogue and told them where she was left years down the line, but it felt like I'd be cheating my readers out of the stories that came in between. I wouldn't be giving them the plot, I'd just be summarising it for them, and that felt like a bit of a copout. So if you've reached the point where you're starting to think that you're done, ask yourself whether leaving the main character there is going to end the series properly or if it's always going to be there in the back of reader's minds that more could've been done. You are the only one who can make that decision and it's something you have to be sure about.

#2 IS MORE PLOT PLAUSIBLE?
Now some series, like Cramping Chronicles, have more of an overarching plot that goes through all five books. I knew the fifth one was the final one because the plot was basically tied up. If I'd tried to do a sixth book, I'd have had to start a new arc and it would've felt a bit like I was dragging things out for the sake of it. I always find it hard to say goodbye to my characters for the final time, but I also want to do their stories justice and unless there is a plot that needs to be told, that without it, the whole series would suffer, then I can't justify writing another book no matter how much I would like to.

Again, this is something that only you, as the author, can decide. If you know that the arcs are done, the ending wraps everything up, and there's no way that starting another book will change that, maybe it's time to call the series done and be happy about it.

#3 DO YOU WANT TO WRITE MORE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS?
Now as I said above, I personally find it hard to let go of character, especially when it comes to a series. I spend so long in their worlds and in their heads that it's hard for me to say goodbye and accept that their story is done. With Tara, it was close to fifteen years I was writing her story, and you can imagine how weird it felt to just not be doing so any more.

That said, you really do need to dig deep and work out if the reason you want to write another book in that world is because of your own personal reasons, or if it's something that is actually needed. If it's the former, then it might be time to put down the pen for those characters, and if it's the latter, then maybe there's something there that you can work with. Either way, as with all of these questions, the final decision has to be yours. I don't mean that you can't ask for advice, I did that with Dying Thoughts, but you need to be sure that you're making that decision for the good of the stories and not just because you don't want to say goodbye.

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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 Date Notes by Gracie Graham

On a scale of one to ten, I’m a zero.

A complete dork. Nerd extraordinaire.

I’ve never had a girlfriend. Or a first kiss.

But senior year is coming to an end, and I have my sights set on the gorgeous Ella Randalls. Only, the blonde-haired beauty doesn’t know I exist.

But for once in my life I want to win at something. So it’s time to make a change.

Especially if I’m to steal her away from one of Lakeview Prep’s notorious Royals.

My nerdy heart is hers. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

I have read the other books in this series and loved them, so when I saw this one, I had to have it. I adored Barry and Ella, and loved the way their story was told. The tropes were perfect, the dynamic was interesting and it was just an amazing read that I happily devoured in one sitting. I hope that there are more stories in this series as Graham has a way for writing sweet YA romance that leaves you swooning over the characters. Overall an amazingly delightful read and one that I would very much 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

Life Of Joey - October 2022 [CC]

Letting you know what I was up to last month! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE SECOND PANG: http://www.books2read.com/PANG
GRAB THE PRE-ORDER SWAG: https://forms.gle/VhF8Xr1yTUayxiAu7
SIGN UP TO BE AN ARC READER: https://forms.gle/kFmXPakRDvPRB5hT7 

BUY CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

#AUTHORCITY BIRMINGHAM JULY 2023 SIGNING TICKETS: https://bit.ly/3fRLjxg 

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html

SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/h89_5f 
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://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

#TeaserTuesday

Jessie's teacher aren't always that understanding about her triggers, school work waits for no one...

PRE-ORDER NOW: http://www.books2read.com/PANG

PRE-ORDER SWAG: https://forms.gle/VhF8Xr1yTUayxiAu7

[ID: A dark blue background, with the title CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE SECOND PANG at the top and coming November 15th 2022 just below the title. The except reads:

I tried again to focus on whatever Mr. Beacher was talking about. My head was thumping and my vision was hazy. If I had to guess, trigger guy had a migraine. I glanced over at the back of the class to watch him, but he didn't outwardly show any signs of pain.
“Are you okay, Ms. Oliver?” Mr. Beacher asked.
I turned back and saw that he'd approached my table. A quick look around told me he'd given a task to the other students and there was me sat there just staring at people.
“Just a headache, sir,” I croaked.
“Do you need to go to the nurse?” he asked.
“No, sir,” I said, shaking my head and wincing as it felt like my brain rattled around inside my skull.
“Then I'd appreciate you concentrating on your work,” he said, his tone a little gruff.

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]

 

Juggling Revision & Drafting

JUGGLING REVISION & DRAFTING

One thing I have learned in all my years of being a writer is that I work better when I have multiple projects to get done. It's not just about avoiding writer's block by always having something to switch to, but also because my brain is constantly thinking over the problems that have to be solved in various projects. It's something where I know I can revise one day, stick the problems in the back burner in my mind and hopefully then come back to it another day and be able to fix things. Even if it takes me a few rounds of revisions, I, usually, get there in the end.

That doesn't mean that it's an easy task, juggling drafting however many projects, and revising an older one. It just means that I know how my brain works, and how best to apply that knowledge to my working life. I didn't start out able to do that though, when I first started writing, it was one draft at a time, and I would have to completely stop drafting to be able to work on revisions for a project. I don't know if it's experience that has put me in the position I am now, deadlines, or the fact that I've obviously grown as a writer since those first projects.

But what does that mean for all of you reading? Is it possible to juggle the two when you're still a newbie, or even when you've got the experience under your belt? I can't speak for all writers, and I won't even imply that my advice is universal and works for everyone, becuase the truth is, that's a lie. No one can give you one single way of doing things and it apply to everyone watching or reading. That's part of being a writer, or any kind of artist, is knowing that you will work in your own way and it doesn't matter how much someone else says this works for them, if it doesn't for you, that's just the way it is.

However, I do have some tips for those wanting to attempt to do the same. I'm gonna stick to just the drafting and revising project rather than have you all try and take on a bunch of drafting and revision if that's not the way you normally work. Of course I know there are writers out there who are doing a whole lot more than me, and for that I salute them!

#1 SEPARATE THE TWO
If you want to plan your time, or even just think ahead, my first piece of advice is to separate the drafting from the revising. By this I simply mean that you don't plan to write a chapter or whatever, and then switch over to revising as well. I know this does work for some people, but for me it's such a different approach and a hard shift from one to the other that I find it just makes it harder for me to both concentrate and work on both equally.

The way I do it is simple, I draft one day, and then on another day I'll revise. I make sure that there's no overlap. It allows me to switch my brain from creating to critiquing. It allows me to put the world of one project to the side and pull the world of the project I'm actually working on to the front of my mind. It's something that I learned early on, I can't do both on the same day. Well, I probably could if pushed, but it wouldn't go well and would probably cause more problems than it solved. So that's the way I do it, keeping the two of them completely separate.

#2 MANAGE YOUR TIME
This might sound like something that everyone says, that you need to plan your time and work out when and such you'll be working on what. I don't mean that everyone can or should plan their time. There are a lot of writers doing other jobs and with other commitments and I know that it's just not possible to do this for absolutely everyone. But, if you are able, try and work out when you'll be working on each project. Even if it's a case of saying: this week I'll draft, next week I'll revise. You don't have to be exact with the planning, not unless you want to. But this allows you to create more distance, and also prepares you for what you'll be doing.

I've been planning my time for a number of years now, and I do find that if I get up knowing that I'm going to write a chapter, it helps me zone in on that project. If I know that I'm gonna be going through a revision project, I can usually spend the night before, and the morning before, thinking up and going over my notes and allowing myself to get into that headspace again. It really has been a gamechanger for me, and it could be for you as well.

#3 START SMALL AND BUILD SLOWLY
I say this with most things, whether they be goals or word count or anything like that. I think that too often as a society and community, we're too focused on achieving the highest amount possible. We get hooked on the idea of doing more and more and being super productive. The same applies here. If you're just starting out trying to juggle these two completely different processes, you might find that you get overwhelmed or start to feel a little out of sorts if you jump into doing both either too close together or all at once. There is no deadline, at least there shouldn't be if you're trying this for the first time. You need to be able to take your time with it, and starting small with a chapter here or there, slowly building it up and moving it into your regular working pattern is the best way to make sure that you don't either get burned out, or completely panicked about what lay ahead.

I will always advocate for starting small and going slowly. If you do have a deadline, and it's something that you can't avoid, my advice there would be to not try and implement a completely new way of working for you while managing that. It will just add on the stress and make the whole thing a lot more of a headache.

So those are my tips for juggling revision and drafting. I wish you all the best of luck with your projects!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!

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 Don't Haunt Ghosts by Jeni Conrad

Everybody seems to want something from Hanna, especially dead people. She tries to ignore their overwhelming pleas for help and live a normal life, but when she starts high school she can’t avoid the ghost haunting her history class. He lectures so loudly, he makes focus nearly impossible and passing the class even more difficult. Then she meets Brandon, a skater kid from the 90s who only seems to want companionship. The difference is refreshing but has her wondering what he’s hiding about his past.

Despite her best efforts, her unusual behavior while trying to ignore the spectral distractions doesn’t go unnoticed, attracting the attention of two good-looking boys from school. They start asking odd questions and seem to know more than “normal” people should, causing Hanna to wonder if maybe she’s not as weird as she thought, and if ghosts aren’t the only supernatural beings who want her help.

Amazon

My Review: 5 STARS

The cover called to me, and before long I was lost in Conrad’s amazing and chilling world of ghosts, seers and those who may do them harm. I adored Hanna, and loved the way she approached her gift and her life. I loved Brandon and all the twists and turns throughout the story. It was a short, quick read and one that I very much enjoyed. This is a series that I will be keeping an eye on because the first book has me hooked on this world. I love a good paranormal story as much as anything, and this has all the hallmarks of an amazingly, brilliant series. 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

Writer Reflection: Tracking Words [CC]

Doing some reflection on tracking words and if they work for you! #Authortube

PRE-ORDER CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE SECOND PANG: http://www.books2read.com/PANG
GRAB THE PRE-ORDER SWAG: https://forms.gle/VhF8Xr1yTUayxiAu7
SIGN UP TO BE AN ARC READER: https://forms.gle/kFmXPakRDvPRB5hT7 

BUY CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE FIRST TWINGE: http://www.books2read.com/TWINGE

#AUTHORCITY BIRMINGHAM JULY 2023 SIGNING TICKETS: https://bit.ly/3fRLjxg 

BUY MY BOOKS: http://www.joeypaulonline.com/p/aboutjoeys-books.html

SIGN UP TO MY NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/h89_5f 
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://www.goodreads.com/joeypaulonline

 

#TeaserTuesday

Jessie has no idea who her trigger is, but they are in a world of pain...

PRE-ORDER NOW: http://www.books2read.com/PANG

PRE-ORDER SWAG: https://forms.gle/VhF8Xr1yTUayxiAu7

[ID: A dark blue background, with the title CRAMPING CHRONICLES: THE SECOND PANG at the top and coming November 15th 2022 just below the title. The except reads:

He started to push me again. “You have any idea who?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I assumed it had to be someone new to school, but I recognised everyone in there.”
“You have any of those film clips?” he asked.
“No.”
“So it could just be, someone in Maths has a really bad headache and you, for some reason, are picking up on it?”
“That's always possible,” I said as he stopped outside the nurse's office. “I just hope they get themselves some pain killers because whoever it is, they're in a lot of 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]

 

How You Grow Your Ideas - The Creative Process

HOW TO GROW YOUR IDEAS

Ideas are gold dust when it comes to writers. They're something that we're all searching for and hoping to find nicely wrapped up with a bow, and sometimes that happens, sometimes they pop into our heads and we're golden, but sometimes you start with a snippet of an idea, whether that's a piece of dialogue or a setting or something like that, and you're desperate to write the story it contains, but you don't have the first clue what that story is about. In times like these, we gotta plant those ideas and try and grow them into something bigger.

But how do you do that? Personally I had an idea recently that I really had to plant, and feed, and grow into something before I could start writing it. I'm glad to say that I managed to get to that point and started the book in May, and should finish it sometime this month. It all started with a dream, a setting, a genre, and that was about it. I wanted to write it because all of those were things I was excited about. I wanted to write another sci-fi/mystery and I wanted to set it in a place where I spent many happy childhood summers, but the only way to do that was if I came up with a plot that worked.

I couldn't just flail around and write snippets of conversation, because, to begin with, I only had one character's name and face, and they were not the main character at all. I knew that it was going to be a standalone, and I was happy about that, but I didn't have the first clue about what to do to bring that idea, that seed planted, to fruition. So I turned to tried and true methods from the internet and talking to writer friends as well.

#1: PLANTING THE SEED IS HALF THE BATTLE
I know that it might seem like an obvious step, something that makes sense considering what you're wanting to do, but sometimes, getting that seed to actually stay in plotting/planning mode, is really hard. Going back to the idea I'm working on right now, I wanted it to be a certain genre and wanted it to be something I could explore and do something with, but I didn't know whether it wanted to be a short story or a novel, or something else entirely, and because of that, I found it really hard to even stay planted! Once I managed it, what helped move it along faster were things like reading books in that genre, and playing what if and the like to branch out with those ideas.

#2: WATER OFTEN, BUT NOT TOO MUCH
I don't know about you, but I find that if I focus too much on something, then it's just not going to turn into anything. To grow that idea into something, I had to give it time, and I had to check on it a lot as well. But doing so constantly can lead to things getting muddled in your head. I know that some ideas come with their own subplots and the like. The one I'm using for this example didn't, but I also knew that I would need some for the story to work. I found that if I kept poking the seed, it would look at me and do nothing. I had to keep checking in, but I also needed the distance from the idea to allow my brain to subconsciously work on it. It's hard because at times you wanna open up a document and just pour out every thought linked to that idea and jump into writing it as soon as possible, but sometimes leaving it to grow can make a huge difference on the story and on the impact it has.

#3: ONLY HARVEST WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY READY
Like I mentioned in the second point, it can be tempting to yank that seed up once it has a little growth and jump right into the story, but I've found that leaving it for a little longer, hell, letting it grow and grow and grow makes that idea even more fleshed out and easier to write, easier to plot or pants depending on your process. It can leave room for you to switch things around and change them as needed and that's never going to be a bad thing. It can make it easier for you to work out the subplots and sometimes, depending on lots of factors, it can mean you'll write the first draft faster because you're so caught up in the idea and it's so fleshed out. So however tempting it might be, let it grow a little longer, and only use it when you're sure it's ready.

So there we go, those are my tips when it comes to growing your ideas. I wish you all the best of luck with taking those seeds, planting them, and getting them to bloom into an amazing idea. I've got a few of those seeds planted right now and I'm hopeful that when the time comes, they'll be ready for me to plan and write!

Any questions? Lemme know in the comments! 

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.