In this week’s episode of the Behind the Scene’s Podcast Diary, I discuss struggling with productivity, revision, and fear as a writer. And, how you can reframe your mindset for success.
So, how do you start a story? How do you hook the reader from the very first page? In the literary world, there is a lot of talk about how to write an inciting first line or paragraph. There’s a step you need to take before you put pen to paper. This step is outlining your story and structuring it in such a way that hooks the reader. And, how do you achieve this? By creating an irresistible story hook.
I must confess the last fortnight didn’t go exactly to plan. I started the two weeks off with the best of intentions, to revise the first draft of Immunity, but I had a few struggles. Just the usual ones like procrastination, tech issues, changing podcast platforms. By the way that isn’t as easy as it sounds.
So, you’ve got a story idea that you can’t wait to write and you’re wondering; how do you write a good story? Is there a structure you should follow as you write a novel? There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to writing a novel. If you’re just starting out, then I recommend using Three Act Structure. This type of story structure is a writing tool used by screenwriters. It was studying the craft of writing for screen, which I was introduced to the concept of structuring a story.
I’m going to keep this behind the scenes podcast diary short and sweet and just stick to all things writing, revision, and book related. So, this week, revision became my new reality. I stuck to my goals to revise Immunity and overcame a revision obstacle. Do you struggle with revision? Do you sometimes face a revision obstacle that seems difficult to overcome? If so, then this podcast diary is for you.
Are you struggling to decide whether you should plot or pants your novel? If you’ve been a writer for longer than a quick minute, then you already know the debate between plotting vs pantsing is fierce. Before you decide whether to plot or pants your novel, you need to consider how you learn. It’s important to understand why these options for work for some writers and not others. If you’ve ever wondered, how to decide whether to plot or pants your novel, then this is for you.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend in my productivity as a writer since I returned from my wedding in Australia. I’m becoming less and less productive. The reason for the decline in my productivity is simple. I’ve dropped a few great habits that served me well in the first half of the year.For the sake of productivity and developing great habits, today I’m going to share with you my writing goals for October.
Have you ever wonder how to some authors seem to have a knack for writing multiple novels at once? Well, I have a confession to make. I am one of those crazy writers. It’s not uncommon for me to have multiple projects on the go. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you my successes and failures, and I manage writing multiple novels at once.
Should you write a novel in 30 days? Or, in my case three days of outlining and eighteen days of writing. This week I performed the first ever read through of my prequel novel. And, let’s say there are some great scenes in the story and some not so great scenes. Unfortunately, there is a lot of the not-so-great variety.
So, you have a great idea for a novel but you’re struggling to find time to write. You have Work, children, family things, social commitments all vying for your attention but, you still haven’t found the time to write that novel. Months have rolled by and you haven’t started working on your story idea. Have you ever wondered how other writers and authors find time to write?
When Will Thatcher, doesn’t show up for work, James Lalonde is forced to attend an afternoon tea with Alistair Carmichael in his place. The lovely autumn afternoon tea comes to an abrupt end when a body turns up on the lawn of the Carmichael Estate with strange markings on his neck.
But, something is missing, a priceless painting is off the wall. However, it’s no ordinary painting, it’s a Van Gogh purchased in an auction a few months ago. After discovering fresh tracks, most likely left by the murderer James realises the murder is still in the estate.
Rookie reporter James Lalonde is bored. And, he isn’t a journalist. He’s an all-round dogs-body, to editor-in-chief, Rhys Kelly. But, his luck has finally changed. After eavesdropping in on the morning editorial meeting, James learns he has his first-ever story. There’s one catch. If the story gets too complicated, it will be taken away from him and given to another journalist with more experience. Sure it’s a boring interview with the soon to be sworn-in magistrate, Albert Harrington, but it finally gets him out of his six-month slump as an editorial research assistant.
The following day, James turns up to his interview with Albert to discover a trail of blood smeared through Albert’s house, an empty safe, the murder weapon on the floor, but no body. Detective Anwar Khan turns up to the crime scene, puts two and two together, and believes James murdered the controversial magistrate. Can James clear his name and write his first-ever story before his editor takes it away from him?
James has a nose for trouble. But that’s nothing new. This time, things are different–his life is on the line. James is the chief editor of a small newspaper. It’s hardly captivating work. He’s bored. But all of that is about to change.
Late one evening, he returns home to discover his long-time girlfriend and journalist, Valentine, has left. Early the next morning, James fails to reallocate her assigned story. To avoid blank space in the culture section and losing his job, he decides to write the story on the local museum’s latest acquisition, Excalibur. But, there’s one thing he didn’t count on–Excalibur is missing, and a dead body is at the crime scene.
If you love gripping cloak and dagger mysteries with twists and turns, then you’ll love this first instalment in the James Lalonde Amateur Sleuth Mystery series. Get it now.
86,532 of 85,000 Words
Yesterday, I sent Duplicity off for proofreading. Yay! And I’ve set up preorders for this novel on Kobo, B&N, and Google Play with a release date of the 24th of November 2022. And, I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
0 of 60,000 Words
I’ve decided to add an extra book between the second book and the start of the byline series, where James arrives in New York. Book Three will be set in a 24 hour period in London. This novel will be available in ebook on all major ebook retailers by the end of mid 2022. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
112,960 of 99,000 Words
Book Four the James Lalonde series needs one final round of revisions before I can hand it off to my editor. This longer novel will be published on all major ebook retailers in early 2023. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
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