Tag: writing

One Year Later: Seven Lessons Learned from Self-Publishing a Debut Novel

Introduction

Welcome, readers.

Last Thursday marked one year since the release of my debut YA dark Sci-fi/fantasy novel, Palingenesis. This post will explore the lessons I’ve learned from this experience, and I hope you find it helpful.

Those of you’ve who’ve followed me on Twitter (@silentbutcuddly) know I worked on this book for years, which leads me to my first lesson.

Lesson 1: Patience

Like any activity, it takes time to hone your writing skills. Sure, it sucked seeing my feed filled with folks talking about their published works, but I wasn’t there yet. And if you aren’t either, that’s fine.

I got my start writing maudlin poems in middle school, then later wrote equally bad fan fiction.

My point being: take your time and allow yourself to write awful crap, break all the rules of storytelling, characterization, and world building. I know I did (lol).

Also, don’t fall into the trap I did of thinking your writing has to be perfect every time the first time or you suck. It’s a learning process, so be gentle with yourself. This assumes you actually write, which leads to my next point.

Lesson 2: Writers Write

One of the major reasons it took me so long to release my first book was because I didn’t write. I spent a good 3-5 years reading and watching everything I could about the various aspects of writing, but I never wrote. And when I did, it was only in spurts when I felt inspired.

The result?

I didn’t cement the knowledge all the knowledge I learned, and for years I put off writing the story that was in my head because I feared I wasn’t good enough and no one would like it (fears I still have, but I’ve learned not to let them rule me.).

Then at 25 I had a turning point: I discovered Geoff Goins, his Tribe Writer Course, and the community that grew around him and his work. And it gave me the courage to stop playing at being a writer and actually write.

And while I wrote a ton in the ensuing years, I rarely showed my work to anyone, as my ego was too fragile to handle criticism, and my writing ultimately suffered for it.

Lesson 3: Don’t be Afraid of Putting Yourself and Your Work Out There

Like many writers, I’m an introvert and shy away from large crowds and meeting new people (sans my college days, when I frequented night clubs and got drunk on a weekly basis). But being a writer, especially an indie writer, requires you constantly pitch yourself and your work to people if you want to build buzz for your book.

I’m still working on this, but if I could do one thing over, it’s this. I’d reach out to more local media, book bloggers, and book influencers on social media.

I’d have also joined writing groups sooner to help me improve my writing.

I didn’t work up the courage to seek one out until I approached thirty, when my therapist suggested I do so. They called themselves the Mad Hatters and met at Affirmation, a local LGBTQ+ center.

I was terrified the first time I went there, but everyone was kind, and over the next several meetings my confidence rose, and I started sharing my work and am still friends with some of the members to this day.

Unfortunately, this group fizzled out after a few years, so I drifted long, tinkering with my WIP, until I joined my current writing group a few years ago.

The group leader, Mychelle, welcomed me immediately and gave me tough love when needed to improve my luck. I credit her and the other members with giving me the final push to publish Palingenesis.

Lesson 4: Write, Revise, Release, Repeat

I used to marvel at writers who could work on multiple projects at once, as I could only focus on one story at a time. But I’ve since learned this was an excuse I used to stop myself from releasing my work.

My logic went something like this: if I only focused on one project at a time, I could make it perfect. But the truth is no story will ever be prefect, and this was just a stalling tactic on my part. I’ve now learned to juggle multiple projects and have set myself a publication schedule for the next few years. As of this writing, I have three WIPs in various stages with plans to start two more next year. But what changed?

COVID-19 happened.

Pandemic Panic

Like many of us, Covid turned my world upside down. For the first several months of the pandemic, I was a virtual hermit, only going out to buy groceries or refill my medications, and always masked up (which I continue doing today).

As I mentioned above, I’m an introvert, but after the first month or two or little human contact, my anxiety and depression skyrocketed to the point getting sick and possibly dying were constant thoughts, but as I wrote here, I had an epiphany.

I didn’t want to die without having published anything, so I redirected all that anxiety into finishing my WIP, and I contacted an editor friend on tweeter and submitted my manuscript to them.

My editor’s initial notes weren’t good and amounted to me needing to do a complete rewrite. And ya’ll, it devastated me.

Lesson 5: Dust Yourself Off and Try Again

After I received those editor’s notes, I was tempted to give up, but after I got over myself, I realized a rewrite was an opportunity to improve my book. And I’m glad I chose that route instead of being all butthurt and up in my feelings.

So much of writing, especially for indies, is fraught with setbacks and rejections. But like Aaliah sang, “If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again.”

From personal experience, I know this can be hard to do when your timeline’s full of people talking about their book/TV/movie deals while you’re still an unknown writer.

I’m not gonna lie, I thought Palingenesis would be the next Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. But like I said, my sales reports determined that was a lie.

I had all these expectations, but after it released to no commercial or critical success, it crushed me. I thought about quitting writing.

However, don’t let this discourage you from dreaming big. Yes, keep your expectations for your first book low, but don’t let poor sales stop you from writing the next book and the one after that.

When I calmed down, I told myself one book won’t make or break me. And it won’t you either. Click here to read a post I wrote a while back on staying positive during your publication journey.

So, I’m working on other stories, and it might take a while, but eventually I’ll find success. And I know you will too.

Lesson Six: Success Looks Different for Everyone

There’s a maxim that says writers need to have published at least twenty books to earn enough income to be full-time writers. But success is different for everyone. While books may be one writer’s only source of incomes, others might do speaking engagements, classroom visits, be writing coaches or editors on the side. And most writers have day jobs.

I know of indie authors who also make comics/manga and video games/board games based on their stories. My point being, don’t limit yourself to one medium. Define what success is for you, the means of achieving that, set goals, and take steps to achieve them.

One way I plan to build my readership and make extra money is by publishing short stories on Amazon for $1-2 each. I also plan to do book signings at local libraries once things with COVID-19 settle down and apply to book festivals and anime/comic cons to sell my books. I’m also planning to get certified as a copy editor and developmental editor in the next few years.

But all of this would be pointless if I didn’t have a greater reason for writing.

Lesson 7: Your Reason for Being a Writer Must be Greater than Yourself

The starving artist is a cliché for a reason; most books only sell a few hundred copies in their lifetime and most writers, indie and traditionally published, earn less than $10,000 a year. So, if money is your sole motivation to become a writer, prepare yourself for a world of disappointment.

I learned this the hard way. The truth is people release hundreds of books every day, and even with marketing and a ton of luck it’s rare to make it big, especially as a debut indie author. So, your reason for writing must be bigger than financial gain, bigger than yourself, or like so many others, you’ll lose your passion and quit.

As I’ve previously mentioned, when sales of Palingenesis didn’t meet my expectations, I pondered quitting writing and doing something else with my life. But then I remembered why I started writing in the first place.

Coming of age in the late 90s/early 2000s, there were few positive depictions of LGBTQ+ folks and fewer still of geeky Black and brown queer people like me. So, I decided to change that by filling the world with all the stories I wished were around when I was a kid.

And I cling to this raison d’etre when things aren’t going well in my writing or personal life, because it’s not about me and getting my ego stroked.

It’s about all the LGBTQ+ youths of color out there starving to see themselves and their narratives in the media they consume. It’s about affirming they are just as worthy of dignity, love, and respect, that they too can be heroes and heroines; and that, yes, their lives matter.

You too must also find your why and return to it again and again when the world knocks you on your ass, because trust me, it will.

Look within and honestly ask yourself what impact on the world do you want your books to have. And go from there.

An excellent exercise for discovering your why is to craft a mission statement like businesses do. Start by listing all your hopes and goals, then drill down into what’s most important to you, and refine it until you’ve laser-focused on why you write.

This may take several tries, but once you’re done, print it out and post it somewhere you’ll see it often, so you can turn to it during those dark times in your life and remind yourself what you’re working towards.

Conclusion

The advent of the internet, e-books and e-readers, and self-publishing platform like Amazon’s KDP and IngramSpark have allowed anyone to become a writer. But competition for readers has never been fiercer. Add in the ever-increasing myriad of other things vying for people’s attention and it’s a miracle books are as popular as they are.

It’s difficult being a writer, especially a debut indie author. And if I had it to do over again, I would have lowered my expectations, started much sooner, and reached out to more people.

I hope you learn from my mistakes and your debut goes better than mine did.

As for me? I plan to take the lessons I’ve learned and use them to help me streamline the process for my next book release.

Thanks for reading and have a great day.

Call to Action

If you’ve enjoyed this post and found it helpful, please share it on social media. And if you’re a seasoned writer, add any useful tips or lessons you’ve learned in the comments.

Also, personalized signed paperbacks of Palingenesis are still available here, while supplies last.

life writing

2021 Wrap Up

Introduction

Welcome!

As we move into the new year, I thought I’d take this time to go over how 2021 panned out for me.

Spring/Summer 20201

I spent most of the spring rewriting Palingenesis, and the summer getting ready for its release and trying to build buzz for it. I put a ton of pressure on myself and learned a lot of what to do better next time.

First, I’d invest the time into reaching out to beta readers and book reviewers in advance, so I’d have reviews ready on launch day. I’d also have a longer preorder campaign and offer exclusive swag to entice buyers.

Second, I’d lower my expectations. I thought I’d sell way more copies than I did, and I was depressed when I only sold a few books. I’ve since learned likes on social media rarely translate into sales and that I must market myself and my work better going forward, which means getting out of my comfort zone and over my fear of public speaking and talking on the phone.

Third, I’d use the time leading up to my book launch better. Instead of worrying about every minor detail and whether my book will sell, I’ll spend that time outlining and drafting the next one.

Fall 2021

Due to lower-than-expected book sales, I spent most of fall questioning my worth as a writer and a person. I slipped into a deep depression and for my mental health, I went on hiatus from Twitter and other social media sites and from writing.

The time away from my WIP gave me clarity and showed me that I can’t tie my self-worth and identity to writing. My hiatus also taught me that I can and should do other things than writing.

Since taking a break at the end of September, I’ve rediscovered my love of gaming, drawing, and reading manga/webcomics. This experience has taught me that I can’t give 110% 24/7 and need breaks, so from now on, I’ll take the last three months of the year off. I’ve planned my writing schedule for the next few years and have factored these hiatuses/vacations into them, so there shouldn’t be any major interruptions in book releases (knock on wood).

Winter 2021

Like many people, I packed on the pandemic pounds, so I plan to spend the rest of this winter and the coming year getting in shape and eating healthier. I’ve been on the big side since I was a kid, but these last two years I’ve done a bunch of stress eating and am now close to 300 pounds, so I need to make a course correction.

I’m also going to get a part-time to help with my bills, which will mean less time to write, so I’m pushing back the release date of Pandemonium (Phoenix Diaries #2) to 2024. I’ll keep you posted if things change.

Conclusion

While things haven’t gone as I’d expected, I’m grateful to everyone who has bought a copy of Palingenesis. I’ll implement all the lessons I’ve learned this year and try to do better next time.

I’m not going to lie. It sucks that I’m not a best-selling author, but I’ve only just begun.

Stay safe and may you have nothing but luck, love, and success in 2022.

Happy New Year!

Arcade Attack

Introduction

Welcome!

In this post I’ll talk about how video games have influenced me and the writing of Palingenesis, my dark fantasy/sci-fi debut YA novel, which releases September 1st.

Without further ado.

As a kid, I spent more time in the hospital than I did at home, fighting one respiratory infection after another. I also had asthma so severe I could only ride my bike up and down my block a few times before getting winded. So, video games became my thing and helped me cope with the isolation.

And since I had latest systems and games, our house was the go-to spot for in our neighborhood. I sucked at most sports games, and still do, but could wreck most kids in fighting games, especially Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.

I vividly remember I and the other kids in the neighborhood trying to figure out all the death moves while politicians debated over said graphic violence and whether it would lead to violence in real life.

Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

To this day, I’m extremely shy; but gaming helped me socialize. Even if it was a “sup?”, “hey” or “Mortal Kombat?” it got me to interact with kids and form friendships.

My cousin, brother, and I would game after school, and then I’d meet their friends and we’d trade games or have tournaments. Mind you, this was in the late ‘90s, so there was no online gaming yet.

Another fond memory of gaming I have is when we went to visit my mother’s family in northern Michigan, and I demolished my cousin Ryan in Tekken my first time playing it.

Things changed once broadband internet became popular in the early 2000s

Online Gaming

Now that I wasn’t limited to the gamers in my neighborhood, I could have matches against people half-a-world away any time.

I liked the solo aspect of first-person shooters, but when I started playing MMORPGs like Matrix Online, and later Maple Story and World of Warcraft (WOW), it forced me to interact with people more as many of the missions required two or more players.

Then I discovered kongregate.com, a site where people could play and create games for others while socializing in chatrooms. I got to know several users over the years by frequenting the same chatrooms.

But I also learned that games are more than mere playthings; they can be art and teach you about storytelling at the same time.

Games as Teachers of Writing and Life

Games like God of War, WOW, Heavy Rain, and The Last of Us provide a cinematic experience.

In each case, the gameplay is complemented with a griping story.

In the case of God of War, it’s spawned an ongoing franchise that’s due to the detail of its storytelling. From the opening sequence of the first game, with its somber narration, you know you’re in for a hell of a game. And with each sequel the lore and world is expanded.

Likewise, The Last of Us literally pulls you into the story by having you assume control of Joel during the opening level of the game. And the levels are designed such that you feel your characters anxiety when they crouch for cover to avoid enemies.

Moreover, Heavy Rain does this as well by putting you in control of Ethan Mars as he tries to locate his kidnapped son through a series of character interactions and puzzles that are structured like an interactive movie.

WOW also pulls you in from the start with a huge cinematic cutscene explaining the lore of the world.

Lesson 1: Engage Readers Immediately

One lesson I took from these games is to engage readers from the start. Backstory can wait. Make readers care about your protagonist and their world by making them wonder what happens next.

Lesson 2: The Stakes Must Matter

Another lesson these games taught me is to keep upping the tension and rewards, so people stay engaged. In each case, the enemies get harder and the amount of experience points to level up increases, but so do the power-ups and abilities.

For writing, I took this to mean making readers’ time worthwhile by giving them a story that’s both fun, raises the stakes, and doesn’t waste their time.

Lesson 3: Make the Experience Seamless

Another lesson I learned is to make the experience enjoyable. One of the things I hate about games is when the story rocks but the gameplay sucks or vice versa, ruining the experience.

The corollary in writing, then, is making sure your prose is readable, lively, and free of typos and grammatical errors, so readers aren’t jerked from the story by having to parse clunky sentences.

Lesson 4: Think Outside the Box

Games have also taught me how to improvise, adapt, and overcome issues. Often in games you must figure out puzzles or how to defeat a boss with little to no hints, and in games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, they are notoriously difficult to beat.

But it can be done and the critical thinking and problem-solving skills these games and others require lend themselves well to writing, especially when it comes to fixing plot holes. There have been times I didn’t know how to fix a story, but by sticking with it and talking it out with myself, I solved the problem.

Lesson 5: View Stories as RPG’s

Four related traits from Role-Playing Games (RPG’s) that influence Palingenesis are nerfing, skill trees, cool down, and mana points.

I’ll discuss each in turn.

Nerfing refers to when the developers reduce the power of a class, skill, or item because it’s too powerful and breaks the game. As this applies to my story,when Travis exhausts his energy (mana points) he loses access to all his abilities until his energy has recharged by either eating or sleeping. And then his powered are weakened until his battery fully charges.

During this cool down period, he’s vulnerable and can be killed by standard weapons.

Like In WOW, all of Travis’s abilities use a specific amount of energy or mana points and he can’t use them without the exact amount of energy available, so he has to budget his energy.

Skill trees refer to the branching paths a player can unlock as their level increases. Generally, the farther down the skill tree, the more powerful the ability and the more skill points it costs.

Similarly, Travis’s powers start small (for him) and then increase as he grows stronger.

To prevent him from being powerful enough to “break” the story, I created Zeno’s Battery, a paradox which states that the more powerful he becomes the larger his “battery” becomes and the longer his cool down period, meaning the cost for exhausting his energy becomes greater as time goes on.

Lesson 6: Never Surrender

But the greatest lesson games have taught is to be perseverant. Many games require trial and error, especially those released before the internet and IGN were a thing. So, you had to figure things out by yourself, experimenting and refining your tactics until you beat the boss.

Writing is all about perseverance. Completing your first draft is just the first step to publication and you’ll need a second, third or more drafts to get your story right.

Then there’s querying (if you got the traditional route) or hiring an editor and cover designer if you go the self-publishing route. In either case, you’re expected to do all the marketing for your book.

Conclusion

Games have existed almost as long as storytelling, and the two have merged creating a new art form that can teach us much about life and being human, and it’s my hope the lessons they’ve taught me helped me make a kickass book for you.

Next week’s post will begin a series of character profiles, starting with Travis.

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please comment below and share it on social media.

And if you play Pokemon GO, my trainer code is: 4907 7550 5331

gaming storytelling writing

An Ode to Physics

Physics is the poetry of motion.

Apply a force (F) to a mass (M), and you’ll produce an acceleration (A) every day, per Newton’s Second Law.

Once in motion, that mass will have kinetic energy, per K.E.= 1/2 M V^2, where V is velocity.

See, physics is the conductor of the cosmos, per Einstein’s Field Equations, which I won’t list here for the sake of those of a less science persuasion.

It’s the pied piper of particles, master of the ocean’s motion via Newton’s Law of Universal Gravity (F= G [M1*M2/ r^2], where G is the gravitation constant and r is the radial distance between the masses.

Physics is the destroyer of worlds, the cracker of the atom per Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity (his famous equation E=MC^2).

Physics lays bare the heart of the universe.

I don’t mean to geek, but we are all children of star dust.

And once we shuffle off this mortal coil, we will return from whence we came to continue the great comic dance.

For the First Law of Thermodynamics states: energy can neither be created nor destroyed, merely transferred or converted from one form to another.

From one star brother to the another, the beauty and elegance of reducing the universe to a series of equations has no parallel in heaven or hell.

It’s the music of creation and makes my heart swell, the ringing of the universal bell and knowing exactly for whom it tolls.

Word to your mother, there’s no limit to the wonders physics can produce with a few formulas and numbers.

writing

Readers Don’t Owe You Shit

Introduction

Recently, I read an article on medium.com about how diversity has become a genre onto itself, something that I plan to write about in a later post.

However, what struck me about this article, and why it prompted me to write this in response, was how the white, cis, het, male writer lamented about how political correctness had gone too far and was hurting people like him.

The example he gave was how people used to come up to him while at restaurants—he supposes to get his autograph, but they were too shy to ask him—before the boycott of North Carolina’s infamous bathroom bill that forced transgender people to use the bathroom of the gender they were assigned at birth instead of the one they identified with.

He then went on to talk about how it’s historically inaccurate to have black and other marginalized people in stories set in medieval Europe, even though a cursory search would have revealed African and Arab people where around back then; they were just called Moors and blackamoors or black Moors.

This is an old retort from writers not willing to have marginalized people in their stories, and this post was just another in the long procession of posts that have been written decrying how white people are no longer the center of the world and can no longer spout their bigoted views with impunity.

Content Creators Owe Us Nothing.

However, one thing I agree with this writer on is how he doesn’t have to include diverse characters in his stories.

No one should be forced to create stories and characters they don’t want to, because doing so results in content that rings hollow and doesn’t please anyone.

In recent years, there has been a push for more diverse works, and if a content creator misses the mark on one or more areas of representation, this result is harsh criticism, which is fine. However, making death threats and ruining people’s lives because they didn’t create something to your liking is not fucking okay.

Sure, boycott said creators and their work all you want because capitalism is supposed to be about voting with your dollars. But what you can’t do is demand they create things you want.

Content creators don’t owe us shit.

However, the reverse is also true.

Don’t Expect Us to Show Up

If writers and others don’t create stories with diverse characters, then they can’t complain when people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, and other marginalized people don’t buy said content.

I could spend my time and money on a million things. So why should I consume media that doesn’t deem people like me worthy enough to be in it?

I’m not saying every story must have diverse characters, but the default shouldn’t be white, cis, het ones either.

Conclusion

Content creators should be free to make whatever media they want, and marginalized folks should have media that reflects them.

What should we do then?

That answer is to let the marketplace decide.

For decades, the mainstream media has been slow to include narratives that are more inclusive. So, people made their own. And, ultimately, that’s the solution.

If we want our stories told, then we must be the ones telling them.

Call to Action

What do you think?

Comment below, and if you liked this post please share it on social media.

diversity writing YA

Writing Update

Well this is a first for me but I figure some people will want to read this so here I go. This week hasn’t gone according to plan and I haven’t gotten much work done on the Phoenix Diaries, my science fiction/fantasy young adult trilogy. I’m coming to the end of book two and I’ve been dragging my feet on completing it this last month or so. I’ve been trying to make more time to write but I keep putting it off because it just doesn’t feel right. Honestly I know I have to get it done and then worry about making it better in the rewrite. Yeah I know it will take time to finish the trilogy and I have to keep motivated until I reach the end of this project. Sometimes I feel like I’ve taken on too much to handle with this project, but then I think about all the things I want to accomplish with this series and that’s what keeps me going. Sure I could be spending time working on other projects, but I know in my heart I have to get this story on the page or I’ll go crazy. Part of me is a little scared about spending so much time and energy on this trilogy only for it to fall flat. I know I can let my fears overcome me, or I can face them and write any ways, because that’s my job. I know to temper my expectations because most books only sell a few hundred copies and most writers don’t make much from their work. Yeah it’s scary to think about what ifs but if I go down that path it’ll lead me to self doubt and depression, so instead I’m going to focus on writing the best series I can and worry about the outcome later.

fantasy Science Fiction The Phoenix Diaries Tyerone Johnson writing

Improvise Adapt Overcome

Introduction
Have you ever had one of those days when nothing goes right and you just want to crawl back in bed and forget the whole series of horrible events? Well this past weekend I had such a series of events.

First my charger for my laptop stopped working and I had to switch to the old charger, which is prone to fall out the charging port. And then right in the middle of me working on my WIP my laptop crashed and I lost everything I wrote up to that point.

I was beyond livid and wanted to tear my laptop apart, but that wouldn’t have solved anything in the long run. No instead I took a deep breath and calmed down. Sure I was still pissed but I picked myself back up and moved forward.

Perseverance is The Key
This experience has taught me patience and how to adapt on the fly when things don’t go as planned. Sure you could curl up in the fetal position and wallow in self pity, or you can get up and tackle your problems head on.

Sure in the moment you might feel like giving up, but don’t. When adversity strikes it’s a test of who we really are and can either break us or make us stronger. We can either face down the obstacles in our path or we can shy away from them and not live up to our full potential.

Conclusion
When rough times come or way sure we can ask for help from friends and family but ultimately it is up to us to get through the crises in our lives. And we do that by adapting to the situation around us and not giving up until we’re through it. Whether that be writing or getting in shape, you don’t stop until you’ve reached your goal.

adaption perseverance writing

Review Justice League Vs Teen Titans

Justice-League-vs.-Teen-Titans-characters Warning: spoilers ahead

Introduction

Justice League Vs Teen Titans is the latest feature length movie released from DC Comics and centers around Damien Wayne being shipped off to the Teen Titans to learn how to work in a team. At first he treats the titans with disdain and picks a fight with Blue Beetle resulting in him almost dying. He recovers thanks to Raven’s healing abilities and learns to get along with them.

As this is going on Superman and the other members of the Justice League become possessed by emissaries of Trigon and seek to bring him to Earth using Raven as the key to an ancient satanic temple. Seeing no other alternative Raven gives herself up to the Justice League and brings Trigon to Earth.

With team work Raven is able to re-imprison Trigon in a shard of crystal, which she keeps with her as a bindi and the movie ends with her rejoining the titans on Earth.

The Good
I really like the character design of the titans and would so totally watch a reboot of Teen Titans or Young Justice staring them. I especially like Starfire and Raven’s design as it suited them well.

Over all the movie was enjoyable and kept me invested in the characters through out and I especially liked the montage where Down to Nothing plays. It really made that scene and was a catchy tune.

I have to say I loved Damien Wayne in this. Yeah he starts off as a huge ass in this, but grows softer over the course of the movie. I find him to be a more interesting Robin then either Tim Drake , Jason Todd or Dick Grayson.

The Bad

The biggest sin this movie commits is being too predictable. Within thirty seconds of seeing people get possessed I called it that the movie would about Trigon trying to come to earth and Raven trying to stop him. And sure enough that’s exactly what happened.

I also had issues with the Superman/Robin fight. Let me preface this by saying in no way am I a Superman fanboy, but even with Kryptonite Damien took down him way too easily.

Another issue I had was with Blue Beetle. His character came off as too much of a wannabe Cyborg for my taste. Sure his powers were nice to look at but I couldn’t stop thinking he was just a rip off of Cyborg the whole time he was on screen.

Another issue I had was when the titans went to Trigon’s home dimension and Beast Boy transforms into a demon. It came out of nowhere, was never explained and no one brought it up after it happened. It was a total big lipped alligator moment for sure.

The Verdict

If you’re looking for something to kill 80 minutes and aren’t too pressed for good story telling give this movie a watch. It’s not the best but if enough people buy it maybe we’ll get another movie starring these titans. Even with its flaws this was an enjoyable watch and you should totally check it out.

DC Comics Justice League review Teen Titans writing

Review: Elements of a Broken Mind

Introduction
Elements of a Bro

ken Mind is book one of the Clear Angel Chronicles by Heidi Angell. Set in small town America the plot revolves around a serial killer targeting women in the area. In charge of the case is Grant Anderson. Formerly from the city he moved to town to get away from the craziness only to have it find him in the end.

With no leads to the case Detective Anderson gets help in the form of the eponymous Clear Angel, resident horse trainer and psychic. She is drawn to the case by visions of the missing girls which she can’t control.

Grant is reluctant to believe in her abilities until she proves it to him by predicting his promotion to lieutenant.

The Good
Overall the book was enjoyable, the plot engaging and the characters well rounded. Once I was able to turn off my inner editor(more on that later) I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.

I found Grant to be very likable and related with his longing to see his daughter again. As for Clear she was strong willed and independent, yet I could relate to her fear of being used and ridiculed for her gift.

It was refreshing that she didn’t have full control of her abilities, unlike in most stories where the psychic has no problems with their abilities and are never shown struggling to use them like Clear does.

The chemistry between Clear and Grant was there from the beginning and was a natural part of the story without overshadowing the plot like in some books.

The Bad
In all honesty the book could have used another pass with the editor. I found a few typos and the sentences were a bit on the wordy side for my tastes, but overall nothing that impeded me from enjoying the story.

I also found some of the plot twists predictable, like how the killer was also psychic, or how Clear would go after him and wind up being the last sacrifice.

I found the killer’s motive to be on the vague side and really didn’t get why he’d go through all the trouble of kidnapping the girls just because he was crazy.

Conclusions
Overall I’d recommend this book to fans of thrillers, cop procedural shows, and anyone else looking for a good read. Check out Heidi Angell’s site here

for more information.

book review Heidi Angell writing

Coming Out As a Writer

Introduction

Coming out is a continuing process, whether it be your sexuality, gender identity, or mental health. Yes it can be a scary, but also liberating process. But today I want to talk about another coming out that is often over looked. That being coming out as a writer.

Coming out to yourself

When I first started to write I always called myself an aspiring writer as I had all these preconceived notions about what it meant to be to be a real writer. But I’ve since learned that the only qualification to be a writer is to write.

Once I started taking things serious by writing every day and commenting on blogs I found that the more I wrote and engaged people, the easier it became to call myself a writer and mean it.

Going Pro

This is what author Jeff Goins calls going pro. It’s when you clam your identity as a writer and take action by writing without fear of trying to please everyone. You instead focus on your ideal reader and pleasing him/her by producing the best work you can.

Coming out to others
Sure once you’ve gotten comfortable calling yourself a writer, you next need to own that title when interacting with others. When someone asks you what you do, don’t hesitate to say you’re a writer. Say it loud and proud and don’t qualify it either.

Yes people have a million preconceived notions of what it means to be a writer, but don’t let them pidgin hole you. If they ask you if you’re published, answer honestly and don’t feel bad if you haven’t, or if you’re self published. Not all writers are at the same place on their journey and there’s no shame in that.

Dealing with Negative People

You can’t control how people will respond when you come out to them. Sure some of them will be in awe that you’ve followed your dreams and become a writer, but there will be people who think you’re wasting your time and will never make it. Don’t let them shake your confidence. Kill them with kindness and move on.

Conclusion

You know you’re a writer and no matter what others think you know the path you’ve chosen is the right one for you. And whether traditionally published or self published you’re a writer. So embrace that and go forward into the world secure in the knowledge of your talents. For more tips on writing click here

coming out writing

Doggone Good Writing

Introduction
Are you a dog or cat person? For me I’ve found dogs make the best companions and I have had several over the years, the last one being a purebred German Shepard named Minnie who sadly got into some rat poison and died.The memories I have of each of them are fresh in my mind and got me to thinking how does this translate to writing?

Loyalty
Dogs depend on us for everything and this breeds loyalty in them. They trust us wholly and will sometimes travel hundreds of miles to find us. Likewise when dealing with readers you want to build a platform and following by producing stellar content on a regular basis. Whether you post once a week, or three times a week like me, make sure it’s on the same day around the same time so readers begin to expect it.

Love
Dogs are affectionate and crave attention. I once had a miniature Doberman Pincher named Draco who loved to take socks and hide under the table so you would chase after him. He would do this all the time and after awhile I found if I ignored him he’d lose interest and move on.

Readers are similar in that they will move on if you don’t engage them. This is why it pays to have a landing page to build your email list. Without one you may get views but not readers who will returned to your site. Having them opt in for your mailing list gives permission for you to connect with via your newsletter.

Leader of the Pack
Dogs are pack animals and look at you as members of theirs. Fail to establish dominance over them and they will run roughshod over you.

When it comes to readers in order to build your platform you first must earn their attention and then gain their respect as a leader in our niche. You do this by reaching out to people and helping them. this builds trust and will eventually lead to gaining a loyal readership.

Dogs are loyal, loving, and make for great companions if you put in the time and effort to train them right and take care of them. like wise building a loyal following for our writing takes the proper time and actions on your part to take care of your readers.

dogs life writing writing how to

How Music Can get Your Creative Juices Flowing

Introduction
I don’t know about you, but when I write I need some background noise to keep me going. And when thi

ngs aren’t flowing right, or a scene isn’t coming together like I want it to I listen to some music and usually that does the trick.

One track mind
But it has to be the right track for the scene. For angsty scenes my go to is Linkin Park and I’m transported back to my teenage years. For fight scenes I like to listen to hard rock and metal tracks to amp the energy up.

Often I’ll listen to a song on repeat until I’m done, the music painting a mental picture in my head that I try to translate onto the page. I’ve found that certain songs evoke specific emotions like sadness, anger, joy, etc and that helps to get into my characters’ head.

Change It Up
When I get sick of a song or when it isn’t working its magic I hit shuffled on my Iphone and just write. Often I find this helps to break up the monotony and get me to focus on the scene in question as the music fades into the background.

When the Music Stops
For me the best writing is done after getting in the groove. Usually this is after I’ve been writing for awhile and the whole world fades away, and it’s just me and my laptop. Then I don’t need the music anymore. The words just flow from my fingers and all is right with the world. Those are the days you live for but sometimes they are few and far between.

On the days you struggle to write try listening to music and coming up with stories to go along with the song. I find this gets the creative juices flowing and helps you to ease into your writing session.

Conclusion
The right type of music to make you soar, or bring you to our knees. It can help you make out a scene or give you that creative spark that you’re lacking. So next time you’re in a rut pop on some music and get to writing. For more tips on writing click here.

how to music writing

Why Fan Fiction Matters

Introduction
When I first toyed with the idea of being a writer I cut my teeth on fan fiction and learned a lot in the process. I encourage all new writers to do the same as it will give you experience in characterization, world building, and plotting.

Characterization
Because you’re dealing with another author’s work the task of world building has already been done for you, and all you need to do is keep people in character. This means having the characters act and speak and the same manner as the original author. Get this wrong and you’ll get hounded with calls of ooc (out of character).

While this might seem stifling many fan fiction writers can and do create OCs (Original characters). When done well this leads to new interaction and plot lines, but when done badly it leads to the dreaded Mary Sue/Gary Stu. While the definition varies the common theme of Mary Sue/Gar Stu is that the character is too perfect, often to the point of breaking the rules of the universe they’re inserted into.

World Building
To fix this many writers alter the universe to accommodate their OCs. Theses so called alternative Universe stories can be simple what if scenarios and full on rewrites of the cannon material. When done right these stories explore areas the cannon areas not well known or relationships in a new light.

So called slash fiction and fem slash deals with same sex relationships among male characters and female characters. This offers representation for
LGBTQ readers and opens new plot lines to explore.

Plotting
But what is one to do if you don’t know what to write? Well if you’re lacking inspiration there are many ready made plots to explore, just read other stories or author prompts and you’re set. Or you can come up with our own plot lines and go from there.

Conclusion
Fan fiction provides a ready made world for new writer to play around with characters and plot, and practice honing the skills needed when they transition to original works.

fan fiction writing

On Dreams

What are your dreams as a writer? Do you want to be a New York Times Best seller, hook an agent, or land a contract with one of the big five publishers? The truth is you’ll have to work to turn your dreams into reality, no matter what they may be.

There are thousands of other writers out there you’re competing with and you have to be willing to sacrifice for your dreams. What are you going to do to separate yourself from the others out there?

Will you get up an hour earlier to write, or get in another hundred words before calling it a night? Are you willing to risk failure to reach greatness, or will you let your fears cause you to play it safe?

The truth is you could be the best writer in the world, but if no one reads your work then what’s the point. You have to be in it for the long haul. You have to write everyday to find your voice and build a platform for your work.

Yes rejection sucks, but it’s how you deal with it that determines what type of writer you are. You can either get all butt hurt, or let your ego go, develop a thick skin and move on.

dreams life writing

The Audacity to Hope

What makes for good stories? Why do we decide to read one thing but put down another? Why do we like one character and not another? The answer boils down to how we are able to identify and empathize with the characters and the trials they’re put through.

Every time we open a book we’re looking to be entertained, but more importantly to know we’re not alone, that we matter, and that there’s hope for better days.

When you write something there’s no telling how much it will affect others once you release it into the world.

Our job as writers is to hold up a mirror to society and report on what we see. The worlds we build are a reflection of this, wrong or right, and we should never forget the power we hold to raise people up or tear them down.

This doesn’t mean we should shy away from negative things because life is full of them, but is also full of positive things too. How our characters deal with the challenges in their life speaks volumes more than anything else. Are they victims or victors?

Everyone loves an underdog because deep down we’ve all been on the short end of life and wish that the world rewarded hard work and playing by the rules, and that nice guys finished first.

Cliched as it may be the truth is even the most hardened cynic hopes for a happily ever after, that good triumphs evil, and the boy gets the girl.

Though we know it’s foolish to believe in things like love at first sight and destiny we still hope none the less things turn out as they’re supposed to.

Yes hope is the reason we get up every day and go once more into the breach. The reason we rise even though the world throws us a ton of crap. Hope is the reason we answer no when we are told to give up.

So often we’re told to be realistic which translates to giving up our dreams and giving up hope.Well I say forget that because at the end of the day all we have is our hopes and dreams.

Never let anyone take them from you because sometimes just sometimes, with hard work and a lot of trying, dreams do come true. If you dare to hope.

audacity hope life writing