#Writing - P.J. MacLayne

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times #IWSG

By P.J. MacLayne May 4, 2022 May 4, 2022 IWSG

Welcome to the May edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog hop.

The awesome co-hosts for the May 4 posting of the IWSG are Kim Elliott, Melissa Maygrove, Chemist Ken, Lee Lowery, and Nancy Gideon!

May 4 question – It’s the best of times; it’s the worst of times. What are your writer highs (the good times)? And what are your writer lows (the crappy times)

I’ll start with the good stuff. Writing “The End” on a manuscript I’ve fought with for a year. Sure, now comes editing, but at least I can pat myself on the back. Or finding the solution to a plot hole that had been eluding me, or a part of a character’s personality that makes the story stronger.

Then there are the compliments coming from the beta reader. Sure, they are sprinkled with suggestions for improvements, but at least they don’t hate the story. Somedays, that’s all I can ask for.

Maybe the best thing is that first 5-star review left by a fan. Even 4 1/2 stars are enough to lift the spirit. Heck, any review feels like I’ve won a prize.

What’s the low point? When the book I’ve poured my heart into writing isn’t an instant best seller. In fact, it barely gets noticed. That’s all I’m going to say about that.

Don’t forget to check out the posts from some of the other authors by following the links below.

And, as always, until next time, please stay safe!

The First Book Paycheck #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne May 2, 2022 May 2, 2022 Open Book

May 2, 2022

What did you do with your first book “paycheck?” (Thanks for reminding me of this idea, Richard.)

For those of you who aren’t indie authors, or you’re new to the business, here’s a sad but true fact of life. It takes a minimum of three months to get the first money payout from the major ebook retailers. By then, an author may or may not remember what they sold to earn that money! I only had one book available at that time, so the what was easy, but I had to go back and figure out how many copies I had sold to earn the small amount of money I received.

What did I do with it? I don’t remember. Nothing special, I’m sure. Chances are I used it to offset the cost of publishing Wolves’ Pawn, that first book.

I haven’t had a “big” paycheck yet, and I’ve continued to put all my earnings into my next book or into publicity, hoping one day to make that big score. It’s as close as I come to gambling.

But here’s where I get to play ‘what if.” What if I woke up one morning and found out I’d become a best selling author overnight? What would I do with the anticipated paycheck? Truth is, I have no idea but I’d find something to splurge it on, I’m sure. Buy some flowers to plant in my yard. Perhaps some quality chocolate. I could see a trip to the bookstore happening!

Let’s find out about the other authors. How did they spend their first book paycheck? Just follow the links below to find. out.

And, as always, please stay safe until next time!

May 2, 2022

What did you do with your first book “paycheck?” (Thanks for reminding me of this idea, Richard.)

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Dreams, Nightmares, and the Art of Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne April 24, 2022 April 24, 2022 Open Book

April 25, 2022

Do dreams/nightmares influence your writing? Do you keep a notebook by your bed to write down ideas?

The spring rain had left puddles in the dirt road but she no longer tried to avoid them. Under other circumstances this would have been a pretty ride. The young pale green leaves not yet entirely covering the branches she brushed by glittered in the sun that had finally chased away the storm clouds. Even the fresh scent of the earth moistened by water was unable to mask the smell of the hot motor between her legs. She didn’t know how much longer the bike would last the way she was pushing the engine.

Wolves’ Pawn

That’s the opening to my first book, Wolves’ Pawn, and yes, it was the result of a dream. I had no idea when I woke up where it would lead, but I sensed it couldn’t be ignored. So, I started writing.

Still, I lost part of the dream and had to work from scratch once I got past the opening scene. But that was okay, because the plot didn’t go where I’d anticipated.

“But, P.J.,” I hear you saying, “Why didn’t you write it down?”

I used to keep a paper and pen on my nightstand for just that reason. But the problem is — I’m a deep sleeper. If it’s not time to wake up, I don’t. The pen and paper do me no good. (When it is time to wake up, I’m awake, just like that.)

Most of the time, I don’t even remember my dreams. I might know I had a dream, but not any details. My memories don’t leave enough behind to form the foundation of a story. And boy, do I have some crazy dreams. How about a female PI chasing kidnappers around a cruise ship and up the hills in Italy? Or a wolf taking down a motorcyclist? Wait, that’s one’s a book.

So, I’ve given up on the whole idea of keeping a notebook on the nightstand. I never used it, anyway.

Now, my desk is a different story. Sitting here typing, I can count five notepads within easy reach, all different sizes. That way, I can grab one that’s the right size for the job.

How about our other authors? You can find out by following the links below to their posts.

As I say every week – until next time, please stay safe!

April 25, 2022

Do dreams/nightmares influence your writing? Do you keep a notebook by your bed to write down ideas?

To Rise From The Depths of Despair #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne April 18, 2022 April 18, 2022 Open Book

April 18, 2022

We all get discouraged at one time or another (or all the time!) in the process of writing. How do you defeat the feeling?

Most of us have those days. Days when it’s hard to put words on paper because there’s a chance no one will ever read them, or your inner voice says they aren’t good enough. Times when it’s tempting to give up. Days when books sales seem non-existent. I do.

How do I get past that? It can be tough.

I wish I had a fellow author living next door, someone to sit and talk writing with, but most of my communication with other authors is done via social media. Although it’s helpful, it isn’t the same as talking to them face-to-face. Still, any affirmation is helpful.

Another way to find support is on-line. Reading positive reviews from readers can help. Knowing that other people appreciate your work can be a boost to the ego. Or, at least, provide a temporary lift to the spirit.

But the best way I have found to fight despair is to go back and read my own work. It may not be well-known or award-winning or on the best-seller list, but it’s proof that I’ve accomplished something that not everyone can. I wrote a book. And it’s not bad. Actually, I’ve released ten now, and to see them lined up on a shelf is a thrill. Yes, I know there are plenty of people who have written more, but ten is nine more than I ever thought I’d write back when I first started.

One thing I remind myself on days when I an having a rough time – don’t take myself too seriously. I have a bad habit of doing that.

Here’s where I should close with some marvelous deep and wise words of wisdom. But I’m not feeling particular wise today, so we’ll skip that. Instead, I’m going to head over to the other posts on this hop, to find out the secrets that others may share. Just follow the links below.

Until next time, please take care of yourself.

April 18, 2022

We all get discouraged at one time or another (or all the time!) in the process of writing. How do you defeat the feeling?

Venturing Into Audio Books #IWSG The Insecure Writers Support Group

By P.J. MacLayne April 5, 2022 April 5, 2022 Uncategorized

April 6 question – Have any of your books been made into audio books? If so, what is the main challenge in producing an audiobook?
It’s the first Wednesday of April and time for another post for the Insecure Writer’s Support group. The awesome co-hosts for the April 6 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Jemima Pett, Patricia Josephine, Louise – Fundy Blue, and Kim Lajevardi!

At many book-signing events, I get asked if I have audio books. Sadly, the answer is no. I’ve looked into the possibility, but I can’t afford to do it right. My books aren’t selling enough copies to justify the expenditure.

I’m well aware that there are authors that can do it all — write, create covers, edit, and do their own audio. I’m not one of them. Frankly, I wouldn’t wish having to spend several hours of listening to my voice as I read one of my book on anyone. Heck, I don’t want to listen to myself for that long!

Of course, then throw in #Audiogate, (you know, another of Amazon’s ways to hurt authors) and the desire to publish audiobooks with them goes away. I have been watching Draft2Digital’s progress in the way of audiobooks as an alternative to Amazon.

For the authors on this hop who have published audio, more power to you! I hope you are selling oddles of books!

Thanks for stopping by. Don’t forget to check out other writer’s on this hop. Just follow a few of the links below. And, as always, until next time, please stay safe!

Staring Into The Not-So-Distant Past #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne March 27, 2022 March 27, 2022 Open Book

March 28, 2022

Where were you at 21? How does that reflect in your writing today?

At the age of 21? Really? That was several lifetimes ago! You expect me to remember that? Certainly, my life wasn’t typical for the age. Especially as I spent much of that year pregnant. I wasn’t a newlywed, (We got married young…I was only 19!) but I think we were still in our long-lasting honeymoon stage. Luckily, I had an easy pregnancy and had the time and energy to write poetry and and do lots of reading.

But none of my main characters have had children. The stories and the characters haven’t called for it. Plus, they’ve all been older than 21, so they are more mature and settled into their personalities than most 21-year olds.

But that doesn’t mean that year isn’t reflected in my writing. I learned a lot about love that year. Romantic love, love for a child, love of myself. Although my stories are mostly action, adventure, suspense and mystery, (and now crime!) they all have a romantic element.

For example, here’s a short snippet from my about-to-be-released book, The Fall of Jake Hennessey:

Sarah rushed out of the kitchen, phone in hand. Jake followed her but went upstairs to check out the rest of the three-story house. The rooms were small, and he wondered if he’d be able to tear out walls to make them bigger. As he started up the narrow stairs to the third floor, Sarah’s voice floated up to him.

“What are you doing with him, Harmony?”

“He asked me to come along.”

“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”

“He’s good looking, smart, and treats me like I’m special. Every guy I’ve ever dated in Oak Grove acts as if they’re doing me a favor by taking me out. They’re looking for a 1950s housewife. Jake talks to me and actually listens to what I have to say.”

Jake didn’t want to move and make a noise that would stop the conversation. It was confirmation that his plan was working. Pride warred with a heavy dose of guilt.

“What does he want from you?”

“You mean besides the normal? Sex? Which will happen when I decide I’m ready.”

The book releases this Saturday, April 2nd.

While my life at age 21 isn’t directly reflected in my books, it surely has influenced my writing. I suspect it’s the truth for others on this loop as well. All you have to do is follow the links below to find out!

Anyway, until next time, please stay safe!

March 28, 2022

Where were you at 21? How does that reflect in your writing today?

Speaking in Tongues — Well, Accents, Anyway #Openbook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne March 6, 2022 March 6, 2022 Open Book

March 7, 2022

Can you speak in an accent that isn’t your own? Can any of your characters do this? How do you indicate that in your stories?

I studied French in high school, and Russian in college. (We won’t talk about my short-lived fantasy about working for the CIA.) I got passing grades in both, but wasn’t good at either. (No CIA for me!)

I know what my problem was. I don’t ‘hear’ accents. Well, I hear them, but my brain automatically translates them to the way they sound to me. When I worked as a waitress, I ‘heard past’ the accents of tourists, even those who didn’t speak English as their primary language, and understood what they were saying. If someone asked me to mimic the accents of my customers, I couldn’t have done it. The translation only works one way.

Now, Harmony Duprie, on the other hand, speaks fluent Southern Belle. (She also knows Latin, but doesn’t use it in conversation.) She picked it up from some of her college friends, and puts it to good use, pretending to be sweet and innocent when she is anything but.

Here are two examples, taken from The Baron’s Cufflinks.

I made a big show out of looking towards Jake. “You mean like a race car driver?” I added a touch of Southern Belle to my act. All I needed was a fan to wave in flutter in front of my face, but I settled for fluttering my eyelashes. “Oh, no, my brother would never forgive me if I let someone else drive his baby. Even someone as good-looking as your friend.”

*****

That was ironic, coming from the man who was playing with Jake’s life. The Southern Belle took over. “Why, whatever are you talking about, Agent?” I asked with as much innocence as I could muster.

*****

Harmony also has to deal with an old French document and its translation in this story, but despite her name, she doesn’t know French. That’s part of the fun.

I don’t do anything special to indicate the use of another language or accent. I just put it out there!

How about our other authors? What do they do about other languages? Just follow the links below to find out.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

March 7, 2022

Can you speak in an accent that isn’t your own? Can any of your characters do this? How do you indicate that in your stories?

To Write or Not to Write #IWSG

By P.J. MacLayne March 1, 2022 March 1, 2022 IWSG

March 2 question – Have you ever been conflicted about writing a story or adding a scene to a story? How did you decide to write it or not?

The awesome co-hosts for the March 2 posting of the IWSG are Janet Alcorn, Pat Garcia, Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!

Someone’s been reading my journal!

When I finished writing my last release, The Ranger’s Dog Tags, I was sure I was done writing the series, The Harmony Duprie Mysteries, and its characters. It felt good. I was ready to move along to a new series and a new challenge.

Then Jake happened.

Jake was one of the secondary characters in the series. Although he appeared in all six books, and attempted to take over a time or two, I never got a good handle on him. It turns out he was waiting for his chance. He wanted me to write his story.

I had my doubts about it and wasn’t sure where he would take me. I figured it would be a short story, and didn’t know what I’d do with it. But, to get him out of my system, I started writing. And it turned into a book.

And I thought, okay, that was fun. But it was a different genre than I’ve written previously, and I didn’t know if it was any good. Or if I should spend time revising it. I wasn’t comfortable with it. Jake insisted.

Then he demanded I put it through a critique group, and it became a stronger story. And nudged me to send it off to my editor. Still, I wasn’t committed.

My cover artist designed a brilliant cover, and I realized I couldn’t put off a decision. Yet, I procrastinated.

Last Saturday, I took the plunge, and revealed a release date in my newsletter. I’m still not 100% sure I know what I am doing. I’m as nervous about this book as I was about my first one. But on April 2, 2022, The Fall of Jake Hennessey will be available.

Since you’ve made it this far, it’s only fair that I give you a hint about what the book is about. So here’s the blurb:

Jake Hennessey deals in selling fine jewelry of an illegal nature. The thrill of getting away with it is his personal addiction. When he hears a rumor about a rare old book in the personal collection of a small-town librarian, he gets the urge to try a new game.

After all, even jewel thieves get bored.

But the librarian, Harmony Duprie, isn’t what he expected and the challenge becomes serious business.

In order to win, Jake’s going to have to play by a new set of rules—and make them up as he goes along—because this time, he’s playing for the rest of his life.

Don’t forget to check out the other authors on this hop. Just follow the links below.

And, as always, until next time, please stay safe.

Bookmarks or Turning the Corners? #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne February 27, 2022 February 28, 2022 Open Book

Feb 28, 2022

Let’s start a war. Do you dog-ear books or use a bookmark? Do you ever make notes in your books?

Warning: My original major in college was library science. I volunteered as a library aide in elementary and high school, and I worked part-time as a librarian for a few years. There should be no surprise at my answer.

Please, please, do not fold the corners of your books! Especially not a library book. Find a piece of scrap paper if you need to mark your spot and don’t have a bookmark. A piece of napkin, or ribbon or yarn, and if it comes down to extreme measures, a tissue.

I’ve found postcards and grocery lists and recipes in books I’ve borrowed. All of those are perfectly acceptable. But I’ve also run across books with page after page of folded-down corners—not just one or two and I want to scream!

And let’s talk about making notes in books. I recently bought a used book – fiction – where on the first page, almost every sentence, almost every word, was underlined. And the second page was in similar condition. After that, nothing. I don’t get it. There’s no logic to it. Did the previous owner suddenly stop reading the book after two pages? But what was so gripping about those first two pages that didn’t carry through to the rest of the story. I don’t understand.

It’s not like it was a textbook. I can understand underlining, highlighting, and making notes in a textbook. But this was a mystery, part of a well-known series. (Not mine!) Can someone explain this phenonomen to me?

As you can tell, I am a proponent of book marks. I have lots of them, in different shapes, sizes and style. Don’t worry, I didn’t lose my place in any books by pulling the bookmarks out to take the picture. They all came from books I’ve finished. I have a habit of storing my bookmarks in a book instead of on a shelf or in a drawer. They are better protected that way. I’ve had some of these for twenty or so years.

How many bookmarks do I own? Who knows? I would have to flip through the pages of every book I own to see if I left one there. That’s not going to happen.

Bookmarks can be cheap giveaways, or they can be tokens of someone’s love. When it comes to your personal books, I’ll look away if you dog-ear or write notes in them. But please, for the sake of everyone else, please don’t do that to a library book or a book you’ve borrowed from a friend!

Let’s hear from the other authors on this loop. Just follow the links below. And you can chime in too, readers. Talk to me in the comments.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Feb 28, 2022

Let’s start a war. Do you dog-ear books or use a bookmark? Do you ever make notes in your books?

Writing Tools – What’s Your Favorite? #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne February 13, 2022 February 13, 2022 Open Book

Feb 14, 2022

We talked about the tools we use for our blogs awhile back. How about for your writing in general? What are your favorite tools?

The list keeps growing as new tools come on the market and more people discover that they can make money helping authors achieve their goals. But my forever favorites are what I started with—the simple paper and pen, but I don’t use them often.

I wrote the first draft of The Ranger’s Dog tags entirely by hand, a luxury I rarely allow myself. It took fifteen tablets, single-sided, and five or six pens. I took the picture when I was about two-thirds of the way through the rough manuscript.

But as much as I love it, writing by hand is more time-consuming. Did I name that character six chapters ago Derik or Daryll? Finding the right tablet, let alone the right page to confirm, is problematic. And everything has to be typed before I can begin editing. Seeing the words on the screen provides a different perspective.

Before I get into the computer process, I want to mention two other tools—a dictionary and a thesaurus. Sure, I know they are available on-line, but the act of turning pages in a paper thesaurus helps me track down words in a way that a computer can’t. I use the computer more for spelling and definitions, but the paper dictionary is kept close.

Moving on to the computer—let’s start with basic word processing programs. I use LibreOffice, a free program similar to Microsoft Office. It’s fine for basic writing, although it doesn’t mimic some of the profession tool of MS Office. I don’t use them anyway, so it doesn’t matter. The one thing I haven’t mastered in LibreOffice is paragraph indents throughout a whole document. I have instructions, but I can’t make them work.

Another often-overlooked tool is Notepad. I use it for quick research notes, and to copy things that have annoying formatting attached that won’t go away. It’s fast and easy and comes with no strings attached.

I’m a big fan of ProWritingAid. I received a lifetime subscription to it for Christmas a few years ago. After having used the free version, I can testify how much easier it is to use the full program. No word limits! Sure, there are things it gets wrong, but I love how it helps me track down repeated words and phrases.

What else? I use the website Canva for quick graphics. I don’t claim to be good at it, but I can throw together something easy, even if it takes me too long. Two websites I use for free pictures and graphics are Pixabay and Pexals. I use Inlinkz for this hop. (They provide the script that links our websites together. Sadly, it isn’t free.)

CritiqueCircle is my go-to site for on-line critiques. The quality may vary, but I have received some excellent help on there from other writers.

Which leads me to my final ‘tool.’ Perhaps a better word would be ‘resource.’ Here’s to all the wonderful people I’ve met along the way who have helped to support me, especially other writers. They’ve help me find the confidence to try my hand at this whole writing thing.

That’s why I’m looking forward to everyone else’s post this week and finding what treasure they may share. You can too, by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Feb 14, 2022

We talked about the tools we use for our blogs awhile back. How about for your writing in general? What are your favorite tools?

Tag: #Writing

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times #IWSG

The First Book Paycheck #OpenBook Blog Hop

Dreams, Nightmares, and the Art of Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop

To Rise From The Depths of Despair #OpenBook Blog Hop

Venturing Into Audio Books #IWSG The Insecure Writers Support Group

Staring Into The Not-So-Distant Past #OpenBook Blog Hop

Speaking in Tongues — Well, Accents, Anyway #Openbook Blog Hop

To Write or Not to Write #IWSG

Bookmarks or Turning the Corners? #OpenBook Blog Hop

Writing Tools – What’s Your Favorite? #OpenBook Blog Hop

Newsletter

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Archives

Meta