The following are my opinion and do not reflect the opinion of any organization or person. May contain spoilers!
Invincible Quill Magazine November 2019 issue (Earnest Writes, free download): The latest issue has launched, and it’s about National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo). The latest issue focuses on helping writers through NaNoWriMo. There are poems, prompts, and articles. I did notice some typos and some awkward sentences, but what work of art doesn’t have flubs? I liked the “Writing Styles Alignments” chart that lets you know if you were a neutral pantser or a chaotic plotter. According to the sheet, I’m a chaotic plantser; this means that I have a plot idea and then it all goes crazy from there. I also enjoyed the article by Kairavi Pandya titled “Better Egotist Than Poseur.” The article talks about how readers and writers alike think of novelists and poets as the brain surgeons of the field while they think of screenwriters or drama writers as loyal physicians. I like how the author mentions that a novelist is not better than someone who writes short stories–we’re all writers. Finally, this issue seemed to fly by. I got to one point and was like, “Why won’t this scroll any more?” It was because I was at the end of the magazine. The magazine was so interesting to read that it felt like I just started. The flow of poems to articles and back again made the reading captivating. I felt like I was reading something entertaining, not a boring textbook.
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Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading.
Join in the adventure as Joe and company deal with everything from waking up in the morning to stopping an alien invasion in the Christmas themed eBook Gift of the Minion. Releases Dec. 3. Preorder for $0.99, regular price $2.99.
Some more recommendations you might enjoy. The following are my opinion and do not reflect any organization or person.
Wattpad Stories
Broken Hearts Club by invidiums
Project Dorian by xxRazmatazxx
Coffee Talk by ThomasWalborn
Once a Slum Runner by EdCowling
Red Winter by Spruce_Goose
Some of these stories are ongoing while others might be complete.
It’s time again for the Open Novella Contest, an event on Wattpad. The Open Novella Contest (or ONC) is like National Novel Writing Month; but instead of 50,000 words in one month, the ONC is 20,000 words in three months.
Participants choose a prompt provided by the ONC account and begin writing their story. The prompts are supposed to be the foundation of the story, but the contestants are free to alter them as they need to–the judges just need to somewhat recognize the original prompt.
The contest is divided into three milestones/goals: 2,000 words, 8,000 words, and finally 20,000. The contestants to make it to 2,000 will be judged and a list made of those who can continue to the next round. The process repeats for the second and third goals, at which time a grand champion will be picked.
If you want to know more, check out the ONC book.
Here are a couple contestant stories to get you started.
Louisiana Rain by Faye_Tallia
Salvatoria by Nyhterides
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I don’t know about any other writers/authors out there, but I feel bad about leaving my characters in dangerous situations for weeks at a time while I go through writer’s block or am busy with life in general.
It kind of makes you feel like you’re being haunted. Even though you’re doing other things, part of your mind is still on the story and you’re trying to finish it. Plus, you’ve grown to like your characters and so you feel kind of like a jerk. You’re like, “Here, Character A, run down this dead end and get yourself pinned against a wall while zombies slowly approach you…Have fun, I’ll see you in a week.”
It’s kind of frustrating sitting a meeting and thinking, “Come on, end already! I got to get home before my protagonist gets eaten by a griffin!” And kind of fun at the same time.
Though it would be funny to use that as an excuse not to go into work.
“Hey, Boss, I can’t come in to work today.”
“Why not? Are you sick?”
“No. John’s been tied to a chair by international terrorists and they are torturing information out of him.”
“Oh my gosh! Have you called the police?!”
“Yeah. I did that in chapter three but they wouldn’t listen.”
“Wait. What?”
And so that brings us to another important question. If you’re characters were real and you just left them in some situation how do you think they would react?
What I’m saying is that the action pauses and they’re just left there. For example, the zombies are approaching the hero and then you have to go eat lunch. The zombies would stop walking towards the hero. It’d be like some director yelled, “Cut!” The characters are still alive, but they just have nothing to do until you return. Would they get mad at you? Would the character pull out their cell phone and take selfies with them posing with whatever the danger is?
You just never know what’s going to happen next on Wattpad (especially when writers are involved). Case in point, KlaraSofe transcribed the writer banter from the Write to Rank comments section into a bonus chapter.
Not long after that, the action profile used that as inspiration for Day 28 of their interACTION 30 Day Challenge book.
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Joe Rover eBooks are available at many fine retailers.
I recently got to interview Darragha Foster, author of Teaching Old Gods New Tricks.
Image found on Darragha’s website
Tell me a bit about yourself.
Darragha Foster enjoys the twisted and unusual. She finds inspiration all around her. Even in the cold case at the grocer…where she is no longer welcome. But that’s another story…
Why did you start writing? How long have you been writing?
The only thing I ever wanted to be was “a writer.” I wrote my first book in the fourth grade.
What type of genre do you write?
Right now I am published in paranormal romances. I am writing an alternative inspirational (non-Christian) and a young adult book presently.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or acknowledge?
I am grateful. Period. To everyone—even those that force me to “learn lessons.”
Do you consider yourself a writer or an author? Why?
Authors are published and are making money. Writers write, but don’t necessary go through the birthing process of putting out a book. I am an author.
Who’s your favorite author? What’s your favorite genre? What’s your favorite story/book?
I always say that I am my favorite author. I like all genres. I mostly read non-fiction for pleasure. My favorite books are A Wizard of Earthsea and The Phantom Tollbooth.
How did you get people to know about your stories/books? (i.e. promotion methods)
Nothing works but word of mouth. I have done it all re: promotions.
How do you judge if you are successful?
I’ve always known that I am a success. There really is no way for me to fail.
Do you write on any writing sites, like Wattpad.com? If so, which and what do you think of them?
Gods, no.
Have you been published, such as self-published or through a publishing house? If so where can people find you books?
Let’s see…my publishers are or have been:
Atlantic Bridge (open but not active)
Liquid Silver Publishing (current—many books with them)
Summerhouse Press (closed)
Forevermore Books (closed)
Loose-ID (closing)
I do have a handful of “indy” books out. My publisher published books are available everywhere. My indy books are on Amazon, only. I’ve decided to query agents again so that I can get a foot in the door with a “big house.”
How do you overcome writer’s block?
Never had it.
What is your proudest moment as a writer?
This morning. Getting out of bed.
My first royalty check was great. When one of my characters was named in the top 25 “most unusual heroes” was cool. Being recognized is cool.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Where don’t I? Everything and anything can be a source of inspiration.
What book/story has been the most fun to write? Which was the least fun to write?
Mooncusser Cove was fun to write. The research amused me. The least fun is any book that my editors pick apart.
What character (yours or any other) would you want to be and/or what world would you want to live in?
Oh, now that’s an interesting question. I did live as one of my characters. I walked where she walked, experienced similar circumstances with descendants of the people she interacted with and became ill with the same illness. Took me twenty years to figure all this out. Blew my mind. Wrote a book about it. Thorgunna. Love’s Second Sight.
Imagine you could do anything you wanted—“in the real world” (you had enough money, time, etc), what would you do?
I’d quit my day job and stay home and write full time. But money isn’t everything. I have desires and deluded impulses that don’t involve money.
What advice do you have for other (or new) writers?
Write every day.
Good editors make good books. Even if you are an indy writer, use a professional editor.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
“The urge to write has its own mind, body and force of will. Holding it back would be like stopping a flood with a spoon.”
Thank you Darragha for your time. Good luck in your future endeavors.
You can learn more about Darragha at her website, her blog, or on Facebook.
Joe Rover 