Category Archives: A blog about the topics of writing

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing Advice

When do you end a series?: Regardless how many volumes is out

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How do you decide when it’s time to move on from a series?

At the moment, I have three volumes in my Jasper, Amazon parrot series, with the fourth one about to be published. I have my Squirrel Mafia series. One is out, while the second is about to be released.

I have many manuscripts to work on, which I know is a thing with writers. Something else in common is having a notebook of ideas to work on. The list will be long, and we will not get to them all.

It is those projects I want to work on.

I need to decide if there is more material I can expand with the series I have out. I already have a list of ideas for ten chapters for a third volume of my Squirrel Mafia series. But I need to decide if people also are interested in reading a third one.

For Jasper, I have received many great reviews and feedback from parents, teachers, and children who have read the book themselves. Do I have material for a fifth book? I am not sure. The series talks about problems with the rainforest. I need to develop a story around one if I can come up with something. For this series, that is what it comes down to.

I have discussed this topic on this site before. Apparently, I am uncertain where it lies.

Hopefully, soon, the answer will come to me.

Until then, I will continue to write.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing tips and ideas

What are your writing goals for 2024?

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So, it’s a new year. It is time to shed off what didn’t work with my writing. It is time to try new things. It is a chance to shine even further with your WIP and books.

Where do you start?

I will check my social platforms, seeing how active I was on them, if anyone interacted with me, and so on. There are always new platforms to try out. I also like to clean my office. I have a few WIPs waiting for me to do something with them.

Getting the ducks in a row helps me get started with the beginning of another year.

I have two books in the editing/final stages with two publishers. I will incorporate the things that go with releasing a book.

I told myself repeatedly last year to join contests, which I did not do once. May this be the year I do so.

There are no writing groups in my area like there used to be. I can start one, I started a few, or try one online. I have never tried a writing group online.

As you can see, I have ideas floating in my head. I am hoping to get them straightened out so I can improve on my writing career.

I hope to see in a few months changes that will advance where I was in 2023. If nothing else, I hope I will write more in 2024 than the previous year.

Good luck to me and others on this journey in 2024

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing aspect

Am I still writing?: A question from my husband

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My husband asked me recently if I was still writing. The first thought was, why was he asking? But it was the right time for him to ask.

Due to a new project, I was working it consumed me for at least a month. By the time I stopped working on it, my hands, elbows, arms, and shoulders were hurting, and to do any writing was not happening.

I hadn’t realized how long it had been since I picked up a WIP to work on. That did sadden me, for as I wrote in my last posting, I get an inner joy that I have problems explaining to someone who isn’t a writer.

I have three WIPs that are in various stages of being finished. I have notes to write volume five of my Jasper, Amazon parrot series with to the third volume of my Squirrel Mafia series.

I intend on pulling them out, deciding which one to work on, and place it on my desk so it can stare at me daily.

It didn’t help that when I asked hubby why he asked, he wanted to be sure I hadn’t put it by the waste side.

Life happens. Time flies so fast, especially as we grow older, that if he hadn’t brought it up, I wonder how long before I would have done so.

Sometimes, a gentle push is what we need to start on a project. Sometimes it is a kick in the butt as a reminder we need to move forward, regardless of how small, on something that makes us happy. For me, one of those things is writing.