Ten Crazy Realities About Writing a Sequel

Ten Crazy Realities About Writing a Sequel

Friends, family, coworkers, and strangers who found me on Pinterest: here are a few things you should know before we dive into this post. 

1. I wrote a novel. And as of last week, I wrote a second one. That Was the Year will be making its debut into the world in the near-ish future, so until then, you should probably check out These Are the Moments, aka novel #1, aka #TATM. 

2. Writing a novel is a strange process. It's kind of like giving birth, except from your brain. (Okay, that's a weird analogy. Let's pretend this didn't happen.) If you're looking for a place to start diving into your writing adventure, there are tips over here. 

3. And the last thing you should know is that I need to go to sleep, but I wanted to write to you instead. I don't know why you need to know that, but there it is. 

Okay, let's begin. 

Three Writing Lessons I Learned from Hamilton the Musical

Three Writing Lessons I Learned from Hamilton the Musical

Let's be real here: I want to be in the room where it happens. AKA I need to get myself a ticket to Hamilton, so if you in some way have a connection, I'm willing to write a whole book in your honor.

That's on record now. You read it here first.

If you're thinking to yourself what is Hamilton, then I give you permission to slap yourself in the face with a wet noodle. Now that we've gotten that over with, here's your synopsis: Hamilton is the greatest musical created in my lifetime by Lin Manuel Miranda: genius, actor, writer, composer, you name it.

The Future of Print Books: Why They're A Secret Self-Publishing Weapon

The Future of Print Books: Why They're A Secret Self-Publishing Weapon

Have you read the articles? You know the ones. They say that print publishing is dying, and that e-books are all the rage. They say that self-publishers shouldn't even bother with print books anymore, that they're a waste of time. I admit that I've believed them before. 

Here's the thing: maybe print books don't work for everyone. Maybe e-readers are the future. But let's take a look at this logically. If print books are dead, why is Amazon opening physical bookstores? Why are independent bookstores thriving? While there are many reasons, I'd like to sum it up in a word: experience. 

As our lives move more and more toward the virtual, people are craving the tangible even more. We love the experience of an independent bookstore. We love the experience of finding our favorite book on the shelves. So, if you're thinking of discounting the print book, I'd take a closer look first. 

How to Write a Binge-Worthy Book Series

How to Write a Binge-Worthy Book Series

It's stressful enough to plan one book, let alone a whole trilogy. As a pantser, the idea of sitting down and mapping out an entire world for several books makes me want to give up right then and there.

And yet, here I am, writing a trilogy. So, what's the deal? First of all, you should know that I didn't plan a single second of this. I wrote my novel, These Are the Moments, with the intent to wrap it up in a nice bow and be done with it.

But what I didn't expect was how much story was leftover for my secondary characters. Two powerhouse women characters with major flaws and big, unfinished stories - Reese and Vivian - were ready to step up to the stage. So, I'm letting them.

How can you write a binge-worthy book series? Here's what I've learned so far: