It's A Numbers Game

I started Maya's Musings in January 2014. I was a baby writer ticking the boxes on the "How To Be A Writer" guide. I don't actually think there's a definitive list, but maybe. At the time, and still to this day, "they" (whoever they are) say a writer needs a blog (and a website and a social media presence). Blogger offers a (free and) simple format. You can do all sorts of things here, but I only use it for my blog.

At the beginning of this year (in January, February, March, and one day in May), I had a human rights hearing. During the hearing, my blog (and the time I spent and compensation I received) was brought up. So, I made a chart. This data was correct as of February 7, 2023.

Managing a blog can be very time consuming so I learned to outsource the work (as much as possible) to guests and other author promotions. New content, minimal effort. I also (by 2019) started posting my Quote of the Week and #TirgearrTuesday pictures to my blog to maximize my potential audience. These were also cross-posted (via social media schedulers) to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I don't make any money from my blog. Honestly, maybe I'm not technologically savvy enough to monetize it. And paying IT support seems like an unnecessary expense as my writing expenses already outweigh my book royalties.

Anyway, so aside from pointing out during the hearing that I have a blog and am losing so much money on my writing (thanks a lot, I feel so validated - not), my views have exploded! Maybe it's my employer and its team of industrious lawyers spying on me, but maybe it's new readers and fans. I like to believe the latter. And, seriously, if you are new to my work, I have six books out and I would love your support (aka please buy my book).

My posts see an average of 25 views. And this past month, like I said, my views have exploded!

Views - All-Time

Views - Last 30 days

And, surprisingly, the majority of these views are coming from Singapore!

Locations of Viewers - Last 30 days

So, welcome, my Singapore visitors! I am open to author interviews and visiting podcasts. Just email me. Or contact me via socials. I'm very interested to know why I am suddenly so popular in Southeast Asia. My last release, Designed by Destiny, was very popular in Australia. Anyway, it's super cool and I'm hyped about it.

I've loved reading and writing my whole life. And it's a privilege and an honor to share my interest with all you wonderful people out there!

Talking about Promotion... Again...

I'm an author, a published author, so I spend most of my time...

PROMOTING MY BOOKS

Did you think I was going to say writing? I wish I spent most of my writing-allocated time actually writing. Instead, I—like every other author out there (probably)—devote hours (and I mean hours) to book promotion.

A book is a product. In order to sell a product, you must promote it. A book no one knows about will sell exactly zero copies. Promoting is the difference between <<whispering>> "I wrote a book. Want to buy it?" and proclaiming loudly through multiple channels, including paid ads, "Buy my book!"

I don't have a magic recipe for book promotion. My sales are not stellar... yet... but I've only been in the game for ten years so I'm practically a baby author. In that time, I published six books and had a major life crisis. Long, long, long story short... In 2013, I was physically assaulted at work, received no support (my employer actually tried to push me out), and developed PTSD. I started writing A Vampire's Tale, the first book of The Magicals, when I was bed-ridden with "unexplainable" low blood pressure, high cortisol, and fainting spells. But that's enough of that talk. Everyone has stuff going on. This is my stuff, and while I do talk about it sometimes, this post is supposed to be about promotion.

So, promotion... If you're a veteran author, you might want to skip over the basics...

***

The Basics

The promotion process starts long before you publish a book.

The minute you decide to write a book and have aspirations for publication, you need to think about your author platform. An author platform is your online presence—website, social media, newsletter mailing list.

A good-looking and functional website is very important. Social media platforms come and go, but a website is digital real estate you control. I run my own website through Weebly, but there are many hosts who offer the "plug and play" functions you need to build a DIY website. You don't have to be a computer programmer. I'm certainly not. If I run into problems, then I Google for solutions or outsource when the issue goes beyond my ability. Running my website is a huge cost savings, and I appreciate the ability to make timely, on-demand changes. 

Social media is huge. You don't need to use all of the platforms, but you need Facebook, at least. As for other platforms, research what social media your target market uses. If you're using social media, then stay consistent with posting and engagement. I am active on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Blogger. I use social media planners, like Planoly and Buffer, to schedule posts. I have a YouTube channel, but I don't consider myself an active user. I buy Facebook and Instagram ads, and have also promoted tweets. I signed up to use Google ads, but their process is more complex and I haven't run an ad campaign yet.

Maintaining a mailing list is still an important part of your approach. Email goes directly into the hands of people who are interested in you or your work. I have a quarterly newsletter and send out notices of sales, cover reveals, and events like blog tours.

Once you have a book to sell, before it releases, you need to email your mailing list, line up book reviewers, update author profiles, post a cover reveal, add the book to your website, book a blog tour, create an inventory of social media graphics and quote cards, and post to social media. At the pre-order level, you can also book promotions and new release newsletter spots.

Recommended Book Promotion Sites:

• BookBub (the holy grail of promotion sites) - I haven't been able to secure a spot yet, but I use BookBub ads.
• eReader News Today
• Bargain Booksy
• My Romance Reads
• The Fussy Librarian
• Free Kindle Books & Tips
• eBook Discovery
• Kindle Nation Daily

Each book promotion site has its own guidelines for submission. Make sure you submit for the right genre and have the correct price set on promotion day. I track the effectiveness of each campaign in order to determine where I spend my dollars.

Eye-catching graphics on social media are a must. Like the DIY website, there are a lot of sites or apps for DIY design. I use Canva. I use both the website version and mobile app. Canva has templates for the correct dimensions for the various social media platforms, taking the guesswork out.

And the book itself is very important to the promotional process. Professional cover design and editing—whether you traditionally or self-publish—is an absolute must. Don't forget the concise blurb. They are a pain in the butt to write, but readers evaluate the cover and/or the blurb before making their purchasing decision.

***

And, then, if there is any time left in my day... I write.

Time management is a thing. I use social media planners to schedule posts, but it takes a lot of time to create graphics. I browse social media during meals or rests. But everything takes time. Scheduling promotions, keeping accounts (I track every transaction related to my writing), and contacting book reviewers. Then there's blogging (I post irregularly) and editing (if a book is in that stage).

When it comes to book promotion, I've tried a lot of different methods. There's no shortcut to success. I'm here to tell a story, and hope that it's meaningful to someone along the way. I write because I think better in words. I wrote this post because I was thinking about all the promotions I've been juggling this week. I have The Magicals Box Set in pre-order, a 99c sale for A Wizard's Choice, a blog tour starting this week for A Magical's Gift... There's a lot going on.

I'm also in the middle of writing a book. It's been difficult writing this summer. We had a three-week visit at my in-laws. I brought my laptop, but I didn't get much time to write. The kids were home for the summer so it's not likely I'd have had the time anyway. But school started this week and football is back... so, while my people are occupied, I'm going to finish my current WIP.

At the end of the day, I keep writing. Book promotion is a crucial part of the writing process since my dream, as a published author, is to sell books. And, to sell books, I need to get the word out. I don't have the answers. I might not even know the right questions. I try to stay current on the latest book promotion how-to, but one thing has remained constant. Book promotion requires consistency. Keep promoting and keep publishing because the last book sells the next book or something like that.

And, one more thing, buy my book... kidding... not kidding... :)

Black and White Characters (and I'm not referring to race)

Until now, I'd always written a compelling backstory for my "bad guys." Generally, I believe that people (or characters) have both good and bad attributes. In other words, no one is all good or all bad. There are no absolutes. Life is a result of one's experiences and choices.

While self-editing my latest book (second last step before submitting it to my publisher), I made a startlingly realization. My "bad guy" was just "bad."

From the moment I introduced the character, Sherrie, she was a complete bitch. She abused a position of power. She treated my heroine, Beth, with disrespect and embarrassed her publicly. In front of other characters, she acted like a totally different person. My hero, Nick, stood up for Beth. He made Sherrie accountable for her behavior. By the end of the story, Sherrie became unhinged, resulting in her downfall. Sherrie had specific motivations for her actions, but they weren't justifiable. Her character arc was a simple cause and effect. Karma. She was a terrible person who lost everything.

This was the first book I'd written in a while that didn't include physical violence and danger. It can be pretty exhausting to spin that kind of intrigue so I thought I'd write something lighter. Stories still need conflict though. As it turns out, I only exchanged physical violence with emotional abuse. Both my main characters encountered judgment based on preconceived notions. It made my heroine defensive and distrustful. It made my hero reckless and self-sabotaging.

My writing is a personal reflection. I often incorporate (knowingly or unknowingly) my experiences into my work. Through fiction, I discover truths about myself and I can control the outcome for my characters (or at least they let me think that I can). Sherrie represented a malevolence I encountered and faced alone. In my story, Nick listened to and supported Beth. I gave Beth what I'd needed. This was painful to write, but powerful to realize. I couldn't rewrite my past, but I could bring the lesson forward.

The Latest New Year

We welcomed 2022 into the fold a week ago. It doesn't seem that long since we exchanged 2020 for 2021. It usually takes a few tries before the new year sticks. Thanks to my digital calendar, notes app, and email, I haven't had to write the date on anything yet.

The last few years (since the end of 2019 and the onset of COVID-19) have been more interesting than I prefer. The pandemic and ensuing fallout seems like the beginning of an apocalyptic movie (or book) which makes me wonder how this story will end. I also wonder about its impact on art and culture. Can we anticipate a surge of pandemic-themed books in the next few years?

My books take place in the very broad contemporary time period (1945 to present) where my present time ranges from the 1990s to 2010s. I have thus far avoided 2019 to 2022, although that choice was not a conscious one. Some of the events in my books relate to real world events, like World War II, so my timetable also has to correspond accordingly. In The Magicals Series, the wizards assisted the Germans with their war effort while the fairies joined the French Resistance. During, and after the war, characters from both groups immigrated to the United States. One character, Amelie Ricard, was a baby when her family fled Europe shortly after the Battle of France which meant she was born in 1940. She became pregnant with her son Kurtis in 1968, and he was born in 1969. If he was thirty years old in the present, then the year would be 1999. The years 1940 and 1968 are referenced specifically while the present is identified as present day.

The portrayal of time in books can be confusing (to read or write). How many time references does a reader need to follow the storyline? How many jumps in time can the author use to propel the story forward? Time is an important component of my stories. I use an adaptation of Archplot three-act structure and Save the Cat Beat Sheet, incorporating a timeline of the events.

My existing books dodge the COVID-19 bullet, but could my upcoming stories be susceptible? What will the future hold? Only time will tell.

2021 Writing Goals

In order to make progress in whatever it is you do, SMART goals are an essential part of the process.

S - Specific

M - Measurable

A - Achievable

R - Realistic

T -  Timely

At the beginning of 2021, I set some writing and writing-related goals. I am pleased to say that I achieved (mostly) each of these goals.

1. Write creatively everyday for one hour. This falls under mostly successful. I didn't write everyday, but I did write most days. I participated in NaNoWriMo as well.

2. Engage on social media (see social media goals). Increase the following: brand awareness (measured by number of followers and reach of posts, including mentions, shares and retweets); website traffic (measured by number of visitors to website and blog); lead generation (measured by newsletter sign-ups); and engagement (measured by likes, shares, comments, mentions, and replies). I saw increases to the number of followers on each social media platform except YouTube which stayed the same as 2020. My website, blog, and Pinterest had steady daily traffic. My social media posts were shared and liked, although I didn't receive many comments. My newsletter mailing list had a net increase of 64 people. Some of my posts had hundreds of shares and likes.

3. Publish A Fairy's Quest. I submitted my book in late 2020 and published it on April 6, 2021.

4. Publish A Fairy Godmother's Redemption. I submitted my book in early 2021 and published it on July 27, 2021.

5. Write A Magical's Gift. I started writing this book for NaNoWriMo 2020 and finished the first draft in September... some 310 days later. I have submitted it for publication.

Bonus Goal:

1. Revamp website. I'm always tweaking my site and updating images. This year, I went dark... Well, I changed to a dark theme. It is very dramatic with a black background and white text. Images against the black "white space" really pop out. I also incorporated my new logo, and added links to my book covers.

This year, I made positive strides focusing on my author platform and brand. If I'm going to be serious about writing—which I am—I need to set and achieve SMART goals.

As I look to 2022, I think about what I want to accomplish in the next year. I want to publish A Magical's Gift, finish writing this year's NaNoWriMo project which is Book One of a new series (I'm 37k in), and write Book Two. The new series is set to be a trilogy, and the pipe dream is to finish all three books next year, but that goal doesn't sound very achievable or realistic with everything else I have on my plate. I have more than enough ideas, but time is at a premium. On the author platform side, I'd like to increase social media followers and engagement; my newsletter mailing list; and my blog subscribers. I'll set my SMART goals and let you know how I measured up next year.

Christmas Stories

Looking through some of my older writings, I found two short Christmas stories which I posted on Wattpad this week.

Approximately 95% of my reading material is romance. It would be a resounding 100%, but unfortunately I must read such nonfiction as recipes and news articles on occasion. Much of the romance I read falls into the historical subgenre. My own writing leans toward a contemporary time period with paranormal elements. So, it's noteworthy that often my short works are based in a historical setting.

In "Christmas Dreams," my heroine Allie falls asleep and "dreams" of the past which bears a striking resemblance to her present. "Grace's Christmas Wish" takes place in the regency era. I wonder if a full-length historical novel may be in my future...

Read Now

#TirgearrTuesday

What's your favorite romance sub-genre? Follow #TirgearrTuesday in December to find out more about the kind of romance you can expect from me.

The Meet-Cute

In a romance novel, how the protagonist and their love interest meet can set up the entire story. Meet-cute is defined as the scene where the people who will form a romantic relationship meet for the first time in a memorable way. 

In A Fairy Godmother's Redemption, Drew Parker meets his future love interest Seraphina Jacobs at Faye's Cafe. Needless to say, she leaves quite the impression...

***

A young woman, wearing a long black sweater over tight jeans, with thick, shiny blonde hair, stood tapping her foot by the counter. She flipped her hair over her shoulder, and—Drew swore—he saw it move in slow motion. She was old-Hollywood glamorous. He was mesmerized until he heard her speak.

“I asked for a decaf, soy latte with an extra shot and cream. Does this look like—”

Poor Faye. What a rude girl. Drew moved to the counter beside the rude customer and took a sip of her drink. “Tastes fine to me.”

The woman looked shocked. “Huh?”

“Faye’s busy. Why don’t you say ‘thank you’ for your drink and—” He pointed toward the exit.

“I never!” The young woman tossed her hair, turned on her five-inch stiletto heels, and stomped out of the restaurant. An older woman with her grey hair shaped in a stylish bob offered Faye an apologetic look before following her through the swinging door.

Faye burst out laughing, not even trying to hide her mirth. “That was something.”

***

Their next meeting is under less tense circumstances...

Since Drew and Sera don't instantaneously click, would their introduction be considered a meet-ugly? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Buy Now

Now, I'm off on the writing adventure called NaNoWriMo. Wish me luck, and "see" you in December!

Social Justice Topics in Romance

It's important to write what you need to write, but it's equally important to keep your finger on the pulse of trends in fiction. Especially if commercial success is your objective. According to Meaghan Wagner of NY Book Editors, "social justice topics are (and have been) on the rise in romance. It's one of the strengths of the genre that gets overlooked, romance is always at the forefront of changing social trends." Never underestimate the genre of romance!

I write romance because I'm a romantic at heart, a complete softie for a happily-ever-after. Books, as a source of entertainment, need to provide an escape from reality, a place where conflict exists but so do resolutions. But, at the same time, fiction is a "safe" place to tell the truth, a palatable means of communication, an observation noted by many authors as well as depicted on the silver screen in scenes like this iconic one from A Few Good Men.

Col Jessup: I'll answer the question. You want answers?

LTJG Kaffee: I think I'm entitled to them. 

Col Jessup: You want answers?!

LTJG Kaffee: I want the truth!

Col Jessup: You can't handle the truth!

The world is filled with heavy issues, including many involving social justice. It is up to us, as a civilization, to hold those in power accountable. Utilizing fiction to enlighten and educate is a non-threatening way to encourage thought and dialogue. Resolution has never been found by ignoring problems.

Some of the major social justice issues facing us today include: voting rights; climate justice; healthcare; refugee crisis; racial injustice; income gap; gun violence; hunger and food insecurity; and equality. In particular, I feel strongly about human rights.

A few years ago, my family and I visited High Park in Toronto where I saw this monument honoring Larissa Kosach (1871-1913). She was a Ukrainian author whose works featured themes such as: the relationship between individual and community; social justice; the role of woman in society; human dignity; personal and national liberty; and the role of the writer in driving positive change (betterment). More than a hundred years later, her work still has an impact.

The incorporation of serious topics into my work isn't always intentional. I tell the stories that my characters need me to tell. Other authors may concur to experiencing this bizarre character-driven creativity. Overall, I am respectful of others and their choices. And, likewise, I depict my characters in a straightforward manner with thoughtfulness and honesty. If they were a purple-haired cyclops, then...

The Magicals Series covered a range of topics, some included intentionally and some brought to my attention by my readers. I am in awe of the insight my readers have shown when it comes to analyzing my books. A Vampire's Tale touched on parental expectations, suicide, and survival. Readers appreciated the inclusion of a LGBTQ+ character in A Wizard's Choice. My intention was simply to show Dr. David Laurent as he wanted to be shown—a practicing psychologist with brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard, a preference for chinos to jeans, and with a serious partner named Robbie. Alina Lehrer experienced a trauma in A Wizard's Choice so I knew her story would explore that topic. A Fairy's Quest also delved into mental health conditions and post-traumatic stress disorder, in particular. In A Fairy Godmother's Redemption, readers noted issues of growing up too soon, abandonment, mental abuse, and manipulation.

I will continue to write truthfully. And, in doing so, I (and hopefully my readers too) will gain insight and perspective on the unique human experience. I am less optimistic about commercial success. Realistically, I have long learned that the truth can be unpopular, but I still strive to create entertaining and thought-provoking stories.

Creating A Magical World

What is the most important attribute of world building? The same principle applies as regular novel planning. Believability.

Setting

Your fictional world can vary from the real world with magical elements (magical realism) to a completely foreign realm (fantasy). The sky's the limit as long as you are consistent. Your world needs structure, rules, and—for a completely fabricated world—even a map. Ever wonder why fantasy books include maps? A map is the very essence of a plan. You follow a map (or directions) to go from Point A to Point B. Different types of maps highlight different information—borders; location of cities; physical features—optionally including changes in elevation and landscape; climate; resources; and roads. Maps also need a scale and legend.

My world is Earth-based so I didn't need to create an original map. Google Maps provided all the information I needed for my research.

Characters

Once you determine your world type, you need to develop characters, varying from humanoid to alien. It's important to define physical characteristics, accents, traditions, familial relationships, and politics.

My characters are human with magical abilities, and I tracked their connections using family trees.

This is scan of my main family tree. I couldn't find a template with enough generations so I improvised. Kurtis and Alina in A Wizard's Choice tied all the characters from the series together. Even though they didn't end up romantically connected, this version of the family tree made the most sense. I use a few other family trees to record dates of birth and other information, including all the information on one diagram was too cluttered.

Plot

Your story has a setting and characters, but what happens in the beginning, middle, and end? Understanding plot structure is essential to keeping your story on track. As a reformed pantster, I see the value in using a plot template. I use a combination of the Three Act Structure and Save the Cat.

The Three Act Structure is the perfect example of plot, keeping to a basic model of beginning, middle, and end. Act 1 sets up the story, presenting the setting, characters, and conflict or reason for the story. Act 2 provides clarity on the conflict and questions the protagonist's chance of success. Act 3 brings the conflict to a conclusion and ties up any loose ends.

Save the Cat is a straightforward approach, expanding on the Three Act Structure and following 15 points (or beats). Opening Image is how the story starts, how things look before the story begins. Set-up defines the setting and introduces the characters. Theme Stated foreshadows what the story is actually about. Catalyst is the inciting incident, the life-changing event that kicks off the story. Debate is the character's attempt to avoid the conflict. Break Into Act II details the character's choice and launches the story. B-Story is a subplot, often a romantic storyline, defusing tension from the conflict and further empathizing the theme. The Promise of the Premise (Fun & Games) provides the entertainment, showing the protagonist in action. Midpoint occurs at the halfpoint, introducing a plot twist or raising the stakes. Bad Guys Close In ramps up the tension and casts doubt on the protagonist's chance of success. All is Lost is the opposite of the Midpoint where the protagonist loses everything. Dark Night of the Soul (Black Moment) is how the protagonist reacts to losing everything and introduces new information, often through the B-Story. Break Into Act III shows the protagonist using the new information to take action and brings stories A and B together. Finale is resolution of the conflict. Final Image shows how much has changed during the corse of the story, often the opposite of Opening Image.

My Version - Save the Cat in Three Acts

Act I

Opening Image

Theme Stated

Set-up

Catalyst

Debate

Act II Part 1

Act II

B-Story

Fun & Games

Midpoint

Act II Part 2

Bad Guys Close In

All is Lost

Black Moment

Act III

Act III

Finale

Final Image

I've used this approach since introduced to Save the Cat a few years ago, which was a plot structure game-changer for me. Understanding plot is like following your story's map. The step-by-step directions really help you get from Point A to Point B. And for the pantsters out there... Despite the careful planning, my characters still manage to throw me for a loop.

Once you establish a setting, characters, and plot, you get a story. The End.

An Excerpt from A Vampire's Tale for #TirgearrTuesday

“How about you?”

“Not much to say about me.” She shrugged in the dark then realized Corgan was watching the road, not her. “I'm twenty-three. I studied business in college before I dropped out. My parents didn’t support my decision. They thought they could change my mind. When I stuck to my guns, they, well, they disowned me. I worked for a newspaper, but I hated it there, so I quit my job and started writing novels.” 

“Your parents hurt you.”

Marisa stared out the window. “Yes.”

“Despite what they said, they are still proud of you.”

“I don’t think so, Corgan.”

Trust me. “Leaving your job was out of character for you.”

“Definitely. My friends didn't understand. They thought I’d completely lost it. In their minds, I left a decent paying job to chase a pipe dream.”

“You needed to find your own way.”

“You get it.” Marisa bit her lip, thoughtfully. Corgan understood her. She didn’t know how, but it seemed like he’d known her longer than a few days.

“Sometimes your own way isn't the easy way.”

“Damn straight! The term 'starving artist' comes to mind.” 

“Do you go without, love?” The alarm was evident in his voice.

Genre Confusion?

Literature has come a long way from a simplistic classification of fiction and nonfiction. Literary nomenclature is constantly evolving.

Nonfiction versus Creative Nonfiction

Nonfiction, for example journalism, academic texts, and biographies, is based on fact with a purpose to express or inform. Good nonfiction should have a coherent topic and clear purpose.

Creative nonfiction combines the characteristics of traditional nonfiction with the various techniques and styles of fictional writing. With an emphasis on story and tone, creative nonfiction can be easier and more enjoyable to read than traditional nonfiction. Genres include memoirs, biographies, and personal essays (like blog posts). It is important to note that reporting factual information is still the cornerstone. Things to keep in mind when writing creative nonfiction? Fact check. Issue a disclaimer. Present the information objectively, considering your audience and possible consequences.

The concept of creative nonfiction is new to me. I've employed the technique for several years in my blog, but I didn't know this form of writing had a particular designation. My original content includes my opinions, my writing journey, and interesting book-related topics. It's not limited to these areas. I often share promotional posts from other authors. I research my topics, if research is required, and hope my readers find my musings entertaining if not informative.

Fiction

Fiction is not based on fact. The author writes about imaginary people and events captured in the form of short story, novella or novel. There are three types of fiction: literary; genre; and mainstream. Literary fiction follows non-conventional plot structures and focuses on the main character or characters. Genre fiction uses familiar templates, character archetypes, and tropes in such categories as romance, mystery, thriller, science fiction, fantasy, young adult, historical, magical realism, and speculative. Mainstream fiction is fiction that becomes extremely popular outside its core audience.

I write genre fiction, but recently I've questioned what genre applies best to my books. Hence this post. I  took a short detour when I stumbled upon creative nonfiction... First, let's quickly define the main genres in genre fiction.

Romance - development of a romantic relationship moves the plot forward, ending in happily-ever-after (HEA) or happy-for-now (HFN)

Mystery - an exciting hook (like a murder) and suspenseful pacing with a clear outcome to solve the mystery

Thriller - like a mystery with more suspense and shock

Science fiction - occurs in a dystopian past or distant future with emphasis on technical or scientific advancement

Fantasy - occurs in an imaginary world, often includes mythical creatures or aspects of a medieval time period

Young adult - coming-of-age stories with a target audience of 11 to 15-year olds

Historical - incorporates real historical events or places, also the reimagining of historical events or people

Magical realism - based in the real world with elements of magic

Speculative - offers alternative realities to the past, present or future

What do I write?

Classifying a novel into the correct genre and subgenre is very important. Firstly, it defines the crucial characteristics of the story, like plot, setting, and characters. And, secondly, it contributes to reader's expectations which can impact reviews.

Now, to the crux of the matter... what do I write? Based on the provided definitions, I can easily eliminate mystery, thriller, science fiction, fantasy, young adult, historical, and speculative from the list. My stories include love as a central plot and magic in the real world so either romance or magical realism seem applicable. 

In particular, my current book series is The Magicals. I introduce the reader to my magical world of vampires, wizards, and fairies. And, yes, as the series title implies, there is magic.

Romance has many subgenres... so if I dig a little deeper I find...

Romance Subgenres

All romance subgenres must include a central love story and satisfying ending (either HEA or HFN).

By age group: young adult (12-18 years old); new adult (18-29 years old); adult (over 30 years old)

By category: historical (occurs in a historic era, excluding regency); contemporary (occurs in the same time period as the author, from 1970s to present day); erotic (includes explicit sex); paranormal (includes supernatural creatures); regency (occurs during the regency era, between 1795 and 1837); and suspense (includes suspense, mystery, or thriller elements).

Conclusion

I write adult paranormal romance.

But what about fantasy or urban fantasy?

The list of romance subgenres wasn't 100% complete. That was the mainstream list. If you keep digging, then there is no end to the rabbit hole. What about romantic fantasy? What about urban fantasy? What's the difference?

This conundrum has puzzled writers and readers alike. Forgetting about romance for the moment... Paranormal stories are set in the real world with supernatural creatures. Fantasy stories are set in imaginary worlds with creatures more mythical than supernatural. Urban fantasy is paranormal with magic and includes at least one romantic storyline. I write romance novels about supernatural creatures in the real world and magic. So, I'm left with the question. Do I write paranormal or urban fantasy?

Second Conclusion

The answer is both... I write paranormal with magic so both paranormal and urban fantasy are applicable.

There are many crossovers and similarities among the different subgenres of romance. Since urban fantasy is not included in the mainstream list of romance subgenres at the moment, I write paranormal romance. All that analysis just to come to the same conclusion... which is on brand. Maya Tyler - Paranormal romance with a twist. <<sigh of relief>> I wasn't looking forward to rebranding.

Editing 101

I let Book 5 of The Magicals Series sit for two weeks. I cleaned my house, baked molasses raison bread, and read. A lot. Funny enough, four of the books I read were the first four books in The Magicals Series.

I published A Vampire's Tale (Book 1) in 2017 so it had been a while since I read it. Honestly, during the editing process you read your book so many times you often feel like you never want to read it again. And probably a lot of authors—being busy writing the next book—don't re-read their backlist. I recently adapted the first chapter of AVT into a comic book sequence which I turned into a video to post on my YouTube channel. I am not active on YouTube, but that's a discussion for another blog post. It was a ton of work, but super fun. Am I adapting the rest of my first chapters? That would be a resounding "No." :)

I am almost ready to submit Book 5... My working title is A Magical's Gift (just so I can stop calling it Book 5... although I'm pretty proud of an almost 5-book series. I've come a long way from the girl who couldn't finish a novel.), and I'm 80% through my first self-edit. This is my break. Writing about editing. Oh, the irony.

In all seriousness, editing is such a crucial part of the writing process. A few years ago, I completed an Editing certificate from Simon Fraser University to up my writing game. It was a lot of fun! And, as hoped, it has improved my writing. An editor is still essential... two or more pairs of eyes are absolutely required to catch writing errors. 

So, I read a scene. Then I envision it unfolding in my mind. I put myself in my character's shoes. How would I feel? What would I do? And I make adjustments based on those observations. I'm more than a little biased, but this book feels right. It's difficult to explain the feeling... It's like the affirmation you feel when you've made a sound decision. It's a gut feeling. When it's right, you know.

So, back to the ol' grindstone. With five chapters to go before...

THE END

First Drafts and Other Feats

Writing is both the easiest and hardest thing I've ever done. I've mentioned my box of unfinished stories before... it sits on the floor of my office, gathering dust, while I wonder what to do with it. (Don't tell my husband.) I've come a long way, or at least I think I have, since then. Although, the "Writing" folder on my laptop also contains a few unfinished manuscripts.

Completing the first draft is a feat. The process feels a bit like climbing a mountain... and rolling back down a few times before you reach the top, if you reach the top. Lots of obstacles come between you and your goal. Self-doubt is a major one. Every story I write, I have to get over the "what was I thinking" hurdle before I can finish.

The First Draft is a Rough Draft

It's challenging to not edit while writing. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and constantly have to remind myself that the first draft is a rough draft, telling me the story. I use a few tools to keep me on track - a Save the Cat beat sheet, a plot worksheet (of a roller coaster ride), an editorial style sheet, a novel outline in Excel where I also track word counts (by chapter, act, and novel), and the Evernote app.

Plus scribblings in the physical notebook I use when I need a break from my computer. All in all, I'm still learning as I go. What works, what doesn't. Like everything else, practice makes perfect or, at least, better. I see improvement in my writing. Exhibit A: I can finish writing a book. Exhibit B: I've published five books. Exhibit C: my work gets positive reviews (now).

Reviews

My first published book was novella length. And, quite honestly, it gave me practical experience in processing negative reviews. Readers have invaluable insight to offer. Reviews—all reviews—can help an author improve their writing. So, I analyze all of them.

The End

"The End" of a story really marks the beginning for the author. My first draft rarely matches my published book. What I submit for publication also differs as it gets polished during the editing process.

I let my first draft sit for a few days to a week before I begin my self-edit which provides a more objective perspective. Otherwise, every word you want to change feels too personal. And, I hope, with every step of the process, my story (and my writing) evolves and improves.

Google Search Tips

Research is a necessary evil which makes Google a writer's best friend. I recently came across some tips for improving the efficiency of my internet searches. So, instead of falling into the black hole of the amazing invention called the internet, I can find what I'm looking for and get back to writing.

1. Use "quotation marks" to search for an exact word or group of words.

2. Exclude a word by putting a hyphen in front of it quotation -marks to exclude the word marks from your search.

3. Use asterisks to leave a placeholder that the search engine will fill in later quotation *marks*.

4. Use a colon to search a particular site quotation site:www.abc.com.

5. Use a vertical bar | instead of typing OR quotation | marks.

6. Use two periods between numbers to indicate a range 1980..2000.

7. Use location to narrow your search quotation location:Canada.

8. Filter by filetype by using quotation filetype:pdf.

There are many other useful tips out there. Which have you used? What tips can you add to the list?

AFGR Review for #TirgearrTuesday

A Fairy Godmother's Redemption, The Magicals Series Book 4 released on July 27. I love this story. It was a bit different from the other books in the series, but it came together so well and felt so right. The reviewers agree. I already have six five-star reviews! #TirgearrTuesday in September will feature some of these amazing reviews. Starting with this one...

Have you read A Fairy Godmother's Redemption yet? It's available now. Click here for purchase links.

#TirgearrTuesday

I'm so excited to share another review for A Fairy's Quest with you. It's been seven weeks since release day and the reviews are still coming in... Have you read it yet?

For current subscribers, please note that the email subscription service offered through Blogger will be discontinued in July 2021. To keep up-to-date on all things Maya Tyler, please subscribe to my newsletter.

 

Stress Busting Book Festival 2021

Stress got the best of you in the current indeterminate times, what with remote working and remote learning? Escape inside these books and watch your stress disappear at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven Stress Busting Book Festival. 29 books featured plus a chance to win one of the following:

 

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) Gift Card

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) Gift Card

Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) Gift Card

Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) Gift Card

Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) Gift Card

Direct Link: 

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db7750107

Open internationally

Runs May 1 – May 31 

Drawing will be held on June 1.  

I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. My book, A Vampire's Tale, will be featured on May 13. Wait until you read how I combat stress. You won’t want to miss it.

 

Bookmark this festival and tell your friends:

 

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/stress-busting-book-festival

AFQ Review for #TirgearrTuesday

 

For current subscribers, please note that the email subscription service offered through Blogger will be discontinued in July 2021. To keep up-to-date on all things Maya Tyler, please subscribe to my newsletter.

Quote of the Week

 

For current subscribers, please note that the email subscription service offered through Blogger will be discontinued in July 2021. To keep up-to-date on all things Maya Tyler, please subscribe to my newsletter.