A.G. Mayes's Blog, page 2
February 27, 2020
Andrea tries to sit still – A Writing Experiment
As my personal deadlines for this project approach, I decided to mix up my writing routine.
I usually try to hit certain word count goals, but I needed to spend some time figuring out how to make some parts of the story work.
I decided to focus on time spent writing instead.
I stayed in my chair for hour-long chunks (not an easy feat for me).
Check out my video to see how it worked for me!
Do you measure your writing by word count or time spent or neither? Please comment down below!
February 21, 2020
My Top 5 Favorite Books
1. Summer at theComfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson
As you may know by now, I love books with family, romance, and FOOD!
That’s why, when I came across The Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe, I bought it immediately.
I was five pages in when I went out and bought the rest of Debbie Johnson’s books.
It’s that good!
There are more books in the series, and all of them are wonderful. This one is my favorite though. Probably because it was my first encounter with the author, and I wasn’t expecting...
February 14, 2020
I Started a YouTube Channel!
I started a YouTube channel!
After several months of thinking, planning, and panicking – I posted my first video!
Setting up the channel was easier than I thought.
I created a channel header on Canva. I use Canva to make a lot of promotional graphics for my books. Since I’m no graphic designer (though I know an amazing one, if you ever need one!), some of the things that I’ve created have never seen the light of day (and a few that I have posted maybe should have stayed in the deep dark “...
January 28, 2020
Writing Faster
I’m trying to learn how to write faster.
I know faster isn’t always better, but I keep getting stuck in these drafts. I type fast. Often faster than my brain works, but I freeze up. I nitpick over small details.
No, it doesn’t matter if she’s baking blueberry or blackberry pie. I constantly have to remind myself – you can always change it in the next draft!
So that’s why I’ve become fascinated with techniques on writing fast.
Get it done, then revise!
Here are 3 Tips for Writing Faster –
1....
December 5, 2019
Writing Update and Goals!
I work seasonally as a parking lot striper. It’s a wonderful, but sometimes exhausting and unpredictable, job. Now that the snow has fallen here, I am fully focused on my writing projects and freelance work. I freelance as a developmental editor, and I’m taking on new clients now. If you know anyone who is looking for a developmental editor, send them my way!
I’m also working on the third book in The Magic Pie Shop series.
Book three feels like it’s taken a long time (probably because it...
November 13, 2019
Paperback copies of A Slice of Christmas Magic!
A couple days ago, I experienced that magical moment when an unknown box shows up at the doorstep. I got to hold a copy of A Slice of Christmas Magic! I don’t think this wonderful feeling will ever get old.
A Slice Christmas Magic is out in ebook now and will be out in paperback on December 12th (just 29 days away!)
September 18, 2019
A Slice of Christmas Magic Cover Reveal!
I’m so excited to share the cover of my second book – A Slice of Christmas Magic! It will be out November 1st. That’s only 44 days away for anyone (like me) who is counting down.
I’m feeling festive today! Does anyone have any unique holiday traditions? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
September 4, 2019
How Our Pets Help Us Write
As writers, we often spend our time alone with our imagination – which is wonderful, don’t get me wrong – but every now and then it helps to talk to a living, breathing being. And yes, I mean our pets.
As I’m typing this, my dog is sleeping next to me. She’s snoring so loudly, I’m longing for a nap of my own. This might be a case where she’s not actually helping me improve my productivity…
My dog has listened to me go off on angry spiels about the terrible thing my characters are doing to eac...
May 9, 2019
How to Keep Your Novel Notes Neat!
(and no, it’s not with sticky notes)
Let me start by saying, I really do love sticky notes. I use them all the time for notes, plotting, and random doodles. At this very moment, my office space is covered with colorful reminders courtesy of sticky notes.
But as I edited book 2 (A Slice of Christmas Magic, coming out later this year, eeek) I discovered a new helpful tool – spreadsheets.
I originally wrote the first two book in the Magic Pie Shop series in quick succession. The details o...
March 20, 2019
Writing Magic
Writing about magic is, well, magical – but it’s not always easy. As a child, I lived in an enchanted world full of fairies and elves (see my previous video on Magical Memories). In my books, I’m trying to capture the mysterious thrill and excitement that magic can bring to the table.
Here are a couple of the struggles I’ve faced when writing magic.
How do you balance reality and magic?
People want you to prove that magic exists (at least within your book), but how much proof is enough? H...
