Mishka Jenkins's Blog, page 6

Romance Writers Weekly #lovechatwrite

It’s Romance Weekly time! Hello to all joining from Jo Richardson’s blog.

Something a little different this week.

We are to write a love letter, less than 400 words, including the words- sweet (cheated a bit and used, bittersweet), brush, and pumpkin!

I actually wrote this on my lunch break today, so it’s not brilliant, but it was great fun to try out something new! :D I think the love letter should definitely come back into fashion!

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To my dearest,

I can no longer brush these feelings aside. It has been too long to ignore what we once had, what we could have again.

How can you not see what I offer? Why will you not accept what I give?

You tell me it would be too much to bear, but I will bear it for the both of us. Bittersweet it may be, short it may be, but forgettable it would not.

The pumpkins are glowing orange outside of my window as I write this, like beacons of memories of what we once shared in those fields.

Take what you will from me, I would sacrifice it all to have you once more.

Just once.

Forever yours…

–

Not brilliant, and a bit old-fashioned, but great fun to write :D

Now, go check out what Elizabeth Janette has written for this challenge!

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Progress Report:

Status of sixth manuscript: Writing first draft.

Word count: 5519 (Total word count: 33,887).

Books read: 2/4.

End of October Indie Review: Reading.

Switch Up!

I just want to say a BIG thank you to all the lovely encouraging and supportive comments on my last post (I may not have replied to all, but I read them all and was so touched!). It was so nice to hear from other writers who feel the same. This community really is so incredibly supportive! :)

Today is the first day of just giving myself over to writing, I am doing this blog post on my lunch break! :D It has been nice though, it was lovely to start writing this morning and have no pressure to finish at a certain time so as I could begin social media, I actually think the quality of my writing improved for it!

Anyway, I had a nice plan of action in place for the book I’m working on at the moment.

It was my usual plan- Write the first draft, edit the next month, and then release. So release day would have been the end of November.

But, this book is different then normal as it’s the first book in a series; a series I have been thinking about writing for a good 2 years now.

As I began writing my first draft I knew I was going to need more time with it. More time with these characters I’ve been cultivating for years and more time to delve into the start of this series I’ve loved planning for so long!

So, I’ve had a change of plan. My plan now is to work on the first draft (still finish by the end of this month!) and then give myself two months for editing.

In November I am going to work on a short Christmas novella to release in December, then January and February I am giving over completely to re-writing and doing drafts of the current first book in my series.

I hope that makes sense :D

I do have to say, this is part of the reason I love self-publishing. I have no set time or specific book I need to work on. If I want or need to change up the order I release books or write books, I can! That is really a huge plus for writing and publishing books on my own!

Have you guys ever changed your writing plans? Have you started one book and then begun another at the same time?

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Progress Report:

Status of first manuscript: Writing first draft.

Word count: 2232 (Total word count: 28,368).

Books read: 2/4.

End of October Indie Review: Reading.

Being a Writer= 10% writing and 90% everything else!

When I started this blog my main goal was to be honest, I wanted to record this journey and be truthful about how it was going and how I felt about it. This is one of those posts :D

So, over the past few days I’ve been in a bit of a weird head space!

I love writing and I’m very lucky to be able to dedicate all of my time to it as my full time career.

But when I thought about it, I’m not dedicating my full time to it. I write for around 1.5-2 hours a day, five days a week and though that’s a lot more than most people get the chance to do, it’s still not enough for me.

Most of my workday is spent doing social media.

Now, I’ve gone on about my inability to make proper use of social media before :D I’m also not good at using it for marketing, etc.

I’d say I’ve not done bad in book sales, more than some indie authors, but I also have to say that not seeing a rise in sales throughout the year but just a steady stream, kind of put me in a bit of a funk.

Why was I spending so much time on creating my author platform etc, if it isn’t going to help with sales?

Now, my writing isn’t all about they money :D But I do want to make a living off of it and though I understand I am a new author, it can be incredibly disheartening to see indie authors put out one book and they get to number 1 without seeming to do much at all, and my books float in the sea with the rest.

It just got me thinking about if I am using my time wisely. If my hours on social media aren’t gaining me sales or getting my name out any further, should I be spending so long on it?

As you probably have heard me say many times before, I really don’t like marketing! Those who do it well are successful, but I don’t do it well, I barely do it at all. The thought of shoving my work in people’s faces constantly really drains me and social media is a part of that. Trying to get my name out there and my work recognised is emotionally exhausting because I’m just not that type of person.

Now that I have established myself with a blog and things, is it time to allow myself to take a step back and wait for my books to speak for me?

What I’m trying to say is, I miss writing.

I could write all day if I could :D And that’s exactly what I’m going to do for a while.

I have made the decision that for the rest of the month, I am going to take a bit of a back seat on the social media thing. I’ll have a few blog posts, but not too many I don’t expect. I will still read others blogs, because I always enjoy your guys posts and find some great tips and information! But I probably won’t comment as much as I normally do.

I think not commenting as much on others blogs is part of my hesitance to cut back on blogging and social media. I have made a great many blogging friends and am so incredibly grateful for their support, I like to show mine by commenting and sharing their posts.

The social media side of things is important, I know, it’s the only way to get my name out there, but I really need to just write for a while, to give my everything to the craft I love so much.

So, if I’m not commenting as much as usual, please don’t think I’m not reading, because I will be! I hope you guys understand :)

Have a brilliant weekend everyone, I hope it’s a good one!

Books and Reading Wednesday: Books on my Bookshelf

I struggled to write my mid-October review this month, though I will try again and maybe put it up middle of next month. But for now, have another post from my new series, Books on my Bookshelf :D

(Books on my Bookshelf is not a review, just my personal memories and feelings on the books I own).

The book this time is Odalisque by Fiona McIntosh.

I wasn’t given this book and I didn’t buy it, it was a book that was in one of the bookcases in the house and I was looking for something different so picked it up, now it sits in my bookcase :D

I have to be honest and say it’s not a book I remember fondly. I didn’t really enjoy it and what I most definitely remember is that it was a slog to get through!

It’s a book I read a few years ago, when I was trying to better my reading habits. Mostly I think I lay in bed, glancing at the clock and hoping my one hour reading slot was nearly over as I read it. I did finish it, but only because I forced myself to.

There is one scene particularly that I remember from the book, and is the main memory I have of it (SPOILERS for those who plan to read it or are reading it).

It was a scene where the mother of the new king (emperor, tsar? I can’t remember), takes the sons of the other women in the harem and lures them outside saying they are going to play. She makes them all crawl into red velvet bags and then has elephants trample all over them.

Now, I’m sure this wasn’t all that uncommon in reality in ancient times (killing of rivals, etc), but still, it’s a scene that stuck out to me and not for good reasons.

There was also another very detailed, gruesome scene about a man becoming a eunuch. Not so nice.

Though I have to say, I didn’t realise there were different types of eunuchs, so it taught me something! :D

Overall, it’s not a book that has me remembering much, I actually don’t even remember what the story was about.

This is just my opinion! I’m sure there are loads of people who loved it and that’s great too!

Random quote: ‘Seeing his friend so broken had sickened him sufficiently that when he had strode from the balcony he had actually lost his morning’s meal into the bushes not far from his chambers.’ (Hm, lovely!)

Favourite thing about the book: The setting. I did love the setting, the deserts and the kind of Persian/Arabian feel it had to it.

Least favourite thing: Unnecessary detail. Felt like a lot of it was in there just to gross people out.

Something I took away from the book: Not every story suits everyone, even if you enjoy the genre!

So there you have it, another book from my bookshelf!

Do you have a book that you don’t remember fondly? Have you ever forced yourself to finish a book you weren’t enjoying?

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Progress Report:

Status of sixth manuscript: Writing first draft.

Word count: 2503 (Total word count: 26,006).

Books read: 2/4.

End of October Indie Review: Reading.

The First Draft- It’s a love/hate thing.

One of my major flaws as a writer (and as a person) is my need to get everything perfect first time around.

You see how this could be a problem when it comes to writing? :D Considering the amount of drafts we have to do before we get something we’re pleased enough with to publish?

Writing a first draft can, at times, hurt me.

Staring at this horrible screen of text that isn’t perfect, that isn’t lovely, that sometimes doesn’t even make sense; it doesn’t do me any good!

But I have gotten better over this year since writing has become career. The first draft has to be written, no matter how I do it, it is the foundation of my book. If I don’t write, then I’m not doing my job! :D

The way I like to look at a first draft is that it is the skeleton. It is the bones of my manuscript.

The second draft is the muscles.

The third is the skin.

And from then on extra drafts and changes are the clothing, jewelry, and make up that allow my manuscript to sparkle.

Still, it’s hard. Nowadays I write my first draft without looking back at it. I just write it and keep on going. I use simple, not very active words, such as ‘pushed’, ‘pulled’ ‘looked’, etc, I even have sections where I’ve written, ‘She’s angry- describe’. I just write whatever to get that first draft down, with notes to remind me when I go back to edit.

I can then go back and change those words, make it active. make it flow. I can change the details, add description where I have left it out, etc.

But it is a struggle! When I think my writing is terrible, it puts a damper on my mood (which my poor family and friends have to deal with, sorry to them!), and I go into a fit of, ‘I suck as a writer!’ :D

But by the end, when all the layers are added, I come out of that mood having produced something I can be really proud of. A story that has been worth all the moods and hard work :)

What I’m trying to say is- Just write it. Don’t worry about language, or word use, or adverbs, or anything like that in a first draft. Just do whatever it takes to get that main bulk down.

It’s after the first draft that the real work begins ;)

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Progress Report:

Status of sixth manuscript: Writing first draft.

Word count: 2793 (Total word count: 23,503).

Books read: 2/4.

Mid-October Book Review: We won’t talk about the lack of that…

Normal Service Will Resume Shortly!

Thank you to everyone who commented on my posts over the weekend :)

I am trying to add a change to my routine which started today, and has left me completely out of whack! So, I haven’t had time to write a blog post and I haven’t been able to manage commenting on many blogs yet!

So instead, enjoy this awesome vlog review of Prophecy of Stones by Sierra of Permashift!

I always love her vlogs, she’s hilarious and always makes me smile :)

The Queen’s Jester also got an awesome review from Teri Lloyd! :)

Sorry for the all about my stuff post! Will hopefully get a hang of this new routine soon.

Tomorrow won’t be a Romance Weekly post as (again) still shuffling my work around. I will have a normal post instead tomorrow though! :D

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Progress Report:

Status of sixth manuscript: Writing first draft.

Word count: 2830 (Total word count: 20,710).

Books read: 2/4.

Mid-October Book Review: Yeah, not going so well!

Posts to Check Out!

Here some of the posts that caught my eye this week!

http://arranbhansal.com/2014/10/06/arran-is-going-to-the-houses-of-parliament/ – Arran has been asked to the Houses of Parliament! So major congrats to him :)

http://juliestock.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/a-few-proofreading-tips-to-improve-your-manuscript/ – Some great tips on proof-reading your manuscript!

http://chrismcmullen.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/a-storytelling-secret/ – A cool and important lesson from Chris!

http://mystiparker.com/2014/10/06/support-an-author-support-a-business/ – I could write a whole essay in response this brilliant post. Indie authors and their businesses need support!

http://dkcreaderscorner.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/being-an-indie-author/ – Another amazing post about being an indie author and the awesomeness of the writing community.

http://lmarie7b.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/like-a-movie/ – A great post about fight scenes and cause and effect.

http://thecollegenovelista.com/2014/10/07/how-to-increase-your-writing-speed/ – Increasing your writing speed and sites to help you do that.

http://redclayandroses1.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/is-this-mass-suicide/ – A very good topic about sales and free eBooks, something all indie readers need to think of.

http://islandeditions.wordpress.com/2014/10/08/on-second-drafts/ – Brilliant advice on second drafts, this quote, ‘Write Fast, Edit Slow(ly)’ especially caught my attention!

http://chaptertk.com/2014/10/09/why-even-bother-to-read/ – A good question posed in this post!

Hope you have a great Sunday everyone! :)

Something Different

These are some photosets I made for my books to go on Tumblr, but I’d thought I’d post them here too!

“Stay,” she whispered.

Mal’s lips curled into a smile that made her request even more urgent and she gripped his shirt to yank him forwards. But he steadied his hands on the bed to remain unmoving. Alex frowned.

“I wish I could,” he replied, moving one hand to her face, his thumb running over her bottom lip. “Honestly, you have no idea how much I wish I could.”

The Magic Spark

What do a successful London businesswoman and a Scottish castle owner have in common?

A rom-com obsessed fairy godmother who won’t stop meddling in their love life!

The Magic Spark is a light, enjoyable read, full of romance, fun, and a dash of magic.

Buy Links:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Barnes and Noble

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“I would not let you lose yourself, Milana,” Riff said, grabbing her arms so as she was forced to face him, yet still she kept her gaze averted. “You see the bond, our love, as a weakness. Why can you not see that it is power? It is what gives me strength. My love for you is what gives me the strength to keep going!” His emotion-filled words echoed around them, heavy enough that they seemed to land on her skin and make her shiver.

Prophecy of Stones

The bond of love can conquer all, but only if it is accepted.

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Prophecy states that three champions imbued with the best virtues of the mortal race: heart, strength and soul, will be the ones to save them all from an enemy which threatens to steal the life from their world and those who live upon it.

Buy Links:

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Barnes and Noble

Kindle and Smashwords: Formatting Tips

I’ve had a few emails from people asking about when I publish my books on Smashwords if they go through the ‘Meatgrinder’ and how do I do it.

I have to say I’ve never had a problem with Smashwords and all my books have gone through first time with no trouble. So, instead of copying and pasting the answer to reply to the emails, I thought I would do a blog on it.

Please note that these are just some of the things I do to get my books through Smashwords and Kindle, don’t take it as fact! I highly recommend reading both Kindle’s guide and Smashwords style guide in order to better understand the process.

This is a comparison of the same manuscript (my newest release, The Magic Spark) put through Smashwords (on the left) compared to Kindle (on the right).

Kindle Formatting:

- Justified alignment.

– Max Font Size: 20.

– Font Type: Arial or Times New Roman.

– Spacing between paragraphs/lines: Not above 90pt.

– Copyright: Normal.

Smashwords Formatting:

- Left alignment.

– Max Font Size: 18.

– Font Type: Arial or Times New Roman.

– Spacing Between paragraphs/lines: Not above 98pt.

– Copyright: Must have ‘Smashwords Edition’ included.

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- The reason I don’t go over font size 18 for Smashwords is because they don’t accept a font size bigger than 20. So I make sure to keep it less so as I know my document will go through.

- I use Left alignment for Smashwords because I read on a couple of forums that Smashwords have rejected Justified alignment for others. I doubt it matters much to the average reader which alignment it is.

Some people don’t like the large gaps that can occur between words when Justified, and then others don’t like the straggling words at the end of paragraphs when left aligned. You can’t please everyone!

- Smashwords doesn’t like when you have more than two return spaces together. So check your document for them (You can see them when you press the symbol).

An easy way to do this would be to open up the ‘Find and Replace’ feature in Word, go to the bottom and you will a tab for Special, click on the ‘Paragraph Mark’ three times (or as many times as you have done it each time in document, say to add a page break) in the Find bar. In the Replace bar, click it once or twice as needed, but no more than twice.

That should replace all those unnecessary spaces.

(The code for this is ^p – which you can type into the Find and Replace bars as needed eg for 2 returns it would read ^p^p).

Same applies to the spacebar, if you accidentally hit the space bar more than once. Use the ‘Replace and Find’ function for that two, using the spacebar instead of return key to get rid of those spaces.

Make sure to use the Format>Paragraph tool to add line spaces instead of using the return key on your keyboard.

- I always use the Format>Paragraph, Format>Font, and Insert>Break tools in order to add spaces or change font type, as this formatting sticks.

- As for the copyright, Smashwords require that you state ‘Smashwords Edition’, but Kindle (from what I’ve read) don’t like it all if you put ‘Kindle edition’ or ‘Amazon edition’.

- Spelling errors, an obvious one :D But I’d thought I’d add it. After all the editing, proofreading, and sending it off to readers to check, it’s still a good idea to run your document through the spellchecker before submitting it.

I take the time to bother with Smashwords as it’s a great portal for sending out your book to so many places once you’re on the Premium catalogue. They are doing the work of changing your document into many different forms, so I think it’s only fair I take the effort to get it just right following their guidelines

I know some people have issues with Smashwords, but personally, I have had no trouble and think it’s a great site.

In the end, it’s about choosing the places that suit you and your books and finding markets that you’re comfortable with :)

These are just what I do, because I’ve been asked, please don’t think I’m telling you what to do! Again, it’s all a very personal experience about how we organise and sort our manuscripts ready for publishing, and there are many other great blogs out there with advice on it (probably better explained too!).

Well, that’s about all I do :D Formatting can be great fun, as it can let you play about with your manuscript and make it look really professional and high standard. I hope these tips help!

Have a great weekend everyone and I will be back on Monday! ( I do have some scheduled posts as usual, but I won’t be around to answer comments or emails, please don’t think I’m ignoring you! :D ).

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Progress Report:

Status of sixth manuscript: Writing first draft.

Word count: 3678 (Total word count: 17,880).

Books read: 2/4.

Mid-October Book Review: Writing review.

False Awakening by Callum McLaughlin is Out Now!

Callum McLaughlin’s new release, False Awakening is out now! I’ve been waiting for this ever since reading Callum’s last book!

Synopsis:

When teenager Abi Watson wakes in a hospital bed with no memory of the incident that put her there, she must begin the long and difficult process of piecing her life back together, but unfortunately, her search for answers will merely give rise to further questions. Frayed relationships and haunting revelations soon come into play, leading Abi to discover that some things are best left forgotten.

With a past that is unwilling to let go, her only option is to delve into the depths of her own mind so that she can uncover the truth and finally awaken from her living nightmare.

Excerpt:

Before either of her friends could speak, two police officers in full uniform filled the doorway.

“What are you two doing in here?” asked one of them. Male, tall and inherently intimidating; his ice-cold eyes moved from Dan to Luke as he swept into the room, bringing with him an atmosphere far cooler than any breeze. “We specifically told you not to speak with the victim until we had questioned her.”

The word victim made Abi’s stomach squirm again.

“We’re sorry,” said Dan, looking more uncomfortable than ever as he sidled towards the door.

“We were worried. We had to make sure she was okay.” Luke did not budge from Abi’s bedside as he looked the officer directly in the eye.

“I’m afraid we’re going to have to ask you both to leave immediately,” said the second officer. A woman who appeared at least a few years younger than her partner, she held a notebook and pen in her hands that Abi suspected were intended to document her version of events; events she still scarcely remembered besides the deeply unsettling image that had invaded her mind a mere moment ago.

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That excerpt was awesome and definitely left me wanting to know more! So, why not go buy a copy and read the rest?

Amazon UK

Amazon US

And remember to support the authors by leaving a review! :)

Bio:

Callum McLaughlin was born and raised in the Scottish countryside where he continues to live and work. Aside from his own creative writing endeavours, he operates on a freelance basis, producing content for blogs, websites and magazines.

Beyond literature, he is interested in all things music and nature, taking his biggest inspiration from the world around us.

Find out more about Callum-

Blog: www.callummclaughlin.wordpress.com

Twitter: @callum_m1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7400503.Callum_McLaughlin