#WriterWednesday - May 23rd 2018

IMPORTANT: the new European Union privacy legislation known as "GDPR" (General Data Protection Regulation) comes into effect on May 25, 2018. This regulation initially impacts European Union member countries and aims to protect people from companies selling personal data. For more information - including what you need to know if you're an author - you may wish to check out this post.

I think Google/Blogger puts up a notice about cookies when you first visit my blog. However, I thought I'd make sure I'm completely covered, so I have added the following mesage to my sidebar, below the thing about copyright:

Please note: any cookies on my website are used to ensure normal website functions (for instance, Youtube videos won’t work without their own identifiers). These cookies cannot be switched off because the website wouldn’t work properly anymore. However, these identifiers do not store any personal data.

I have also added the following message to our "contact us and find us elsewhere" page:

Please note: by contacting either one of us via any of the following options, you are agreeing to be contacted in return. However, any information you share with us will not be shared with others, or used in any way we do not first obtain your permission for.

I will arrange for something to be put on my actual website about that last one too. Maybe I should also mention the cookie thing on there. I don't think my website does that, but just in case...

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In case you missed last week's post: "Vinnie The Vegetarian Zombie" is now available in audio, narrated by Jenny Bacon. The audio book can be purchased via Audible, Amazon, and iTunes; click on the post I linked to just now for links, as well as full details of where you can buy the book in all available formats, including eBook and paperback. I only realized afterwards that it turned out I was announcing that one being available during National Vegetarian Week, which I thought was kind of cool.

That's all the news I have for you on my books and writing right now, because none of the other audio books are released at the cut-off time for this post - though some will be soon - and I'm still struggling to get any writing time in (other than the time I used to get ahead on blog posts where possible) so I don't even have any updates for you on that. If you're dealing with issues yourself right now, here's a post that gives some advice on how to deal with the real life "plot twists" that keep you from writing.

On the other hand, if you're dealing with writers' block, or struggling to get your muse to show up at the times you actually have a chance for a good writing session, you may like to check out these ideas for writing practice. In theory, they'll help you get started. Of course, after that it will be up to you to keep it going. With that in mind, here's a trick to help you start writing when you don't know what to write about.

So... What hinders your creativity? Also, how do you find time to write, and do you really not have time for that? Only you know the answers, but perhaps the posts I just linked to will help you figure things out.

While you're thinking about it, bear in mind the parts of writing no one talks about, because they'll be your reality if you want to take this writing thing seriously. Oh, and here's a fun trick to make your writing time more fulfilling (and more productive).

No matter what you find works for you, when it comes to your writing, don't forget the plants and payoffs in your story.

Also, if you're writing a prequel to whatever story or series you've written before, you might want to check out these tips to writing prequels and not hurting the originals, so you don't end up disappointing your readers.

On the other hand, if it's your book blurb you could do with some help with, check out this post on writing the dreaded book blurb.

By the way, do you write mysteries? Or, would you like to? If you answered, "yes," to either of those, check out Rachel's blog where she's been doing her anual mystery month posts, such as this one on writing the mystery novel. In fact, since mystery authors and mystery themed "short story Sundays" are involved, some of the posts may appeal to you if you're a mystery reader who doesn't write in that genre, so you might want to go check them out either way.

Regardless of the genre you write for, if you write middle grade books, you'll want to check out these six golden rules of writing middle grade. You can generally apply those rules to writing for children of any age, not just the 12 year olds the article mentions.

No matter what you read or write though, always remember: everyone is good at something - including you!