Archive for February 2017

#StoryCrafter: A Twitter Chat for Writers @Writerology

As I mentioned in yesterdays post, one of my favourite Twitter chats to take part in is Story Crafter hosted by Faye Kirwin from @Writerology.

You can find detailed information about the chat and how it works at https://www.writerology.net/admin/resources/the-writerologists-guide-to-twitter-writerology.pdf. If you're interested in using Twitter and taking part in twitter chats make sure you grab a copy of the file.

The hashtag for the chat is #StoryCrafter and it starts at 8pm GMT on Sundays. Follow @Writerology and you'll see tweets like this one below to remind you about upcoming chats.

Friends new and old, come join us for an hour of writerly chat from :00! New to #storycrafter? Get the details here: https://t.co/mdA5o7oPNA pic.twitter.com/78mfQFJjI2
— Faye Kirwin (@Writerology) February 26, 2017

Sunday's topic was "A Writer's Search History" and asked the following questions:

Q1. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever researched for a story?

Q2. If someone looked at your search history, what would be their immediate response? Justified or not? ;)

Q3. What’s the most random research tangent you’ve ever gone off on?

Q4a. What’s the most eyebrow raising/incriminating thing you’ve researched (or might research) for a crime or thriller novel?

Q4b. Okay, what’s the most outlandish/alarming thing you’ve researched (or might research) for a fantasy or sci-fi novel?

Q4c. What’s the whackiest/weirdest thing you’ve researched (or might research) for a romance/contemporary novel?

Q5. Let’s have some funny Google auto-completes! Start asking Google a research question for your WIP and share what it says!

Here's a few of snippets from the chat:

This is a good example of why I enjoy this chat so much. Chatting with awesome people like @KSekouM

@Writerology I can go from ways to kill people to historical clothing in a flash. #nolimits #StoryCrafter
— Jo Linsdell (@jolinsdell) February 26, 2017
*moves to the other side of the room and places a bundle of corsets between us* #storycrafter https://t.co/K6Ym4225jx

— The Black Pantser (@KSekouM) February 26, 2017

@KSekouM actually corsets can be turned into great weapons. Could use just a piece e.g. Strings or the whole thing 😳 #StoryCrafter

— Jo Linsdell (@jolinsdell) February 26, 2017

@jolinsdell I CANT MOVE ANY FURTHER!!!! #StoryCrafter

— The Black Pantser (@KSekouM) February 26, 2017

@KSekouM it's ok. I scare myself sometimes #storycrafter pic.twitter.com/xDZ0WKN69n

— Jo Linsdell (@jolinsdell) February 26, 2017

Then there was this bit discussing escaping from crocodiles...

@Writerology how to escape from a crocodile 🤔 Was going to search for from car but crocodiles are always fun 😉 #StoryCrafter

— Jo Linsdell (@jolinsdell) February 26, 2017

@jolinsdell @Writerology I may actually need to know this! #Storycrafter

— Kelly Phillips (@OtterGoddessKel) February 26, 2017

@OtterGoddessKel @Writerology Google is your friend. Soooo much info about crocodile attacks and escaping them 🐊

— Jo Linsdell (@jolinsdell) February 26, 2017

@jolinsdell @Writerology #plottwist #makeitreal

— Katja Rammer (@KatjaRammer) February 26, 2017

@KatjaRammer @Writerology 😃 pic.twitter.com/ZF0qKgbxeq

— Jo Linsdell (@jolinsdell) February 26, 2017

Now need to come up with a scene where someone escapes from a crocodile...

And then there were little gems like this one:

#storycrafter A5: lmfao! The contrast... pic.twitter.com/WEfN6cdc5i

— Leigh M. Lorentz (@LeighMLorentz) February 26, 2017

The chat was great fun and branched off into loads of conversations. It was also good to know that I'm not the only one with questionable search history...

A4a Torture techniques, assassination strike zones, where to hurt w/o damage, poisons/toxins. I'm sure I'm on watch lists. #storycrafter https://t.co/UMcf6FXF5M

— Kaelan Rhywiol (@KaelanRhy) February 26, 2017

Thanks to @Writerology and everyone who took part in the #StoryCrafter chat. It's been fun... & and nice to know I'm not the only weirdo 😜

— Jo Linsdell (@jolinsdell) February 26, 2017

Do you take part in Twitter chats? Which are your favourites? Are you a Story Crafter regular too? Share below.

Want to know more about using Twitter? Check out my book How to be Twittertastic.

How to be Twittertastic by @jolinsdell http://amzn.to/2m2Tmw0 #TwitterTips #MustRead

Life Update and Writing Challenge Progress

Time for a general update...

This video is good place to start:

Story Crafter Twitterchat

Being ill has slowed me down considerably but, as I'm a workaholic, I haven't stopped completely. Last night for example I took part in the weekly #StoryCrafter chat on Twitter. The chat is hosted by Faye Kirwin from @Writerology (if you don't already follow her, you should). I try to take part every Sunday.

Moving on... last nights chat was about search history. It was loads of fun, insightful, and nice to discover I'm not the only weirdo out there ;) I'll do a separate post to cover the chat in more detail tomorrow.

More Twitterchats

StoryCrafter isn't the only Twitterchat I regularly take part in. I have a few favourites, and will be doing a post soon to share them all with you. Not only are they a lot of fun to do, and great for meeting other writers/readers, they are awesome resources. Packed with tips, advice, and suggestions. If you know of a great Twitterchat for writers/readers please let me know the hashtag and I'll check it out.

Ideas, ideas, and more ideas.

Slowing down with my workload is always a risky business. The main problem being that my brain relaxes just enough to let more ideas to get in. Seriously ideas are like rabbits. There's no stopping them once they start multiplying. My brain goes into hyper-drive!

Anyway, I've added several pages to my ideas swipe file of ideas for articles, books, and webinars. I'll be putting together some new free resources soon too so make sure you check back to the free resources page.

#PromoDay2017

I've been organising things for this years Promo Day event too. Find full details about this awesome FREE online event at www.PromoDay.net. Hope to see you there :)

Writers and Authors

I've been doing some updating over at www.WritersAndAuthors.info too. New graphics, and scheduling blog posts for the coming months. If you'd like to be featured on site please check out the submission guidelines on the website.

Book promotion

With the KOSMOS series releasing a new book each month, I've also been busy finding hosts, filling out forms, answering interviews, writing guest posts, etc... I'm touring all year through so if you'd like to host me on your blog, or even on your social media channel, please get in touch.

Book Cover Designs

I've also been working on some new book cover designs for clients. I can't share them all with you yet but will as soon as the official cover reveals are in place. If you'd like to know more about my cover designs, pricing, etc... check out http://www.jolinsdell.com/p/premade.html. Feel free to email me about custom designs.

Reading

And last, but not least, I've been catching up with my TBR list. I finished reading Seven Days to Goodbye by Sheri Levy (will film and upload my review soon). I also made progress on Sparks of Light by Janet B. Taylor, and now wish I'd read Into the Dim first.

I'm also been working my way through How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically by Carolyn Howard-Johnson. Loads of great tips and info!

Well that's me in a nutshell. Good job I'm taking it slow ;)

Book Club Discussion Questions for The Pendant #BookClub #Books #KOSMOS

Reading The Pendant with your book club? I've got you covered ;) Here's a few questions you might want to think about:

1) What does the following excerpt tell us about the relationship between Matt and his mum?

Matt was torn between wanting to let her hug him and wanting to run away. There was something about a mum hug that always felt so right. The safety, and warmth of her arms was so inviting. He wished he could stay there forever. Then he remembered all the reasons why he was upset and pushed her away. "What do you care anyway?" he said."That's not fair Matt" said his mum."Life's not fair" said Matt, slamming the dishwasher door. He leaned against the white, flat-level cabinets. Pushing his hands into his pockets, he narrowed his eyes at her.

2) Is Alex right? What small changes do you think Matt could make to make his life better?

"Well what do you want to change?""Everything" said Matt."Start smaller" said Alex smiling at him. "You need to change the little things first and then the big changes just kind of happen by themselves".

3) Should Matt have gone with Alex to help Andrew? Do you think he was a coward for not going? What would you have done in the same situation?

"Alex, don't" he said trying to grab his friend by his shirt sleeve but he was too late. Alex was already heading over to where Eric was pointing down at Andrew and laughing. This is not going to end well, thought Matt. He didn't know what to do. Sure he wanted to follow his friend and offer back up as they valiantly defended poor Andrew. He knew it would just mean more trouble in the long run though. Eric already had it in for him. The last thing he needed was to annoy the guy more. He felt like a coward, and knew that Alex would hate on him for not having his back, but fear made him stay where he was. Alex could hold his own when he wanted too. Oh God, please don't get beaten up, begged Matt as he watched the scene unfold.

Is your book club reading The Pendant? What questions did you discuss? Leave a comment below or drop me an email.