MAKING TIME FOR WRITING

Unless you’re among the extreme minority of writers who make a comfortable living off of those words you create, time is never on your side. Long gone are the days of wealthy patrons who adopt a poor writer and set them up in a spare room on their estate. Or is that just a fantasy we writers like to dream that there used to be?

My bills are paid by my day job as a bookseller. Actually, I live in San Diego. So, it takes my bookselling job and my wife’s bookstore job, and her library job to pay the bills. Even when I was a full-time reporter, I didn’t make a living at it. I’ve always had to juggle my writing time around the paying bills time.

If you have the same problem, I’ve listed below the ways I fit time for writing into my daily work life. Hopefully, some of the ideas will work for you as well. Also, if you have any suggestions, please leave a comment.

• PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS A WRITER’S FRIEND: Taking the bus to work gives me 30-40 minutes of uninterrupted writing time on the way to and from work. Either I carry my laptop or use my cell phone to type away on my current WIP or work on notes.

• CARRY YOUR WORK WHEREVER YOU GO: I use the Scrivener writing program. It allows me to go back and forth between my laptop and phone with ease. Anything I write is updated on my other devices. Whenever I’m stuck someplace with nothing to do but wait, I can whip out my phone and knock out a couple of paragraphs.

• TURN OFF DISTRACTIONS: TV and social media are time suckers. Limit your social media time. If you’re on social media, try to make it benefit your writing by sticking to writing groups and posts. Watching TV is fine. But limit it to set times.

• GET YOUR FAMILY INVOLVED: I don’t mean have them help you write. Although, my wife is a great beta reader for me. What I mean is to have your family understand and support your writing goals. Let them know that you’ve set aside time to write and ask them to help you stick to it. I tell my wife that she’s free to nag me when I neglect my writing.

• STAY ORGANIZED: Writing is work. Plan your writing time. Keep your projects organized so you can drop in and out without getting lost. I have a separate email account just for my writing. I use it to email myself story notes, research, and other things directly related to my writing. In that email account, I’ve created folders for each project as well as markets, research and more. That way, I never have to go searching very far for my information.

• KEEP OTHER PROJECTS GOING: I say there’s no such thing as writer’s block if you have more than one project going. If you’ve hit a spot in your novel where the path has grown dark, jump onto another project and dedicate some time there while you give the other project time to rest. It could be something as simple as a short story or even an outline. Not writing is a creativity killer.

All of the above have helped me out. However, I admit that I sometimes get sidetracked and have to correct my course. One thing that’s helped is that I’ve tried to make writing a daily habit. After a couple of weeks of setting aside a certain time to write, you will become uncomfortable if you don’t do it. It will become something you have a desire to do. Try it.

I hope that some of the above ideas help you. Writing isn’t easy. Like anything worthwhile, you have to make it a priority. Give it some dedication, and your writing will reward you. Now, quit reading this and go write.

Thanks for reading,

J.A. Jensen

WHAT SCARES YOU?

Ask a dozen people what scares them and you’ll get a dozen different answers. For our little discussion, let’s put aside the “Real World” terrors such as cancer, job loss, Covid-19, or speaking in public. Instead, let’s dip our toes into the murky waters of supernatural horrors.

For me, it’s a tie between ghosts and demons. Ghosts in general don’t scare me as much as the idea of them popping out unexpectedly. If I was on a ghost investigation, I’d expect a ghost to show up when asked to appear. However, the thought of that ghost showing up in my bedroom uninvited, sends chill bumps down my arm.

Although, I’ve been in situations that were ripe for the opportunity to encounter ghosts, I’ve never seen anything. I’ve been to the notoriously haunted Whaley House, spent the night four different times on the Queesn Mary, and have visited graveyards all around the Deep South, nothing. Sure, there were creepy vibes. However, I didn’t see or hear anything supernatural.

Having been raised in a Southern Baptist background, demons are another subject that will give me the creeps. Unlike ghosts, demons are supposed to be intentionally malevolent. What makes it worse is that religion teaches that even discussing or studying about them can call in all sorts of bad things into your life. When I was in elementary school, I made the mistake of sneaking out to the family room to watch a late-night screening of The Exorcist. When the image of a demon flashed for an instant on the screen, I was terrified that it wasn’t a part of the film. Instead, I was scared that the image was just for me. I stayed that way until I found another kid who saw the movie and confirmed what I saw.

What adds to my fears is my near-sightedness. So, things in the dark are even harder to define. Add to that a vivid imagination, and the shadow of a lamp becomes a wraith hovering in the corner. Oh, and don’t get me started about the latest reality ghost shows that purport to show videos of little “shadow people” skittering along darkened hallways. And the demon that appears in the darkened corner of the opening episode of the new show, Evil? Good God, that creeped me out.

My biggest fear is a darkened window. I avoid looking into darkened windows for fear I will see a ghostly or evil face staring back at me. Even since I can remember, I’ve had to have the curtains drawn at night. Without knowing it, my mother fed into this fear one night long ago. I was sitting at my desk, doing my homework. The night before, I lay in my bed, listening to the CBS Radio Mystery Theater (this was in the 70’s). The story had a ghost that would appear along with a sweet perfumed scent on the night air. This particular night, the Jasmine outside of my window was in full fragrant bloom. My mom thought it would be funny to scratch at the screen of my window. According to her, I slowly stood up and backed out of the room without ever looking towards the window.

So what supernatural thing scares you? Do you fear monsters? Do zombies haunt your dreams? Leave a comment below with your fears or stories of terror. And please stay away from my window at night.

ANGELS AND DEMONS

As well as being a writer, I’m also a bookseller. More specifically, I’m a bookseller at an Indie Bookstore. As such, I abhor what Amazon has done to small businesses, particularly small bookstores. Profit margins are razor-thin for any small business. For bookstores, that margin runs the average of 30-45 % on a good day. Since Amazon has little overhead and can afford to slash book prices in order to gather more Prime customers, they can dominate the market. There’s hardly a day goes by that a customer doesn’t ask if we will match an Amazon price.

Now, with the explosion of online publishing, anyone and their grandpa can publish a book and sell it a dozen different ways. Granted, that means there’s a lot of crap out there. Agents, editors, and publishers have always acted like a filter. True, crap still got published. However, there was some level of professionalism. Also, there was a lot of cookie cutter stories and an industry that didn’t pay much attention to writers that wanted to experiment with the written word. For that matter, they also didn’t pay much attention to when readers wanted to read something fresh and different. If it didn’t meet the established mold, it wasn’t going to hit the big box bookshelves.

A lot of those types of writers and readers flocked to places like Amazon when it started it’s publishing division. Here, they found a place that would print just about anything. Additionally, writers were actually making some money. A lucky few were even making good money.

But there’s a catch.

There’s an ocean of content out there now. Writers have to spend as much time promoting themselves as they do actually creating. Gathering followers and garnering “likes” has become a part of the whole writing process. We’ll do anything to get the reader’s attention.

That’s where I come to my dilemma. As a bookseller, I hate Amazon. As a writer, I want readers. I have an agent. I’ve been published in two anthologies and they are on sale in the bookstore where I work. I’m working on a novel that I hope will be picked up by a traditional publisher. However, I also want to reach more readers. There are so many stories and characters that I want to get out there.

So, I went down to the crossroads and did a little deal with the devil. The crossroads is called Kindle Vella. It’s a place where I can submit a serialized story. It allows me to experiment with a character and hopefully get some reader feedback. I try to sooth my conscience by telling myself that such a work wouldn’t be carried by a bookstore anyway.

Still, I feel a little dirty.

BTW, you can find the story here: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/episode/B09J38Q784

Thanks for reading.

SOCIAL MEDIA: NECESSARY EVIL?

Once a month, a group of fellow writers attend a group meeting called The Writers Coffeehouse. First created by NYT Bestselling author, Jonathan Maberry, there are several Coffeehouses across the states and I believe in the UK. Since Covid, the meetings have been over Zoom. We talk about some of the latest publishing trends as well as discuss best writing practices and celebrate recent successes.

Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about social media. Most authors these days know they have to have some sort of social media presence. However, some authors are saying agents and publishers aren’t even interested in your pitches don’t include your social media tags. At the very least, you need to be on Facebook and Twitter to reach readers. LinkedIn is expected if you want to network with other writers , agents, and publishers. Some adventurous writers are even attempting to crack the code of how to use TikTok.

One piece of advice about social media that I’ve taken to heart - keep politics and religion off of your author sites. Take a tour through my author Twitter or author Facebook and you’d never know where my thoughts on those subjects reside. I don’t even click like or comment on other writer’s posts on those subjects.

Many writers have no problem using their author pages to espouse their views. Most of them are well established with loads of fans and enough royalties coming in to not worry about fallout too much. Since I’m still trying to break into the business, I don’t have that luxury. To be honest, even if I did have the following of Stephen King, Don Winslow, or Chuck Wendig, I’m not sure if I would have the nerve.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m quite opinionated. My personal Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are fair game for my personal views. For my political soapbox, I have an anonymous Twitter account. I take a perverse pleasure in poking fun at people drunk with power or spouting nonsense.

So writers, how do you handle social media? Comment below.

WIP - A Florida man....

I’ve written two short stories involving Sherlock Holmes and one novel based on the twin brother of Hercule Poirot. A novel based on Edgar Allen Poe’s Auguste Dupin currently sits at 40k. However, the photo above represents my current project.

As you can imagine, my present work is not my usual historical mystery. In fact, it takes place in contemporary Northwest Florida. Why there? Well, aside from the fact that I was born there, like Carl Hiaasen, I know that Florida is ripe with colorful, crazy characters.

My private detective lives aboard a converted tugboat, much like the one above. That’s only one thing that makes him unusual. Most notable, he’s 4’6”. Having a detective with dwarfism is not unknown. George Chesbro had a detective named, Dr Robert Frederickson (known from his circus days as Mongo). Mongo is a professor of criminology as well as a black belt in martial arts.

My creation, Butch Larson, known to his friends as Fix, is full of surprises as well. Although not a black belt, he learned self defense from his Navy Seal stepfather and is quite adept with using a tactical baton. This talent comes in handy since he’s a terrible shot and doesn't like guns.

Like the best detectives, he has his flaws. He’s currently separated from his wife and has a habit forgetting to attend their daughter’s school activities. Although he’s a loving father and husband, his intensity and habit of getting obsessed with his investigations have taken a toll on his family. Like many people with his form of dwarfism, chronic pain with his joints and bones causes him to suffer with bouts of insomnia.

His current case has him searching for a missing young boy at a Civil War re-enactment campground. Throw in homicidal twins, reptile smugglers, and a cross-dressing unfaithful husband, and the stage is set for some crazy times from the pine tree lined farms to the sugar white sands of a 19th century fort.

It’s time for me to get back to it. I left him ducking bullets.

Least Favorite Word

As writers, we love words. When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do at my grandmother’s house was break out the dictionary and encyclopedias. In elementary school,, vocabulary quizzes were my jam. To this day, I still just like looking up new words.

However, we all have words that leave an awful taste in our mouths. Words that are either used wrong or just plain gross can ruin our reading or discussion with someone you thought you respected.

I asked several writers what were their least favorite words. Here are some answers:

Kira Jane Buxton (author of Hollow Kingdom and Feral Creatures ) - chafe or giblets.

Jonathan Maberry (author of the Joe Ledger series) - decimate.”People us it wrong all the time”

Christopher Moore (author of Noir) - “If it’s for misuse, unique”

Joanne Harris (author of Chocolat) - Gravy

S A Cosby (author of Razorblade Tears) - mucous

Ok, and mine? Literally. Like Jonathan and Christopher say, people use it incorrectly all of the time. I’m sure that I could come up with more. However, that’s at the top of the list.

Post your least favorite words in the comments.

In the meantime, go out and buy the books mentioned above.

See you next week.

Writer's Companion

It’s said that writing is a lonely craft. We sit and try to pull the images from our mind’s theater and imprint them on the page. We often do this at a quiet desk, away from the intrusive world, alone. Even if we’re forced to walk among the living and write in cafes, libraries, or park benches, we’re still alone. We tune out the noise, the reality.

Yet, for many of us, we lucky few, there are writing companions. Mine sits in my lap as I my fingers brush over my other laptop. His name is Jeeves and he’s pictured above. No matter if I’m working on an edit at my desk, or pecking away at a story on the porch, he’s there by my side. He cocks his head as I try out how sentences sound when they enter the air. But he doesn't criticize.

Stephen King

It seems that most writers prefer dogs or cats. There’s much to be admired about both. For the most part, the cat is a silent partner, content to share a warm spot with you and not be bothered by your pecking at the keyboard or scribbling on a pad. Although, they do have a tendency to think of your computer as their personal heating pad.

Dogs are just content to be around you. They’ll take whatever space that you give them without too much fuss. They’re just happy to be part of the pack. Although, if someone knocks on your door, your concentration might be tested.

Earnest Hemingway

They’re our closest friend. They listen to our confessions without judgement. You can tell them your deepest fears and they’ll keep your secrets. Read them your worst prose and they’ll still stare with adoration. They’re our biggest fan.

Mark Twain

Virginia Woolf

We’ll most likely outlive them. It’s a cruel rule of nature that animal’s lives are short like the seasons. Yet, we’re writers and they are our companions. As such, their memory will live on in our words. Even if their name is not mentioned, their life essence will still permeate our prose. Our knowledge of love and loss will be earned through their passage in our lives.

George R R Martin

If you have a writing companion, please feel free to share how they enrich your life. If you don’t have one, consider heading down to your local animal shelter and adopting a new friend. I guarantee it will help your writing. If it doesn’t, well, you still win.

Take care and be kind.

Jeeves

VIOLENCE OR "LIVE AND LET DIE"

When you write a mystery, the portrayal of violence is a given. How that violence is portrayed determines what kind of mystery you’re writing. Most of my favorite mysteries have fallen more towards the Cozy side. In such, the violence is discrete and easily covered up by the nearest sheet or oriental carpet. Agatha Christie was the Queen of the Cozy. Even modern writers like Louise Penny tend to keep the gore to a minimum.

That’s not to say I don’t like a gritty mystery/thriller. I enjoy Don Winslow, Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard, and even the craziness of Tim Dorsey. I’ve read Thomas Harris and am amazed how he can even make Hannibal Lechter accessible as a human being.

Currently, I’m toeing the line between a Cozy and a Thriller. Since it involves smuggling in modern Florida, there’s bound to be violence of some sort. And yet, I find myself hesitating to step over the killing line. The people involved are seriously corrupt. However, are they corrupt enough to kill? I guess that depends on the motive. At this point, I only see them killing in self defense. Still, at least two of the minor characters are capable of killing without provocation. They’ve already threatened a kid’s life.

There’s a scene coming up where things are about to blow apart. I’m curious to see how each character reacts. They’ve thrown me some surprises so far. There are some hinted at background stories that I am just starting to explore. That’s one of the most pleasurable things about writing for me. I love watching the story play out in the theater of my mind.

I’ll let you know how it turns out later.

In the meantime, what are your thoughts on violence in books? Is there such a thing as too much? Where do you draw the line. If you’re a writer, tell me how you handle the subject.

As always, thanks for reading.

MY DAY JOB

Very few writers make a living at writing. For every Stephen King, there are thousands of unknowns, plugging away in obscurity. Even those writers who have a few publishing credits still need a day job to pay the bills.

I’ve been in bookselling for about 30 years. I’ve completed the Hat Trick of working for the three major chains (Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Books-A-Million). Granted, Borders has become the retail Dodo bird. Now, I work for an Independent Bookstore.

Working for a bookstore is great training for a writer. Even better, I’m also the Local Author Coordinator. Also, I’ve worked as an assistant buyer when I was with Borders. So, I’ve seen the process that writers go through from the start to finish.

Also, being a bookseller, I’m expected to read more than the average person. I’ve got to at least know a little about every book that we carry in the store. Granted, my actual reading will always be based on what I like to read. Still, I can direct a customer to the latest popular romance title just as easily as my favorite historical mystery.

All this exposure to literature informs my writing, just as everyday life does. I read the other day that natural writers never stop writing. Even when we’re away from the keyboard or pen, we’re still thinking about and planning our stories. Even my daily commute is not wasted. I’m either listening to an audio book or tapping away on my phone. Thank you Scrivener for having an IOS app.

Will I ever be able to quit my “day job” to write full time? Maybe. However, the odds are not in my favor. Still, as a bookseller, I not only see the great books being published, I also see the crap out there as well. So, I have undying hope.

Either way, I’ll never stop writing. I wrote my first short story in elementary school. There’s no stopping now.

Have a great writing week. Please leave a comment or say hello.

WRITER'S BLOCK (DOES IT EXIST?)

I’ll put it right out there. For me, there’s no such things as writer’s block. I’m never at a loss for ideas or projects. There’s not a minute in the day that I don’t wish I could be making stuff up.

There are, however, lots of things that get in the way of my writing.

• WORK - I work in a bookstore. Very few writers actually make a living as a writer. With a 50 minute commute both ways to work and 9 hours there, that’s 10 hours and 40 minutes that I can’t write. Add onto that the fatigue after working retail, and it’s hard to get motivated to put the butt in the chair.

• PROCRASTINATION - Even though I’m thinking about my stories and characters constantly, I often make up excuses to avoid actually sitting down to do the work. Creating something from nothing isn’t easy. Oh, it’s easy when it’s knocking around in my mind. But translating that into screen time takes discipline.

• LIFE - The world doesn’t stop so that you can sit down and create. There are bills to pay, family to keep in touch with, groceries to buy, meals to cook, etc. Every minute spent on the daily grind of life steals time from writing.

So, those are the three main things that I have to contend with while I try to write. None of them are writer’s block. They’re all just adjustments. I don’t have the magic key to solving them. Instead, I get up each day and try to do better.

The most important thing for a successful writer to do is to not give up. If you didn’t write today, then write tomorrow. If your story got rejected, tighten it up and send it out again. If you don’t know where your story is going, set it aside and work on something new. But above all, don’t stop.

If you keep writing, you’ve done better than 90% of anyone who’s said they want to write. If you don’t write, 100% of the trash that gets published is better than your best intentions. Don’t compare your writing to anyone else. Write what makes you happy. If you keep working on it, there will be a reader for it. Hell, there may even be a market for it as well.

Tell me what you think. Do you believe in writer’s block? What keeps you from writing?

Thanks for reading. Have a great writing week.

-James