Hey ,
It's me again, Stevie! Your friendly neighborhood weirdo and author of fantasy and sci-fi adventures with romance. I added what I do with my name because well, I know for myself at least the reminder helps me for all the authors I like to follow. I sign up for a bunch of author newsletters and that little nudge helps me be like, "Oh yah! I love that author, continue..." So, let's continue.
Writer's block is more Writer's Paralysis.
One of the most common questions an author receives is where do you get your ideas? And how do you push past the DOOOM of writer's block?
Such a tough question to answer because for me it's closer to writer's paralysis by a plethora of ideas. So many ideas that you're literally paralyzed by the fact that it's difficult to stay focused on just one, so you can't complete anything.
I find ideas from EVERYWHERE!
Literally pick anything and then say, "What if?"
I love fated-mates romances. A common trope for that particularly with alien shirtless hunks is slavery or abduction. So, I ask myself, "What if the hero PURPOSEFULLY sells themselves to the slave trade of another alien nation in order to escape a pursuing enemy, instead of being forced into it?" OR "What if instead of being abducted into an alien civilization, humans are PURPOSEFULLY joining the alien planet as a job opportunity?"
There are so many "What-ifs" that sometimes I'm so overwhelmed with ideas that I'm frozen in a stasis of thinking about ALL of them, and thus not moving forward on ANY of them.
There is a wise saying, "You can have ANYTHING you want, but you can't have EVERYTHING." I would add a citation for who said this, except there are TOOO many people who say this that you can't really pinpoint one person responsible for the quote.
Again, I could spiral in this very email trying to hunt down the exact person for this quote, over focusing on that aspect and not completing this email to you at all. Paralysis by too many options. Too many that you don't do anything.
So, how do you get past this MANY CHOICES PARALYSIS?
I allow that I am human and give myself permission to have days where all I do is ruminate. Then what ruminates the most, I will write out and set it aside. It's okay to have days of indecision but give yourself a deadline and write it down.
If an idea is bugging me, I give myself an hour or two of just going with it. Write what comes to mind as if I was talking to a book nerd. Meaning yes, I do include things that are not part of what would make it through to publication.
I'll give you an example, my WIPS document starts off like this:
"What if certain people in your life were meant to be there, and some of them you never wanted to see again?”
"Reelkan was a great leader named from a land-dwelling frog set to the skies on the wings of an eagle, but that name was a different story. Today everyone, but her daughter were preparing for the birthing ritual, only ten people from the village are chosen to mate for a moon cycle."
As you can see none of that so far is something that's actually part of what is published in the book. I go back and forth between bits that are actually partially writing the book, and information just for me to know what's happening, and what I want to have happen, or background information.
"Dirt rose up from the ground in mounds that looked like the mountains in the distance, but so close you could touch them, gathered in groups and scattered throughout out the land as far as Reelkan could see. She couldn’t remember a time in her life when anything else was different.
"The sands were firm, sturdy, and within them hid everything they needed beneath its surface, including the moon waters. The moons controlled when the plants would come, and when the people were most fertile. Only the best would survive, and only time would tell whether her own daughter was strong enough. Luan didn’t want any part of the annual Moon Dance, despite it being her namesake."
Then I started to write Chapter One, from Luan's POV... and next thing I knew I was writing Vareo's POV, and the alien fated-mates romance unfurled. I flipped between writing this one, and writing my other books. And it is completed and now released today on Kindle Unlimited!
This is the last day to get the book for 99 pennies for the pre-order pricing
Or you can simply read for free on Kindle Unlimited!
Rather listen to the book on Audiobook? Buy direct from me the author to help support the costs of adapting to audio for $14.95 the same cost as a credit on Audible! And first come first serve, I'll give out the Audible promo codes as a free add on to pre-orders when it's launched on Audible. Listen to it first with BookFunnel before it's available anywhere else!
Want a physical signed copy in your hand?
I still have WAY too many ideas, but I've limited myself to only have a few works in progress to flip between. I allow myself some time occasionally to flush out new ideas, but try to keep it to merely a day vacation from the ones I've decided to commit to. I called this Alien Romance, The Jewel of Estreldez, then, Jewel of the Alien Bandit, and one of the "What-ifs" for this was "What-if the female love interest was the alien with all the cool sexual amplifications, like a clit that vibrates, and energy jewels that emit bonding pheromones when they find a compatible mate? Or even the alien male is more humanoid, and the female thinks it's odd that all their reproductive organs are all exposed "GASP" on the outside?"
Haha, don't worry my raunchier works are still separated to my Sky Robert nom de plume, and yes, I'm still working on book 2 of the Acatalec Series, Acatalec Chosen, which is a more slow-burn sci-fi fantasy adventure romance.
Stay tuned for sneak peeks on the Acatalec Series, as well as other projects in the works.
Chat soon!
~Stevie (Author of stuff and things, mom of humans in training, including my husband, and currently watching Orville, a Star Trek like Comedy Series.)
PS: If you've already gobbled up Kingdom of Acatalec, or read through your free prequel book My Abett, please take a moment to share your thoughts on all the places reviews are found, even if it's simply just smashing that star button.
This helps small fries like me afford their ramen, or support their addiction to coffee which fuels the next book. Plus, reviews and ratings do help motivate me to push through my imposter syndrome to write and edit book two of the Acatalec Series faster.
Thank you from all the inky crevasses of my heart.
Review Kingdom of Acatalec on Amazon -- BookBub -- GoodReads
Review My Abett on Amazon -- BookBub -- GoodReads
And for some of you starting the Divine Series. If you've read through Blood Crescent, Blood Rebirth, or Blood Queen, please do share your thoughts on all the places reviews can be found.
Now, on to the Free stuff:
Okay soooo, the first one is all fantasy and adventure, but SINCE February is all about romance... well, I found a bunch of free group indie finds that I think are relevant to the Valentine's romance coming up, enjoy!
(winky face)
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Disclaimer: Sometimes, not all the time, I do use affiliate links, at no cost to you, and I only recommend or promote things that I personally trust, checked out, want to read or have read myself. Books that I myself would share with friends and family. I do not sell your email/information. I also do not buy/spam emails. If you are on this newsletter it is because you clicked a marketing consent when you entered a sponsored giveaway for books, grabbed a free copy of one of my books, read one of my books, saw me on socials and thought, hey that person seems like my kind of weird and decided to click that join newsletter to find out more. Either way, if you're here it is because you wanted to join me in book rants, and if you don't want to anymore you are free to unsubscribe at any time, and also welcome to return at any time as well. I think that covers things... if I missed something feel free to email me. I am a human behind these strange goings ons, so welcome to the weird, the strange, the fantastical, and all the book love I can give.
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