Tag Archives: world building

June is coming fast

Posted by jeicjackson on

Twisted Magics will be available in 5 weeks on June 21st. In the meantime, I’ve linked to several places that pre-orders can be placed below.

To add to the fun, I will be taking questions from the comments that I will answer in my post next week. I didn’t get any questions last week. /sadface

So I’ll talk about some other stuff.

What have I been doing since completing this project? Working on book 2. I’ve reworked the ending to something I’m more content with, though there is still a long way to go. I’m also working on a shorter piece that would be a good backstory for book 2 (actually, I wrote it to work out the events and how these characters interacted back then), but is way too big to end up as a prologue (I wouldn’t do that to you guys).

I’ve also been working on critiques for the past few days. I can spend quite a bit of time on a particular document and sometimes I wonder if I’ll be heard. It also follows to when I was recently asked about speaking to a group about my indie publishing experience. I worry that the particular audience will not be willing to listen to what I have to say. Now, let me clarify – I don’t expect anyone to follow exactly what I say. I am not any type of authority on the matter, but I’d like to have what I do say considered.

3D Mock Up

And now the information on how to get a copy of Twisted Magics!

Ebook versions are available for pre-order through Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, iBooks, and Kobo.

Print copy pre-orders are available through my online store. I will begin shipping these on June 14th. If you would like me to sign/write something inside the book, please mark it in the special instructions.

That outlining thing

Posted by jeicjackson on

So, while I was updating Scrivener, I was going through my files and trying to organize it a little better. I found a Word document with notes to myself on another book in the series (was going to be book 2, but it felt too soon for that story). Took it and transcribed it in with the couple of notes I already had in my OneNote wiki…

…and then without meaning to, wrote an outline.

Why?!

I’m sure things will change by the time I get to it. NaNoWriMo 2016 anyone? Though that one has turned out to be much larger than the one for this year’s project. I’m still concerned – I have quite a bit of wiggle room, but I’m not sure how well I will do following an outline. Perhaps my world has become too complex not to outline. I’m also worried that relationships between characters will start feeling rushed or unrealistic. Is it because I’ve been mentally working my way through the greater story and how things will develop over time? I don’t know.

Those that are still questioning how I wrote an outline without meaning to, the short answer is I started writing. The story played its major parts in my mind as quickly as I could type. Then I looked up and instead of a couple of notes, I had a page full of notes.

Good or bad, I don’t know yet. November is coming quickly so we’ll see what it brings. I’m hoping that I can get in with a couple of write-ins during NaNoWriMo.

Something new

Posted by jeicjackson on

Oooh, look, 2 days and 2 posts. Scary.

Getting back on topic, I’m giving something new a try. So far I’ve kept my notes and whatnot in Scrivener. Good spot, easy access… you get the idea.

However, given that I’m still impatiently waiting the release of an iOS version of Scrivener, and copying all of those notes from one project to another as I continue in this world… I’m starting to see the signs that I’ve outgrown that particular function. A friend of mine was talking about a personal Wiki she keeps on her computer for her world and had to inquire further. Especially after coming up short on my searches.

She uses WikidPad and from what little I researched before downloading and installing, it sounded good. Toying with it a bit, I soon came to realize the limitations that I would personally encounter. For someone that has access to a laptop that can be mobile or doesn’t mind being tied to one machine, it would be great. My mobile option is my iPad… not so friendly with Windows programs. I haven’t uninstalled the software, but I’m not actively pursuing using it at the moment. Still contemplating the “just get a damn laptop” option for down the road as I don’t like being stuck in my office.

Especially not with a very active 3 year old free in the house.

My search turned up an alternative that may work: OneNote. Has an iOS app. Dropbox compatible. Sounds like a good deal? Except I heard it can be a lot more work to try and keep organized. I’ve been toying with it for a little bit and so far seems fairly straight forward. Snagged some tips from this Reddit post. Let the experiment begin. I’m hoping this will turn out to be a wonderful tool to use to keep my world organized.