The Story Hunter - A Review

I'm very slow to jump onto new books. Or any book, really. (Partly because I'm soooooo behind on my TBR...)

So when I heard great things about The Story Peddler, I was like "okay, cool, I'll probably read it eventually" and then just kinda went on with my life.

Fast forward to Realm Makers 2019, and TSP is everywhere and winning allllll the awards and I was like "okay, I'm gonna get this book now."

And I did. Got it signed by Lindsey Franklin and everything. And when I read it I was blown away.

I was part of The Story Raider release and loved that book, though not as much as TSP. That being said, I hardly ever like "middles" in trilogies. They don't have the fun of first entering the world and meeting the characters, and they don't have a final ending. They just....continue on and on, if you know what I mean.

I also felt like Diggy kind of stole the show from Tanwen, and that irked me. I also wanted more time with the Weavers (and maybe a little less time of Tannie and Mor trying to ignore each other).

So I wanted for The Story Hunter, biting my nails and hoping that the final book would bring back the magic I loved in the first one.

And I wasn't disappointed.

Likes

I love Tannie so much. She's such an awesome character. I love her sense of humor and her way of seeing the world and she's so STRONG. Like, I would love to just sit back and drink a cup of tea with her and chat about sailing and country life and goofy farm boys and handsome ex-pirates and maybe she would weave me a story and I could play her a song on my mandolin.

The Corsyth Weavers. Guys. They are awesome. I really wish there was more interaction with them, because I love them all. Especially because they're all so different and yet brought together with their amazing talents and how they all help and support each other.

The writing style is just so soothing to read and enjoyable and full of life. #writinggoals 

Tannie and Mor openly admitting to loving each other are the best. I loved seeing them support each other and friendly bicker and tease and just AHHHHHHHHHHH

Also, Brac's storyline. I honestly always liked that farm boy...

Dislikes

Diggy. Now, I personally like Diggy. First off, her name is so stinkin' cute and after hearing her story I really want to (gently, lest she stab me) wrap her in a hug and tell her everything will be okay and bake her some snickerdoodles and try to get her to really smile. I liked her in TSR. But in TSH, I felt like I couldn't really get into her head at times, and some of her decisions seemed really sudden and maybe even out of character. Maybe that was the point, though? So all in all, I'll not complain much about it. It is what it is and her ending is still GOLDEN.

Braith is still boring, tbh. In all 3 books.

Final Report

I'm still going to wave these books everywhere and shove them in people's faces because these books are beautiful and fun and just full of awesome characters and an awesome world and some awesome magic and do yourself a favor and read the books. :)

Anyone else read these? Thoughts? Comments? Criticisms? Want to cry with me over the ending of TSH??

If you are interested in getting yourself a copy of this book, --->here<--- is the book page on the publisher's website. 

Tips for Co-Writing

Soooooo you still want to try co-writing? Here's a few methods that Sarah and I have found to help. If you have any others, drop them in the comments below!

Shared Google Docs

These are a life-saver. I used to hate Google Docs, but now I probably spend more time there than anything else. Sarah and I can easily view, edit, and comment on the same document and it's all accessible from phone and laptops so I can read what Sarah is writing while I'm driving the tractor around the farm.

We now have this saying "just make a shared doc for it".

For each WIP, we have a number of shared docs:

-A doc for the current draft
-A doc with an outline
-A doc where we originally brainstormed ideas

Sometimes the outline and ideas docs are combined into one. Sometimes we'll have old drafts saved as well. And we also have a doc with pictures that we shared with our illustrator.

Phone Calls

Sometimes an email won't just cut it. After doing random edits on our own, Sarah and I finally figured out a good way to do editing together. Twice a week, during lunch breaks at work, we would pull out our laptops and open the shared doc. Then we would simple take turns reading out loud and suggesting changes and discussing the scene/chapter/character.

We usually got 1-3 chapters done during a session. Once we were finished with the edits, and were working on brainstorming the next book, we continued the phone calls to discuss ideas and plots and themes out loud.

Emails and comments can easily be misread/misinterpreted. But if you can't talk in person, a phone call is the next best thing. Just put it on speaker, pull up that shared doc, and fangirl away! Any awkwardness will pass, I promise!

Define Goals

When we get together with our phone calls, we quickly set down what we hope to accomplish within the allotted time. Edit 2-3 chapters? Finish the blurb? Plan out next month's goals?

Thankfully Sarah and I both work with a "monthly goal" mindset. We have a Google Doc where we keep an outline of things that need to be done each month, and then we'll assign certain projects to each other.

Read-Through for Edits

Took us a while to figure this out, but it is the best.

When we started editing our first book, it was kind of this "jump on and fix things that you notice need to be changed" and then we'd literally be changing the same thing back and forth and missing stuff and it was basically chaos.

Then we tried something new: we got together via phone twice a week and took turns reading aloud each chapter. Not only did we get the added benefit of reading aloud (which really helps show weird sentence/grammar structure) but we could then talk over suggested edits.

Sarah would be reading, and I'd interrupt and say "oh, wait, that's weird, let's change it" and we'd discuss and make changes. I'd be reading and Sarah would stop me and say "I think this needs more description" and we'd talk about how we both imagined the scene and how to convey that.

It really works, y'all. 

Humility and Grace

You need to be willing to let things slide.

Maybe you're convinced a sentence sounds weird, but your co-writer thinks it sounds great? Just take a breath and let it slide. Are you willing to start a fight over a sentence?

Maybe your friend wants to go overboard and write some wild multi-plot-twisty story, but you want to write something simpler, especially for the first attempt at co-writing? Set out your concerns and wishes and politely ask for them to be respected.

Share Your Ideas

You may want to surprise your readers with a new character or plot twist, but do not surprise your co-writer. Instead, share you ideas and plans. They may help may them better -- or be the voice of reason that says no, don't do it.

Spend time discussing the characters and plot together. Make sure you are both on the same page. If you are constantly at odds in regards to something, it'll be a nightmare.

Also, don't just assume the other person knows what you want them to do, or what you want to happen. Err on the side of annoying over-communication instead of leaving things unsaid.

Set Aside Time to Fangirl

Usually we had set plans for our phone calls, but every now and then we'll just give ourselves permission to just scream at each other and make weird noises and shed some tears about what we'd been writing or editing or planning.

It really helps you get motivated to continue. :)

So??? Anyone else sold on co-writing??? GRAB A WRITING BUDDY AND TRY IT!!

Introducing The Pirate Hunter Chronicles

So I've got some SUPER AWESOME EXCITING NEWS TODAY!!!!

A while back, y'all might have seen the beta signups for Ships, Secrets, and Survivors (the book that Sarah Rodecker and I are writing). Well, that's been done and over and finished.

(Also, just a quick shout-out to our awesome beta readers! Y'all are so, so wonderful and your comments were helpful and encouraging and getting to see folks fangirling over this story and the characters was just a dream come true.)

In short order, here are my announcements:

Ships, Secrets, and Survivors has now become the first book in a four-book series!!!!

It's so strange to think about...it all started with me trying to write a pirate story on an old notebook...to me and Sarah trying to write a story together...to us creating an entire series.

The title of the series is (as you might have guessed by the blog post title) The Pirate Hunter Chronicles.

(so so so so exitinggggg)

There will be some more information coming out for our blogoversary in June, so stay tuned for updates!

We will be posting signups for something so stay tuned...mwahahahahhaha.

And I just want to say that I am beyond thrilled for the journey this book has taken me (and Sarah) on. 

It's a dangerous business, starting a new project. When we first started writing Ships, Secrets, and Survivors, it was a side WIP. We would occasionally pull up our google doc and work at it as we felt so inclined. It wasn't at the top of our list at all.

But then. Then. Then it grew and next thing you know, it's basically our top project. We call each other twice a week to discuss the next steps to be taken. It's been quite a journey, y'all, and it ain't over yet.

Again, keep your eyes peeled. There's some awesome times coming.

4 Cons to Co-Writing a Story

Sadly, yes, there are cons to co-writing. Maybe not so much cons as possible problems you might encounter. These can be worked around and overcome with humility and determination.

Overstepping the Bounds

I was the first one to do this in our co-writing. Basically, I went on an editing craze, and then Sarah went onto the doc and was like "You just completely re-wrote my chapter!"

Whoops.

I needed to take a step back and realize that what I was changing wasn't wrong or badly-written, it simply wasn't how I personally would have written it. And since it was in a chapter with Sarah's POV character, I should have let it shine in Sarah's writing style.

Thankfully Sarah was very gracious and we set out some more obvious boundaries and moved on.

Different Plans and Desires

I might want one thing to happen in the story. Sarah might think that's ridiculous.

We gotta talk it out and decide how to work in the things we both want to see in the story. One of us might have to give up or give in. We set down the idea we have, and discuss it. But ultimately, we may have to let our idea rest.

It's Not All Your Story

Simply put, this isn't just your story. You are sharing it. You can't claim all the credit. You don't have the final say in what happens to the plot and characters. It may be tough to get used to, especially if you've been writing on your own for years. And you might accidentally anger or annoy your co-writer if you do major (or even minor) changes without discussing things with them first.

Technical Difficulties

Working with another person aside, co-writing has it's own challenges in regards to how in the world you are going to write your story. Do you email a Word Doc back and forth? What if one person prefers Scrivener and the other uses Shaxpir? What if one person uses a different font? What if one prefers handwriting? How are edits going to be addressed?

It's complicated enough to have lots of drafts and Pinterest boards and plot charts and character sheets for one person, but now these all have to be shared with two people. And kept up to date. And yeah, it's a pain.

Still want to try co-writing? Next week I have an exciting announcement, and then I'll be back with some helpful tips and tricks!

5 Pros to Co-Writing a Story

I'm sure y'all know by now that Sarah Rodecker and I are co-writing a book together. And it's SO COOL.

Co-writing may not be for everyone, and it does take a slightly different mind-set then writing all by ourselves. But it can be really enjoyable and rewarding and exciting.

The Writer's Dream of a Story Magically Appearing in the Document

This is one of my favorite "pros" to co-writing. We are working on our story via google docs, and there is nothing so exciting as opening the doc on my phone and seeing that Sarah is currently writing her chapter.

And then I just sit there and read along as my story is being written. Like, it's so awesome y'all. The story is getting written and I get to read along as it's just poured out on the page and ahhhhhh so much fun.

Even if I don't get to sit and watch Sarah type in real-time, when I finally do get to the doc, there is a brand new chapter waiting for me to read it. :)

The Sounding Board

Probably the biggest bonus of co-writing is that you have a partner to work out the plot and characters and themes and scenes with. We all know that two heads are better than one, and Sarah and I build off each other.

Me: Wait, what if we did this?
Sarah: Awesome, that would build on this character and their arc, and maybe we can hint at this thing as well.
Me: Ohhh and we can mention that secret while we're at it.
Sarah: And bring this character into the scene to make things interesting.
Me: And build a catapult!
Sarah: Nope, no catapults.
Me: :(

So it works both ways. We feed off each other's ideas to expand the story...and also keep each other from going too far in the craziness.

High Accountability

We have a pretty solid system set up. For writing the first draft, Sarah writes her chapter in the morning, and I write mine in the evening (unless I'm able to get to it earlier, thanks to being in QT).

If Sarah doesn't finish her chapter, I can't write mine. If I can't get mine done, Sarah can't write hers. (We are gracious, however, if someone is unable to finish because of life events and whatnot.)

While we are editing, we assign tasks/chapters/scenes/etc to each other, and make sure the other person is getting those things done.

Shared Knowledge

While working on a WIP, I often keep the details to myself, even when discussing the story with friends/family. Mostly to keep spoilers, ya know? But even when I do share stuff about the story, I don't tell them everything. That big twist...the shocking reveal...the tragic backstory...those I don't share. I want them enjoy the surprises, after all.

But having a co-writer means I finally have someone to share that with. It's so much fun to talk about how "the readers are going to cry when..." and "I can't wait for people to read about..." and "ahhhhhhh THIS STORY!!!!"

Weaknesses and Strengths

Sarah and I have different writing styles. We have different editing styles. Different things we notice, different things we catch. Where I might fall flat on delivering in a story, Sarah can pick up and make better, and vice versa. Something Sarah might miss will catch my eye, and so on.

This month I'm going to be talking about the joys and hardships of co-writing! Hope you enjoy the little mini-series!

April Wrap-Up

(AKA I don't know how to QT properly...)

(To be fair, we only had like, 3 cases of COVID-19 in our county, and they all recovered in a day or two.)

How did QT go? Well, in a sense, well. We never got sick. Our friends and neighbors never got sick.

But on the other hand, during this time when we were trying not to go to the hospital, my family had a tough time.

-Someone got attacked by bees and reacted rather badly to the stings
-Someone got serious poison ivy and had to go to the doctor
-Someone got their finger's stuck in a winch
-Someone tore up their hand while hammering boards
-Someone sliced up their palm with a honey scraper
-Someone was lighting a fire with a tub of gasoline and the tub caught fire and exploded in their hand (and it wasn't the first time this has happened to this person...)
-Someone had a run-in with a police officer
-Someone sliced their finger with a knife
-Someone was balancing on the raised bucket of the tractor while chainsawing branches and nothing bad happened but just the thought

-The barn caught fire
-The truck wouldn't start and had to be towed
-We got bees
-We also got chicks

Social distance ride - 6 feet apart, lol.

Clearing the new pasture.

Super fun and new little .22 (with night vision mwahaha).

Baking cookies!

Riding out with more friends!

And even my dad came along!

Spying on the neighbors.

More farm work.

Louie and Max going out for some farm work.

Sweetie and Pepper getting a good grooming.

Max.

Going for a Ride and Tie with a friend.

Cleaning out the Falcon. (Considering the CD player hasn't worked in years, there is a surprising large quantity of CDs....)

The Falcon: farm car!

Going for a hike with Max.

New chicks! (Cornish Rocks...meat chickens.)

Got more bees.

Went to work and there was a food truck selling doughnuts. I had no excuse.

Went for a Ride and Tie with another friend, and she grabbed this picture of me and Pepper. :)

Went for a bike and ride on the greenway with the fam.

So, yeah...QT didn't go so well.

Anyways...

Camp NaNo went well. Reached my goal. And then started on editing The Red War trilogy. And guys. I'm gonna need help. The entire 3rd book is basically gonna be rewritten, and AHHHHHHHHHHH *panics*

Hope y'all have been doing well and surviving and enjoying your Camp NaNo and warmer weather and Springtime. :)