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Summertime and the writing is easy – NOT!

Chapter 12 icon for Secret Supers

Summertime and the writing is easy – NOT! In this blog post, I’ll tell you about my writing struggles with Secret Supers in Space and what I’ll do about it.

Plus, I’ll give you some new reviews I’ve written and about my writing.

Plus, plus, I’ll give away some free books.

Let’s get started!

Summertime Book: Secret Supers in Space

This book continues the Secret Supers disabled superheroes series. It started with:

Summertime
Interesting Links
Summertime
Secret Supers – click to get yours!

Then I followed up with this book:

Summertime
Villain's Vacation cover What is it like?
Get a free copy here!

Now I’m working on the third novel in the series: Secret Supers in Space.

What’s it about?

What my next book is all about

Secret Supers in Space covers the Secret Supers trip to Space Camp – and beyond.

Here’s what Space Camp is like:

Space Camp video

Now we come to my first struggle: I have to learn all about Space Camp to write this book. It’s a real camp with a real agenda for real kids. I didn’t want to get anything wrong.

I have no trouble exaggerating or compressing facts but I want to faithfully give the space camp experience.

The problem is, I can research or I can write. I can’t do both. I must research before I write so I have the facts in mind.

That was my first delay.

Wait! Why am I writing this book?

Because I like to get nice reviews like this:

4.0 out of 5 stars 

A fun story!

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2022

Jeremy has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair to get around. He is in a special education class with Dan, who is blind, Kayla, who was mute and used a walker, and Audrey, who lost her legs and uses crutches. One afternoon, when conducting experiments in his laboratory, Jeremy accidentally gives himself superpowers. Specifically, he gains the ability of telekinesis, which he can use to help himself walk, cause his wheelchair to travel at much higher speeds, and even fly.

Not wanting to keep this discovery to himself, Jeremy tells his 3 friends about it and gives each of them superpowers as well. But now that they have superpowers, what should they do? Following the words of Uncle Ben of Spiderman, they decide they must use their powers for good, beginning by trying to solve a case of a stolen car, and keep their identities a secret, modeling their costumes on the Incredibles.

This book was a fun story that placed individuals with disabilities front and center in the story. While the superpowers allow them to do things they wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise, it is what they choose to do with their powers that makes all the difference. Also, even with their superpowers, their initial disabilities aren’t erased, which I think is important. I liked to development of the characters and how they interacted and supported each other; I only wish the book had been longer so I could have spent more time with them. I am glad that there’s a sequel already published, and I look forward to reading/listening to it.

As for the audiobook edition of this book, the narrator, Luke Castle, did a fair job. Some of the voices he chose for a few characters I did not care for, but that comes down to personal preference more than anything else. His pacing was good, and the energy he put into the narration was evident. Despite disliking a few of the voices, I would still listen to the sequel given the opportunity.

Jennifer C.

Summertime Reading

What do you like to read in the summer? Let me know and get a free book. Here’s one of the 60+ books I’ve read so far this year:

Summertime
Two Necromancers, et. al.
Review ofTwo Necromancers, a Bureaucrat, and an Elf (The Unconventional Heroes #1)
Rating[ 4 of 5 stars ]
Shelvesaction-adventurefantasyhumorread 
FormatKindle Edition 
StatusJune 8, 2022 – Shelved as: action-adventure
ReviewThis was my first exposure to L.G. Estrella and I definitely want more! The author creates humorous and ironic juxtapositions of characters and roles: Timmy, the dread, dark necromancer, who’s reluctant to kill. Katie, the whiz-bang apprentice who’s 10 and cute as a button and hates being called a kid, and is protected by invisible ninja rats.

Then we meet the bureaucrat who’s 6′ 6″ (two meters) skinny, and loves paperwork. But he can magically retrieve any paperwork at any time. As well as other things.

Finally, there’s the woodland elf who’s a pyromaniac because her magical power is creating fire.

I assure you, you will enjoy this romp

“So what?” you ask. Reading, which I do a lot of, distracts me from writing. Another struggle.

The Final Answer to My Writing Struggles

Write. Write every day.

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Writer’s Block My Experience – This is why I don’t write more

What Do Readers Think

Writer’s Block My Experience: I’ve written eight books in seven years. It doesn’t sound like I have writer’s block–but I do.

I’ve been struggling to finish Secret Supers in Space for seven months. That’s the first draft—just 50,000 to 60,000 words. Usually, I get that much done in two to four months.

What’s my big problem?

Writer’s Block My Experience – What Is Writer’s Block?

It means you can’t or have difficulty writing. Duh!

A more official definition is:

Writer’s block—wanting to write and not writing—is a persistent problem that every writer (yes, every writer, even Stephen King) deals with, and one that has ended far too many writing careers.

The first thing I saw in my search

The last book I wrote in this series was Villain’s Vacation:

Writer's Block My Experience
Chapter icon from Villain’s Vacation

I got off to a flying start in November, writing for NaNoWriMo, the official National Novel Writing Month organization.

Here’s a chart of my monthly writing, so you can see what my writer’s block looks like:

MonthWords Written
November3,973
December0
January423
February0
March1517
April211
May (so far)0
Chart of my writing ‘progress’

Total? 6129 words in 42 hours of writing for 142 words per hour.

Pretty pathetic for a professional author, but I have an excuse: I was finishing two other books: 1) Zombie Detective audiobook (now published)

Andy Zach Newsletter Zombie Detective Audiobook
Writer's Block My Experience
Audiobook cover – click to listen.

and 2) my first non-fiction book, The Gospel Medley. Believe it or not, this is at least the 20th round of edits for this book, over the 35 years I’ve worked on it.

The Gospel Medley
Writer's Block My Experience
The Gospel Medley cover. Click to get

So that takes care of December through March. I can’t multi-task. What’s my problem in April and May?

Writer’s Block – the problem of self-publishing

I get easily distracted while writing. First of all, there is research. I’ll write and then need some fact, like “Where are there underground nuclear silos in Kansas?” This question arose for My Undead Mother-in-law.

The same thing happens for Secret Supers in Space. What does the ISS look like? What is the capacity of the Dragon capsule for SpaceX? Where does SpaceX launch from? What is the curriculum for Space Camp? What is the daily agenda?

But that’s not all.

More Distractions

Every publisher and author needs to market your book. That doesn’t mean selling, although that’s what you want to happen. Rather it means telling people who might like your book that your book exists and is worth reading and WHY it’s worth reading.

This is a very important thing to do. You, as an author or publisher should do it every week, if not every day. If people don’t know about your book, they can’t buy it. If people don’t know how much they will enjoy and laugh at my books, why should they buy them?

So I joined Story Origin this year to market my books. That’s absorbed my time, every week, as I promoted my newsletter, books, and other newsletters and books.

I also have maintained Amazon ads, although I’ve cut my expense from $300/month to $50. I found a better way to advertise: through Free Kindle and Discount Books.

The Bottom Line – What Should I Do?

Give me your best and worst suggestions. Everyone who does so will get a free ebook of mine to read and review. Reach out to me any time at my email: [email protected] Or subscribe to my newsletter for all my blog posts and news, as well as free books.

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What Is Novel Writing Like? My Experience

What is novel Writing Like

What is Novel Writing Like? Since I’ve written seven of them and I’m busy writing an eighth, it’s high time for me to share my experience with you.

In case you’ve forgotten, here are four of my novels:

Life After Life Chronicles March Fourth
What Is Novel Writing Like
Enjoy all four novels in audiobook, paperback, or Kindle format! Click to get yours.

But the one I’m working on is the third one in my disabled superhero series:

What Is Novel Writing Like
Secret Supers cover. Click to get.
Villain's Vacation cover What Is Novel Writing Like
Villain’s Vacation cover. Click to get.

Villain’s Vacation ended on July 4th at a coaster park. What could I possibly do for a third novel? Go to summer camp. But what would make it more interesting? Make it a space camp. The Space Camp.

You’ve never heard of Space Camp? Watch the video.

That’s my first step for any novel. Have a premise, a theme. Here are three examples:

Zombie turkeys: the book writes itself.

My Undead Mother-in-law: what’s it like to have zombies in your family.

Paranormal Privateers: Zombie pirates.

What Is Novel Writing Like? My next step to writing a novel.

My next step is from many years ago: high school English 101: write an outline.

Here’s my outline format. I do this in Excel.

Secret Supers in Space outline
What Is Novel Writing Like
Secret Supers in Space outline

I plan out the whole novel, scene by scene. I’m pretty comfortable starting any book. I always introduce my characters. I don’t assume anyone knows anything. My goal is to make any novel readable without the previous novels.

Here’s the opening page:

“What are you doing, Jeremy?”

Startled, Jeremy looked up from his computer. His best friend, Dan Elanga, had slipped silently into their clubhouse, his laboratory, and office, in the basement of his home. His round, brown face smiled from behind him. Dan’s tall, wide frame formed a wall behind Jeremy’s chair. His dark glasses hid his blind eyes.

“I didn’t hear you come down the elevator.”

“I took the stairs. Your mom made cookies, so I came over. I could smell them from my house.”

“You mean, you could smell them from my mom’s thoughts?”

Secret Supers in Space, by Andy Zach

First Page Continued

“What are you doing, Jeremy?”

Startled, Jeremy looked up from his computer. His best friend, Dan Elanga, had slipped silently into their clubhouse, his laboratory, and office, in the basement of his home. His round, brown face smiled from behind him. Dan’s tall, wide frame formed a wall behind Jeremy’s chair. His dark glasses hid his blind eyes.

“I didn’t hear you come down the elevator.”

“I took the stairs. Your mom made cookies, so I came over. I could smell them from my house.”

“You mean, you could smell them from my mom’s thoughts?”

And your’s and your dad’s. You were all excited, so I couldn’t help myself from taking a sniff from your mom’s nose. I didn’t snoop any farther than that.”

“I know you respect everyone’s privacy with your mindreading power.”

“Except maybe yours. You did give me permission to read you anytime. But I haven’t read your mind about what you’re concentrating on. C’mon, tell your old friend Dan.”

“Don’t tell anyone. This is a secret. I want to surprise the Secret Supers.”

“Of course not. Now I’m dying to know!”

“I’m applying to Space Camp.”

“What’s Space Camp? I can hear the capital letters in your voice.”

“What’s Space Camp? It’s the greatest camp there is! We’re all bored out of our minds this August and we want to do something. Space Camp teaches you all about our space program. You learn about astronauts and rockets. You go on a centrifuge, and experience zero-G and moon gravity.

Secret Supers in Space, by Andy Zach

“I’ve got an outline; now what’s next?”

Jeremy Gentle
What Is Novel Writing Like
Jeremy, seventh-grade superhero

The first scene, the first page is most important. You must capture the reader’s interest or go home. I assumed most people didn’t know about space camp, so they’d be curious about it.

I also revealed the Secret Supers’ powers in the first chapter. That’s always fun. In case you don’t know:

  • Jeremy Erickson – Telekenesis
  • Dan Elanga – Mind reading
  • Kayla Verdera – Thought and sensory projection into other minds
  • Aubrey Wilcosky – Super Strength

What do I do next?

Write each scene. I try to get as clear of a picture of it as possible. That includes:

  • Location
  • Characters
  • Point of view character
  • Desired effect upon reader

The last is most important. You need a reason for the scene and something you’re going to accomplish. Try to always reveal more about the characters and more about the plot and the conflict. Increase tension and excitement.

You need this clarity so you can concentrate on the important features of the scene.

But there’s more.

What Is Novel Writing Like? What My Biggest Distraction?

First, try to guess. Let me know your guess and win a free ebook from me. Click here to give feedback.

My biggest distraction is also an essential part of the process.

It’s research. I don’t know everything I need to know. I knew very little about space camp. Before I could write, I had to learn a lot. I know more now. And as you learn, you must research more.

I learned about SpaceX, NASA, Cape Canaveral, and details about the ISS, the International Space Station.

Part of my research

We’re Not Done! Look out, Villains Ahead!

What is novel Writing Like
Jeremy is captured by a robot in Villain’s Vacation

I had so much fun creating and writing about my villains in Villain’s Vacation, I decided to use them again in Secret Supers in Space. They’re up to no good and they’re worse than ever.

To be notified when Secret Supers In Space comes out, subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here. Or you can follow me on Amazon.