Why readers love to be shocked? 🙀(Updated)

I'm sure there's a part of our brains that light up like a Christmas tree when we read something shocking. Let's talk about why. 

It's interesting how we're iffy about surprises in our everyday life, but we do love it in our entertainment. There's something about the unexpected that is alluring. I've often said that I'm sure there's a part of our brain lights up when something exciting or stunning happens to our favorite character (in books or television) that we never saw coming. That's entertainment.

When I'm writing a book, I tend to be very conscious of when the story starts to take a low point. It doesn't mean it's terrible to do so, but I don't like to have things go an even course for too long. My rule is if I'm feeling a little bored, so is my reader, and therefore, it's time to shake things up.

Shocks can come in many forms. It could be as simple as a character's comment or reaction to a situation or something more alarming, like violence, an impromptu sex scene, an argument, unexpected news, sudden death, illness, or when surprising characters show up. Of course, there are many other options, but the main idea is to add something that readers didn't see coming, and ideally, neither do you, as the writer.

Shocking twists keep the story alive. Readers want to be entertained, so entertain them.

Why do you have to be as much a marketer as a writer? ✍️ (updated!)

If you're about to publish your first book, it's time to sharpen those marketing skills! Let people know about your book, what it's about and most important of all, why they should read it.

1. Make your front cover pop! Realistically, marketing begins with the cover. Make it eye-catching. If it grabs the reader, they're more likely to investigate further and see what the book is about, which brings me to...
2. Create a back cover teaser. Your job is to make potential readers want more! Choose spicy words and descriptions to captivate them. Authors often find this tricky. How do you sum up your book in a few words, create intrigue without telling too much? 
3. Send out a press release with a cover photo. Start with your local media, smaller newspapers, free newspapers, radio, and television stations. Send it everywhere! Not everyone will open your email, but you never know who will or if your cover will catch their eye. 
4. Change your signature at the bottom of your emails. This allows anyone you send an email to know that you're an author, the title of your book, and even add an image of the cover if you can.
5. Post on social media. This is one of the best tools in your toolbox. Social media is FREE and a great way to let people know about your new book. Be creative. Present the cover, share reviews, events, and news with your readers and friends. Have a page or account dedicated to your writing life so people can find you and learn about your book.
6. Videos are nice. Not everyone is crazy about recording videos, but I find it helps to let people learn about you, your books, and it's another way to capture attention. It also allows you to discuss your books while increasing your confidence and make you more comfortable talking about your writing in interviews and events. 
7. Ads are doable but expensive - so look for deals. You can pay next to nothing for ads, or you can pay through the nose. Be careful who you're dealing with too. There are a lot of scammy, suspicious people out there. I receive an email from sketchy companies attempting to sell me marketing packages every week. 
8. Bookmarks are the best! I have bookmarks made with all my covers on them and where to find me online. Remember, bookmarks travel, can be shared, and are just fun to give out. 

Of course, there are many other things you can do to get your book out there. Traditionally, many authors have book signings or book launches, while some might choose to speak at their local library. 

Remember that marketing is a big part of selling your book. It doesn't matter if you're the most famous author in the world or an indie author of your first book, this is an essential part of the process. If you aren't sure, research online, see what other authors are doing and check out books on the subject. Good luck! 

How do you write books so fast? 🙀(updated)

One of the most common questions I get asked is how I write my books so fast. I've been fortunate enough to average a couple of books a year for the last 2-3 years, but now that I'm working more frequently, this might change in the future. Of course, the fact that I'm currently writing a series helps too. This makes it easier to pick up where I left off, rather than creating a whole new group of characters and storylines.

I work full-time plus have a casual job, so I must plan my time carefully. Depending on my work schedule or what I have to do, I organize everything accordingly. I get up early to write (6 a.m) on my days off or when I have later shifts. Other tasks like recording videos, writing blogs, and social media have to be planned around everything as well; it's not easy, but I manage to make it happen.

I write one chapter per day. I try to avoid stopping halfway through because it's hard to get back into the same headspace if I walk away and return later. Editing takes longer and is much harder to schedule because some chapters are easier to get through than others, and of course, there are many rounds of editing before I can upload my book to the publisher. Meanwhile, when I'm finishing a book, I also have to start thinking about what I want for the back cover synopsis and, of course, the front cover image. Both involve marketing as much as creativity, so there are a lot of factors to consider. 

It's essentially up to me how much time I want to dedicate to my writing, and therefore, it's also up to me to make the best of the time I have each day. It's really about organizing your time in advance and being self-motivated. 

Knowing the ending first 🤭(Updated)

I know it's common for many authors to 'write the ending first' when outlining a book. However, I don't. There are two things in that sentence that I don't do. I don't outline, and I don't know the ending when I start writing a book. I like the surprise element. If I'm surprised, then so will be my reader. 

But then I geared up to writing my 11th book, and something strange happened. I knew the ending first. 

I fought it. I tried to push it aside, but the final scene was too powerful for me to ignore. This forced me to get out of my comfort zone. I eventually started writing with the ending crystal clear in my mind. 

I won't lie. This freaked me out. 

UPDATE: In the end, even with some ideas on how my book would end, it turned out there were still a few surprises. I guess it's great to have some ideas about how the ending will look, but again, if you're surprised by the final pages of your book, so will the reader.