Hey all;

As a writer, I’m often asked questions pertaining to authors. What makes a good writer? How do you come up with plots or characters, etc. But I think a more relevant question should be: what do readers want? After all, we may write for the love of writing (and I would hope most writers approach their craft from that perspective), but if you are published, it would be fairly arrogant to simply throw your work out there and expect readers to flock to your book simply because of your perceived genius.

No, a writer who writes commercially should always be asking themselves how to best serve their readers. And I think what readers want is fairly simple. They want honesty. They want an honest effort from a writer. All they ask is that the creator of a work of fiction has done his or her very best work, every time. We’ve all read something by a favorite author and thought “Wow, they really mailed that one in”, meaning that the writer just threw the book together. Whether because of a dead line, or because they just didn’t care, the reader could tell that the writer hadn’t given it their best effort. Readers aren’t fools and they can’t be fooled easily either.

So if you want to write and release it to the public, think about your audience. Think like a reader. What do they want, what do they expect. All a writer needs to do is their best. Your readers have purchased your work. They deserve your consideration.

J.J.

Hey all;

Just wanted to say a quick thank you to all of my readers who have picked up a copy of my new novel, “The Battle for Sanctuary”. Yes, it’s longer that the first book in the series, but there’s a lot going on and I wanted to do it justice. Book three is chugging along right now, although I expect that I’ll be releasing the first novel in another series in time for Christmas, and then the next in the “Titan’s Legacy” series in early 2014. Thanks again for all your support!

J.J.

Hey all;
My latest novel in my “Titan’s Legacy” series is now live on Amazon. Check out the latest adventures of Justin McLeod and the new Titans! Just click Here to check it out. Hope you all enjoy it!
J.J.

Hey all;

The mind of a writer is a strange thing, in my opinion. Now, I can only speak for myself, so maybe it’s just my mind! But it is definitely what I would consider a different perspective.

I’m constantly listening to dialog between people as I go through my day. Then I often pop my characters into the conversation, mentally, and run through what they would have said in the same situation.

I see events in the daily news and wonder how I could take some of them and use them in a story. And I constantly have plots running through my head, twisting and moving things around to see what is viable and what isn’t. Weird, no?

Well, one thing is for sure…I’m never lonely even when I’m alone!

J.J.

Hey all;

Well, the next novel in my “Titan’s Legacy” series is almost out the door. I anticipate that it will be released near the end of next week. It’s been a labor of love and a bit of a slog, but mostly, it’s been a lot of fun. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.

I’ll post the day of the release.

J.J.

Hey all;

Well, it’s fall. Yes, I know it isn’t official until the third week of September, but honestly, once the kids head back to school, it’s all over for summer. I personally love autumn. I choose to forget that it’s the precursor of winter because, here in Canada, a long fall can be a beautiful thing.

The colors as the leaves change, the warm days and crisp nights, the geese sadly heading south for the winter. Sure, there’s a bit of a mournful air to it all, but it’s still a pleasure to experience. And as I add the final touches to my next novel, I find the season invigorating. Winter is a time of intense writing for me, mainly because I’m not a lover of intense cold, deep snow and colorless landscapes. But for right now, any time I need to clear my head or I seek inspiration, a walk in the colors of autumn is a pure pleasure.

So I’m putting winter on a back shelf until it rears its ugly head and I’m going to embrace this season. At least while it lasts.

J.J.

Hey all;

I think that the question: what makes a good writer, is a terrific one, because it is so subjective. One person will claim that it is someone who’s grammar is impeccable. Another will say it is someone who can draw you into the story. Still a third will tell you that only someone who is an English Lit grad can truly end up as a good writer. Extraordinary. And, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, everyone is right. At least from their own point of view.

For myself, I think a good writer is a good story teller. I seriously will gloss over some fairly glaring grammatical errors when reading a novel if the story has pulled me into itself. I don’t excuse the errors, of course, but then I’ve never claimed to be perfect myself, so I tend not to expect perfection in others.

I’d say a perfect example is Dan Brown. Love him or hate him, formulaic or not, his stories draw you in and then take you along for a wild ride. That’s a good story teller.

J.J.

Hey all;

As a writer I often, or always, become attached to my main characters. Sure, some subordinate characters come and go, but my main group (which has gotten a bit large in my current work in progress) is very special to me. So when it comes time to put some or all of them in mortal danger or even, gasp, kill one off, I’m quite torn.

After all, these are almost friends of mine (cue the Psycho music here). I know who they are, what makes them tick. I am, in many ways, both mother and father to them. Truly, if not for me, they would not exist. And then comes that moment when one, or more, has to go. It’s quite wrenching actually.

I’m sure other authors go through the same emotional ride. But in the end, if it is necessary for the story that X has to die, then you must suck it up and just do it. And then eat some cookies and cream ice cream, in their honor, of course.

J.J.