Sarah Joseph

Writer sharing the raw process of writing short form articles, crafting novels, and juggling work with passion projects from none to done.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

Times are changing. Personally, I think self-publishing IS the answer. The tools and tech available to authors for marketing and finding good human editors and human cover artists is only going to get better. Soon enough no one is going to need a traditional publisher at all because those publishers will be doing things the old way.

One day soon traditional publishing is going to seem inconvenient, and everyone who is upset about the lack of boy’s books will ride the self-publishing wave.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

Ender’s Game holds up great to the test of time. Today people see it as a book for kids/teens, but it wasn’t actually intended for that. The US Marine Corps has it on their Commandant’s Professional Reading List, and I personally give it and Ender’s Shadow a re-read about once a year.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

@NathanBransford This is a great list. I’m about to start working on consolidating characters and removing repetitive gestures for my debut historical romance. 🥰

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

@EllieYellu I’ve been playing around with this idea for my second book, even to the point of making him like one inch shorter than the FMC. Being tall is such a cliche now-a-days and I’m honestly getting tired of all the repeated beats. Give short/(er) guys a chance!

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

@LadyAliBooks My brothers were and probably still are obsessed with Hardy Boys, Redwall, Ranger’s Apprentice, and LOTR. Now, they read every single Brandon Sanderson release. Can’t blame them. These are great stories!

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

When I was little, I wanted to be a librarian after my brothers kept coming to me for book suggestions. I’d take them through the middle-grade sections and pull out random things, mostly books I hadn’t read but seemed cool based on their interests, and they were usually winners according to my brothers. It felt so amazing I still remember many of my suggestions:

Some winners included:
1. Nick of Time by Ted Bell
2. Behemoth & trilogy by Scott Westerfeld
3. The Chicken Doesn’t Skate by Gordon Korman
4. 39 Clues & series by Rick Riordon & others

I think I only read Behemoth and 39 clues, but I think Gordon Korman was so well enjoyed it was never returned to the library. 😬 I’m scared to know what the late fees are like two decades later.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

@WritesMedieval Nope! Until I can think of a unique magic system that doesn’t feel like swish, swish, problem solved, I’m staying away. Nothing against magic or superheroes, they’re just not for me. Consider my belief suspended.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

@jessica_barberi Personally, the female “chosen one” archetype never appealed to me for the exact reasons you stated. They’re frankly boring.

In my stories, my female protagonists have to work HARD to get what they want, and they usually have to sacrifice a lot along the way.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

I’m writing a scene where a POV character who knows something my reader doesn't. Here’s my strategy:

1. They can stay silent, but never lie.
2. Give them feelings that fit both truths.
3. Skip the scene where they learn it.
4. Plant clues that only make sense later.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

It’s trickier than I thought to write a scene where the POV character knows something that the reader does not. It’s a fine balance between meeting and subverting expectations so the reader doesn’t feel like they are being lied to.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

If you’ve been wanting to write a novel for a long time but haven’t, figure out what’s holding you back. For me, I was worried about what people in my circle would think/infer about my life. It took years to work through that but now I’m at a place where I’m excited for people to read my work. Whatever it is, take the pressure off of yourself and just have fun. You can always edit a bad book, but it’s got to be on paper first.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

@Daniel_Goene You can always edit a bad book, but you can’t edit a blank page.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

A few weeks ago I read Seeking Persephone, and last night I watched the first two episodes of the show. I get that the whole point of the beginning is to show how lonely both of them are, but Adam is a class “A” jerk from the first minute with no redeeming qualities. Oh, he puts a blanket on her while she sleeps, and I’m supposed to think it’s romantic because Persephone is so starved for attention? The bar is in hell, dude.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

I told someone I know a bit about my upcoming book, and this person got all excited at the thought of me getting a movie deal. Did I mention anything of the sort? Nope.

I looked at her like she’d sprouted a second head.

Book to movie adaptations are great, and they expose your world to new people who wouldn’t have otherwise engaged with my story. And if the opportunity were to happen to me and my book, I’d be excited. But movie adaptations aren’t the highest form of my story. Everyone knows the book is always better.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

I’ve hit a place in my novel writing process where I’m starting to see which characters need to be cut. The story changed a bit from my original outline, so now some side characters I thought would be important aren’t anymore. I’m in the middle of combining three characters into one.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

I’m starting to get to a place where I’m refining the conclusion of my novel. Characters are finally starting to show their true colors, and the final battle is on, so to speak. It’s a great start to national novel writing month! 🎉

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

@Loi_cee Me too! I’m currently writing a medieval romance with dual POV, and it’s super fun because while there’s a lot of time with them together, there’s a lot happening that the other one doesn’t know about.

[Sarah Joseph @HelloSarahJoe]

Line editing chapter 19 today! This chapter sees some of the most nerve wracking moments in my book…. So much fun to pull everything together.