10 Reasons Why I Write (Part 2)

10 Reasons Why I Write (Part 2)

by Jody CalkinsNo Comments
10 Reasons Why I Write (Part 2) It's been a while since I posted Part 1 of this blog series, so I figured I better get back to it. So, here are more reasons why I write... I’m a big brainstormer. I love to fit story pieces together and work out plot details. For me, it’s fun. Most of the time, my ideas occur to me naturally when I brainstorm ideas. I’ll ask questions like: what happens next, what needs to happen in order for the details to fit, what other obstacles do my characters face. For me, it’s not about how I can make my characters’ lives more difficult. That’s a common tip for writers. ‘Don’t stop there – how can you make things even worse?’ That’s not for me, at least not at the moment, because for right now, I think my characters lead tough enough lives as it is. Could I kick it up a notch? Oh yeah, sure. Several notches....
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New Book Release – PLATFORM 273 (YA Dystopian Thriller)

New Book Release – PLATFORM 273 (YA Dystopian Thriller)

by Jody CalkinsNo Comments
Well, I did it again! And I cannot decide which of my story world boys I love more. They're all competing for that #1 spot! ❤️ Here's a little snippet from Platform 273... With a hand on my arm and his other hand at my back, Luke yelled something over his shoulder and then hurried me across the pavement away from the thundering noise and wind from the helicopter blades. I gritted my teeth against the pain in my feet from the high heels. When I stumbled, he wrapped his arm around my waist and steadied me. By the time we got to the edge of the pad, the helicopter was lifting away. I stared up at it and watched it leave. A large pit settled deep in my stomach. After a moment, the sound of the helicopter faded and was replaced by the sounds of the crashing waves. “Did you have a good ride over here?” he asked, setting me down on a bench. I turned my head...
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10 Reasons Why I Write (Part 1)

10 Reasons Why I Write (Part 1)

by Jody CalkinsNo Comments
10 Reasons Why I Write (Part 1) Writing isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes work and if we’re writing about emotional topics, it can be mentally taxing. The hardest book I’ve written is my latest YA dystopian novel, Charged. It is filled with emotion and tension and difficult situations. In order to write it with some semblance of accuracy on human behavior, I had to emotionalize the story. I had to feel the emotions of the characters, especially Fira. I had to consider how my characters would react with each new piece of knowledge. What do they look like (i.e., facial expressions, hand/arm positions, etc.)? What do they feel? How do they speak? But even though it was hard to write, I’m glad I stuck with the story because stories like these need to be shared. That’s one of the reasons why I write. Another reason is that I'd be an extremely unhappy individual if I didn't. Writing is a compulsion for me....
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