Solstice Tour- Guest post by PJ Hoover

SOLSTICE: THE MYTHS AND REALITIES OF THE WRITING AND PUBLISHING PROCESS

Hi! P. J. Hoover here, author of the upcoming dystopian/mythology YA novel, Solstice (Tor Teen, June 18, 2013), and today I’m talking about the myths and realities of the writing and publishing process according to me. It should be pointed out that every author will have their own myths and realities. If you have one to share, I’d love to hear it! And thanks for reading!

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Three Writing Process Myths:

1) Writer’s Block

I’ll be right up front. I do not believe in writer’s block. I think sometimes the words don’t flow quite as well as other times, but most of the time, this has nothing to do with “writer’s block” and everything to do with distractions from life.

2) Good writers are born that way

Sure, some people have a natural talent for the word, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us should give up and call it a loss. Writing is something you can improve at just like anything else. Practice, work hard, and you will see amazing improvements.

3) A great idea makes a great story

Ideas are like one sprinkle on top of a giant cupcake. Maybe they will get an author excited to write a story, but an idea alone will not carry any story forward. Things have to happen. These things may or may not even have anything to do with the starting idea. By the time revisions are done, the starting idea may not even exist anymore. So keep flexible and think past the idea to figure out what is really going on.

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Three Writing Process Realities:

1) The Internet is a distraction of epic proportion

And sure, maybe it’s not a big deal to click over and check email really fast. But every time I do this, my attention is taken away from the words I am writing and will need to be refocused. Challenge yourself to see how long you can make it with no Internet J

2) Writing must be a priority

Book tours and marketing and school visits and all these other things authors do are definitely important. But most important is continuing to get the word down on the page. I suggest prioritizing writing. Set a reasonable goal of one hour a day, and WRITE EVERY DAY.

3) Every publishing journey is different

So set aside any comparisons or jealousies and enjoy the journey you are on. It’s going to be a great one. Believe it!

Thanks for listening to me and thank you for the Solstice support!

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About Solstice:

Piper's world is dying. Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles that threaten to destroy the earth. Amid this global heating crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom.

Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed—a sphere of gods and monsters—and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper’s life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth.

P. J. Hoover first fell in love with Greek mythology in sixth grade thanks to the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton. After a fifteen year bout as an electrical engineer designing computer chips for a living, P. J. decided to take her own stab at mythology and started writing books for kids and teens. When not writing, P. J. spends time with her husband and two kids and enjoys practicing kung fu, solving Rubik's cubes, and watching Star Trek. Her first novel for teens, Solstice (Tor Teen, June 18, 2013), takes place in a global warming future and explores the parallel world of mythology beside our own. Her middle grade novel, Tut (Tor Children's, 2014), tells the story of a young immortal King Tut, who's been stuck in middle school for over 3,000 years and must defeat an ancient enemy with the help of a dorky kid from school, a mysterious Egyptian princess, and a one-eyed cat. For more information about P. J. (Tricia) Hoover, please visit her website www.pjhoover.com.

Team Myth:

18th Character Spotlight: Shayne @ JessaBella Reads

19th Solstice Depicted @ In Bed With Books

20th Solstice: The Publishing Journey Guest Blog @ Water Color Moods

21st Setting Spotlight: Elysian Fields @ Books Beside My Bed

22nd Solstice Excerpt @ Through the Looking Glass

23rd Character Spotlight: Melina @ Evie Bookish

24th Author Interview @ Cuts of Paper

25th Author Writing Process Guest Blog @ Best Books Ever

26th 5 Inspirations @ Ruby Reads

27th Setting Spotlight: Asphodel Meadows @ A Dream Within A Dream

28th 5 Favorite Myths @ Book Swoon

29th Character Spotlight: Tanni @ Leanna

30th Playlist @ Unofficial Book Addiction

Team Dystopia:

18th Character Spotlight: Piper @ Swoony Boys Podcast

19th Solstice Depicted @ Girls in the Stacks

20th Cover Changes Guest Blog @ Gobs & Gobs of Books

21st Setting Spotlight: Botanical Haven @ Books, Bones & Buffy

22nd Excerpt @ ReadingTeen

23rd Character Spotlight: Chloe @ Paperback Princess

24th Author T-Shirt Addiction Guest Blog @ Addicted Reader

25th The Character of Names @ The Mod Podge Bookshelf

26th 5 Inspirations @ Readergirls

27th Setting Spotlight: The Drag @ The Bookish Daydreamer

28th 5 Favorite Dystopians @ Frellathon

29th Character Spotlight: Reese @ YA Midnight Reads

30th Playlist @ Reviewing Shelf

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