Ten Years of JJJohnsonWrites

On March 10th, 2013, I registered the domain jjjohnsonWrites.com and started blogging/writing. What was my plan? There was no plan! Like most discovery writers I usually make it up as I go along. And to be fair, I was pretty upfront about it: the site is called jjjohnsonwrites– So what exactly am I writing? I’m writing about just whatever pops into my mind and what I feel like writing about for that day.

black and white blog business coffee
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

This, to be sure, is how my site continues today, nearly ten years later. 

I’ve remained on WordPress this entire time. And with the exception of the last half of 2021, thru all of 2022, when I struggled with anxiety and some minor depression and needed a break from everything and everyone- I’ve been here blogging.

Many say blogging is dead. I beg to differ. There are a lot of lies about social media spaces, and prettier attractions always come along. Yet, my site has always been consistent, and when I show up here, to spew out random thoughts, so do readers. 

Most posts are undoubtedly about writing, reading, being Geeky, and of course the kids. Some post are even on the finer joys of life: like Coffee. Why? Well, these are the things that interest me. 

Writing here has become, sort of my life’s work. I Don’t get paid for it; it’s not monetized, nor is this the work most people read. Heck, this year I’ve already published well over 15,000 words of content on this site.

When I started writing here, I had only one child, a five-month-old son, and I had published only one short story: Compulsion. My life was in a very different place, professionally, politically, and spiritually than it is now.

I never planned for this place to be a personal blog or anything. But the reality is that is what it has become, and it probably will always be, just whatever I feel Like writing about because I want to or until my brain runs out of things to say. Which I’m hoping is unlikely anytime soon.

So, here is to another ten years.

Oh, and for kicks- Here is the very first post I put up. 47 Drafts: https://jjjohnsonwrites.com/47-drafts/

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I Want to Quit Writing

I wake up before the house stirs. The superintendent sends a text saying, “School is canceled for ice.” This is the third day. The cat darts past me to the back door, where he paws until I let him outside. I fix my coffee and scroll through social media while I wait for my only drug of choice to brew. I’m not too fond of the habit and wish I could break it. I’m speaking of checking social media first thing in the morning, not my coffee. I see a post from an author friend in a writer’s group, “I want to Quit Writing. Please talk me out of it.” I identify with this statement. I’ve said the same thing. 

I want to quit writing

I have a few words bouncing around in my head. Words of encouragement others have shared with me. Sometimes these words help, and sometimes they seem good. Sometimes they sting. 

The coffee still brews, but the smell alone is waking me up. I open my notes and write a line that doesn’t feel right. What came out on the screen was not as good as what was in my head. That happens from time to time. The coffee has finished. I drink a cup and head to the shower, where I think on it some more. 

Today, I’ll blog about wanting to quit writing. I will make it simple and honest. The truth is there is nothing simple about the work we do. It’s frustrating and painful. At times it feels pointless. However, it is honest. Writing makes us confront most truths, all but one, and that’s the truth most writers prefer to avoid. It is that the industry is not always right, nor is it fair. 

Most writers feel they won’t measure up. Insecurity sits perched upon our shoulders like a blasted tumor we can’t eradicate. Before too long, we realize we compete with an oversaturated market, algorithms, and other endless amounts of noise. We ask ourselves a thousand questions… 

“No one cares about my stories.”

“No one is going to buy my book and read this.”

“Maybe I’m wasting my time.”

“Maybe I’m too old to get a book deal.”

“I should give up. I wasted so much of my time and money.”

Yet, amid these questions, a story still lingers, calling to us from the fog, urging us to sit and write it. 

I’ve learned a few truths after struggling with anxiety over the past year. Publishing is often tricky. Competition is often unfair. Social Media is sometimes abusive. And when we measure our self-worth as authors by a lack of success in these three areas, we begin to think that maybe, we won’t make it. 

I’ve said these things. I have quit and walked away. But here is the last truth I have learned and why I return every time. And I’ll leave you with this: 

Writing brings me joy. What about you? 

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Wednesday Night: Writing Night

Wednesday nights are now writing nights for me. I usually hit the library around 6:00 pm and stick around until 8:30 or 9:00. 

Tonight I’ll be looking to add about 2,000 words to book 5 of the Iggy & Oz series. 

Writinf

You can check my progress on my Facebook page, Twitter, or on my IG stories to see how much progress I’ve made. I’ll try to have those shared by 8:45 central. 

Anyway, wish me luck. And if you are an author, let me know if you plan to do a writing session tonight. 

I Wrote Words Today and They Were Crappy

I wrote words today, and they were crappy. 

Every time I start a new draft of a new story, my self-doubt kicks in. It sits on my shoulder, quietly whispering- “This is the worst thing ever. Why do you even bother?”

I wrote words today and they were crappy


No matter how many readers you have, no matter how many sales, or awards you bring home, the voice is there. 

Every writer hears it. A writer that says they don’t need a little ego check, or they’re a liar. Tuning the voice out is more manageable over time, but he is there stalking us, waiting to leap up at us. 

I call my stalker Shadow. Because usually, that’s when he appears. When I find myself isolated and alone and no longer surrounded by encouragement, Shadow is there, mocking me thru bad reviews. Shadow causes me to doubt the story; he causes me to quit for days, weeks, and maybe even months. 

I wrote words today, and they were crappy. And Shadow is trying to remind me that they won’t get any better. 

John 10:10 says that “A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy…” 

Shadow is the thief. He steals my joy, my love for storytelling, and my desire to see people moved by the stories I tell. 

Shadow wants to kill my momentum. He doesn’t want me to share anything about finding freedom in Christ. My personal story is the most powerful story I can tell. Christ gave me that story. Shadow wants to kill any chance of that story coming alive in the stories I spin on a page. 

Shadow wants to destroy my career. He wants me to give up, walk away, say I’m finished, and never set down to wrestle with the characters again. 

Self-doubt isn’t always a spiritual struggle. But sometimes, we fight with Shadow, not knowing how to escape his watchful eye. 

Thankfully we sing praises to the one “who comes to give life, a better life than you ever dreamed of.”

That doesn’t mean it will be easy. Sometimes it’s hard. And we need to write thru the hard.

I wrote words today, and they were crappy. 

And that’s Okay! 

P.S. Be sure to pre-order from friend B.L. Dean’s new Space Opera series coming soon. Click Here

Understanding the Middle Grade Audience (Writing for Generation Alpha)

When writing a middle-grade story, the author must understand from the beginning that you are writing a book for kids. That’s the first rule. I want you to forget (just for a second) everything your writing instructors have taught you, all the things your critique partners point out, and understand that your primary audience is children. 

So with that in mind, let me point out three rules to remember when writing for Generation Alpha

  • Simplify your language and sentence structure with shorter works
  • Make kids the central point of view
  • And push the lessons you want to teach to the back of your mind

First – What is Generation Alpha?

Children born in Generation Alpha are the first generation to be born entirely in the 21st century. These are kids born between 2010 – 2025, which means they are still growing. These are the future of Middle Grade fiction and YA publishing over the next fifteen to twenty years, and understanding this new target audience is key to finding success as an author. 

Generation Alpha burst onto the scene the same year Apple launched its iPad, Instagram debuted, and the word “app” became the word of the year. Generation Alpha are surrounded by tech from the moment of birth. In many cases, this is the first generation to have nearly every unique moment of their life publically documented on social media.

While living in a world where they know nothing but the idea of being plugged in can have significant advantages, it can also have disadvantages- such as shorter attention spans and possibly delayed social development. 

Oh, and one other important point. These are the kids of Millennials. 

I could spend hours talking about the research I’ve done on this new generation, but for the time, I’ll leave you with a few links and articles I think would be beneficial for you.

2019 KIDS COUNT Data Book

Understanding Generation Alpha 

The Complete Guide to Generation Alpha

So what does this mean for authors writing middle grade

Every writer understands that knowing your target audience is key to reaching new readers. But my personal feeling is that books aren’t adapting. I’m not claiming to have figured it out, but I’m trying to adapt. Below are three keys to what I plan to do with my middle-grade books going forward. 

Move to shorter works with simple words and sentences.

Kids in the 9 to 12 age range are smart. The kids that are about to move into that age range, I predict, will be even smarter when it comes to digital tech. We have just spent an entire year having a majority of kids plugged in virtually to get schooling. Once all schools go back entirely into in person, I predict teachers and kids will struggle because of the habits developed in 2020. We need to understand that this, coupled with the digital competition of entertainment, kids’ attention spans are shorter than they have ever been. 

Yes, Middle-grade readers are still developing their reading skills, building vocabulary, and increasing comprehension. They can understand the quest they are taking in Minecraft, but stick a book in front of them, and they look at it like it’s a plate of Brussels sprouts. (Which is why I believe ebooks among middle-grade readers is about to explode)

Now I know what many are thinking: This isn’t my kid, I limit screen time, my kids like physical books, etc. My research leads me to this conclusion. Your kids are in the minority. 

The first rule in bad marketing is to assume that everyone thinks, behaves, and acts the same way you do. They don’t. If you want to reach this generation of readers, you can’t base your actions only on your own kids, or a small sample from your acquaintances. 

My advice is to write shorter than traditional guidelines suggest. Some guidelines say middle-grade books can get anywhere from 40,000 to 60,000 words. I think a new success will be around 20,000 to 30,000 words. I feel a good strategy would be to target reluctant readers in love with the digital world. 

Keep your stories short. Limit over description, and don’t get so consumed with beefing up the text. Make sure there is lots of white space. Use dialogue to drive the story.

Intentionally use simpler language and sentences with a fast-moving plot. Strive to place words with fewer syllables. Don’t be afraid to use fragmented sentences.

Make kids the central perspective or POV.

Earlier I told you that you were writing for kids. But most importantly, you’re writing a story for kids who want to be entertained. Therefore, you must understand that kids– not their parents–need to be the hero/heroine of the story. The main character needs to make their own decisions, mistakes, and triumphs. Older characters, especially adults, should never overshadow them.

One trick I’ve learned to keep kids at the center of the story is to make the parents and other adults irrelevant to the plot. Maybe they don’t believe the kids, or perhaps they are off doing some pointless task with little to do with the story. The point is that adults should never be the ones to solve the problem. Kids want to read about kids facing enormous problems, facing their fears, and then climbing out of whatever pit they’ve been dropped in. 

By presenting the story through the tight POV of a child, we can teach kids to face fears, solve unexpected issues (to an extent) and build up their self-confidence. This is the magical part of writing middle-grade fiction that we should all embrace. 

I know this sounds like common sense. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve critiqued a middle-grade story where the kids are always dependent on the adult. If you’re writing middle grade, make sure your kid characters are still front, center, and active.

Push the lessons you want to teach to the back.

One mistake I’ve seen some new middle grade authors making is allowing the theme or life lesson they want to teach kids to overtake the story. I feel I even did this with my story: Iggy & Oz: The Soda Pop Wars. Young readers read first and foremost either because they are being told to, or they want to be entertained. Personally, I think kids know when they are getting a message-driven story, and when they spot it, they’ll shut it and move on to something else. Yes, we want to use our stories to teach kids important lessons on life. But no matter what happens, never sacrifice character or plot. Keep the kids engaged throughout the story. 

I wish I could tell you I have it figured out. I don’t. There isn’t a magic button one can push. This genre is always changing. But I think this genre is about to explode over the next few years. I’m excited about where it is heading. You may disagree, and that is fine. The magic of writing is there is no one way.