Portobello Book Blog

I’m very pleased to be joined by Joanne Boden today. The Old Bookshop of New Beginnings is the second in her Bluewater Bay series and was published on Tuesday. Congratulations Joanne! I read and reviewed the first in the series back in January last year. You can read my review here: Escape to Little Bluewater Bay. I’ll be sharing my review of this book next week. Today Joanne is sharing #TenThings she does when writing a first draft.

#TenThings – I do while writing a first draft

Hello Joanne and thank you for inviting me on your lovely blog to help celebrate the publication of The Old Bookshop of New Beginnings. This is the second book in the Little Bluewater Bay series. I thought it would be fun to share my #tenthings of what I do when writing a first draft, as that is what I am doing right now. 

Here goes…

1. Have a quick tidy up in the kitchen

I usually write at home, in the kitchen, perched on a stool at the kitchen island. This is because the room is flooded with natural light and is the warmest room in the house. I’ve tried writing in cafes and coffee shops but I find myself getting distracted by what’s going on around me. Before I start writing for the day I’ll always have a quick tidy around.

2. Go over the previous day’s writing

I’ll spend the first ten minutes having a quick read through of the previous day’s writing. I won’t correct or rewrite, unless there is a glaring mistake. I do this because it helps to ease me back into the story. I also almost always leave comments for me to look over for my second draft before I begin to write new words.

3. Set an alarm

I always find it useful to set a time limit when I’m writing. Usually around 60 minutes, maybe longer, depending on the time of day. I just find that this helps me to stay focussed and on task, knowing that once the hour is up I can have a stretch and make a cup of coffee.

4. Listen to music

I like to be surrounded by noise when I write so during the week when everyone is at school I’ll pop on some music in the background. What I listen to depends on my mood and what I am writing. Recently I’ve been listening to a dark academia playlist featuring work by Ludovico Einaudi. I also listen to a lot of country albums by Randall King, James Taylor, Tim McGraw and Luke Combs. I’ll also listen to anything by Journey and Taylor Swift. I love the album Midnights.

5. Go for a walk or just do something else

I like to break the day up into chunks. So I’ll sometimes go for a short walk, pop on a Youtube  dance workout video, bake some bread rolls or do some cleaning. It’s usually when doing these tasks that a new idea will hit me. It’s always when I’m doing something other than writing.

6. Never finish the chapter I’m working on

I never finish a chapter in one sitting as I prefer to work on it the following day. Some days I’ll stop mid scene and then jot down some notes or ideas to follow up on the following day.

7. Read a lot

I tend to read romance and fantasy romance, but I’ve just started to read fantasy, having just finished Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. I listened to the audiobook from the library. I like to read comfort books as they help me switch off and take some time away from my own story and words. I also think that reading helps the writing process.

8. There are no word counts

I don’t set any daily word counts, although I have a rough goal for how many words I’d like to write in a week, and by the end of the month. I don’t put pressure on myself. I just sit down and write what I can each day. One word at a time. I know I’ll get there in the end. Every day is different and some days I write more than others.

9. Take time off at the weekend

I try not to write during the weekends. This is my family time and I also think it’s good to take a step back. It’s what works for me anyway.

10.  I enjoy the process

I love writing the first draft. Watching the characters slowly come to life on the page. Having said that, the first draft is always terrible, but I’ll look at it and think, you know what, I did it, I now have something to work with.

About the Book

Can two lost souls find themselves in Little Bluewater Bay?

In the space of a single day, Harry Taylor achieves the impressive feat of losing a girlfriend, his London flat and his bookshop job. So, when his cousin Lucas invites him to his home in the seaside village of Little Bluewater Bay to recuperate, Harry jumps at the chance.

Beth Smith works at a diner and is quickly overstaying her welcome sleeping on her friend’s sofa. Overhearing a conversation about Little Bluewater Bay reminds her of better times, and she decides to throw caution to the wind and try her luck for happier memories in the coastal village.

Could a bookish business proposal and oldest new bookshop in Little Bluewater Bay lead to the new beginnings Beth and Harry so desperately need?

Buying links

Kindle UK: https://bit.ly/3XCrc9q
Apple UK: https://bit.ly/3XHvFbh
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3T8zRzi
nook: https://bit.ly/3HavApw

About the Author

Joanne lives in Lancashire with her husband and their two sons. When she is not busy writing, she likes to take her boys to the local museums, cafes and for walks in the countryside. Joanne has published 4 non-fiction works aimed at parenting children on the Autistic spectrum, based upon her experiences as a mother of an autistic son. She has also self published a contemporary romance novel, Picking up the Pieces.

Joanne writes contemporary romances with gorgeous heroes.

Follow Joanne on Twitter: @JoBodenAuthor
And on Facebook: Joanne Boden