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The Robin Hood Diaries (24) - Planning a Series

This post is sponsored by Scandal gifs. Scandal is one thing that hugely inspired and motivated me while I was writing Everything I Do, so now you all get to suffer along with me.

I have a book coming out in about 15 days. It’s a reimagining of Robin Hood’s story titled Everything I Do. Everything I Do is perfect for fans of Robin Hood, female assassins, girls masquerading as boys, strong friendships, groups of boys and slow burn romance. Also, it’s the first book in a series.

This is only the second time I write or rather split a huge story into a serial format of series, because I have written and outlined many series, but each book had its own story, and they all followed a bigger one. But Everything I Do is the first part of a bigger story. The next book will follow the same characters as they continue on their journey to stay alive, conquer their enemies and hopefully kiss a few times in between? One can only hope.

The only other books I’ve written in this format is the No Ordinary Star series (No Ordinary Star, No Plain Rebel, No Vain Loss) about a fire-hot romance among the stars  in a frozen world with no Christmas.

 Here is how out of a single idea for a single book (more on that later), I created an entire series. (I say “created” because the books have already been written, but not edited yet).

I had the whole entire story in my head before I started writing the first book. I don’t know if other authors do it differently, but that’s the only way I can do series.

I outline the whole series but roughly. The first book or two in great detail, the rest just in scenes and characters. This will become my series bible.

Just like they taught us in science lab, I dissect the plot and discover what the true story is. I fix it so that it flows nicely, and then I find the main turning points/events of the bigger plot. If you are like me, you might want to stop them at a point that’s half closure, half cliffhanger, which means you reveal something big that creates more questions, so that readers are hungry for the next installment.

Example:

My Robin Hood series, Outlaws:

Book 1: Stops at the discovery of the first big secret.

Book 2: Stops right after a tragic event.

Book 3: Stops at the resolution of a major conflict.

Book 4: Stops at the reveal of the final big secret.

Book 5: Stops at the resolution of the bigger and final conflict of the entire story.

These might change as I edit them, and I’m sorry that they’re vague, but they might give you an idea of how to split the big plot into books.

Then I start outlining each book in detail. If you want, you can only outline one book, but if you’re like me and you can’t escape the outpour of ideas, it saves time to outline all the books as they come to you, so that you can write them one after the other.

Then I write. I write the books continuously, as one story, and then separate them into smaller installments. The reason I do that is that after I separate them, I need to add chapters at the beginning and end. Little chapter at the end: helping the reader have closure, although the story is not ended. Little chapter at the beginning: reminding the reader of the happenings of the previous book, in case it’s been months since its release.

The series bible has to contain everything and has to be consulted constantly: world-building, names, families, character history, character traits, titles (if you’re writing historical or fantasy), period details and so on. I also keep track of what secrets are out and what the characters aren’t supposed to know yet. And of course I keep track of their memories because I love my flashbacks, especially when they’re torturing my heroes (and the readers, of course). 

So as I said, this story was already written, and I only now rewrote it.

How and why was it written already, M? you might ask.

Here’s a little secret: I am republishing Everything I Do. This is not the first time it’s been published. I published it a few years ago, and it stayed live for less than 2 months. And here is why I unpublished it back then:

1. It wasn’t ready for the world. It simply didn’t meet the high standards I wanted to present to my readers, and below are the reasons why.

2. I had written it while my family and I were going through the ordeal of hospitals and treatments and the lot, because my dad was sick, and I completed it right after I lost him. It was the thing that kept me sane during that hellish time, and I literally only kept going because I had this dream of putting it out there into the world (I had researched self-publishing and traditional publishing beforehand and made my decision, otherwise I might have doubted whether my judgement there was at fault too). Anyway, to put it mildly, I wasn’t at my best, I was really stressed, depressed and every other –essed in the book, and nor was I thinking straight during those months/years. When the fog cleared out, I realized that neither my book nor I were ready for the world, so I took it down and waited a year until I felt better.

3. My mental health (as one might expect after reading the above) was at an all-time low. Again, I didn’t have the energy or judgement to do the book or the marketing plan that should have accompanied it justice. *You will see from what I wrote above that writing literally saved my life. And I’m glad I took that giant step of faith and published when I did, because I learned a LOT of things which I wouldn’t have learned if I hadn’t done it, but it wasn’t time. Not yet.

4. I didn’t have any beta readers at the time. I had no idea how to find them, and if I had known then what I know now (that you just go up to people online and ask them to read your book) I would have crawled into a hole and died. I wasn’t in a place where I could talk to anyone, online or otherwise. The pain was too raw. (It still is, but I’ve learned to handle it. Most days. – read Conversations With an Empty Chair if you want to get seriously bummed out.)

5. This is the most important one: I changed the characters a LOT and added a TON more plot. The book used to be a huge book, that compressed/summarized the whole story, but didn’t do it justice. It glossed over some facts, and stopped far too abruptly. It also gave zero backstory. It wasn’t what I had wanted to do, but back then it had seemed to me impossible that I would be able to publish one book, let alone many, as in a series. I wasn’t satisfied with it, but I thought it was the only way. Now, after years of experience, I am taking the time to explore my characters and their development, to savor the story and add a ton of romance (yay), and thus I rewrote the book at my leisure. As I was writing, it came out even bigger (I added characters and so many more scenes) and so I have split it into 5 parts so far. More might be coming!

6. My editor sucked. I’m so sorry, but it was true. I lacked the experience and the strength to let them go and look for another, but I knew as I was working on the previous version, that I had no help from them. And that’s ok, it happens. BUT it’s not ok if you don’t fix it. If you don’t fire the wrong person and look for the right. I learned that the hard way.

After all that, I’m sure that instead of wondering why I unpublished it, you must be wondering why I republished it. Well, I didn’t. I rewrote it. From scratch. It took me a few years, and more than 10 drafts. Why?

I just loved it so much, I had to give it another go.

I had learned so much and put it to good use during the releases of my other books, that I felt not only ready to recreate and rerelease the most important book of my life into the world, but to also help other authors by sharing what I’d learned. That’s why I created the Author-Reader Connection The Book Robin Hoods, and that’s why I gave it this name.

So that I could celebrate this industry, the self-publishing industry, for what it is for many of us: A place of second chances.

And by second chances I don’t just mean the gift to be able to reupload the interior file of your book after fixing a minor typo that slipped through, because you are the publisher and the books are printed on demand. I don’t just mean the huge opportunity I got, to unpublish my book with all its mistakes, to unpublish the version of my book I wasn’t proud of, and have all the time I wanted to rewrite it. Those are huge blessings in themselves, but we’re still not into the biggest one of self-publishing.

It’s not a forgiving industry, and I expect to pay for my mistake in uploading this book for those two months when it wasn’t ready dearly. It’s a cut-throat industry, make no mistake about it. People have committed suicide because of failure and massive bullying, people (including myself) have been plagiarized, sued, and all that fun stuff. People, writers, authors, have fallen through the cracks, unnoticed. BUT.

Self-publishing gave us a chance. A second chance, or, as in my case, our only chance. That’s why I felt I owed it to both myself and my readers to get back up and try my hand at this wonderful story I carried in my head once more. Even if people judge me. Even if no one cares. Even if it turns out to be a horrible book again (which I don’t think it is, based on my betas’ and reviewers’ opinions anyway). Even if… a thousand ifs.

 Here is what inspired Everything I Do:

Loss

Pain

My own mental health struggle and the urge to share it with others

My beloved, tortured country that suffers under the thumb of corrupt and ruthless rulers

The redeeming grace of second chances

Also, cats and Scandal and Kdrama.

Life doesn’t always give us second chances. In fact, they are rare and few in-between. But when we have one, we should be thankful and gather our strength to do our best one more time. “Fail again, fail better.” And who knows? You might not fail at all! I am so grateful to be given a second chance with my Robin Hood book. I’m planning a tell-all blog post, so that I can share my whole story, but this is the most important thing: The ancient Greek poets said that Opportunity was a woman who had hair only in the front of her face. You should grab her as she’s coming, or the minute she’s gone you have no way of catching her.

That’s what I’m doing. Thank God for second chances and mercy. The rest is in His hands.

Thanks for reading,

~M.

Want to check out Everything I Do?

Kindle

Hardback

Goodreads.

Read all the Robin Hood WIP diaries

Read all my Robin Hood WIP snippets

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The Robin Hood Diaries (25) – Book 2

After a *heated* game on instagram (x) the title of the Robin Hood Book Two was revealed: It’s Every Wrong Right (EWR).

Here are the characters we’ll see shine get tortured in this second installment in the Outlaws series (the series will span about 6 books!)

*Disclaimer: The character reference images below have been cropped out of artwork to which I do not own the rights. All of their creators are credited here.

C  H  A  R  A  C  T  E  R  S   of  Every  Wrong  Right - OUTLAWS BOOK 2

Ru: An assassin who has inflitrated the camp of outlaws posing as a boy. Not everyone has been fooled. Plus, she’s fallen in love with her intented victim. She’s in for a world of pain.

Robin: A young baron turned outlaw after his father’s enemies left him in a dungeon to rot. He’s fighting to make “every wrong right” but there are so many wrongs and he’s so tired and feels so guilty for every single life that’s lost on his watch. He is a Sotf Boy™ who is a genius with the bow and arrow, and loves a cat named “Fox”.   

Tuck: Of half Chinese descent, an ex-monk who had his fingers cut off for doing non-monkish stuff. He can kill you with a single swing of his staff, but looks deceptively lean and wickedly handsome. He gets to be called “old man” because he’s over 30 and this is, well, the Middle Ages.

John: A giant of a warrior with blonde braids that reach the middle of his back. Fiercely protective of Robin and his two young children, who he’s had to hide away with friends, because he’s an outlaw. He is NOT going to let anyone lay a finger on Robin, be it man or woman. Yet he is harboring dark secrets of his own. Deadly ones, to be precise.

Will: Too young, too sad, too tortured. He’s been through much more than anyone ever should in an entire lifetime. He’s an orphan with the advanced warrior skill of Robin Hood (they grew up as brothers and trained together) and the soul of a poet. Danger follows him around, but to be honest, Will follows it first. He is suffering from sever PTSD, and is hiding from everyone the fact that he’s suicidal. They know.

Alis: A wealthy lady that Robin rescued from a gruesome wedding ceremony to an old man. She’s deadly with the bow and the sword, and fiercely protective of all the men. She mothers them to death, and they protest, but secretly love it. She hides her golden braid inside a hood, a fact that every member of the outlaw gang hates with a passion.

Julian: Red-haired and multi-talented, otherwise known as My Poor Boy. He’s the Intelligent™ one, the brains behind the band of outlaws who fight against evil. Unfortunately, he’s been shackled in the Sheriff’s dungeon for the past 5 or more years, and is currently a shadow of his former shelf. He gets beaten up daily, and is hanging onto life by a mere thread.

Gilbert: A member of the Sheriff’s elite personal guard, Gilbert is the eyes and ears of Robin in the castle. Insanely loyal and protective of his chief. His real name is Galib. He’s a mountain of muscle and he’s black. His fondest wish is to follow the outlaws in the forest, but Robin needs him in town, so that he can spy for him. Hopefully, he won’t get caught. (We all know what *hopefully* means, right?) 

Ximena: A beautiful Arab woman, who has been raised in an English convent, and is now in great danger in the Sheriff’s household. A brief meeting with Robin and his band of outlaws is her last hope. That is, if she survives long enough to be rescued.

Alan: Singer, song-writer, jester. Extremely clever and amazingly annoying. He makes his first appearance in EWR and, well…for such a smart dude, he does some really, really dump stuff. Maybe that’s because he’s used to constanly living in danger and doesn’t give a damn anymore. That, plus he’s a reckless and handsome devil. Exactly what the band of outlaws need right now, when everything is about to fall apart in a BIG WAY.

These are the Outlaw Series heroes of course (or anti-heroes in a few cases). The villains are a cast all on their own, and I might introduce them in a future Robin Hood Diary entry!

W  R  I  T  I  N  G   Updates ~ FIRST HALF OF 2019:

WIPs completed:

Beauty and the Beast Reverse Regency retelling featuring a POC heroine. (Set in the Ruined universe)

Pierce Me, contemporary New Adult standalone, about a singer who has become an idol and lost himself. (Set in the Lose Me universe)

Currently writing:

A mermaid story featuring a VERY famous shipwreck ;). (Set in the Salt for Air universe - prequelish)

Forget Me, a novel about a ballerina and a billionaire bad boy who tutors her so that she can get into an Ivy Legue college. (Set in the Lose Me universe).

Currently editing:

Every Wrong Right, Outlaws Book 2. Set to release this autumn/winter.

Marketing plans:

Cover reveal of EWR. Everyone who helps reveal it will get a free book! Cool, right? Will announce soon.

The Book Robin Hoods Newsletter, featuring about 10 books that are free or bargains. Sign up here if you’re a reader and here if you’re an author. It’s a steal either way.

Requesting reviewers on instagram and tumblr (of course of course).

Rep search (my first one!) coming in August. Readers will receive all my books for free in exchange for reviews, yummy pictures and general exposure.

Mental health check-in: 

Mostly ok, but having a few really bad days in-between that drain me of energy. Trying to manage my diet better, because that really helps. Also going to the pool twice a week (sometimes three times a week) which helps so much.

Self-destructive thoughts and tendencies are soaring. Must do something about that, though. Getting in touch with friends is the only thing that helps.

Have been dealing with bullies a lot for some reason, mainly online, but once in my place of employment too. (I quit shortly after, because there was physical violence involved). Therefore, I have been a little bit blocked with writing, not for ideas or anything, but feeling so hated that I couldn’t write. Writing sprints and the dude helped me with that, and I’m in a good place right now.

Watching:

Shadowhunters

Will and Grace (always)

Good Omens

EVERYTHING on Kissasian

Wild Romance

The Marvelous Mrs Maisel

Russian Doll

Reading:

Ha! We’d be here for centuries if I told you (2 to 3 books a day). But you can see what I read every single day here.

How are you doing? I hope you’re taking care of yourselves, doing things you like, taking it easy, getting a lot of hugs and drinking your water.

Create something awesome!

Read Everything I Do, Outlaws Book 1:

Kindle

Hardback

Goodreads.

Read all the Robin Hood WIP diaries

Read all my Robin Hood WIP snippets

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The Soul selects her own Society —

Then — shuts the Door —

To her divine Majority —

Present no more —

by Emily Dickinson

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I AM 17. I HAVE LOT TO SAY. by Jackson Holbert

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Full moon at the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio, Greece

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— william wordsworth (via letsbelonelytogetherr)

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The reason Mr Darcy is an iconic literary character whose appeal has endured for more than two centuries is not because he's somehow simultaneously both a brooding, Byronic romantic hero and a poor socially awkward shy boy who's too nervous to talk to his crush.

The reason Mr Darcy has enduring appeal is because he transforms from a rich, conceited and utterly unpleasant snob into the best version of himself after a thorough rebuke from the heroine. Instead of resenting Elizabeth when she tells him how much she dislikes him, he realises that she was correct, that he cannot stand the person he has become either. Darcy listens, learns and grows as a person following her reproach of him. For all this, he expects absolutely nothing in return for it from her. Not her love, or her approval, or her thanks. Nothing.

Mr Darcy's character arc is a beautiful example of redemption; of a man turning into the best version of himself he possibly can be out of love not just for the heroine but for his fellow human beings... because being a better person is the right thing to do.

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On my #bookstagram @mooberryink ♡

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the years by Alex Dimitrov

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Painted a collection of Jane Austen novels!

Clockwise from top left: Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Sense & Sensibility, Persuasion

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Aldous Huxley in The San Francisco Examiner, February 18, 1933

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If I ever go away, this is where I’ll be.

If I ever leave, think of me like this.

I am forever twirling in the white foam under the green mountains of Glyfada.

Laying on the SUP on my stomach under the yellow villa.

In the little house by the beach, M is forever smiling at me from the balcony, his reading glasses on, the sea at his back.

Waking up to white walls, rumpled hotel bedsheets, quiet darkness. No one is expecting anything from me. Hugging Bubu as I write, bleary-eyed from sleep, eating peaches.

Coming out of the bathroom in my swimsuit, skin smelling of sunblock. M tells me I’m beautiful. Outside, the heat steals my breath. I swim from the buoys to the beach, clear, emerald waters cooling my skin.

Playing volleyball with burning feet. Standing up with the oar in my hands.

Dipping into the freezing waters after the sun has gone to sleep behind the trees, M waiting to wrap me in a towel on the shore. Smiling that big smile of his, like a kid.

Discovering a new cove, just for us. Splashing you while you hold me in your arms. Swimming in our 'paradise'.

Feet buried in the wet sand, as I watch him put down our umbrella. Breaking rocks together, butts on the sand, laughing until we can’t breathe.

Long walks that turn to runs, threading through the groups of loud Italians.

Showering while he’s cooking. The sea calming down, filling out window, the sky pink with sunset.

Eating, watching murder mysteries on Netflix and Derry Girls.

Then putting on a summer dress, the kind I was never allowed to wear, to go driving towards the sunset, to go buy crepes in town. Shopping for bags and bowls, watching concerts, filming jazz street musicians. Ordering paninis to go.

Coming back for a  1 am night walk under the full moon, up the stairs, then down to the quiet, dark beach. Laughing, crying, some days in pain. Happy. Happy. Happy.

Writing next to him as he sleeps till dawn. 

august 7, 2023

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How do I find myself?

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ig credit: jafren_marcelo77