Allyson Jamison’s Reviews > Story Thieves > Status Update

Ooh, it's been awhile, but I read this. Curious, what do you think of it? 😅

Well, I think I've experienced all the emotions. 😂 At first I thought it was cute and fun but then it hit a boring patch and I almost DNFed just because I couldn't get through it. But I wanted to see how it ended so I kept reading it and now I'm addicted to these characters and have laughed at so many parts! 🤣 It's still not my favorite book ever but I have enjoyed it. I definitely love all the fictional characters coming to life. 🤭

Allyson wrote: "Well, I think I've experienced all the emotions. 😂 At first I thought it was cute and fun but then it hit a boring patch and I almost DNFed just because I couldn't get through it. But I wanted to s..."
Yes, that was definitely my favorite part as well! :D But...yeah, I get all your feels for it. XD I was younger when I read it, so it's hard to judge, but I definitely understand how it could get a little tedious. XD Do you think you'll read the rest of the series, or just finish this one? *insert lil thinking emoji that my laptop seems incapable of creating :P*

Yeah, that would make a difference. I han't thought of that! I don't read middle grade often so I forget that it can be a little slow at times. (Though when it picked up it wasn't slow at all!!! 😳😂) At one point in the book I would've said I was just going to read this one and be done... But after that ending... 😂 We'll see. 😆 I don't have time to go straight into it but I might be picking book two up sometime by the end of the month. 👀 (LOL!!)

Allyson wrote: "Yeah, that would make a difference. I han't thought of that! I don't read middle grade often so I forget that it can be a little slow at times. (Though when it picked up it wasn't slow at all!!! 😳😂..."

Heheh, yes, it definitely can be! I find the trade-off sort off wroth it though, since middle-grade is cleaner for the most part. *shrugs* Yeah, I read book one, two...and I'm pretty sure I read book three. *thinks hard* Yeah, I think I did, or at least started it. But that's all, at least so far. I actually recently got the next one (number I-don't-remember-which ;D) from the library, but have yet to crack it open, mostly due to the other couple *ahem* dozen *ahem* books I'm "currently reading". *glares at self while secretly super proud* Anyway, you get the idea. XD

Yes! I'm finding that as well and really enjoying it!! It's refreshing after getting disappointed over so many YA books lately. Ugh. Wait... There's more than three? I thought there was only three! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 But I just looked it up and there's five! Well, that will be fun I guess. 😂 Haha! I feel that on such a deep level. *Eyes my own stack warily* That's exactly why I can't start book two yet, I have too many other books to read!! 😂

Amen! 🤭 Ot's sooo hars to find good YA books--like, I go into the YA section just assuming I'll find nothing clean enough...then go into the middle grade area assuming I need a bigger bag. 😐🤣 Okay, I may be exaggerating a bit. (I've been guilty of that before. 😉) Yes, there were more than I originally realized too! 😆 (Also, I checked, I'm on book three 😉😛) Yesss, I've had to pause more than one series in my time. *nods with much experience* Hey, so, this is totally random, but I though you might like to know (because I know I would ☺️) that I follow your blog and get your news letter (plus I'm on YWW 😉)! Just a side note. 😋

Right?!? Ack! It's awful!! Haha! 🤣 That's about right. I much prefer YA because it's a higher reader level but only if it's clean. 😒 Have you ever read/heard of the City Spies series? It's middle grade and I just recently read book one and LOVED it!! 🥰 It's one of the best books I've read lately! (Which led me to quickly buy books 1-3. 👀😆) Haha!! It's the lot of a reader sadly. 🤭 Aww, thanks so much!! Yeah, I love knowing that! Thanks so much for following both! 💖 Ack! I thought your name looked familiar!! I'm no longer on YWW but I was on a few years ago (gosh, was it really already a few years?! 😆). Are you joining CWW? And do you have a blog/newsletter?

Agreed on all points! 😄 Oh, actually, that's super funny--I literally have City Spies from the library! 🤯😆 That's crazy. 🤭 So far I've only read a page or two, but it's definitely one I wanna finish. It sounded super fun, so far. 😉 Oh, no problem, I love your blog! 💜 Heheh, I wondered if you noticed, but it's so hard to remember names without faces. 😜 I am doing CWW!!! I did it last year and loved it sooo much. It helped me a ton! ☺️ Ooh, I don't have either--yet. 😏 I'm still figuring out all the marketing and platform side of writing, but I hope to have something like that! Do you have any recommendations for where to start? 🙃

LOL!! That's epic! 😂 You should totally read that pronto, it's a really great book. 🥰 I'm so glad!! That's encouraging. 🥰 Haha! Yes, it is. I always joke that I remember people by their profile pictures, so if someone changes that... I'm nearly hopeless. 😂 Ack! That's awesome!! We'll have to find each other on that when it opens up! It would be lots of fun to sprint together. 😄 Yes, CWW is the best! I've joined every one that they've done and loved them all. Ah, so cool! Good luck with all that! It can be a little overwhelming sometimes with all the information out there with what you should and shouldn't do but don't forget to have fun through all of it! I think you should start where you interests lie. There's a lot of advice out there on how you need to do it all and be so much but I think you should do what you love. If that's a blog, then go after it! If that's a newsletter, then put all your efforts in that! I mean, you can totally do both if you'd like (that's obviously what I'm doing 😜) but don't be pressured to feel you *need* it all. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Does any of that help?

I definitely will! 🤗 Oh, I ABSOLUTELY do that! 🤣🤣 The name's just sorta jumble together...sorta like in those dry, non-living history books 🤔😆😉🤭...Oh, yesss, we definitely should!!! 😃 That would be awesome! I'm not sure I'll have the same name...if I don't have the name SaraNoelle, it'll be Sara Swenson, but I will have the same picture, so we should be covered. 😉😉 Ohhh, thanks so much, the advice *definitely* helps! 💜 Thanks for the time, BTW! Curious, how long have you had a blog/newsletter?

Haha! 😂 Exactly!!! Awesome! I haven't had a chance to get on yet today but I'm looking forward to hopping on later and saying how many words I can knock out. 🥳 Haha! Perfect! 😂 My name will be the same but I'm not sure what I'll set my profile picture, lol! 😆 I'm so glad!! And you're welcome! I've really loved chatting. 🥰 Hmm, that's a good question. 😂 Well, I actually started a blog on blogspot in 2020 I believe? Or maybe it was closer to 2021? Somewhere around there. It wasn't very professional and, in hindsight, was more for practice than anything else. 😂 Though it was fun at the time! March 2022 I switched to WordPress, rebranded, and had an entirely different goal in mind--to share writing advice and reading fandoms. I started my newsletter when I switched to WordPress. My newsletter has been a learning process though and I'm still trying to figure out my style with it. 😂 But I've loved the journey!

Okie, sounds good! Today's still orientation, of course, so there's no rush! 😉 Oh, I've loved talking too! 💜 Heehee, I need to comment on your blog more, not just read the posts. 😶🤭 Oh, okay! That's cool--abd so nice that you had a way to practice. 😅 Yeah, I dunno how I'd decide my style and all that--I feel like I'd constantly want to change it when I saw a new idea. 🙄😆 Curious, do you know what you're gonna be working on? You don't have to tell me here, since I know really anyone could read this, but do you know what you're gonna do? 🙃

SaraNoelle wrote: "Okie, sounds good! Today's still orientation, of course, so there's no rush! 😉 Oh, I've loved talking too! 💜 Heehee, I need to comment on your blog more, not just read the posts. 😶🤭 Oh, okay! That'..."

Yeah, I'd rushed around all day to be able to get on CWW only to finally get on and realize it was orientation day. 🤦🏻‍♀️😆 I don't remember them doing that before! And then yesterday I wasn't home most of the day so I wasn't ever able to get on then either. 😒 But I plan to get on later!! Haha! I do always love reading people's comments. 🥰 Lol! I get that struggle so much. 😂 I think, to a certain extent, there's nothing wrong with changes things up from time to time or trying a different style. I try not to too often so it doesn't feel like that's all I ever do, you know? Do you mean for CWW? I originally planned to work on my current WIP Project: Miss Marple, but I think I'll actually give myself a little leeway and play around with a few other random ideas. 😂 I mainly want to work on MM though! 🥰 What about you? (You don't have to answer if you'd rather not! 🤗)

Heheh, well, at least you got things done, right? 😆😅 Yeah, I dunno...🤔 Yeah, I haven't been on a ton, but I did notice you weren't there. 😪🤣 I figured you were busy! ☺️ Yeah, I suppose that's true...same old gets...old. 😐😏 Maybe I'll start getting more serious about it. 🤔😃 Oh, yeah, sorry, for CWW! 😅 Ooh, fun. YES, I definitely get wanting the fun side of writing, instead of the "letsgetthisdonebeforewealldieorsomething" mentality. 🤣 (Or maybe that's just me...👀😑) I'd definitely share with you! However, I'd rather not do it on something so public...but I can tell you later, on CWW! 😉😊 I will say, however, that it involves the girl in my profile, a massive dragon, broken hearted pasts, a prince, shocking secrets, and a hunter! 🤍😉😄 Hopefully that piques your interest a bit. ☺️🤭

Haha!! I guess so! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 Yeah, when I finally got on I saw that you had tagged me but I haven't seen you since!! I'll have to look you up. 😄 Haha! Yeah, it can at times. Whenever you do, if you need any help with anything feel free to message me! Either on here or through my blog, I don't care. 😄 LOL!!! 🤣🤣 YES!!! That is it right there. 😆 Nope, it's definitely not just you. 😂 I still LOVE my current WIP but it's definitely to that point where I would love it even more if it was sitting in front of me as a completed first draft. Or, better yet, a published novel. 😇🤣🤣 Today I ended up finishing edits on a project that I've been meaning to get back to forever now. 😂 So that was both productive and so relieving to get off my to-do chart, lol. Now maybe I'll finally be able to focus on MM again! Yeah, of course, that's fine! 💙 I think you can private message on here btw (it's been awhile since I've done it 🤣) if you ever want to switch there. Ooooh!!!!! Yes yes yes!!!! That definitely has my interest piqued!!! 😆🥰😍 I cannot wait to hear more about that story!!!!!!

Oh, yeah, heheh--I can tag you again!!! ☺️ Okie, thanks! That's super nice of you. 😁🤗 YES, I KNOW THAT POINT. 😳😳🤣 Oh, that's awesome!!! I love knocking things off of my list that have been there forever. 😌😅 Ooh, okie, then I may PM you! 😃🤔 I'll figure it out. 😉 Aw, thank you SO much!!! 🤗🤗 I can't wait to tell you! 😋☺️😆

Random question; do you know of any good writing books? I've sorta been wondering about that, but I never know where to start. 🤔 Obviously I have YWW, which is AWESOME 😅, but I thought writing books couldn't hurt, right? 😆 Do you have any favorites? Any that you've heard are good?

Yes! I love writing books!! 🤩 (Also, sorry it's taken me so long to reply!) Writing books are the best buuuut there's a lot of there and it can get overwhelming. I honestly don't read as many writing books as I probably should but that's just because I get tired of all the differing opinions out there. I find who I like and stick with them. 😂 Have you heard of K.M. Weiland?? I seriously cannot recommend her books enough!! That would be an amazing place to start. Her book Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success and Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story were life savers when I was first starting out!! 🥰 Now I'm reading through Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author's Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development and it's strengthened my characters waaaay more than I ever would've expected! My current WIP has been a blast to write and I give that book all the credit. It's epic! I also own her book Writing Your Story's Theme: The Writer's Guide to Plotting Stories That Matter but I haven't read it yet. I want to read it soon though!! (Also you can get her book 5 Secrets of Story Structure: How to Write a Novel That Stands Out for free I believe.) Does that help?

Awesome! 🤗 (Nah, that's totally okay! 😉) Ooh, yes, that all makes sense. KMW sounds familiar, but I'm not sure...🤔😅 Oohhh, I'll definitely check all of these out!!! They sound awesome, thanks so much! 🤗☺️

How have you been lately? 😃🙃 Also, curious, do you ever get face claims for your charries? 🙃🤔 And do you use pinterest, AI, draw them yourself...or what? 😄 I'm curious! 🤗

Well, she's a very popular resource in the writer community so I wouldn't be surprised if you've heard of her before. She also has a blog that's amazing!! It's almost overwhelming with all the information she has on there. 😅 But I love it and frequent there often. 🥰

I've been good!! Enjoying this cozy winter weather. 🥰 I've been doing a lot of reading and writing which has made my heart happy. 😂🥰 What about you? How have you been?? Yes! I love getting face claims!! I use Pinterest (literally one of my favorite things 😆). I can't always find exactly what I have pictured in my head but then I just find the closest possible and it's good enough. 🥰 It's still amazing!! I love to draw but I am not good with drawing people. 😅 But my sister drew one of my characters one time! It was amazing!!! 🥰 I still love that. As for AI... I'm very much against that. But I know a lot of writers use it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Do you use any of these things?

Oh, yeah, that makes sense. 😅 Ooh, thanks, I'll have to check that out too! ☺️
I've been reading a lot too, listening to lots of music (I recently got into and l♡ve Ruth B.--she's SO good 😍), and hanging out! 😄 I've been going a bit easier on my writing lately, refueling a lot 😅 (AKA: MORE BOOKS PLEASE 😆😆😆), but I'm about to get into a ✨️ new project soooon!!! ✨️ It'll probably be a novellette or something short like that. 😅 I wanna be able to easily handle it so that I can also edit it fairly easily...and then I hope to learn more about publication. 😆💜 Hey, do you happen to have any resources on that as well? 🤔🙃 No pressure, I'm just still feeling a bit lost. 🥴😄 I think I wanna self-publish, at least at first...so any advice would be so helpful! 🥰🤗
Ooh, I use pinterest pics a lot too!!! It is...*such* a distraction. *heaves dramatic sigh, because this, surely, is the world's fault, not her own* 😮‍💨🙄🤣 Yes, I do the same! Usually I pick out a few for each charrie, because I'm self-controlled like that. 🤥😏 I also draw mine though! Heheh, my little sister (who plays around with writing, but is not actually commited 😉) has asked me a couple times to draw her charries, who are usually some variation of the same person in each of her stories. 😏😅🥰 I have mixed feelings on AI. 🤔 Frankly, I don't know much about it. 👀😑😆 I have used it some, but when it really comes down to it, I'm not sure I like it. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I would definitely be able (and probably like it better) if we had done without it. 😐😅 I'm sure there's SO MANY good things it can do...but there's also SO MANY (maybe more???) bad or pointless things it can do. 😅😐 Like AI boyfriend or girlfriends, AI generated stories, artwork (most times, at least 😉), ways for students/other test takers to cheat...I dunno, but it seems to be in negative numbers to me, when you do the math. 😅😬 However, we'll have to wait and see what sort of good it might also bring about. 😊😅 I can't help but think that anyone, say, 100 years from now (20, even 😐🤣) who was able 5o see conversations like this would laugh their heads off. 🤭 But I honestly don't know, and I now apologize profusely for the rant. 🙈🙊🤣🤐

Ack, that's fun!! I love listening to music!! 🥰 I've never heard of Ruth B. though. Haha! I get that. I had a week or two where I wrote a lot more than I expected and so these past few days I've ended up taking a slight break/refueling like you said. 😅 (YESSS! 🤣🤣) Ooooh, new projects are so much fun! (Shiny key syndrome, anyone?🤣) Ack, you and me both. XD I feel like I've learned a lot about the publishing process but still have a long ways to go. If you're talking indie publishing, then I would highly recommend Abbie Emmons!! She has a blog but is more active on her YouTube channel. She has the best content and is by far my favorite resource! If you're thinking about traditional publishing, then one of my favorite resources is Nadine Brandes and Sara Ella. They do webinars together called "From Head to Tome". They talk about all things writing but especially focus on breaking down the publishing process. It's great! (Though you do have to pay for their webinars and I think they're seasonal.) No worries! I totally get feeling lost!! As I said, I still feel like there's so much I don't know but a few years ago... I was suuuuper lost. XD Haha! I should've kept reading. XD Yeah, I would definitely check out Abbie Emmon's content! She indie publishes herself and does it so professionally that you can't even hardly tell that it's not traditional! Ha!! XD Yes, Pinterest is amazing and terrible all at once. XD But I love it!! Wow! That's amazing!! I would love to get better at drawing people just so I can draw my own characters, haha. XDXD Yeah, I get that. I mean, I see how AI can be an amazing tools for writers these days because you can have so much available to you for free or a fraction of the cost what normally would cost you an arm and a leg. But...... is it worth the true cost? Because by hiring artificial intelligence you're taking that job away from a live human being who is a struggling artist just like you. I'm scared AI will one day take over our jobs as writers and creators. *sigh* Sorry, I can go on a rant about it all day, lol! XD But I'll stop myself there. I understand why other people are for it, but personally, I'm not. Haha!! XD Yes, it's definitely in the negative numbers for me too. Lol!!! XD You're so right. No need to apologize at all!! XD I ranted there myself. I enjoy a good rant. XD Rant all you want!

Ruth's so good! ^u^ You should definitely check her out--she's modern, but her songs and voice and everything are WAY prettier and gentler than most songs nowadays, yet their still fresh. ;D <3 Hehehe, YES, new ideas are my downfall. Not gonna lie. -_- *heavy, dramatic sighs* XDXD Ohh, thank youuu!!! I've heard of all these people, but I didn't know all the sorts of resources they had. Thanks so much!!! <333 >u< YES, I agree with you on all points! But I really don't think AI could do the job(s) well enough to be a replacement--at least not at this point. *insert lil thinking emoji* Firstly, because it's so faulty, and hardly ever sounds right--the intelligence is SO artificial. XDXD (To the point that it's not intelligent. *widens eyes dramatically*) Also, I think there are enough old souls/artists out there that we couldn't be replaced. ^u^ I think...XD I *hope*! T-T XDXDXD Anyway! Alright, we're both officially free to rant. *nod nods* But FYI...I can rant. o.o XD But...*guiltily raises a hand* I enjoy it. o.o XP