Publication Date: 21 March 2024

The Blurb

When Jess and Jack Rayworth reluctantly enter the gates of their latest school Hilltop Academy, they don’t know they’re entering the training ground for a secret agency. An agency set up to stop damage inflicted on the planet through the greed of a sinister organisation known as the Lobby. They soon work out that Hilltop also has something to do with their missing parents. And following their hunch, they are launched into a battle for survival deep in the Amazon rainforest, trying to help save someone else’s home and family. But will this help them save their own?

The Guest Post: Writing Tips from Jonny Daymond

Give your story a skeleton

I don’t mean write horror stories about bones walking around by themselves! No, I mean before you launch into the detail of chapter 1 write down a bullet point outline for your story. Just the basic outline of what is going to happen on about half a page. If it helps you can divide this into chapters and have a few words or one line for each.

Once you have this skeleton it can become a little easier to put fleshy chapters on the bones without going off on too much of a tangent.

What is your personal maximum productive writing time?

When I write I do so in two-hour blocks. Ideally (but not always) one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In two hours, I can write around 2000 words, which is a chapter or so in my world (I don’t like long chapters!).

What length of time do you like to write for? Is it 15 minutes, an hour, or more? Sit down and try writing. If you find yourself drifting off and not producing anything useful your time’s up! How long were you productive for? That’s your MPWT (Maximum Productive Writing Time). After that you need a break!

Don’t let the rules ruin the run! (Hmm I like that. Think I’ll write it on a wall somewhere)

When the action and dialogue of your story is pouring out of you, let it flow. Let it spill onto the pages in a way that excites and encourages you to continue. Throw the words down as your mind creates the scenarios and interactions that your characters will face.

Don’t worry, when your creative juice has been used up for the day you can go back and make corrections and adjustments to keep everyone happy.

You will also go through at least one and possibly several rounds of editing before your book is released too!

Find some children to read to, or record your own audiobook

I’m lucky enough to have two children in my house who are happy to sit and listen to my stories as I read to them. This gives me the chance to test each chapter for their reaction and understanding.

But they aren’t always there (and probably won’t always be children, which is weird because I’m still one!) so plan B is to record yourself reading the chapter. How does it sound? Do the words you have used flow together?

Recording and listening back is much more useful than just reading to yourself out loud. Every mobile phone has a Dictaphone app so there is no excuse.

Keep starting stories

I’ve started a huge number of stories over the years. From a very early age I was creating characters and writing adventures. But it is only recently that I have developed the discipline to get all the way to the end!

But all those false starts weren’t wasted, they were just some of the steps I needed to take to get here.

Finally, (and this point needs no number) enjoy writing. Writing can be the most fantastically enjoyable and therapeutic activity so relish the flow of creativity and take yourself and your characters on the most amazing journeys that only you can imagine.

Huge thanks to Jonny for sharing these wonderful writing tips. You can discover more about Jonny Daymond and the Globe Defenders at: https://www.jonnydaymond.com/. Globe Defenders: Rainforest Rescue is now available to pre-order from independent bookshops, and Amazon.

Thank you so much to Tina and New Frontier Publishing for inviting me to take part in the blog tour. Do make sure you check out all of the other stops.

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