Writing Websites

I have a question to writers out there who post online. Which writing website do you like best? I currently have a Wattpad account, which I made years ago when I was younger. I do enjoy Wattpad, but I find that I might be outgrowing it. I am looking for new writing sites for me to post my work and get feedback.

What are your thoughts on these sites? Scribophile, webook, worthyofpublishing, etc. Which sites in your opinion are the best for feedback and a good community?

Thanks,

S.J. Rhodes

Worked on Only The Strong Survive

Wrote chapter 16 two days ago and yesterday I wrote chapter 17 and made a new book cover for the book. I am really excited about this book. I put this book on hold while I was writing The Slayer Series. I still am writing the fourth book in The Slayer Series, but I’ve put that on hold because The Slayer Series, as a whole, is going to take a lot longer to eventually get out there.

This book, Only The Strong Survive, since it’s not a series, is much easier to handle and complete. I am thinking about eventually self-publishing it and having part of the proceeds go to a charity. But that’s a long way away, totally getting ahead of myself!

Anyways, I made six book covers for this book, and me and my mom and dad narrowed it down to four. I now need your help in deciding which cover you like the best?

This book ideally would be for teenagers to read.

The book summary is as follows:

Echo hates Kane with a burning passion. Kane graduated and Echo thought she was rid of him. But the first day of summer didn’t turn out as planned.

Echo gets attacked by two men, and Kane comes to her rescue, only for the two of them to get captured. Echo and Kane have to rely upon one another if they have any chances of escaping their captors. But can Echo trust the boy who damaged her? Can she really put her life in his hands? Or is there a way to escape without his help? A better question is, will they escape and live to tell about it?

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 

So which cover would you be drawn to? Which cover do you think teenagers would like?

Thank you!

XOXO S.J. Rhodes

Reconnecting with characters

So I haven’t written from a certain character’s point of view in a long time. As I started writing from his view again, it was nice to get into his head. I’m so used to writing from the main character, Violet’s, point of view. It was nice to start writing from Luke’s point of view again, remembering who he really is, not just who Violet sees. I’m currently on Chapter 5 in “The Scientist, The Cure, and The Weapon” and writing from Luke’s point of view has been very refreshing. Especially since Luke has been a character from the beginning.

Has anyone else experienced this when going back into another characters point of view when you haven’t been there in a long time?

XOXO S.J. Rhodes

Getting people to read your work

I am on wattpad, and tons of people have read “The Slayer Series” yet I can’t get my family to read it. It’s been extremely frustrating over the years. I’ve asked multiple times, and even printed out chapters, but to no avail.

I really would like having my family read “The Slayer Series” because each member has something to offer. My mother would offer the emotional reactions, my father would offer the editorial aspect, and my sister would be a combination of both.

In my family we each have boxes where we put what we want for Christmas in it. I wrote that I wanted my family to really read the first book in the series. I figured that was the only way I was going to get it since they are all so stubborn. I get that it’s hard to find time to read, but it would mean a lot to me if my family read the book and gave me feedback. I am always looking for ways to improve my writing, and I know they would have some good comments and suggestions.

Any other writers struggle to get those closest to you to read your work?

XOXO S.J. Rhodes

The Slayer, The Lover, and The Vampire

This is the first book in my book series. I am going to post the prologue and first chapter here.

 

All content of this story including plot, characters and events fall under Copyright © 2011 S.J. Rhodes

Prologue

I woke up suddenly, heart racing as I saw police lights flashing outside my window. Rain was pouring down, wind howling with crashes of thunder to compliment it. Getting out of bed, a crash of thunder hit, and I jumped, and scurried to find my uncle Vladimir. I walked to the stairs, and scooted down half way and stuck my head through the banister. Vlad was at the door with the police, looking pale.

“Sir, Mr. and Mrs. Fortune are dead, it looks like a murder,” the officer said.

Vlad held onto the door to keep steady and I could see tears streaming down his face, matching the ones rolling down mine. The Officer coughs, motioning towards me. Vlad whipped his head around and spots me. Opening his arms, I raced to him and cried into his shoulder, as he wrapped his arms around me, holding tight.

“Sir, I am going to need you to come with me for legal issues. An officer will stay here with-” The officer stopped.

“Violet,” Vlad whispered.

“-with Violet,” I officer finished.

Uncle picked me up and set me down on the couch. I knew something terrible had happened. Something bad to my parents.

“Violet, wait here. Uncle will be back soon,” Vlad cried, kissing my head and walked out the door with an officer, as another stepped in and sat down on the chair across from me.

I looked out the window and saw them drive off into the pouring rain, the lights fading in the distance.

Chapter 1

                                                   Eleven years later…

My alarm clocked blared into my ear at six-thirty as the heat of a Miami Florida summer raced through my window. Summer was almost over though. Getting up and looking in the mirror, bags surrounded my eyes from the lack of sleep. Wearily I walked downstairs to the kitchen. I saw Vlad eating breakfast and sat down with him as he passed me some French toast.

“How was the hunt last night?” Vlad asked.

“It was fine,” I said before taking a bite of my breakfast.

When I say hunt, I don’t mean deer, I mean Vampires. The day my parents were murdered was the day I became a slayer. My uncle taught me everything he knew about slaying as I grew up. He really was the best uncle a girl could ask for.

“Violet, how about one more night?” Vlad probed.

“Vlad, you promised that last night was the last for the summer. Though, one more night won’t hurt,” I said caving, as I usually do.

That night reminded me of the night my parents were murdered. Sheets of rain were pouring down. Lightning flashed and I spotted ominous figures lurking in alley. There were two, and they were stalking toward me. I didn’t fear them; I always had a plan. As the two of them got closer, their clothes were stained in blood. I pulled out my stake and they bared their fangs at me. One was so upset he lunged straight toward me, knocking me to the ground, but to his stupidity, my steak was straight up- impaling him as we fell. I got up quickly, and was about to attack the other vampire when I recognized him. Vince Sterling, my best friends boyfriend, as well as one of my close friends.

I had never killed someone I knew. I froze, debating what to do. Vince looked confused and on guard. He was in phase one. He was just turned recently by his behavior. I put aside my emotions and decided to do what had to be done. Lunging at him with my steak, he sidestepped and quickly and effortlessly pinned me down. Sirens blared and Vince looked up and fear was on his face. He got off me and ran. At least he had good instincts to hide rather than fight and make a mess.

I woke up from a nightmare, calling out to Vlad, but no one answered my cry. I shook my head, not wanting to remember that night, but over the years, every time there was a storm I remembered bits and pieces from that night. I moved quickly, finding a dark street to get back home.

Seeing my house, I ran up and opened the door, slamming it behind me. Standing there dripping wet and out of breath, Vlad put down his paper and gave me a strange look.

“What happened Violet?” Vlad asked sternly.

“There were two…I killed one. The other…he was one of my friends from school. I didn’t kill him. Police sirens blared and he freaked and ran,” I explained.

“This is the first time you haven’t killed a vampire that you had the chance to. You know your identity is not to be known. If that vampire speaks your name… Never mind. We cannot stay here. We are moving,” Vlad said as he stood up.

“What? I made a mistake, I think you’re overreacting,” I said.

“Violet! I am not overreacting. I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you have been. I know the consequences to having your identity revealed. If we stay, we die. If we move, we survive. It’s all about survival of the fittest,” Vlad scoffed and went upstairs dialing someone on the phone.

I made the one mistake he told me not to. I decided to go to my room and pack. As I was gathering only essentials, as Vlad once told me to if we ever were in this situation, I grabbed a photo of my parents and me. I looked just like them with my wavy brown hair and brown eyes. I looked more like my mother than my father I had to admit.

“Violet, are you packing?” Vlad called.

“Of course,” I replied and put the picture in my pocket.

I knew what Vlad was doing. He had connections all over. I didn’t know how, but he did. He was probably calling his highest connection, and best friend, Jason Howling the movie star. Vlad had told me about Jason while growing up, always speaking highly of him. I could tell they were close by the way Vlad spoke of him. Jason wasn’t just some person to use; he was someone Vlad could rely upon.

I had my bag packed with all the things that were important to take, when Vlad came in and smiled at me.

“We have a place to stay and I found a school that you will be going to,” Vlad said.

In all the chaos it hadn’t hit me that I would be leaving all my friends. Never to see them again.

“Vlad, that’s great. May I say goodbye to my friends?” I asked cautiously.

“Don’t be stupid Violet. You are not to have any contact with them again, give me your phone,” Vlad demanded holding out his hand.

I didn’t move, trying to challenge Vlad just this once.

“Give me your phone!” Vlad shouted making me flinch.

I pulled it out of my pocket and he looked at it and dropped it, stepping on, crushing it in front of me.

“Now, let’s get going,” Vlad said and walked out my door with his bag.

————————-

So that’s the first part of the book. If you’re interested in reading “The Slayer, The Lover, and The Vampire” you can find it on wattpad.

Thanks for reading!

XOXO S.J. Rhodes

Habits of a Writer

For me personally, I can’t force myself to sit down and write three chapters. There’s a process, one that I haven’t paid too much attention to until the past couple months.

Usually I will sit down and start writing, then I will start writing something and I get stuck, or need a break. So my break turns into binging on a TV show and observing other characters, plots, mistakes, etc. And after a couple episodes I will usually be able to go back to the computer and pump out a whole new chapter.

My parents would give me the hardest time for sitting there in front of the TV for hours, but they failed to see that I wasn’t simply zoning out, but was studying. These days I see watching TV as studying. Because I want to be a writer for TV and I go to an Arts School that really is heavy in the TV/Film department, I have learned from the classes I’ve had and now watch everything as if I am studying. It has changed my perspective completely and been really helpful.

Also, I have found that my most creative times are anywhere from 2-5 PM or 9 PM -12 AM. Usually I can knock out a chapter or two in those times, whereas, if I sit down at any other time of day my writing tends to be slower.

Listening to background music and drinking a cup of tea usually helps me write, too. Any other writers have any of these habits?

XOXO S.J. Rhodes

Trouble in the house! (Spoiler Chapter 37 slayer 3)

Here is a snippet from Chapter 37 in “The Ruler, The Fallen, and The Broken”

 “Violet, do not test my temper. I don’t want you seeing Bruce again,” Clint stated.

“Clint, you are being ridiculously overbearing. You cannot make that decision. Violet is growing up and you will have to deal with that. I think you need to leave,” Kelsey said.

“Excuse me? I invited you to live here,” Clint said.

“Yeah, well this is Jason’s house, and I’m like his family, so really you could get kicked out,” I replied.

“Clint, we both want you to leave,” Kelsey said more aggressively.

XOXO S.J.