https://www.creativejools.org/creative-jools-blog daily 0.75 2021-08-23 https://www.creativejools.org/creative-jools-blog/soul-d545x monthly 0.5 2021-07-29 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d70ea92d11d168949120ee/1624706799414/unsplash-image-bMog4gpujsI.jpg Blog - Over fifty doesn’t mean over the hill! image shot at Ara Ha https://www.creativejools.org/creative-jools-blog/solitude monthly 0.5 2021-08-11 https://www.creativejools.org/creative-jools-blog/the-plunge monthly 0.5 2021-08-16 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/611ab21000e2ae1d9be9d50f/1629139504765/unsplash-image-zNlM2ADjFC0.jpg Blog - The Plunge - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.creativejools.org/home daily 1.0 2021-07-30 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d6cbe555cc170fea7297d4/1624689649087/Copy+of+Footprints+and+Soul.jpg Creative Jools Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/6103cf84a3969817feec61b8/1627639786541/Copy+of+Jools+Louise+Designs++blog+banner+Header.png Creative Jools Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d6ca7f7bca5952ede7e56d/1624690739160/Jools+Louise+claw+Logo.png Creative Jools Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d6ce8c2b3c7c0a79baf2f8/1627639803130/blog+image.jpg Creative Jools Home https://www.creativejools.org/about daily 0.75 2021-07-30 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/610421a2c65ded512e008277/1627660719363/IMG_20210405_100502_kindlephoto-171643.jpg About - ABOUT CREATIVE JOOLS Author, Blogger, Photographer, Traveler, and Designer… Creative Jools combines years of experience at writing and traveling, plus newer endeavors (photography and designs). Pop over to the SHOP for a taste of Creative Jools’ designs. Jools Louise Author offers adult-only LGBTQIA romantic fiction. Footprints and Soul is a challenge for 2022 and beyond, hiking the UK and raising funds for Versus Arthritis. The BLOG is a selection of random thoughts and ideas about life and issues close to my heart. Whatever piques your interest, I hope you enjoy your experience and return for another look. Cheers. Jools xx https://www.creativejools.org/jools-louise-author daily 0.75 2021-09-14 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d6f36314fd3e66d311e432/1624705516069/Jools+Louise+claw+Logo.png Jools Louise Author - Bestselling Author. Specializing in bestselling LGBTQIA Adult Erotic and Romantic fiction. Shapeshifters. Paranormal. Historical. Contemporary. Angels and Demons. Action-Adventure. Western. Vampire. Books available from all large online retailers, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookstrand.com. Published by Siren Publishing, Texas, USA. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d6f43b2f1394216c35f27a/1624699977685/inhibitions+sexy+in+the+sun.jpg Jools Louise Author - First sexy series… Inhibitions (Four books in the series) Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d7039ce54d4f23c9b89f86/1624703918695/9781642439458+Jools+Louise+-+Sawtooth+%27n%27+Soul+%28TBN1%29+Cover+3.jpg Jools Louise Author - Three Bear Night series (Three books in series so far) Follow the exploits of a country rock band, Three Bear Night. Bear shifters and gay to boot, the trio find themselves embroiled in a series of plots and shenanigans…and find the loves of their lives. MM Erotic Fiction, LGBTQIA, Alt-Gay, Suspense, Contemporary. Explicits sex scenes. Some scenes unsuitable for some readers. Some violent scenes. https://www.bookstrand.com/series/6264 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sawtooth-Three-Publishing-Classic-ManLove-ebook/dp/B07YMSGRYZ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=jools+louise+sawtooth+n+soul&qid=1624704069&sr=8-1 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d7068b2f1394216c367a38/1624704667347/jl-rookie-bp-3.jpg Jools Louise Author - Blue Platoon Five sexy soldiers, one heart, and a whole heap of trouble. Craig Mason falls into a universe he never knew existed. Shapeshifters and demons and vampires. And he’s a special kind of shifter. El Corazon. The heart of the shapeshifting wolf packs that inhabit Britain. Evolving alongside humans, shifters followed a different strand of DNA, possessing unique powers. Ancient feuds are ignited when Alpha Amos Hartland returns to his homeland, the Scottish Highlands, and sets up a home with Craig and his three other lovers, Blaze, Finch, and Garnet, all ex-SF soldiers. Their predicted life of peace and tranquility is shattered by a neighboring pack…and shenanigans ensue. MMMMM, Alt-Gay, Action-Adventure, Multi-Ménage, Erotic Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal, Shapeshifter, Vampire, Explicit sex scenes, DP, TP, Sex toys, Violence, some scenes will offend sensitive readers., https://www.bookstrand.com/series/5966 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rookie-Platoon-Publishing-LoveXtreme-ManLove-ebook/dp/B07CH1KZ94/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=jools+louise+rookie+in+the+midst&qid=1624705125&sr=8-1 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d6f623a465c320553bc4bb/1624700747214/two+spirit+ranch+battle+lines+cover.jpg Jools Louise Author - Two Spirit Ranch series (Seven books in the series) Sexy MM erotic fiction. Shapeshifters. Paranormal. Action-Adventure. Alt-Gay. Explicit sex scenes. Two Spirit Ranch, situated close to the Grand Tetons, Wyoming, has a history of helping people in trouble. When Joe returns home after a decade in the army, after the death of his father, he discovers several surprises. He’s gay. His hometown has gone to shit. And he’s been hiding a hidden spirit, an animal spirit, that he didn’t know he had. Who knew? https://www.bookstrand.com/series/4888 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-Spirit-Ranch-Spirits-Publishing-ebook/dp/B00XIILZW8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=jools+louise+battle+lines&qid=1624700725&sr=8-1 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d704e61a726441bfec4f83/1624704244106/x-jl-throughthetapestry3150212_0316.jpg Jools Louise Author - Hyrruld Warriors series Sci-Fi/Fantasy, MMMMMMM, Alt-Gay, Multi-ménage, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Erotic romance. Scenes of explicit sex, DP, TP, Sex toys, M-preg, .Violence, some scenes may offend sensitive readers. Hyrruld Warriors is a fast-paced adventure set in the Hyrruld universe, where dragons and shapeshifter rule…and dastardly plots abound. https://www.bookstrand.com/series/4974 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyrruld-Warriors-Tapestry-Publishing-LoveXtreme-ebook/dp/B00V3WXBUU/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=jools+louise+hyrruld+warriors&qid=1624704507&sr=8-2 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d701fe24e6a318575596d8/1624703520178/jl-sos-legacylostsouls.jpg Jools Louise Author - Sequel to Two Spirit Ranch series…Spirit of Sage series. (21 books in the series - also available as segue series, Warriors of Sage and Pioneers of Sage). LGBTQIA, Alt-Gay, MM Erotic Fiction, Ménage-trois/quarte, explicit sex scenes, action-adventure, shapeshifter, paranormal, vampire, fantasy, contemporary, western. Scenes of violence. Some scenes unsuitable for some readers. Following on from the bestselling Two Spirit Ranch series, the Shifters of Sage universe follows the trials and tribulations of a community of shapeshifters hiding in plain sight within the human world. Some humans already know that shifters exist…and want to exploit or destroy them. At any cost. https://www.bookstrand.com/series/5372 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Legacy-Spirit-Publishing-Classic-ManLove-ebook/dp/B01KAVYHTI/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=jools+louise+legacy+of+lost+souls&qid=1624703736&sr=8-1 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/6103f506125872718aa0d0e5/1627649656505/5fd8827916d966.69781356_blob.jpg Jools Louise Author - The Power of Three [Ménage Amour ManLove: Erotic Alternative Sci-Fi Ménage a Quatre Romance, M/M/M/M, HEA] Shay McIntyre finds that the universe holds all the answers to life, love and happiness in the form of three sexy mates who work for the mysterious Shadow Ministry. Mixtral, Rax and Kelvan offer Shay everything he’s ever wanted, having spent two thousand years searching for their síorghrá, their eternal love. Their search leads them to Earth and the plump, ginger-haired, green-eyed siren who has spent years hiding in a job he loves surrounded by people he hates who belittle and bully him on a daily basis. Shay’s dilemma is simple…stay in a world that judges a person solely on their looks or head to the stars with three sizzling Shadow Ministers who are willing to give Shay their all. Seizing the opportunity, Shay heads off into the wilds of deep space, discovering the biggest adventure is giving his heart and soul and trust to his three lovers who are everything…and more. Note: This book contains double anal penetration. A Siren Erotic Romance https://www.creativejools.org/footprints-and-soul daily 0.75 2021-08-20 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/6102b27979f0ea7e70fccbb4/1627566737412/Versus+Arthritis+design+-+midge+and+tick+country+footprints+and+soul..+%281%29.png Footprints and Soul - In preparation for taking on a long hike around Britain. Raising money for #VersusArthritis and improving mental wellbeing while discovering the hidden corners of the UK. Head over to the SHOP to purchase a selection of merchandise with the Versus Arthritis logo and Footprints and Soul logo. each. Proceeds from each purchase will be donated to the charity. OR Take a look at my Just Giving page if you’d like to donate rather than purchase merchandise. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/julia-ford7 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d5e0763db728266435123f/1624629426459/Wanderlust+%2814%29.png Footprints and Soul - Wander Your World Backpacking, wild camping, exploring, adventuring. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/60d5e0edfb20b674a769098e/1624629559311/Wanderlust+%2815%29.png Footprints and Soul - Wander Your World Coast to Coast, Highlands to Islands, Forest to Fell… https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/611a3ee2b266cf7f7f16a44e/1629109997233/Mileage+Phase+1b+-+Bassenthwaite+-+Solway+AONB+Reserve.JPG Footprints and Soul - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/611a3e1b6709ef08703d0376/1629109797390/Mileage+-+Phase+1+-+Whitehaven+-+Kielder+Forest+Path.JPG Footprints and Soul - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/611a3e576f033043834c0b58/1629109863553/Mileage+Phase+1b+-+Whitehaven+-+Innominate+Tarn.JPG Footprints and Soul - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/611a3a41034e97014a943e41/1629108812001/Phase+1B+-+Whitehaven+-+Northumberland+via+Lake+District+National+Park%2C+Gretna+Green%2C+and+Kielder..JPG Footprints and Soul - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/611a3e9518e786576d0891d5/1629109923014/Mileage+Phase+1b+-+Innominate+Tarn+-+Bassenthwaite.JPG Footprints and Soul - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/611a395ee9cf4515e40a159d/1629108760433/Footprints+and+Soul+Phase+1+Route+-+Whitehaven+-+Kielder.JPG Footprints and Soul - Phase 1 - Bad Weather Route Setting off from Whitehaven, the plan, weather dependent, is to head north then east - via one of two routes. Either via the Coastal Path, past several historic towns and up to the start of Hadrian’s Wall at Bowness-on-Solway, then across to the east coast. The Lake District beckons, Innominate Tarn is on my bucket list, but this depends on what the weather’s doing - and how I’m feeling when I set off. I might not know until a week before which route I’ll take https://www.creativejools.org/creative-jools-shop daily 0.75 2021-07-29 https://www.creativejools.org/photography daily 0.75 2021-07-29 https://www.creativejools.org/jools-ford-author daily 0.75 2021-07-30 https://www.creativejools.org/writing-tips daily 0.75 2021-08-08 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/610fae2ff932a77577ddde99/1628417893084/%E2%80%9CIf%2C+when+you+wake+up+in+the+morning%2C+you+can+think+of+nothing+but+writing+then+you+are+a+writer%E2%80%9D.jpg Writing Tips - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/610f9e146f703917e9e3d976/1628414390369/unsplash-image-nXGw951o3Hk.jpg Writing Tips - Getting Started. Where do you begin? What are you going to write about? Are you a beginner or a more experienced writer creating a new manuscript? (For the purposes of this site, we’ll focus on fiction writing, but the tips can be applied to non-fiction too). It might be a good idea, if you’re completely new to writing fiction, to take a short course. There are plenty around, including http://www.futurelearn.com which offers a selection of free short courses in writing of all kinds. Screenwriting, poetry, and fiction writing, to name but three. Paid courses include http://centreforexcellence.com which has a wide range to choose from, starting from £29 per course, which also give you a diploma at the end as a reward. Knowing what to write about can be tricky. Inspiration comes from everywhere. Current affairs. Relationships. An argument. A passion. A nugget of an idea can germinate into a manuscript. T here are a few tips that might help you do that. Writing an outline. Keeping notes. Editing. Beta readers. Scroll below and take a look at a few points that may help. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/610fa36d6397ce460351212c/1628414865576/Pantser%2C+Plantser%2C+or+Planner_+%281%29.jpg Writing Tips - Taking Notes and Creating an Outline. Whatever your writing style, if you’re serious about wanting to write something longer than a short story, it’s useful to create an outline, and take notes along the way. An outline can be a brief list of bullet points describing your plot, goal of the story, main character (protagonist and antagonist), and obstacles to the MC’s goal. i.e. A teenager wants to find his father but his mother forbids him because she knows his father is a bully, and deliberately hides any clues to the father’s location. Free writing is a fun way to get a story started, particularly if you have an idea in your head and don’t want to lose it. Putting it into words is great…but often the idea dries up, or perhaps doesn’t coalesce into a longer story, which is where taking notes, and writing an outline (even after you’ve already started) can help gel that idea into a more solid plotline. Using the example above, you could write your initial outline, in bullet points, then add to it. Annotate what kind of person the father is. Why did the mother split from him? Why is the teenager so desperate for answers? Why now? You can add more characters, too. A bff or a gang of bullies. A mean bus driver, or a gangster with a grudge. Go wild…but make sure it’s credible for your reader. Even if you’re dealing with aliens, there has to be a germ of “truth” to storyline. i.e. it wouldn’t be likely that the mother in the example above is hiding the father’s whereabouts because she’s trying to hurt her son (unless she’s a sadistic psychopath - which is a whole other story). A more credible reason might be that she’s frightened of losing her son. Or that the father might hurt her son. As you enlarge your story, take notes as you go, so you don’t forget your characters. Occasionally I’ll freewrite an entire novella, because the idea is so clear in my head that I don’t want to stop until it’s written down. I’ll then go back, once that first draft is done, and annotate the details, which also helps me to draw new inspiration. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d5add83f8d2e6246e80553/t/610fbbac748eca1b08b18ea2/1628437910519/unsplash-image-DUmFLtMeAbQ.jpg Writing Tips - Editing and Proofreading Once your first draft (the first manuscript written, warts and all), it needs fine tuning to make it presentable. Even the best writers edit their work. Editing involves reading the manuscript and looking out for plotholes (missing pieces of your story or inconsistencies); grammatical errors; spelling and punctuation; repeated words; missing words. There’s plenty more, but essentially you’re polishing your work so that, if you decide to continue to the next stage, publishing, the manuscript you’re working on is in the best shape. NB: A manuscript is the term used for anything from a novella to an epic saga over 100,000 words long. Until it’s published, your book is called a manuscript. After that, you can call it a book. Editing and proofreading (the final stage of checking for niggly errors once the main editing has been completed), are time consuming and attention to detail is critical. Imagine that your manuscript is an advert for you as a writer. If there are errors when it’s sent to a publisher, or even if you go down the self-publishing route, the reader or publisher won’t want to read your work. They’ll think you don’t care enough about your writing. Take that time, mundane as it is, to correct your work as much as you can. Having someone take a second look can be useful, too. Someone who knows what they’re doing, preferably. Use sites like http://upwork.com which advertise freelance editors and proofreaders.