This week YA Author CJ Darlington took over our Twitter as a part of our weekly Thursday Twitter Takeover. CJ Darlington is the author of Heart of Belonging. (See YEM’s interview with CJ Darlington here.) See highlights from the takeover below.
Hey! They gave me the reins tonight! I’m @cjdarlington a published author ready to chat with you about writing and more. LOL Ready to have some fun? What do YOU want to talk about? Go! #YAauthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/ToOPzAiy9F
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 11, 2023
I started writing the story that would become my first novel when I was 15! It took years before it was published! My 9th novel Heart of Belonging, Book #6 in the Riverbend Friends series, is coming out in Dec. Don't give up on dreams. What are YOUR dreams? #YAauthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/83rjKgBQYR
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
The #RiverBendFriends series features four friends, Shay, Izzy, Tessa, and Amelia, and we had four different authors writing in the voice of each character. My character Shay loves animals, especially horses. pic.twitter.com/24DQZOXWxG
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
“I wished my grandmother would yell at me” is the first line of SEARCHING FOR NORMAL the 2nd book in the #RiverbendFriends series #YAAuthorTakeover https://t.co/thD1vNPqCG
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
Writing a novel can take years, but I have also written a novel in a couple months! The Heart of Belonging actually was written in a period of about two or three months! In the perfect world I probably need at least six months! Ha. #YAauthorTakeover
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
People usually say “write what you know” but good advice I heard is “write what you WANT to know”. I didn’t have a horse when I first started writing about them. Now I do! His name is Watson. #YAauthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/SH1AwlBEeT
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
One of the BEST things an aspiring writer can do is read well! I have never understood how some authors say they don’t read a lot. You end up picking up on how to write a good story without even realizing it as you read. #YAAuthorTakeover
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
Writing about characters other authors have created was a fun challenge in the Riverbend series. All four of us collaborated and got feedback from each other when we could but really had to immerse ourselves in the girls to get the right "voice" #YAAuthorTakeover
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
Friendship is not an easy thing, but when you find good friends the journey can be wonderful! I wanted to show what real, healthy friendship looked like in my #RiverbendFriends stories. When you find a good friend, hold onto them! Friends can have four legs too. Just ask Watson. pic.twitter.com/bUQtBtmR7t
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
My favorite book series to read growing up was The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. They had these covers too. #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/1iPhhkjnlA
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
What's all this about The Riverbend Friends series, eh? If you're curious to read about four friends who are as different from each other as their fingerprints, check out Book 1, Real, Not Perfect #YAAuthorTakeover https://t.co/9VLjs0soFC pic.twitter.com/rDxRtdMJmn
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
No matter what I do I always end up including animals in my stories in one capacity or another. I've even written about zorses! Yep, horse/zebra hybrids. #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/zXOB7UaCHr
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
In the books I wrote in The Riverbend Friends series, my character Shay has to learn hard things about herself, including how to connect with horses. Here's a photo of me and Watson doing some ground/connection work. #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/4YA7PA3KRb
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
Sometimes the horse tries to train YOU! #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/xPJW38ro9s
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
In the writing world we have the term "pantsers" … authors who write by the seat of their pants vs writing with an outline! I write this way. Sometimes I plan ahead a few chapters but rarely do I even know exactly how a book will end. Weird, I know. #YAAuthorTakeover
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
My character Shay has a pretty big secret in her novel Searching for Normal. She believes if her friends find out they will abandon her. But is she right? #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/zIMFL7Fxmz
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
In The Heart of Belonging I include a horse named Donut, based off this cutie. #YAAuthorTAkeover pic.twitter.com/JAsiO4v8xb
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
Many authors will tell you they don’t always love the actual process of writing, but they love having written. I think I’m the same way. I do enjoy telling stories, but going through the process of writing the first draft can be hard. Keep going! #YAAuthorTakeover
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
When I first started writing I always loved animals and horses, but I didn’t know a ton about them so there was a lot of research, now I have been involved with horses for many years, and it’s nice to be able to write with confidence about them. #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/PCDWKwrWDP
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
I really enjoy writing about real life people in real life circumstances, but that setting can be in our real world or it can be in a fantasy world. We created the fictional town of Riverbend, Indiana for our series. #YAAuthorTakeover
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
Must have writing skill: determination … because you’re going to have days where you feel like throwing your manuscript in the trash. And you have to be willing to push through those times. It’s not easy, but if it’s in your heart it’s worth it. #YAAuthorTakeover
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
One of the characters in Heart of Belonging says, "God can use the broken things in our lives for good even when they suck." It's true. #YAAuthorTakeover https://t.co/DtSIqOeBCB
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
We all need friends! Even horses. Especially horses. As herd animals they thrive when they have buddies. We humans do too, don't you think? #YAAuthorTakeover pic.twitter.com/IO1sk9mZ0M
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
My writing journey was definitely a process. I learned through trial and error, reading many novels, devouring how to books on the craft, and lots of rejection. Rejection is a part of life, but remember to keep on keeping on. Life is worth living to the full! #YAAuthorTakeover
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
Each of the authors who wrote in our series included their own unique spin. I wrote about horses, others included swim team, theater, and more. Our characters meet in drama class! #YAAuthorTAkeover pic.twitter.com/ZWTciEgsE4
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
Being an author doesn't make me any more special than you, but if you have dreams to write, read lots, write your heart out, and don't give up. Be willing to listen to critique, and keep honing your craft! Hope you have a great night! #YAAuthorTAkeover pic.twitter.com/NusBfnMmN9
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
Heart of Belonging doesn't release until December, but preorders are available and that gives time to read the other books in the series! Thanks for hosting me tonight! #YAAuthorTakeover https://t.co/TeSg5qR0fZ pic.twitter.com/1RVfIuAZ4Z
— all about firsts (@YoungEntmag) May 12, 2023
