WIP Grobug Tales Chapter 8 and MORE! |Story Over Everything 023

Join MJ as he shares with you the live, unfiltered process of writing Grobug Tales chapter 8. It goes entirely off the rails, sparks a Grobug Book 5 rewrite and a crisis with some positive results.

#amwriting #writer #author #WritingCommunity

TOPICS

Joanna Penn’s Author 2.0 Blueprint

Reviewing Grobug Tales: Zev and the Broken Bonds

Ideas for a Grobug Tales chapter book sequel that explains even more lore and ties into me superhero universe

Figuring out Zrrt’s personality and voice as well as the story he should tell the Grobug Cadets

Concern I have over not being the writer I should be

Puzzling over what makes a story from memory

Committing to myself to write and draw early in the day at least 10 minutes a day and treat writing like a job

MENTIONED

N/A

DICTATION TRANSCRIPT 3

~~Grobug Tales Chapter 8~~

~~RAW RESULTS~~

~~(I will clean up this transcript and put it into the manuscript. This might be most of chapter 8)~~

Check out the Blog Version of the Transcript below:

Hey there, I’m MJ! As an author, artist, and analyzer, I’ve embarked on a creative journey that I’m excited to share with you. You can find all my work at mjmunoz.com, where I pour my heart and soul into my projects. Today, I want to dive into Episode 23 of my podcast, Story Over Everything, which is scheduled to be released on June 16th.

Right now, my focus is on Chapter 8 of Grobug Tales, a series that features the incredible story of Glitch the Grobug from “Zev and the Broken Bonds.” In this chapter, I’ve been experimenting with a new style of titling. I start with a universal title, followed by the name of a character and a relevant subtitle. It adds a unique touch to the storytelling experience.

Speaking of “Zev and the Broken Bonds,” the subtitle delves into the theme of broken bonds, where both Zev and Glitch feel a sense of disconnection. Zev experiences distance from his cousins and sister, while Glitch, the video game character, feels disconnected from other characters within the game. During a walk with my daughter, we had a thought-provoking discussion about the theme of broken bonds and how Glitch’s struggle with belonging can resonate with readers.

Now, let me clarify something about my values and writing style. While I don’t make explicit political statements in my work, I want to emphasize that my values are holistic and life-affirming rather than progressive. My goal is to encourage children to face their fears, show empathy, demonstrate courage, and let go of anger and hate. These are universal values that everyone should embrace, and my writing aims to inspire children rather than indoctrinate them.

But let’s get back to Glitch’s story. In a plot twist, Glitch is revealed to be a grill bug, which is a spoiler for the book. Through his heroic and self-sacrificing actions, along with his unique and unexplained powers, Glitch proves himself to be a grill bug. This doesn’t mean that there are no barriers or fixed realities, but rather that Glitch can overcome obstacles and stay true to his identity, becoming the best version of himself.

Originally, I had envisioned Glitch as an unfinished character or an NPC (non-playable character) who transformed himself through sheer willpower. However, I realized that this concept could be misunderstood, so I decided to make Glitch a grasshopper-type Grobug from the beginning. In order to protect the game’s characters from harm, a Grobug would volunteer to enter the game, sacrificing their identity while still retaining the capacity to fulfill their destined role. This background explains how Glitch can transcend his limitations and fulfill his purpose.

In my contemplation, I came across an intriguing idea: desire indicates design, and design indicates destiny. If you have a passion for something, such as writing, it means you were meant to pursue it. Therefore, it is your destiny to share your work with the world. This concept resonates with both Zev and Glitch in “Zev and the Broken Bonds.” They both possess a strong desire to act within the game world, using their agency to stop the negative events unfolding. This desire stems from their compatibility and a mysterious gift that comes to Zev. The origins of the game and its connection to the five blood-related kids and GrowBugs remain unclear to me as the author, but I believe these kids may possess unique talents to fulfill their roles and confront the impending threat. In the end, Zev and Glitch are the ones who accomplish this task, defeating Dr. Decay in the real world. Unintentionally, I left room for a potential sequel where Zev deals with other escaped characters, similar to the concept in “Yo-Kai Watch.” I’m setting up future stories to write!

The message in Glitch’s story, or rather Zrrt’s story (since I want all the Grobug names to be onomatopoeic), remains focused on personal growth and worth, regardless of one’s origins. Zev is still a boy, his sister’s brother, and his cousin’s cousin. It’s a reminder that our roots and relationships play a significant role in shaping our identity and purpose.

Zrrt, our loyal protagonist, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, following his desires to shape his own destiny. Throughout his adventure, loyalty shines through Zrrt’s actions and choices. He remains true to himself, which awakens everything he needs to fulfill his purpose and accomplish his goals.

His loyalty is evident in his commitment to saving his friend Zev and assisting him on their quest. Zrrt also shows loyalty to his fellow Grobugs, as they work together to protect children from supernatural threats like hobnots. This loyalty to the cause and the people involved is essential to Zrrt’s character and his awakening to his mission in a different world where he initially loses his identity.

Recently, during a car ride, I had the opportunity to discuss the progress of my book with my daughters and gather their input. Based on their advice, I decided to make some minor rewrites to the story, particularly regarding how the game containing Dr. Decay, the critter bots game, ends up at Zev’s house. Instead of the original concept, I decided that Zev’s family will now own an arcade, which provides a plausible connection and explains why the parents lose track of the kids for a significant period.

In our conversation, we also stumbled upon the idea of cybugs, fallen guardian angels who oppose the Grobugs and seek to harm humanity. They are part of an evil organization, representing a decentralized and multi-layered series of attacks on mankind. These cybugs are somehow linked to the arcade owned by Zev’s family, creating a connection between the Grobugs and the adversarial forces they face.

As I dive deeper into the writing process, I’ve realized that my manuscript for Grobug Tales is disorganized. All the information is cluttered in one document, which makes it challenging to maintain order. To address this, I’ve created a backup archive and started transferring and deleting content to streamline the main manuscript. I’ve also been researching outlining techniques to improve my storytelling process.

Although I’ve written several children’s picture books before, the chapter book format of Grobug Tales presents new challenges. The smaller stories followed a specific formula, but the chapter book requires further development. This has both intimidated and intrigued me, leading me to introduce additional characters and concepts on the fly. The experience has opened my eyes to potential future projects, including a fantasy dragon series with accompanying picture books.

The concept of loyalty, along with the introduction of cybugs and the changes to Zev’s family owning an arcade, has added depth and flavor to the world of Grobug Tales. I strive to create a series where the individual books can be read independently or together, providing enriching experiences for readers who explore the interconnected stories and characters.

As I continue to navigate the creative process, I’m also taking time to reflect on my artistic pursuits and the importance of discipline. I’ve realized the need to schedule dedicated time slots for writing and drawing, rather than just setting aside a few minutes each day. I’m inspired by other authors who allocate specific time and set word count goals, and I’m eager to find my own rhythm and commitment.

Recently, I’ve completed eight books, including “More Than Milk,” a non-fiction breastfeeding book with illustrations by my daughter, the five Grobug Tales books, and “

Superheroes Get Hungry, Too.” This variety allows me to explore different genres and storytelling approaches, tapping into my creativity and passion for writing.

To further refine my writing skills, I’ve been exploring various resources, such as blog articles and videos, to understand how to structure a story beyond the basic elements. I’m delving into character development, motivations, conflicts, and goals to create well-rounded and relatable characters. This deeper understanding will enhance the readers’ experience and bring the world of Grobug Tales to life.

Before diving further into the Grobug Tales series, I plan to refine my manuscript document. I’m considering separating it into a series Bible, an outline, and individual manuscripts to maintain organization and consistency. This will allow for easier cross-referencing and ensure that each character’s appearance and development align with the overarching storyline.

In conclusion, I’m on a continuous journey of self-improvement and artistic exploration as an author, artist, and analyzer. Through the Grobug Tales series, I aim to inspire children to face their fears, have empathy, show courage, and let go of anger and hate. These universal values transcend political beliefs and encourage personal growth and worth. The story of Zrrt, the loyal Grobug, exemplifies the power of staying true to oneself and following our desires to shape our destiny. By embracing our passions and remaining committed, we can overcome challenges and achieve our goals, just like Zrrt and his friends in the world of Grobug Tales.

If you’re interested in following my journey or exploring my other works, please visit my website, mjmunoz.com. Stay tuned for the release of “Grobug Tales Chapter 8” on June 16th, and keep an eye out for future adventures in the Grobug Tales series. Together, let’s inspire and empower children to embrace their true selves and embark on their own extraordinary journeys of self-discovery and growth.

WIP Grobug Tales Chapter 8 and MORE! |Story Over Everything 023