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    The magic of world-building
    26Aug, 2023
    The Magic and Power of Buiding Fictional Worlds
    Get the World-Building Checklists & Planning Sheets Printables

    Have you ever wondered why some fictional worlds feel so captivating, as if you could step right into them? That’s the power…the enchantment…of world-building at play. That is what we’re talking about today: How world-building is the secret ingredient that adds depth, authenticity, and, yes, pure magic to your stories.

    You Invite Readers to Explore New Realms

    Think of world-building as opening the doors to new dimensions. When you craft a world from scratch, you’re offering readers an invitation to journey into uncharted territories. You’re giving them a chance to escape the familiar and embrace the unknown.

    You Create an Immersive Experience

    Ever flipped through the pages of a book and felt like you could smell the rain in a mystical forest or taste the exotic spices in a bustling marketplace? That’s the power of immersive world-building. It envelops readers in a sensory cocoon where every sight, sound, and scent feels tangible.

    You Set the Stage for Characters to Shine

    Just as a stage enhances a performer’s act, a well-built world serves as the backdrop for your characters’ stories. Whether they’re navigating political intrigue, embarking on epic quests, or discovering their inner strengths, the world you’ve created shapes their experiences and decisions.

    You Breathe Life into Cultures and Customs

    Weslandia by [Paul Fleischman, Kevin Hawkes]Have you ever marveled at the intricacies of a fictional society, from its customs to its cuisine? If you’ve ever read the children’s picture book, Weslandia, this is what it’s about—the creation of a world crafted from the imagination of one boy. Highly recommend! Anyway, world-building lets you breathe life into the cultures you’re writing about or creating, allowing readers to explore the diverse tapestry of humanity. It’s a chance to celebrate the richness of traditions and show how different belief systems coexist.

    You Foster Authenticity and Consistency

    Readers are like detectives; they notice when details don’t align. Believe me, I know this from experience. I was married in and lived in Sacramento for a long time. In my first book, Living the Vida Lola, there are several scenes at a marina modeled after a real marina on Garden Highway. In one review, a woman commented that that marina wasn’t there! Trust me when I say readers pay attention to details. World-building helps you maintain consistency by creating rules and guidelines for your world, whether it’s based on a real place or one you’ve crafted from your imagination. It’s like setting the boundaries of your universe so your narrative remains solid and believable.

    You Tackle Thought-Provoking Themes

    World-building isn’t just about creating pretty landscapes; it’s also a powerful tool to explore complex themes. Whether you’re delving into political unrest, technological ethics, or the nature of magic, your world becomes a canvas to discuss thought-provoking ideas.

    You Invite Readers to Be Curious

    A well-built world isn’t just a static backdrop; it’s a universe filled with mysteries waiting to be unraveled. When you leave breadcrumbs of untold stories, hidden truths, and unexplored regions, readers become detectives, hungry to discover the secrets you’ve scattered.

    You Fulfill the Writer’s Imagination

    As a writer, your imagination is a boundless playground. Have you experienced that incredibleness? World-building allows you to unleash your creativity to its fullest. From inventing mythical creatures to designing intricate political systems, there’s no limit to the wonders you can conjure.

    You Can Leave a Lasting Impression

    Remember the stories that whisked you away to a far-off Harry Potter: The Complete Collection (1-7) by [J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré]land or made you ponder life’s mysteries? Narnia. Hogwarts. Middle Earth. These are tales with painstakingly crafted worlds. They are real. World-building leaves an indelible mark on readers, making your story linger in their minds long after the final page.

     
    So, Why World-build?

    Because it’s the brushstroke that turns a blank canvas into a masterpiece. It’s the enchantment that transforms words into a universe waiting to be explored. Whether your world is nestled in the heart of a bustling city or stretches across galaxies, whether it’s magical and full of witches and dragons and muggles, or whether you’re taking something real and building it into something three-dimensional, world-building breathes life into your storytelling.

    So, here’s what I say…unleash your imagination and dive into the magical realms you’re destined to create. Your readers will thank you for it, because you’ll be taking them on a journey they’ll never forget.

    Happy world-building!

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    10 Reasons to Infuse your Books with History and Magic
    11Aug, 2023
    10 Reasons to Infuse your Books with History and Magic

    I love to infuse history and magic in my books and series. In my Harlow Cassidy Magical Dressmaking Mystery series, Harlow is a descendant of Butch Cassidy. I created an alternate history in which Butch tosses a coin into an ancient Argentinian fountain, wishing his female descendants are charmed. 

    Harlow sews the wishes and dreams of people into the garments she creates. Her mother has a green thumb, and her grandmother is a goat-whisperer. And then there’s Loretta Mae. Whatever she wants, she gets.

    In my Book Magic series, there is a 2000 year old Irish curse, ancient deities, the Tuatha dé Danann, and the divination of bibliomancy.

    There are so many reasons to add a little history and magic to your writing. Here are just a few:

    1. Engaging and captivating plots. Adding magic and history to a novel can make the plot more interesting and intriguing. Readers are often fascinated by the mystical and unknown, and combining it with historical elements can create a truly compelling storyline. Trust me. Based on reader feedback I’ve gotten, it’s true!

    2. Enhanced world-building. Magic and history can be used to create unique and truly immersive fictional worlds. When you incorporate magical elements, you can expand the boundaries of your story. This means you can transport readers to new and exciting realms. Adding history means adding depth and authenticity to the world. 

    3. Exploration of themes. Magic and history provide great opportunities for authors to explore big themes such as power, morality, belief systems, and cultural dynamics. You can go a step further by reimagining historical events with magical elements. Stephen King does this in his book 11/22/63 with a magic portal that allows for the opportunity to stop the Kennedy assassination.

    4. Character development. When an author incorporates magic and history into their writing, they can develop their characters in very distinct and interesting ways. Characters may have unique magical abilities. Their choices and actions may be influenced or impacted by historical events, or they may even become figures of historical significance themselves. All of this can help authors delve deeper into understanding their characters’ strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and the complexity of their hero’s journeys.

    5. Symbolism and allegory. Magic and history are great tools to add symbolism and conflicts. They provide a metaphorical framework to explore important topics–think oppression, liberation, social injustice, or the quest for knowledge. When you infuse these elements into your novels, you automatically weave in ways for your readers to connect your story to the real world.

    6. Cultural richness. Incorporating magic and history allows authors to create diverse and culturally rich narratives. You can explore cultures, folklore, and traditions, all of which can result in a vibrant and inclusive portrayal (and exploration) of humanity.

    7. Escapism and entertainment. Readers often turn to novels as a means of escape and entertainment. I definitely do. Magic and history can transport readers and can captivate the imagination, which makes for a more satisfying reading experience.

    8. Originality and differentiation. Including magic and history in novels can set the work apart from others in the same genre. So many readers have commented on how unique my Book Magic books are. In fact, Midwest Book Review said the are “deftly crafted and impressively original novel(s) by an author with a genuine flair for originality. While certain to be an unusual, immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of anyone who enjoys Women’s Friendship Fiction, Cozy Animal Mysteries, or Supernatural Mysteries…”

    This is most certainly because of the history and magic and they way thees two elements are combined. They offer a unique blend of elements that intrigue my readers, especially those who are looking for something fresh and innovative. This differentiation can help you find your niche and build a dedicated fan base. It’s proven true for me!

    9. Emotional resonance. Magic and history can evoke strong very emotions in readers. The reviews I get on my Harlow Cassidy and Book Magic series convey this. Whether it’s the awe of witnessing extraordinary magical feats, the empathy generated by exploring historical moments of triumph, tragedy, or resilience, or the creative way you use these two elements in your writing (see #8), you have the potential to touch the hearts and minds of your readers. This is how you build a loyal following.

    10. Enduring appeal. Magic and history are timeless elements that have enchanted readers forever and ever. When you incorporate them into your novels, you can tap into humanity’s never-ending fascination with the mystical and the past. This will all but guarantee a readership that appreciates and seeks out your stories. You’re giving them exactly what they need and want.

    If you’ve ever wondered how to set your writing and books apart from the competition, consider adding history and magic to your books. It’ll do the same things for you that it does for readers.

    Happy writing!

    Know a writer, aspiring or other, who might like this content? Share this site with them!

    Are you ready for the next step in your writing process? Hire me as your developmental editor and partner. Together, we will take your writing to the next level!

    Check out the WriterSpark YouTube channel!

    Get WriterSpark Merchandise!

    Want more? Check out the Podcast!

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    Join the WriterSpark Academy newsletter! And share with your writing besties.

    27Jul, 2023
    How to Keep Readers Turning the Pages of Your Cozy Mystery

    How do you keep readers turning the pages of your cozy mystery? I’m glad you asked! I have a list of 10 expectations cozy mystery readers have when it comes to reader satisfaction. Here we go…

     
    Genre Expectations

    All genres have specific reader expectations. They are what help authors ensure they provide a satisfying experience for the reader. 

    The cozy mysteries may have the clearest delineation of expectations of any genre. Cozy readers want and trust that these will be met. If they’re not, you will quickly lose diehard fans of the genre.

    Here are those all-important cozy mystery genre expectations:
    1. Cozies are low-key mystery novels with little to no blood and guts. All of the violence happens off the page. Readers don’t come to cozies to see the murder happen in realtime, so keep that in mind.
    2. Cozies feature an amateur sleuth. No professional crime-solvers, please! The professional law enforcement characters come in the form of supporting characters only.
    3. Cozies center around a puzzle both the sleuth and the reader try to solve. All mysteries are puzzles. Cozies are of the feel-good variety.
    4. Any sex is off the page. There can and probably should be romantic subplots. Who doesn’t like a little romance, after all? But keep your cozies clean!
    5. Cozies are typically set in a small town, neighborhood, or village. This doesn’t mean it has to be set in the perineal small town. You have leeway here. A defined area within a city works fine. A NY borough, for example, can easily fit the bill. 
    6. The sleuth’s community plays a significant role in the story. A tight-knit community is a really important element of the the cozy. This is why a neighborhood setting can work. The appeal is partially the definable area in which the sleuth lives and in which the crime takes place, but the community gives the setting personality and charm.
    7. Cozies are usually part of a series and have a series arc. Cozy readers love their favorite genre. Give them a series to invest in.
    8. Cozies have a ‘hook’ (or theme) of some sort as a distinguishing feature of the series. Culinary cozies, pet-themed, fiber-based like sewing, knitting, needlepoint, and crochet, and bookshops are just a few. Check out Cozy-Mystery.com for a comprehensive list.
    9. Deductive reasoning, common sense, logic, and observation are used to solve the murder. The sleuth has to be clever and use the aforementioned skills. No bumbling through the crime-solving, please!
    10. By the end of the story, the crime is solved and justice is served. Justice doesn’t always prevail in real-life, but it definitely does in the cozy mystery. Readers expect the criminal to be held accountable for their crime(s).
    Keep them in Mind

    It’s important to keep these reader expectations in mind as you write your cozy mysteries and your readers will keep clamoring for more.

    Also, remember to check out the resource books for writing a cozy mystery.

    WriterSpark’s Field Guide to WRiting a Cozy Mystery is a comprehensive online, self-paced course that will take you from dreaming about writing a cozy mystery to actuall doing it. Check it out!

     About the Course

    Examples and images to make your plot high concept
    25Jul, 2023
    Do you know How to Make Your Plot ‘High Concept’?

    High Concept is a buzz phrase that’s both abstract and difficult to wrap your brain around. What does it mean exactly? In a nutshell, a high-concept idea is a hook and a high-concept story is a great hook written with unique details that give flight to the idea and make it original.

    High-concept ideas are what agents and editors are looking for, the one-line pitch that sparks interest and defines a book. If you can sum up your book in a tantalizing way, you’re on your way. Let’s look at some of the characteristics of a high-concept book.

    🪄It will have mass commercial appeal.

    🪄It can be summarized succinctly (preferably in one sentence) so that it is immediately clear what the book is about. This is the hook and is important to the publicity and marketing team. Give them a concrete idea that they can run with. Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer grows up to be a suburban soccer mom. Easy to grasp, and therefore easy to market.

    🪄It has exceptional details that turn a good idea into a unique story that can take any tone, be it scary, thrilling, funny, chicky, sexy, dark, light, or anything in between.

    🪄It takes something relatable and familiar and gives it an interesting, creative, original twist that can lead the reader on an exciting, escapist journey.

    Easy to do? Heck no. But it is possible. Who’s done it lately?

    Cinderella Lopez, by Berta Platas. A fairy tale that’s been changed up and done with a Latin flavor. Platas takes the tried and true Cinderella story and mixes it up with the glamorous world of television and powerful businessmen, with a Latina as the heroine. It’s a high-concept idea that she’s worked into a fabulous high-concept story.

    Meggin Cabot’s The Boy Next Door. Cabot wrote the entire book using emails as the format, a very unique story-telling twist, and certainly not easy to do. Every Boy’s Got One and Boy Meets Girl have equally unique hooks, with letters, to-do lists, and instant messaging.

    Carpe Demon, Julie Kenner’s Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom. Kate has to reconcile the job of her youth (demon hunter with her late husband) with the responsibilities of her new life (married to a politician and mom to two children). Same outcome–she succeeds–but the adventures she has? Demon-hunting is a little more inventive than, say, rejoining the workforce and going back to a state job. Throw a dead demon in the pantry, make the fate of the world rest squarely on your heroine’s shoulders, and now you have a part-ee.

    Allison Brennan’s The Prey. Allison’s book goes high concept from the get-go with a killer copying the murders from the heroine’s fictional books. It goes further by offering such deep characterization and layering of characters. A high concept idea is great, but it’s the details and the way the idea is executed that sustains the high concept idea and takes it into a high concept novel. Brennan’s killer combination of a great idea and deep characterization took the book all the way to the New York Times Extended Best Seller list and the USA Today Bestseller list.

    Gregory Maguire’s series of books, beginning with Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and Wicked-The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. They take fairy tales and put a different spin on them by telling them from an alternate point of view. (Note: this was also done with the children’s picture book, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, as told by the Big Bad Wolf. High concept crosses genres and reading levels.)

    The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. Magical pants and how the lives of four girls are forever changed because of them? Clever. It’s a good hook–so much so it’s been made into a movie.

    My first book, Living la Vida Lola, the first in the Lola Cruz mystery series, started with the premise of a typical mystery book. Nothing original there. But I wanted to have a Latina heroine, I wanted it to be written in first person with a light-hearted, witty, somewhat self-deprecating tone, and I wanted there to be a central romance that would arch over the series. So here’s the hook:

    Lola Cruz juggles the responsibilities of her close-knit Mexican family, her attraction for hunky Jack Callaghan (her brother’s old high school friend who’s suddenly demanding her attention) , and her commitment and passion for her career as a PI–and she’ll do whatever it takes to keep all the balls in the air.

    What makes Living the Vida Lola different is the blend of the mystery and chick-lit sub-genres. Add to that a feisty Latina heroine and my book just might have the propensity to take off on its own, without a big name like Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie, or Sue Grafton having written it. The book has familiar themes, but it’s unique enough to stand out from the pack.

    There aren’t hard and fast rules surrounding a high-concept book. It’s up to you to take something that interests you, turn it upside down with creativity and uniqueness, give it a zippy title that the public and publisher will glom onto, and you’re on your way.

    A quaint bookshop with 10 Reasons to Write Cozy Mysteries
    22Jul, 2023
    10 Reasons to Write Cozy Mysteries

    There are so many reasons to write cozy mysteries. In my book, there are 10 of them.

    The mystery genre is huge. From thrillers, suspense, and police procedurals on one end, domestic suspense and straight mysteries in the middle to capers and cozies on the other side of the spectrum, there is, literally, something for everyone.

    No matter the sub-genre, mysteries draw you in with the promise of a puzzle. That and the promise of justice being served, something which doesn’t always happen in real life.

    Now I love the tense emotional build-up, the back and forth of the cat and mouse chase, and the heart-stopping suspense that comes with the darker side of mysteries, particularly domestic suspense. But cozies…ahhh, cozies…they offer something so much more than just the mystery.

    As a writer, I love the fact that I get to hang out with a cast of characters that are interesting and unique and would be my friends in real life (well, not the killer, but almost everyone else). I love the challenge of figuring out how to write what I like to call ‘happy murder’, because cozies aren’t dark and brooding. They aren’t sad and filled with distress and the dark side of things. They are…funny and warm and…cozy.

    Striking a balance between the gravity of murder and the tone of a cozy takes some deftness. I’m always up for that challenge!

    As a reader, I love so many other things about the cozy genre. They are about so much more than just the solving of a murder. They are about community. Relationships. Setting. These things give them a wide-spread appeal because they speak to our collective consciousness in terms of what we’d like our world to look like, both in the place we live and with whom we live our lives. They give us a community we’d love to be part of, and through the immersive writing of so many wonderful authors, we get to do just that. We get to visit with friends and be alongside them in their lives as well as during crime-solving adventures.

    Here are just some of what readers love about cozy mysteries, which you, as a writer, need to think about.

     

    10 Reasons to Write Cozy Mysteries

    The Punny Titles and Charming Covers

    The first thing you notice about cozy mysteries is that the majority of them have punny titles, and they also have wonderfully appealing covers. They show readers a glimpse of the world they’re about to enter and the charming life that lives between the covers.

    Flour in the Attic, from my Bread Shop series, was named one of the best title one year in a cozy title round-up. A Murder Yule Regret and The Walking Bread are other favorites from that series. Yes, I had fun naming them.

    Pleating for Mercy is the first in series book for the Harlow Cassidy Magical Dressmaking series, which is a paranormal cozy series. Bodice of Evidence and Bobbin for Answers are two other favorites. Punny titles are the best.

    When you write cozies, you get to get your pun on!

    Your Cozy Characters Become Friends

    Cozy mysteries are flush with warm and caring people. The sleuths are smart, clever, and appealing. They may be unique and sassy. The sidekicks are equally winsome. There usually is some sort of love interest with someone who compliments the sleuth perfectly. These people truly feel like friends to loyal readers, which is what makes a long-running cozy series so wonderful. Readers get to hang out with these folks and it’s so satisfying.

    When I sit down to write, it is truly like hanging out with friends. I get to play PI with Lola Cruz, or sleuth with Harlow Cassidy or Ivy Culpepper, or do some bibliomancy with Pippin Lane Hawthorne. Friends on the page can be just as important as friends in real life.

    The Locales You Get to Call Home

    Beach towns. A mountain oasis. A close-knit community in the city. An English moor. A rural farmhouse. Wherever cozies are set, there is sure to be a ton of charm, and it will likely be incredibly picturesque. Being inside the pages of a book with a charming local is akin to visiting the place in real life. It’s almost like having another (or many) home.

    My Bread Shop mystery series is set in a fictional town (named Santa Sofia after my daughter) on the central California coast.

    Bliss, Texas, from my Harlow Cassidy Magical Dressmaking series (a paranormal cozy) is a fictional small town in Texas.

    Love Alaska? Crazy about the Outer Banks? If you have an affinity for a particular type of locale, you can set your cozy mystery there and be there in your imagination.

    A “Happy Murder” that Let’s You Sleep at Night

    In a cozy mystery, blood, violence, and sex happen off the page. A murder is a murder, of course. In a cozy, by definition, there is death. There might be people put in harm’s way. There probably will be a progression in a relationship. But cozy readers don’t have to get the down-and-dirty details of these things—and neither does the cozy mystery writer.

    The bad stuff exists and we know it exists, but we’re slightly removed from them in a cozy.

    Inevitably, someone stumbles upon a body that has some connection to the sleuth, either directly or peripherally. That’s typically as dark as it gets.

    Furry Friends

    More often than not, cozy mysteries sleuths have some sort of furry friend as a companion. Whether they’re dogs, cats, horses, teacup pigs, or goats, chances are good a much-loved pet will make an appearance. They’re often on the covers, too!

    In Bread Over Troubled Water, book 8 in the Bread Shop cozy series, Agatha the pug (named after the grand dame of cozies) is the one to discover the body.

    In my Harlow Cassidy paranormal cozies, Thelma Louise (the grand dame of Sundance Kids) is a cantankerous goat who adds some comedy. She’s also on every cover.

    Bottom line, furry friends are fun! If you’re a pet lover, writing cozies is a great opportunity to make them a big part of your book.

    A Touch of Romance

    Romance is never the focal point of a cozy mystery, but it’s usually an element. The typical scenario is a romantic prospect in law enforcement that forces contact with the sleuth. I tend to go the opposite way in my cozy mystery series. In the Bread Shop cozies, Emmaline Davis, Ivy Culpepper’s best friend is the law enforcement character. The romance comes in the form of Miguel Baptista, a restauranteur.

    In my Harlow Cassidy Magical Dressmaking series, the love interest is an architect with the town. The sheriff is not a relation, and another deputy is an old schoolmate, but not really a friend.

    Writing romance can be fun, especially when it is part of a secondary plot line. You get to sprinkle it in without it taking over.

    Amateur Sleuth

    The star of a cozy mystery is an amateur sleuth. They aren’t trained in law enforcement. They may or may not have some special skill that helps them with their investigation, but it’s typically not formal training. This makes it fun and easy for readers to follow right alongside the sleuth in the crime-solving. It makes the sleuth very relatable and easy to love because readers can root for their success. Remember, they’re like a friend!

    These are all the reasons they are also so fun to write. Your expertise doesn’t have to be in law enforcement because you, like your sleuth, are an amateur.

    A Cozy Hook

    Cozy mysteries have cozy hooks. That means there is always a hobby or creative interest or some other something that is the central focus of the cozy world in any particular series. Coffee or tea houses, culinary connections or bakeries (Yeast of Eden is the bread shop in my Bread Shop series), fiber or fabric tie-ins like sewing (my Harlow Cassidy Magical Dressmaking series), or other hobbies like photography, horseback riding, motorcycles, painting, knitting, or book shops. Whatever your jam (oh! Even making jam), you can make it the hook for your cozy series.

    The Puzzle of an Intriguing Mystery

    Every mystery on the mystery spectrum offers a puzzle to be solved. The reader may know what happened and know things the protagonist doesn’t know (as in suspense), or they may know just what the sleuth knows and be right alongside, or even ahead, in the crime-solving. Either way (or somewhere in between), the mystery drives the plot. The puzzle of the mystery brings a reader to the mystery in the first place. The other elements of a cozy keep those cozy readers along for the ride.

    As a cozy writer, you get to craft mysteries that intrigue or entertain readers.

    Justice is Served and Good Prevails

    One of the reasons mysteries have wide appeal is the underlying end result of the bad guys being brought to justice. Good prevails. In cozy mysteries, this is especially true. The crime is solved, justice is served, and the community and life of the sleuth get to move forward, with the reader in tow. This isn’t how it always happens in real life, but in cozies, it absolutely is.

    This means you always get to create a happy ending, no matter how many murders your sleuth stumbles upon. There is an automatic suspension of disbelief in the cozy mystery world. Who in their right mind would live in Cabot Cove, after all? You don’t have to worry about that as a cozy writer. All’s well the end’s well in the cozy world and your sleuth will soon be ready to solve another crime.

    🔎🕵🏻

    Cozy mysteries are a special mystery sub-genre. They are so fun to write. Give it a try!

     

    See all my books HERE

     

    Take my online course: Field Guide to Writing a Cozy Mystery

    Cozy Mystery Writing Course

    27Jun, 2023
    It’s Magic: Use These 4 Steps to Revise Your Manuscript
    Get the Nonfiction Editing and Revision Checklists Printables
    Today I have 4 Steps for Revising your book LIKE A BOSS! Revising may not be your favorite part of the writing process, and that’s okay. Every writer has their own favorite part. For me, it’s the Big Magic. More on that coming up.
     
     
    The Beginning of the Story
    For me, starting a story is absolutely, without a doubt, unequivocally the most challenging part. Why is that? Well, it’s because I don’t necessarily know the characters well enough yet, especially if it’s a first-in-series book.
     
    The beginning is also when I introduce new characters. Since I write mysteries (among other things), that means I’m adding people to my red-herring situations, creating false suspects, and fleshing out the victim and the villain.
     
    (It’s also when I procrastinate 😬)
     
    After I finish the first draft of a book, I inevitably end up going back to the beginning and reworking it. I do this because all those characters (new and old) have evolved through the writing process and I understand so much more about them. I want to fine-tune my early renditions of them based on my new knowledge.
     
    Going back to the beginning, then, is where my revision process begins, but I have four steps that I use after that to keep me on track. That’s what I’m sharing today. 
     
    Big Magic
    Earlier, I mentioned Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert. I LOVE the Big Magic moments when I write. They have happened most viscerally when I wrote the Pippin Lane Hawthorne Book Magic books. There are Irish deities, a 2000-year-old curse, and Irish and Roman history. As I dove in to research these bits, I scurried down rabbit hole after rabbit hole. Each one led me to information, a story, a fact…something that I hadn’t known and never would have thought of on my own, but which magically worked with the story. It was BIG MAGIC. 
     
    I got chills when it happened because the things I randomly discovered were so perfect. Such a great feeling!
     
     
    The Other Side of the Coin
    Some people are the absolute opposite of me. They LOVE the beginning of a new process and hate revising. They find it tedious or they simply don’t want to spend the time. If you’re not writing, you’re not writing, right?
    Wrong!
     
    Again, it is part of the process. 
     
    Revising, more than anything else, transforms my books from okay to great. It can definitely do the same for you.
    It is so rewarding because this is when my books truly come alive. I look at my word choice, my sentence structure, my character development, the dialogue, and the overall plot. 
     
    I examine it all, both explicitly and intuitively, because it’s about the mechanics; but it’s also about feeling the story.
     
    Wherever you fall on the revision spectrum, I encourage you to embrace it. To make it a solid part of your process. Here’s an analogy. You may love cooking—creating in the kitchen, making something for others to enjoy. But you may hate the cleanup. Honestly, I’m right there with you.
     
    The cleanup is necessary, though, in order to be able to cook or bake again the next day. Also, the end result of having a clean kitchen is a reward in itself (for me, anyway).
     
    It’s the same with revision. The writing of a story—creating something from nothing but your imagination—is incredible. Revision is a necessary part of the overall process because it perfects the writing, getting it ready for someone else to read and thoroughly enjoy.
     
    It helps you fulfill reader expectation.
     
    And it clears your mental slate, making it possible for you to move on to your next project.
     
    I have four steps for you to help you through the revision process after you’ve finished the first write of your book. LIKE A BOSS!
    The 4 Steps of Revision
    1. Step Away: Take a break after you’ve finished writing and before you start revising. This allows you time away from the characters and plot, allowing you to revisit it with fresh eyes and from a fresh perspective. You get very close to it all while you’re writing. Stepping away is like a brain cleanse. It gives you the chance to look at your story with more objectivity.
    2. Quick Read: If you take a lot of time to read through the work, you’re much more likely to miss the gaps, or miss confusing parts, inconsistencies, or other big-picture things that might need improvement. Instead of doing a leisurely read, and/or instead of diving right into line edits, read your book through pretty quickly (a weekend is good!). Here are some things to notice:
        • PLOT
          • Plot inconsistencies
          • Plot structure: Look closely at the story’s overall structure and ensure that it flows logically
          • Engagement: will it keep the reader engaged? If you get bored, so will they!
          • Check for plot holes, unnecessary scenes, or sections that feel rushed or dragged out.
          • Make sure the story’s conflict, climax, and resolution are solidly done.
          • Make sure the protagonist has undergone a significant change (Hero’s Journey)
          • Look for pacing problems
     
        •  CONSISTENCY
          • Review the story for consistency in details, settings, and timelines.
          • Look for inconsistencies with characters (behavior, traits,  appearance, etc)
          • Ensure that events and plot points remain consistent throughout the narrative

    3. Dig Deeper: After the Quick Read and your big picture assessment, dig deeper. Tackle the things you noted during your Quick Read, then dig deeper by examining the following:

        • CHARACTERS
          • Character development gaps
          • Assess your characters’ motivations, personalities, and relationships.
          • Ensure that each character is distinct, believable, and serves a purpose in the story.
          • Look for opportunities to deepen each characters’ development, story arcs (remember everyone is the hero of their own journey), and conflicts.
     
        • DIALOGUE
          • Look closely at dialogue. It should be natural and serve a purpose—It must reveal character traits, conflict, internal goals/struggles, advance the plot, or build tension
          • Ensure that the dialogue is authentic and helps to engage the reader.
     

    I have a free Quick Guide to Dialogue available on The WriterSpark website. The link is in the show notes. Believe me when I say that poorly written dialogue can doom a project. The second I come across dialogue that doesn’t sound or feel authentic, that’s it…I put the book down. I can’t emphasize enough how important mastering dialogue is.

     
        • PROSE
          • Pay attention to the language, style, and sentence structure.
          • Eliminate repetitive phrases
          • Tighten sentences and vary your vocabulary.
          • Look for opportunities to enhance descriptions, metaphors, and imagery to create a more vivid reading experience.
     
    4. Beta Readers: Only after you have revised your book should you send it to your trusted beta readers, critique partners, or share it with your writing groups.
     
    Gather their feedback and consider their suggestions for improvement. Always remember, though, that it’s YOUR story. Take or leave others’ feedback based on what you want your story to be.
     
     
    An Anecdote
    I have an anecdote about that.
     
    When I was first looking for an agent, I queried so many. Agents in big firms, agents in small boutique companies, and everyone in between. As it happens, I ended up with two offers at the same time: one was from a well-known and successful agent at Trident Media Group, a huge company. The other was from an equally well-known agent who ran her own boutique company.
     
    I didn’t know what to do. I was new! I was green! I relied on the expertise of others.
     
    The advice I got from everyone around me was to go with the agent in the big firm. This is what I did. It’s hard to say that it was a mistake, because it was the first step on my journey that led me to where I am now, and I have no regrets about that.
     
    I do wonder, though, what might have happened had I made a different choice.
     
    My first agent, only after I signed her contract, informed me that she wanted me to do a major…and I do mean MAJOR…revision. She didn’t really rep mysteries much anymore; romance was her wheelhouse. She wanted me to downplay ⬇︎ the mystery elements in my book, and up ⬆︎ the romance. The book was Living the Vida Lola. How was I supposed to downplay the mystery? Lola is a PI, for goodness’ sake!
     
    I did what my agent asked, but in the process, I lost my vision for the book. It was no longer what I wanted it to be. It had lost its spark.
     
    It never sold.
     
    After a little more than a year, that agent and I parted ways. I ended up signing with her assistant, who was going out on her own with a different agency. She ended up being my agent for more than 15 years!
     
    We revised again, and I took Living the Vida Lola back to what I wanted it to be—a caper mystery, with just some bits of romantic (ie: sexy) elements (Hello Jack Callaghan and Manny Camacho!). I regained its spark.
     
    That book sold in less than three months, and the story was true to my vision for it. The takeaway for me, and I hope for you, is to remember that it’s ultimately your story. Consider the feedback, sure, but revise based on what you want your story to be.
     

    Revising is a multi-step process. It will probably take several rounds before your work is polished and ready for the next step, whatever that is. If you accept the process and embrace it, it can be so rewarding. It may never be your favorite part of the writing process, but it is so worth the effort.

    And that’s it. I didn’t have this mapped out early on. This is how I tackle writing a book—after 32, I know that it works. Give it a try y’all. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time.

     
     
    Or
     
     
     

    Know a writer, aspiring or other, who might like this content? Share this site with them!

    Are you ready for the next step in your writing process? Hire me as your developmental editor and partner. Together, we will take your writing to the next level!

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    Get WriterSpark Merchandise!

     

    Want more? Check out the Podcast!

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    22Jun, 2023
    Five Ways to Chase Away Negative Self-Talk

    Letting go of the idea of perfection is a hard on, but here’s a great lesson: Whatever you do can be changed. Because things evolve and nothing is perfect the first time around.

    On the flip-side of perfection is negative self-talk and how that can hold you back. Today I have five hacks for you to banish that negative self-talk, because it doesn’t serve any purpose in your life.

    When I started the WriterSpark podcast, I thought all I’d be doing was giving tips and tricks. Helping people skip the line. But it’s already evolved into much more than that.

    Yes, there are tips and tricks–a lot of them–but as well as the writing craft, there are discussions on business and on creativity. Which is why the name of the podcast has also gone through a slight change.

    It is now: The WriterSpark Podcast: Business, Creativity, and the Craft of Writing

    This much more accurately captures what I want to talk about with you and with other writers.

    Understanding that you can change things after you’ve started is really important. As writers, I think it’s pretty common to get hung up on the idea of perfection. And that notion can really stymy forward momentum.

    That’s what today’s episode is all about. Go listen to it and follow along here if you’re like me and like to have visual cues.

    The bottom line is that everything can be changed…everything evolves…including your writing.

    Whatever you write can be revised.

    Raise your hand if you’ve gotten stuck with your writing and haven’t known what to do, or what to write next? I bet a lot of hands are in the air.

    Keep those hands up if you’ve ever felt like what you’ve written is just terrible. Crappy. The worst writing you’ve ever done.

    I have felt that… many times. I often feel like the book I’m currently working on is the worst one I’ve ever written—and I think that when I’m not even finished with it! How’s that for negative self-talk?

    In our household, we have always discouraged that type of self-defeating negative inner dialogue. My husband has always piped up with, “No negative self-talk!” during dinner. Our kids, as a result, hear that mantra in their heads even now as adults. Hearing something  over and over can really help you internalize it.

    So…no negative self-talk.

    Instead, let’s turn that around. If you feel your writing isn’t up to par, or what you’re producing is crap, or anything along those lines, you need to stop. Stop and reframe this thoughts.

    This is where we come back to the first thing I said here, which is everything can be changed.

    Your thoughts can change. Your plot can change…I have been known to change the victim and even the villain of one of my mystery novels after the whole thing has been written just because it didn’t feel right.

    And your writing can change…through the process of revision.

    Knowing that you can and will revise can free your mind. It can allow you to give yourself permission to just write. Write brilliantly. Write horribly. Write tritely. Just WRITE.

    And when you get to the revision process, dig into it, because that’s what revision is all about.

    Now, let’s dive into my 5 hacks for chasing away negative self-talk:

    1. First you have to recognize that you’re doing it. When you catch yourself thinking or muttering to yourself that your writing is terrible, or you’ve just written crap, or whatever words surface, own it. Acknowledge that you’re reinforcing the negative with those thoughts.
    2. Reframe it. Once you’ve acknowledged it, reframe it. Change the words. My writing is NOT terrible. What I wrote is not crap. Put a positive spin on your inner dialogue.
    3. Leave it for Later. Give yourself permission to leave it. Say: I will revise it later. And then move on to something else. Today’s writing is not going anywhere! Don’t let negative self-talk stop your forward momentum.
    4. Shorten the Timeframe. If you’re the type of person who just can’t move on—or if the idea of leaving it ‘as is’ is just too much—then shorten the timeframe. Keep going so you finish your current writing session and then start the next session by rereading and reworking the previous day’s work.
    5. Let your Subconscious Work. If there’s something in particular that isn’t working, step away from that scene, move on to something else, and let your subconscious help you solve the problem.

    And that’s it. The message I hope you’ll take away from this episode is that nothing is perfect the first time around. You can’t expect it to be, especially when it comes to your writing. I’ve learned so much as an author, but even after 32 books (to date), nothing I write is perfect the first time around. Revision is key. I revise. My editor revises. It takes a village, and it takes time.

    It’s perfectly okay—even expected—to be frustrated by your skill or perceived flaws as a writer (or as a creative of any kind). Remember, though, you’re your own worst critic. We tend to be very hard on ourselves, which is okay in some ways, right? It can push us beyond what we thought we could do. It can challenge us.

    But it can also cut us off at the knees.

    Doubt and insecurity is part of the journey for every creative person. What we do is personal. We’re creating something from nothing and it comes from deep inside ourselves.

    Getting mired in the doubt and insecurity can stifle your creativity and your forward process. It is up to you to stop that from happening…to recognize the negative self-talk and reframe it.

    You have the power to do that…to give yourself permission to write crap, write terrible, and to let go of the judgement you put on yourself.

    I’ll see you next time. Until then, happy writing!

     

    Know a writer, aspiring or other, who might like this content? Share this site with them!
     
    Are you ready for the next step in your writing process? Hire me as your developmental editor and partner. Together, we will take your writing to the next level!
     
     
     
     

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    23May, 2023
    How to Tackle Your Financial Life as an Author

    Finances for authors. It’s not the most appealing topic for people who spend their time with words…but wherever you are on your writing path, it’s never too early to start thinking about how to manage your expenses, especially in relation to current and/or future profits.

    Honing in on what’s most important is vital. It’s so easy to get sucked into the mire of endless blind spending with all of the resources out there. It’s important to evaluate what you actually need, based on where you are in your career.

    For example, if you are just starting out or working on your first novel, perhaps spending on courses and conferences that will help you learn more about your craft is where you want to direct your financial resources.

    If you are further along in your career, conferences may give you an opportunity to pitch to agents or network. These expenses are necessarily quantifiable, but they do potentially move you forward in your career.

    As you get even father along, writing conferences might give way to reader-centric conferences because your goal at this point may not be honing your craft, but rather reaching readers.

    All those programs that every author is drawn into using must also be evaluated. I use Canva on a daily basis for a variety of projects connected to WriterSpark, as well as my own writing career. I also use it for personal projects. So Canva is essential for me.

    Renewing my web hosting and domain name is essential.

    BookBrush is not essential, but I use it frequently and in my opinion, it’s worth it.

    What about BookFunnel, Prolific Works, and myriad other resources? Think about each one and how it helps you.

    Profit versus loss. What are you bringing in versus what are you spending? If an author makes six figures but spends 90% of that revenue on marketing, then their profit is actually quite low.

    If a mid-list author is making far less, but also only spends 10% on marketing, their actual profit might be much more than the six-figure author.

    The bottom line is that sticking your head in the sand and not thinking about this stuff isn’t helpful to your bottom line. Face your financial life head-on.

    Here are seven tips and tricks to help you manage your finances as an author:

    1. Start with a budget
    A budget is an essential tool for managing your finances. It helps you track your income and expenses, so you can see where your money is going and adjust accordingly. You can use a spreadsheet or budgeting app to create a budget and track your spending on a regular basis.

    Include all income sources, which includes book sales and any additional revenue streams. Also include all expenses including marketing costs, software subscriptions, and any other expenses related to your writing career.

    2. Consider hiring a professional
    If you’re at the point in your career where hiring an accountant or bookkeeper makes sense, really give it some thought. If you’re not sure, think about the pros and cons of taking that step. A financial expert can help you understand your tax “buckets”, create a budget, and more.

    3. Keep track of your expenses
    It’s essential to keep track of all your expenses so you can accurately account for them on your tax returns (see tax “buckets” above). Use software or an app to record itemized expenses, use a simple spreadsheet, or even just a notebook. Do what works for you, but find a way to keep track of royalties, receipts, expenses, and invoices. Make sure you track marketing and promotional costs, writing software, educational resources, and travel expenses.

    4. Develop a royalty tracking system
    As an author, it’s essential to track your royalties accurately (see above). Use a spreadsheet or software to keep track of your book sales, royalty rates, and payments received. By tracking your royalties, you can ensure you are receiving accurate payments, and you can also know what percentage of your revenue you want to devote to expenditures.

    5. Plan for taxes
    As an author, you are elf-employed. That means you have to pay your own taxes! You will be able to claim deductions (home office expenses, business travel costs to conferences, for example, and other resources). Working with an accountant or tax professional will help you understand how to plan for your tax burden (see #2).

    6. Plan for emergencies
    Unexpected expenses happen. This is life; those emergency expenses happen. Maintain an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses such as medical bills or surprise taxes. Ideally, having at least three to six months’ worth of expenses gives you a solid buffer. This is true for any self-employed person.

    7. Pay Yourself First
    Based on Mike Michalowicz’s book Profit First, pay yourself first. What is left is for your other “buckets” (tax “bucket”, marketing “bucket”, emergency “bucket”…)

    To wrap up, managing your finances as an author is critical to your financial success. By creating a budget, keeping track of expenses, and developing a royalty tracking system, you will know what is coming in, what is going out, and you’ll know how to make adjustments to plan for taxes and emergencies.

    I know we’re word people, but honing in on numbers as you tackle your career finances will hopefully be empowering and set you up for financial success.

    Want more? Listen to the WriterSpark Podcast where Melissa chats with Kelsey Browning.

    ⬇︎

    Resources:

    Want more? Listen to the WriterSpark Podcast where Melissa chats with Kelsey Browning.

    Or watch the YouTube Episode!

     

    several images connected to goal-setting, like a woman pointing to a bulls eye and a collection of organized Post Its
    11Apr, 2023
    This is How to Use SMART Goals in Your Goal-Setting

    Have you set yourself up for success this year? Do you know how to actually do that? Let’s break it down.

    Y’all, we are 11 days into 2023’s Q2. You might look at that and be going: What? This is not a business. I don’t need to think about Q1, Q2, Q3, or Q4.

    But to that I say: Yes. Yes, you do!

    Here’s why:

    You see, last year I started looking at the year in quarters rather than as a hole. Part of that is due to the intentionality that comes from the Mastermind group I talked about last week (the Sisterhood of Brushes and Quills). If you’ve ever done anything goal-setting related, then you know that in order to have the best chance of success, your goals should be achievable and measurable.

    SMART GOALS

    Because of this basic concept, I’ve always gravitated toward the SMART goals* method in which goals must be:

    • Specific
    • Measurable
    • Achievable
    • Relevant
    • Time-bound
    Intentionality

    When I first started to be more intentional about my goals, I did them on an annual basis.

    This year I will finish my book.

    This year I will lose 10 pounds.

    This year I will __________.

    It didn’t take me long to realize that I could never sustain that type of 12-month outlook. 365 days as a whole is just too long to focus on one big goal.

    That got me thinking about how to break my goals into smaller chunks. I have a good friend who is masterful at this. She’s taught me so much about how to plan and how to goal-set in smaller bite-sized pieces.

    Plan

    Now, I’m not as deep into it as she is (although I’m working on it). She’s got the type of brain that is both right- and left-focused. I do, too (thanks, Mom and Dad!). She just figured out how to really tap into her right brain when it comes to planning and goal-setting in connection to her left-brain life.

    Anyway, I digress.

    Here we are on April 11th and it’s time for a check-in. What did you hope or plan to achieve or accomplish during Q1? Did you do it? Make it? Get there?

    Whether you did or didn’t—because I’ve been there, believe me—it’s okay. This check-in period is not meant to be a time to self-flagellate because you fell short.

    It’s a time to celebrate the wins and acknowledge that there are some goals you’re still working on. Maybe some are even meant to cross over from one quarter to the next. Writing a book, for example, usually can’t be done in just 3 short months. Even if you’re on a rapid-release schedule, there is more to writing than… just writing. There’s thinking, planning, plotting, writing, revising, editing, copy editing, formatting, and marketing. The list goes on.

    When you have a big goal like writing a book, think about it in achievable pieces rather than as a whole.

     

    Look at this sample:
    Q1:
    • Map out the Hero’s Journey for story
    • Write 1 chapter per week
    • Eat vegetables 3x per week
    • Walk every other day
    Q2:
    • Revisit the Hero’s Journey map
    • Write 1-2 chapters per week
    • Eat vegetables 4x per week
    • Walk every other day + 1!
    Q3:
    • Revisit the Hero’s Journey map
    • Write 1-2 chapters per week
    • Eat vegetables 5x per week
    • Walk every other day + 1!
    • Do yoga 2x a month
    Q4:
    • Revisit the Hero’s Journey map
    • Write 1-2 chapters per week
    • Eat vegetables 4x per week (this is working)
    • Walk every other day + 1!
    • Do yoga 2x a month
    • Plan my end-of-Q4 celebration
    Things to Notice

    Notice how some of the goals change during the different quarters. This is just a sample, but some of this is exactly how I approach my goals. I love the ideas in Atomic Habits, specifically stacking your habits to help grow into them. If I start with the commitment of eating vegetables three times a week, that feels very doable, right? I’m setting myself up for success rather than for failure.

    Once I’ve achieved that success of getting my leafy greens on the regular, I can bump up my goal to four times a week in Q2. Then to five times a week in Q3. If that number is working and bumping it up feels undoable, then I leave it as is.

    Key Tenet

    My Key Tenet is to ALWAYS set myself up for success, not failure.

     

    Q2 Check-in

    As we launch into Q2, I’ve looked at my progress and evaluated how I did on my Q1 goals:

    WINS:

    Goal: Earn XX/month— ✅ I achieved this, so yay!

    Goal: Complete synopsis and proposal for Sky Girls—  ✅

    Goal: Start practicing yoga again— ✅

    Goal: Create covers for Lola Cruz re-release— ✅

    Goal: Create covers for Bodice of Evidence and Bobbin for Answers— ✅ (for one of these)

    Goal: Format Lola Cruz books—✅ (2 of 5 are done)

    STILL WORKING

    Goal: Write Bodice of Evidence Novella— 👩🏼‍💻

    Goal: Continue (ongoing goal) yoga practice with 2x week— 👩🏼‍💻

    Goal: Create cover for Bobbin for Answers— 👩🏼‍💻 

    Goal: Format final 3 Lola Cruz covers— 👩🏼‍💻 

    Q2 Goals:
    • Write Lola Baby novella
    • Write 2 scenes a week of Sky Girls
    • Finish Bodice of Evidence
    • Continue Yoga Practice 2x week
    Wrapping Up

    As you can see, many of my goals are ongoing or I’m still working on them. Had I set them as annual goals, I feel pretty sure my momentum would have waned and I would have felt less motivated. As it is, though, I’ve had some good wins.

    I encourage you to think about your goals in a new way—breaking them into these bite-sized chunks and looking at what you can achieve in 3 months versus 12, at what you can work toward, carrying the goal on from one Q to the next, and how you can set yourself up for success.

    *More about SMART goals

    Know a writer, aspiring or other, who might like this content? Share this site with them!
     
    Are you ready for the next step in your writing process? Hire me as your developmental editor and partner. Together, we will take your writing to the next level!
     
     
     
     

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    And I’m on TikTok with Lessons in Writing!

    Join the WriterSpark Academy newsletter! And share with your writing besties.

     

    27Mar, 2023
    Giving Your Hero Power

    What Makes a Compelling Hero?

    Giving your hero power is one of the most important things you can do when you are crafting a protagonist. What makes a compelling hero? That question isn’t as hard to answer as you might think:

    Giving your hero power (not in the supernatural sense) gets the job done.

     

    How do You Give Your Hero Power?

    First, as a writer, you need to make sure the reader identifies with your hero. There are several tried and true ways to do this.  As a writer, you must:

    1. Make the hero likable, admirable, or just understood.
    2. Create sympathy or empathy for the hero. That means making them ordinary people with ordinary problems and traits that the everyday person can relate to. This also allows them the opportunity for growth.
    3. Put the hero in danger. This means raising the stakes for him or her.
    4. Give them flaws or character warts. Make these similar to the flaws people have in real life. Some examples may be sexual in nature, social issues, awkwardness, interest in social issues, self-esteem issues, etc. Nobody is perfect, least of all your hero.’

     

    Next, make your hero have power!

    Power can manifest in many ways. Giving your hero power and/or helping them grow into their power is one way to ensure character growth. It also will ultimately help you create a hero that is larger than life.

     

    That Doesn’t Mean Supernatural Power (Although it Can)

    Again, I’m not talking supernatural power here, although that is certainly possible. I have several book series which have magical elements. In one series (the Harlow Cassidy Magical Dressmaking mysteries), my heroine, Harlow Cassidy, is a descendant of Butch Cassidy based on my alternate history. She—along with all Butch’s female descendants–have magical charms. Nana is a goat-whisperer. Mama has a magical green thumb. And Harlow can sew wishes and dreams into a custom garment.

     

    Another Example

    In another series—my Pippin Lane Hawthorne Book Magic series, all the members of Pippin’s family have been cursed by an ancient Irish deity.

     

    Even With Supernatural Powers, the Normal “Power” is Just as Important

    Obviously, these are supernatural powers…yet these characters also have or develop other ‘normal’ powers which facilitate character growth. Pippin learns to trust herself (power over herself). She also develops the power to transform her understanding of her gift of bibliomancy.

    Harlow has her magical charms, but she also has the power to sleuth and ferret out the truth (as does Pippin). She has power over her great-grandmother, Loretta Mae, who exists now in only a ghostly form. And she has power over her sewing skills and hones them throughout the series. She has the power to figure out how to make her business work. 

     

    The idea of power can be vague or abstract instead of literal.

    What kind of power does your protagonist have:

    • over people?
    • over letting others know their feelings by words or actions>
    • over their own actions?
    • over others’ actions?
    • over their own talents and/or skills?                

    The following Hero List comes from Prescription for Plotting, by Carolyn Greene. Use it as a jumping-off point to help identify the types of power these archetypal people might have.

    • Alpha hero
    • Military
    • Vampire 
    • Angel
    • Misfit 
    • Werewolf
    • Artist
    • Musician 
    • Widower
    • Attorney 
    • Nerd
    • Wild man (Tarzan)
    • Bodyguard 
    • Outlaw/bad boy/rebel   
    • Wrong side of the tracks                           

                 

    • Confirmed bachelor
    • Pirate  
    • Cop
    • Playboy   
    • Cowboy
    • Private Investigator 
    • Firefighter   
    • Professor   
    • Foreign
    • Recluse 
    • Ghost    
    • Secret Agent    
    • House husband     
    • Sheik        
    • Pilot                    
    • Injured  
    • Soldier of fortune 
    • Journalist/editor/writer
    • Loner   
    • Sports hero
    • Medical       
    • Teacher     
    • Millionaire     
    • Thief   
    • Royalty/aristocracy        
    • Guardian/protector
    • Boy next door (Beta Hero)

    ACTIVITY:

    Here is an activity to help you hone in on real people and their ‘powers’. Make a list of some people in your life—men and women. What do they do? What is/was their role in your life? What has been their impact on you? Can you identify any ways in which they have power?

    Read more about writing compelling characters
    Are you ready for the next step in your writing process? Hire me as your developmental editor and partner. Together, we will take your writing to the next level!
     
     
     
     

    Follow the WriterSpark page on Facebook.

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    Join the WriterSpark Academy newsletter! And share with your writing besties.

    Know a writer, aspiring or other, who might like this content? Share this site with them!