Daeus

@shannon I remembered one more thing that’s helped me flesh out characters.

It’s the concept of yearning.

Yearning is different from a goal. A goal is generally viewed in an external light. For instance, the MC of my WIP has a goal of saving the world. His yearning, however, is to live a life that achieves greatness. This is much deeper and…[Read more]

@shannon Okay, I’m back.

First of all, I really like what everyone’s said so far.

I’ve never heard anyone else articulate the way I develop characters, but I think we all do it without noticing it. My big focus, at least for step one, is to hone in on the feel of a character.

You know how when a person comes to mind you get this certain…[Read more]

@dragon-snapper Well, it isn’t easy. I try to write down story ideas whenever I get them so that when I’m done with one novel I can have a basic idea of what the next one’s going to be about.

But, obviously, you want a plot now. Well, I do have one suggestion. One of the best sources of inspiration for me is to read other novels. I don’t just…[Read more]

@overcomer I think there are two reasons to know your target audience.

First, so you don’t write the wrong book. For instance, if I know I want to write for seminal-Christians aged 30-45 who are in the military, that will keep me from writing a children’s fairy tale. Knowing your target audience also helps you maintain a core unity between all…[Read more]

Raspberry breath… Haha. 😛

@shannon I’ll probably be back, but for now, KP does have a really good character questionnaire. A lot of questionnaires are dumb, but this one digs into the core of what matters. Check it out in our resource library. It may or may not work for you, but I suspect it will spark at least some inspiration.

@kate-flournoy I agree that Victorious works. You can always use subtitles too if the title seems to plain to you.

However, it’s worth looking into new titles.

And now I’ve spent ten minutes trying to think of something and I’m coming up with nothing. 😛

@ingridrd It sounds like a good story! The one thing I’d recommend is cutting. 😉

It doesn’t need to sound like this, but this is to get your gears turning and point out what I think isn’t necessary. Remember, the point of a synopsis is not to explain a story, it is to sell the story. Information is only important when it is necessary. The only…[Read more]

Thanks, @lady-iliara 😀

Hey, @rachelle! Haven’t seen you around in a long time.

@winter-rose Thanks. 😀

@supermonkey42

I hope you don’t mind free publicity

*crickets* *crickets* What kind of question is that? 😛

Seriously, thanks though. It means a lot to hear you liked the characters because I struggled through a big characterization problem shortly before I wrote this story.

@supermonkey42 I don’t think it would be too confusing as long as the MC doesn’t know what other characters are thinking because…that would be creepy.

@ethryndal Just thought I should add that How To Write A Sizzling Synopsis is a helpful book for writing a synopsis. You’ve probably heard me say that before, but what can I say.

@silverclaw-bonnetfolly Right here.

@lady-iliara Mmm… 😉

@supermonkey42 Thanks. I thought it had a cool classical ring to it. 😀

@ingridrd Oooh, ice cream. This is the best book launch ever. 🙂

@ethryndal Like normal, I love the voice you use.

You might keep a long version like this for use on your blog, but if you’re going to use this on a sales page or book cover, yeah, it needs to be short.

You can probably make the point about her being heroine material shorter and cut out the part about her step-sister

@sam-kowal I can see how it must be fun to have Stan as a dragon. 😉

@sam-kowal

Um…sorry, Stan. You can’t eat him. 😛