writing

Switch it Off.

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The internet and social media can be great tools to leverage when writing a new novel. However, today we will talk about the benefits of shutting down your devices and stepping outside of the box when it comes to getting ideas/information for your next novel.

I often catch myself scrolling for hours on end reading comments and looking at different social posts to pass the time, but I realize that in some cases it is doing more bad than good – and not just for the stress on my eyes.

I encourage you to go outside and clear your mind with a daily walk. Listen to your favorite songs, podcasts or even find a new podcast for whatever you are searching for. Are you writing a new crime thriller? Find a crime related podcast channel, or do you need daily motivation or need to start your day with a meditation find a podcast for that as well!

There is so much good you can do for yourself by unplugging and focusing on yourself. And if you truly care about keeping your followers on your social media updated schedule your Facebook and Instagram posts for free with Facebook Creator Studio! That way you can still enjoy your time to yourself.

Now, I understand I am recommending you to unplug but you will need a device to play music and listen to a podcast. But there are ways in which you can hide notifications and even delete apps on your homepage without deleting their contents. iPhones also have the ability to ‘Focus’ where you can silence certain notifications.

So once again take certain times in the day or designate a day to yourself to unplug and see the benefits for yourself! You might find it helpful for your lifestyle and it will become a habit in your everyday life!

How to Bring Back Your Writing Motivation

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You haven’t been motivated to write lately…so what do you do? Take a little break and spend more time on yourself or find ways to bring back the motivation? There is no wrong answer here, but we will dive into both of these answers to see where you may or may not stand. 

Spend More Time on Yourself

Don’t worry if writing is getting harder, it might just be a way of telling your brain you need a well deserved break. So our recommendation is to do just that! Think of some things that you have been meaning to do but just haven’t had the time. Go meet up with friends, hit up the local fair or farmers market or head to the movie theater or go to a new restaurant. By taking your mind off the things that you are “expected” to do just might be exactly what you need to get back into it!

How to Spark Motivation

You’re on an intense deadline and you can’t seem to find the right words. Have no fear, more often than not there are ways to spark motivation. Dive a little deeper into what you’re writing about, is it a new thriller, romance or sequel to your book? If you are writing about a specific genre one great way to get inspired is to do what your characters are doing (within reason of course). Head to a romantic restaurant or a  place like where your characters met. Live the life of your character for the day and see what ideas arise. Try and make your real life about what you’re writing, or trying to write, it might be easy for the words to fall out!

Happy Writing!

What’s Your Writing Ritual?

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Do you have a writing ritual? And by that I mean, do you have to follow a set of steps before you can begin your writing? If you are thinking of them share them in the comments! And if you are scared I’ll go first…

I live somewhere cold, so if there are not socks on my feet nothing will get accomplished. The best space to get stuff done is right on my bed, it is the comfiest spot and where the perfect amount of sunlight can shine down on me. A water bottle also needs to be close by because I know I will get thirsty but I also know I will get up for nothing until the task is complete!

So what, if anything do you do before you clear your mind and get to writing. Do you need a cup of tea or your favorite music playing? Is your comfortable space the coffee shop down the street? Your rituals can get you body ready to write and can make the process all that much more enjoyable!

Happy Writing!

Add A Monster To Your Next Novel: The Erymanthian Boar

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Come with us on another monster adventure! Last post we focused on the Mesopitamian creature the Aqrabuamelu (Scorpion Man). Today we jump to Greek mythology with the Erymanthian Boar!

It is always fun to learn and test out new creatures in your novels, so while we are focusing on the Erymanthian Boar today, we encourage you to do some research of your own and see what monsters you may find, and we would love to hear about them!

But let’s get started…

If you are familiar with the story of Hercules, then you may have seen this particular creature. Hercules was tasked with bringing Eurystheus an Erymanthian Boar alive for one of his twelve heroic labors, which is no small task. 

In Greek mythology, the boar was a giant creature who lived on Mount Erymanthus and would lay waste to anything that came in its path with it’s strong and large canine teeth. 

How to use this creature in your next novel:

  • Your take on the legend of Hercules
  • A modern day example of the Erymanthian Boar
  • Your character travels to Mount Erymanthus

We hope you enjoyed our little journey through Greek mythology, and hope it inspired you to do some research of your own! And maybe even a new novel idea!

Happy Monster Hunting!

Source: https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Creatures/Erymanthian_Boar/erymanthian_boar.html

Let’s Write A Shapeshifter Romance!

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Spooky season is upon us! And if you prefer a little growl with your romance, then get to writing! While animal instincts and natural raw behaviors may not be what you want in your real-life partner – doesn’t mean you can’t can’t write about them!

When writing in this specific category of paranormal romance here are a few guidelines to go off of:

Dive deeper into the sensory realm – readers want to embrace the wild side!

Do your research! – what paranormal animals do you want to use, and what special abilities do they have amongst others?

Purpose of shapeshifting – do you want them to be stronger, can they blend into the environment?

How will the character be different in human form? – What traits will make them stand out?

Story line, story line, story line! – It is very important to identify the origin story! How were the shifters created? Who was the first one? How do they reproduce? Etc. 

When thinking about a shapeshifter romance most people strictly think werewolves (shoutout to Twilight). However, there are other shapeshifters you can base your character off of, many countries have their own version of a shapeshifter. For example:

Canada : Bear Walker is from First Nations folklore of that area. It’s an evil sorcerer who walks around in the form of a bear.

Haiti : loup-garou can change into anything, both plant and animal.

Ireland & Scotland : The selkies are seals that take off their skins to become human. Dark-haired Celts may have their genealogy explained via the selkies. Selkies are helpful creatures who watch over fishermen.

Portugal : The bruxsa or cucubuth is a vampire-werewolf that consumes both flesh and blood. 

And there’s so many more! Writing is work! Especially when building a complex and dynamic world. But you can do it, don’t be afraid to put your mind to the test! Do some research and have fun. 

Happy Writing!

Sources:

List of Shapeshifters from Around the World

Spark Creativity!

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Creativity: the use of imagination or original ideas. 

Take risks, think in a way that’s outside the box! I wanted to look into how someone can spark more creativity in their life, and came across a very interesting article. 10 Psychological Tricks That Will Boost Your Creativity. In this article they discuss how you have to seek out things that inspire you, rather than waiting for something inspirational to happen. 

I personally loved all of the tips mentioned, and will be sure to try and introduce them into my own life. Creativity is endless! We just have to find the right recipes for ourselves to keep our creativity flowing!

Writing Chapter One

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Your first chapter needs to be the ultimate hook! Something that will encaptivate publishers, agents, and readers (no pressure). But don’t worry, that’s why you’re here…read on to discover the writers chapter one checklist.  

Disclaimer: Everyone’s books are different so every first chapter will be. There is no perfect formula to a first chapter but there are key elements. 

  1. Introduce the protagonist. 

First things first, we need to know the main character. We don’t need to know descriptive details just yet but enough to know a little bit about them. And don’t forget…for every great protagonist comes a great antagonist.

  1. Establish a point of view. 

What is your story’s point of view? Will you be writing in third person limited, third person omniscient, first person or another POV? Pick one and stick to it!

  1. Set the genre. 

From the first chapter the reader should truly understand what genre they are reading. Is it a romance, science fiction, thriller and so forth? 

  1. Introduce the conflict. 

What is going to keep the reader engaged? Why are they reading this story? Introducing the conflict in the first chapter gives the reader something to look forward to and makes them continue to chapter two. 

  1. Don’t overwhelm the reader.

Try not to throw in too much information in the first chapter. They still have a whole book to read after all! So limit the characters and places you mention in the first chapter. 

And as always..have fun! This is your novel and there’s no right way to write a first chapter, just helpful tips! And if you have any worth sharing let us know!

Happy Writing!

10 Tips To Enhance Your Writing Space

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No matter what kind of writer you are, you need a dedicated space where you can be productive without distractions. You need a space where you love working that can inspire you and keep you focused! So continue and find out how you can enhance your writing space!

  1. Choose your space.

This may seem obvious, but you need to find your own space that you are happy with. Don’t go with your obvious choice either, take a look at your space and weigh out your options. 

  1. Make it comfortable.

Start with your desk and work from there, you will be spending most of your time there anyway. You want positive feelings all around! Hang up your favorite photos or quotes and make it feel like your own. Use colors that bring you joy rather than worrying about everything coming together perfectly. 

  1. Add a plant.

You’d be amazed as to how adding a simple plant can heighten your mood, or put your mind at ease. Many studies show that plants can reduce stress too!

Consider something small and easy to take care of like an air plant (Tillandsia), snake plant (Sansevieria), philodendron, or a spider plant.

  1. Pay attention to placement. 

Height plays a very important role with all factors. The height of your desk, your computer, the top of the shelf. You want everything to be easily reachable and set in a way where it doesn’t strain your body. You may even want to consider getting a standing desk. 

  1. Get the right light. 

Lighting! Lighting! Lighting! It plays a very significant role in your writing space. Natural light would be best, but sometimes we don’t all have that luxury. The next best thing to natural lighting is LED lighting. When doing night time work, you will want to avoid blue lighting, so try and find something more warm. 

  1. Limit distraction. 

Turn the TV off and try to tune into your work. Put the gadgets away and anything that can distract you. Check out our post Motivational Apps To Start Your Day Right for apps to help you reach your work goals. And if noises distract you try investing in a pair of noise canceling headphones. 

  1. Declutter regularly. 

You don’t want your workspace to feel like a chore. So make sure it is up to your clean standard after you finish working. A cluttered desk will not inspire creativity! Everything around you should be in support of your goals. 

  1. Consider having multiple screens. 

These are not for distraction! But imagine having a screen where you can begin your story/write ideas and another where you can conduct research. It might boost your productivity and keep you focused on your current topic.

  1. Display your inspiration. 

This one is so important we need to say it in a few ways. Constantly seeing your goals and writing them out is a great way to achieve them! Read our Vision Board post for some more inspiration on how you can create your own vision board and reach your goals faster!

  1. Fill your space with the things you love!

Don’t forget to put your personal flare on everything– and we mean it!

Hallo-queen of Halloween…Time For Halloween Puns!

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These are not just for the dads of the world…everyone can use a good pun! Slip it into a conversation for (hopefully) a good laugh, or they often make for a great social media caption. So let’s have fun this Friday and read some puns!

Here are a few of our favorites…

  • My costume is eerie-sistible
  • Creepin’ it real.
  • Lookin’ gourd-geous!
  • It’s a brew-tiful day for eating tons of candy.
  • I won’t let you slip through my Butter Fingers.
  • Ghouls just want to have fun.

I hope you had fun in the pun-kin patch! I’m sorry I couldn’t help myself:)

Comment your favorite pun below, or share one we haven’t.

Happy Spooktober Everyone!

Writing The Anti-Hero

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The Anti-Hero
We are living in a time where escaping the confines of our home is what we want to do more than anything. Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, etc. can only provide so much entertainment. The plots become predictable, the characters lose their shine…yada, yada. You know the drill. My favorite stories, both on the screen and between the pages, are the ones following the “most loved”
character wrestle their moral high ground, and ultimately fail. These characters feel real. I feel like I know them, have met them in my day-to-day life. Truth is: I probably have and so have you. Instead of listing off characters you can base your own character off of, how about we talk about making your character unique to you?

  1. BACKSTORY IS VITAL
    Backstory to characters who strive for the ultimate good makes sense. But what about the characters who are angry? Or who are evil? Do not forget one of the more important things in writing: evil can be created. Explore that. Whatever was done to this character can introduce so
    many more things about them, such as personality traits, nervous ticks, complex behaviors, and beliefs. Your reader doesn’t need to know this information right away, too. Write it out on a new document on your computer and in your notebook before you begin your tale. Uncovering
    the backstory as the story progresses is the best part about the antihero.

dexter gif | Tumblr

  1. ANGRY OR NOT; THE OUTCOME OF THEIR ACTIONS ARE…
    Good! For them, at least. It’s a satisfaction for them to do the things they do, because they feel it’s right. They may hurt some people along the way, mentally or physically, but they have a goal in mind. This character could be ruthless. This is what sets them apart from your regular hero. It’s also what sets them apart from being a total villain. They don’t want good for everyone, they want good for them. Which, once their background seeps into the story, sympathy will be created for them by the reader (if they have heart, that is.)

the great gatsby gif | Tumblr

  1. REDEEMING QUALITIES BUILD SYMPATHY
    Okay, so what if the character in question likes to kill people. Simply because they like to do that doesn’t mean they don’t have a soft spot for Grandma or Grandpa who raised them through their chaotic upbringing. They’ll always make it home for dinner every night, so they don’t upset
    them. See that? That’s a redeeming quality. Piling up the negative can be emotionally exhausting. Not everyone is as terrible as that. I can think of a few, but we won’t go there. Overall, if the character has a laundry list of negative qualities and zero good ones and they still win in the end, that’s going to be one upsetting story and you’re going to have a laundry list of
    unhappy readers. Give them traits to make them likable. You’ll have your readers’ hearts in your hands.
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  1. YOUR ANTIHERO IS HUMAN (OR CLOSE TO IT)
    Point is, we are flawed. You and me. Your antihero should be too. Lean towards realism. They have their own moral code, their own inner conflict, and they will always face difficult decisions to meet their end goal. Don’t we all? That’s what makes us each unique in our own personal journey so why not give that to your antihero as well. We aren’t all terrible…right?

clarice starling hannibal lecter gif | WiffleGif

So, get to it! We’re done here. Nothing more, nothing less. Antiheroes are far more fun than regular heroes. It’s nice to see a good two-shoes every once in awhile, but I like characters who commit heinous acts (to a certain degree!) and have purpose to their wrongdoings. Who are some of your favorite antiheroes in the literary world? My all-time favorite will always be Dexter Morgan. Not because of Michael C. Hall’s adaptation (although, major plus, albeit), but because of Jeff Lindsay’s creation of him. A serial killer with conscience? Absolutely brilliant.

Happy Writing!