Supporting Character Archetypes – What They Are and When to Use Them
What is an archetype? An archetype is, simply, a pattern or model that exemplifies the main characteristics and functions of a particular thing - in our case, the supporting characters in a novel.
Archtypes in literature are patterns that have been built up over centuries - even millenia - of human storytelling. Readers respond to them because they instinctively understand them. They can be powerful patterns for any type of character, including the main hero/ine and villain/antagonist, but today I specifically want to talk about how using them as a model can help writers create stronger, more resonant secondary characters.
Choosing the Best Publishing Path for You in 2024 Part II: Hybrid and Self-Publishing
Last week I focused on traditional publishing with the “Big 5” or independent presses, as well as 10 questions to ask yourself when you’re considering what paths to take. If you missed it, you can find it here.
This week, I want to focus on the more “indie” side of the continuum: Hybrid, and Self-Publishing.
Choosing the Best Publishing Path for You in 2024 Part I: Traditional Publishing
I recently returned from giving a couple of seminars for the Lesley MFA program at their January residency. In my seminar on choosing a publishing path, I always say two things:
One, if your dream is to be traditionally published, go for it. Two, there is a lot of overlap between “traditional and indie” - it’s more of a spectrum – and what path you choose may depend on several factors, including where you are in your career, and whether this particular book can find its best home with a major publisher, a small independent press, or through self-publishing.
12 Steps to Return to a Long-Neglected Writing Project
Last summer I finished a draft of a middle-grade (MG) novel, and sent it out to a few beta readers – people I trust to give good feedback. They delivered, and I did a cursory read-through of their comments. Before I could do a thorough read-through, or start revision in earnest, I decided to move to a different state.
How to Make New Year’s Writing Resolutions Stick
I’ve been seeing a lot of posts on Threads, Instagram, and other sites with lots of writers celebrating their accomplishments from last year, and setting out their goals for 2024. This is awesome – we should all celebrate any milestones we achieve! And setting concrete goals for our writing makes it much more likely that we’ll hit them.
A Kinder, Simpler Planning Process for the New Year
Is anyone else feeling post-holiday fatigue? I know I am. By this time, I’m usually focused on setting goals for the New Year. I have my planner, and clear descriptions of goals in different areas of my life – including writing, of course!
This year, not so much. This year, instead of planning a million things, I’m going to simplify.
The Best Books I’ve Read September-December
With the Big Move, I haven’t had as much time to read as usual, but I’ve read some great books in the past few months. If you’re looking for last-minute gifts, these are some to consider!
Is Your Manuscript Ready to Pitch (or Publish)?
Many writers set the goal to be finished with a manuscript by the end of the year. Thousands of others completed a draft for NaNoWriMo (and are now recovering).
But – How do you know when your manuscript is really ready to send out into the world?
My Annual List of Gifts for Writers, 2023 Edition
It’s that time of year again, where we get to delve into unique, fun gifts for writer friends (or ourselves – we need treats too!). Here’s a little inspiration for your gift list – or your wish list!
How to Stay Motivated and Productive Over the Holiday Season
Tree up and decorated?
Presents bought and wrapped?
Cards written and sent?
Holidays menus planned? Baking done?
Figured out the schedule of parties? Other events?
Yeah, me neither.
A Writer’s Thanksgiving
I was going to talk about supporting character archetypes this week, but instead, I’d like to take this opportunity to focus on an appropriate theme: Gratitude.
As writers, it often seems we focus more on the things we don’t have – enough time to write, an agent, a book deal, enough reviews, enough readers, enough money – so it makes sense to reel back a little and think of all the things we love about writing, and the writing life.
Developing Your Cast of Characters
We tend to talk a lot about our main character – their goals, their flaws, their struggles, and above all, their arc of change – the way they grow and develop as a result of what happens in the plot.
But unless they live alone on a desert island, they will be surrounded by other people.
Productive vs. Destructive Procrastination
I admit, I’ve been procrastinating on getting back into revising my novel. I had planned to revise it this fall and then send it out next year, but an unforeseen move to another state meant that I spent September and October frantically packing and preparing to move. Now I’m more or less settled in the new place, and I have a little room to breathe and try to get back into my writing routine.
How to Break Out of a Creative Rut
We all fall into them from time to time. They can take a variety of forms:
Always exploring the same themes in our work
In writing, relying on the same phrases, words, or style
Being afraid to let the writing flow and discover what you want to say. All creative work is a balance of letting creativity flow, and then taming it into a shape for consumption by an audience. Fear of letting it get “out of control” can make your work rigid and uninspired.
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Final Preparation for the Big Push
If you’re planning to do NaNoWriMo, or any other big writing sprint, you can’t just think about the actual writing. Unless, that is, you have a bevy of servants at your beck and call, ready to bring you sustenance (and coffee!) on demand, clean your house, and guard your writing space like Cerberus.
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Nail Your Main Tentpole Scenes
This week, we’re going to tackle the basics of your story structure. I say basics because when I work with clients, this part alone can take weeks to nail down if we were to do all the pieces, including feedback. If you’re starting NaNoWriMo on November 1, you don’t have that kind of time. Hence, this quick-and-dirty introduction to figuring out the major story milestones you need to hit, which will at least give you some goalposts to work towards as you write your first 50K words.
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Nail Your Character and Their World
Beautiful language, exciting plots... those are great. But in the end, what we remember most from any story is the Characters. Especially your main protagonist, whose arc has to carry the story. We relate to them – or not. They intrigue us, inspire us, sometimes drive us crazy. The protagonist is the one we go on the journey with. Whether we like them or not, we feel drawn to either see them succeed, or we’re fascinated by how they get away with so much (and in some cases, we can’t wait to see their comeuppance).
NaNoWriMo Preptober: Questions to Consider Before Writing
Note: This month I’m reposting my annual NaNoWriMo Preptober series. Even if you’re not doing NaNoWriMo, it’s a great way to begin thinking about any novel you plan to write!
November is National Novel Writing Month – or NaNoWriMo. The premise is simple: write a novel in thirty days.
The Best Books I’ve Read from July-September 2023
These last three months have flown by! And I’ll admit, I haven’t been able to do as much reading this month since I’m in the middle of a huge move. It’s crazy how much stuff can accumulate even when you don’t think you have too much. One of the most painful things, of course, is going through the books to see which ones I really want to keep. Sigh.
That said, here are my picks for this quarter:
10 Frequent Problems with Scenes (and How to Fix Them)
Let’s face it, a LOT goes into creating great scenes. Every scene in your novel has to do a lot of work, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Below is a checklist of the most common issues I see with writers’ scenes, and some brief suggestions on how to fix them. Each of these could be a blog post in itself (and probably will be) but it gives you a place to start in evaluating any scenes of your that fall flat, drag, or cause confusion in your readers.