S.A. Crow's Blog, page 8
December 28, 2022
Don't be blind sided in 2023, create a writing plan that actually delivers, inspires you, and easy
New Year New Writing PlanI love this time of year, not for the holiday’s hustle and bustle, but because of the sense of possibility. I’m a planner making goals and lists. If you want to find success in your writing, a plan is where you want to start.Out of all the parts of my life I make goals for I start with my writing plan for the year. I’m going to talk you through how I make a writing plan and you can too, even if you haven’t published yet.
No matter what you are trying to publish, we all can start from the same place. Pull out your writers’ notebooks, notes, scraps of paper. Organize everything into their projects. Start with the projects that are in the drafts stage or beyond. You want to see how many books are in the writing/draft stage (including outline, 0 draft, 1st draft). The next stage is revision, then the editing stages. Don’t forget to add the read stages (alpha, beta, and arc.) I would make a setup in your notebook for your project stages. Across the top place the stages in an order like this; brainstorm/idea, outline/draft, revision, read stage (A for alpha, B for beta, and R for ARC), editing, and publishing. Then you can use sticky notes or pencil to put in your projects under their stages.I have 5 in Brainstorming/idea stage, 1 book in the draft/writing stage, 9 books in the revision stage, and 4 books in the editing stage. Once you have your known projects in some order. You can decide which projects will move to their next stages.
Here are a few ways to make these decisions.What are my most important deadlines for the year? Do you want to take part in any of the NaNoWriMo events? National Novel Writing Month holds 3 events throughout the year. Camp NaNoWriMo in April and July and then the big November event. These events are a chance to take part and work on a project with massive support. Are you planning to publish your book this next year?
Here are my important deadlines for 2023:Love Rules (alpha read) Feb. 1-28th (sign up here)Draft Book 5 of the Fire Series April 2023 for Camp NaNoWriMoMoonstone, a P.I.R. novel (alpha read) June 2023The Nights will Flame with Fire (beta read) August 2023Planners for 2024 October 2023Book 3 a P.I.R. novel drafting in November for NaNoWriMo2023 Raven’s Cookbook for Charity December (you can preorder our 2022 cookbook here)Publish If the Seas Catch Fire book 3 of the Fire series December 22nd
How to balance productivity and self-care?It’s important to give yourself some time off. Spend time refilling your well and finding inspiration. Keep your writers’ notebook handy because you never know what will inspire your next project. I have a few months that I’ll be prepping and outlining which isn’t taxing for me.
Shifting the stages.Now that you’ve marked your hard deadlines and set aside some time off. Look back at your list of projects and project ideas. How can you schedule out time to move them on to their next stage? For instance, I’ll be taking Love Rules, a standalone novel from its draft stage to the revision stage in January to prepare it for its read deadline in Feb. NaNoWriMo dates are a great time to take some of your project ideas and run with them. I know that I’ll be publishing If the Seas Catch Fire in December this year, so counting back 6 months, so in June I’ll start launch tasks. One of those tasks is preparing a novella Code of Fire to be given away as a free newsletter read. I so enjoy moving a project from one phase to the next.
Here is how I keep track of my projects and their stages.I set up a writing rotation page in my writer’s notebook, my notebook just so happens to be on Notion, the productivity application. I have my categories at the top and each project on its own card. When I’ve finished a stage on a project, I move it to its next stage. This gives me a bird's-eye view of where my projects stand. It’s a great tool for planning out your writer’s plan every year. If you would like more ideas for how to do this and other writers’ notebook ideas, take my upcoming Free workshop, The Writers’ Notebook Jan. 13th-15th.
Get it all into a plan.Now it’s time to get it all into a plan from January to December. Like, a college student with their assignment list counts backwards to when a project needs to be started, to finish on deadline. Leave yourself some grace for life and unexpected needs. Always remember this is a plan and is subject to change as needed, let it happen without feelings of shame or disappointment.
My plan for the next year!January Revision Love RulesFebruary Body of Work projectsMarch Prep for Camp NaNoWriMoApril Draft book 5 of the Fire SeriesMay Revision of Code of Fire novellaPrep for Moonstone’s Alpha readJune Moonstone Alpha ReadStart of Launch for If the Seas Catch FireJuly The Nights will Flame revision for Camp NaNoWriMoAugust The Nights will Flame Alpha readSeptember Code of Fire format and uploadOctober PreptoberPlanners for 2024November Book 3 a P.I.R. novel draft for NaNoWriMoDecember 2023 Raven’s CookbookPublish If the Seas Catch Fire 12/22/23
What does your writing year look like? Share it with me in the comments. Current project
You can add it to your Goodreads
Preorder here
Charity is
What's coming up!
Free Workshop sign up before Jan. 10th
[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]Are you looking to plan your year and get January off to a great start? [image error][image error][image error]
Unlife (Heartsblood #1) by Selina A. Fenech
The Medicine Way by Kenneth Meadow
Leverage Season 5
American Monster on Discovery+
Do you need some help with your story? Do you want to write that novel that lives in your dreams? 
Don't be blinded sided in 2023, create a writing plan that actually delivers, inspires you, and easy
New Year New Writing PlanI love this time of year, not for the holiday’s hustle and bustle, but because of the sense of possibility. I’m a planner making goals and lists. If you want to find success in your writing, a plan is where you want to start.Out of all the parts of my life I make goals for I start with my writing plan for the year. I’m going to talk you through how I make a writing plan and you can too, even if you haven’t published yet.
No matter what you are trying to publish, we all can start from the same place. Pull out your writers’ notebooks, notes, scraps of paper. Organize everything into their projects. Start with the projects that are in the drafts stage or beyond. You want to see how many books are in the writing/draft stage (including outline, 0 draft, 1st draft). The next stage is revision, then the editing stages. Don’t forget to add the read stages (alpha, beta, and arc.) I would make a setup in your notebook for your project stages. Across the top place the stages in an order like this; brainstorm/idea, outline/draft, revision, read stage (A for alpha, B for beta, and R for ARC), editing, and publishing. Then you can use sticky notes or pencil to put in your projects under their stages.I have 5 in Brainstorming/idea stage, 1 book in the draft/writing stage, 9 books in the revision stage, and 4 books in the editing stage. Once you have your known projects in some order. You can decide which projects will move to their next stages.
Here are a few ways to make these decisions.What are my most important deadlines for the year? Do you want to take part in any of the NaNoWriMo events? National Novel Writing Month holds 3 events throughout the year. Camp NaNoWriMo in April and July and then the big November event. These events are a chance to take part and work on a project with massive support. Are you planning to publish your book this next year?
Here are my important deadlines for 2023:Love Rules (alpha read) Feb. 1-28th (sign up here)Draft Book 5 of the Fire Series April 2023 for Camp NaNoWriMoMoonstone, a P.I.R. novel (alpha read) June 2023The Nights will Flame with Fire (beta read) August 2023Planners for 2024 October 2023Book 3 a P.I.R. novel drafting in November for NaNoWriMo2023 Raven’s Cookbook for Charity December (you can preorder our 2022 cookbook here)Publish If the Seas Catch Fire book 3 of the Fire series December 22nd
How to balance productivity and self-care?It’s important to give yourself some time off. Spend time refilling your well and finding inspiration. Keep your writers’ notebook handy because you never know what will inspire your next project. I have a few months that I’ll be prepping and outlining which isn’t taxing for me.
Shifting the stages.Now that you’ve marked your hard deadlines and set aside some time off. Look back at your list of projects and project ideas. How can you schedule out time to move them on to their next stage? For instance, I’ll be taking Love Rules, a standalone novel from its draft stage to the revision stage in January to prepare it for its read deadline in Feb. NaNoWriMo dates are a great time to take some of your project ideas and run with them. I know that I’ll be publishing If the Seas Catch Fire in December this year, so counting back 6 months, so in June I’ll start launch tasks. One of those tasks is preparing a novella Code of Fire to be given away as a free newsletter read. I so enjoy moving a project from one phase to the next.
Here is how I keep track of my projects and their stages.I set up a writing rotation page in my writer’s notebook, my notebook just so happens to be on Notion, the productivity application. I have my categories at the top and each project on its own card. When I’ve finished a stage on a project, I move it to its next stage. This gives me a bird's-eye view of where my projects stand. It’s a great tool for planning out your writer’s plan every year. If you would like more ideas for how to do this and other writers’ notebook ideas, take my upcoming Free workshop, The Writers’ Notebook Jan. 13th-15th.
Get it all into a plan.Now it’s time to get it all into a plan from January to December. Like, a college student with their assignment list counts backwards to when a project needs to be started, to finish on deadline. Leave yourself some grace for life and unexpected needs. Always remember this is a plan and is subject to change as needed, let it happen without feelings of shame or disappointment.
My plan for the next year!January Revision Love RulesFebruary Body of Work projectsMarch Prep for Camp NaNoWriMoApril Draft book 5 of the Fire SeriesMay Revision of Code of Fire novellaPrep for Moonstone’s Alpha readJune Moonstone Alpha ReadStart of Launch for If the Seas Catch FireJuly The Nights will Flame revision for Camp NaNoWriMoAugust The Nights will Flame Alpha readSeptember Code of Fire format and uploadOctober PreptoberPlanners for 2024November Book 3 a P.I.R. novel draft for NaNoWriMoDecember 2023 Raven’s CookbookPublish If the Seas Catch Fire 12/22/23
What does your writing year look like? Share it with me in the comments. Current projectYou can add it to your Goodreads
Preorder here
Charity is
What's coming up!Free Workshop sign up before Jan. 10th
[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]Are you looking to plan your year and get January off to a great start? [image error][image error][image error]Unlife (Heartsblood #1) by Selina A. Fenech
The Medicine Way by Kenneth Meadow
Leverage Season 5
American Monster on Discovery+
Do you need some help with your story? Do you want to write that novel that lives in your dreams? 
December 21, 2022
Story ideas I hope to tackle in the future
If you are a dabbler, writer, and/or author, you have story ideas tucked away either in your brain or on scraps of paper. Jotting down ideas whenever they occur to you. Today I want to talk about some ideas I’m considering and how to organize your ideas to keep you sane.
Here are a few story ideas I’m considering: Another stand-alone romance suspense. A memoir. A post-apocalyptic story about a group of people who must survive in a harsh new world. A few writing craft books. A suspense romance where the female lead is the daughter of a serial killer. A story where the main character is the lone survivor of a total family killing by their parent.And many more!
Where do you get your story ideas from?Often, a question that authors get asked is “Where do your story ideas come from?” The reason it’s such a hard question to answer is that they come from so many locations, situations, and experiences. Often I get ideas while watching true crime and my brain asks me questions about the effect of the crime on the people that survived. What is their story after the person(s) are gone? I love to be in a crowded mall or theater and listen to the surrounding conversations. You never know when you are going to hear a gem that will spark an idea. I’m also a history buff and love crazy history facts. One fact about my home town sparked an idea for my urban fantasy noir mystery series I will publish under my pin name Ann Crow.
5 tips on how to find story ideas Read the news - Keeping up with current events is a great way to find story ideas. Find stories that have a unique angle or that highlight an interesting perspective. Observe - Pay attention to your surroundings and look for interesting people, places, and events that could be potential story ideas. Talk to people - Have conversations with people from different walks of life and ask them about their experiences and what stories they can to tell you. Brainstorm - Take some time to brainstorm different ideas for stories. Think about topics that you’re passionate about and how you could explore them in more depth. Search for inspiration - Read books, watch movies, and browse the internet for inspiring stories you can use as a starting point.
Your Writers' NotebookWhat are some story ideas you are taking space in the back of your brain or in your writers’ notebook? Do you keep a writer’s notebook? What is a writer’s notebook? It’s a notebook(s) dedicated to your writing craft. Often people have a notebook for the project they are working on, a series bible, world-building, character information, quotes, inspiration in the form of art or lists, writing plan for the year, project plan, and more.
How to start a writer’s notebook?Starting a writer’s notebook is a great way to capture your ideas, musings, and observations. Here are some tips to get you started:
Select a notebook that has enough room for your writing. Choose a notebook that is the right size for your needs, with enough paper to last for some time. Find a comfortable writing space. Whether it’s a desk, table, or even the couch, make sure you have a space where you can write comfortably. Set aside time. Set aside some time in your day where you can write in your notebook. Start writing. Brainstorm ideas, record your thoughts, and jot down anything that comes to mind. Don’t worry about getting things in a certain order, just write whatever comes to mind. Review your notebook. After filling out your notebook, take some time to review what you wrote and see if there are any patterns or themes that stand out.Speaking of your writers’ notebook! Are you interested but not really sure where to start? Do you want to make your notebook physical or digital? What are you going to track? If you want to know more, I’m doing a Free workshop in January on how to create and get the most use out of your notebook.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Unlife Auidobook by Selina A. Fenech
Dark Recollections by Chris Phillbrook
The Medicine Way by Kenneth Meadows
Working on Raven's Cookbook 2
Preparing for Revision stage of Love Rules for next month's project. Keep an eye out for the sign for the Alpha read of this novel.
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Merch of the Week
Are you stuck? Do you have an idea but not sure how to get started writing? Get your free consult here.
December 12, 2022
End of the Year Wrap-Up and Writing Accomplishments.
Can you believe it is already December!? This year has gone by so incredibly fast. It seems like the days have just flown by and sometimes it is hard to see what we have gotten done until we take the time to sit down and look at our accomplishments. The end of the year is one of the best times to do that. It helps us see what we still have to work on and what we are going to move forward into the new year.
My end of the year wrap-up is a bit different this year as I worked mostly in Notion but then moved back into a paper planner for this last quarter. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Notion set up, but I miss the pen and paper planning. There are a few steps to doing my end of the year wrap up.
I review all my monthly and quarterly reviews. (I don’t go over my weekly reviews because I use those when I do my monthly reviews.) I write down all the projects that I finished over the course of the year, no matter how big or small. I also make notes on unfinished projects, why they are not complete, how much is left to complete, is this a project that is still viable. This helps me to gain clarity when it is time to set my 2023 Goals. I review social media stats to see overall growth.Where do I keep my reviews? Well, that is a question isn’t it? I have been keeping them all in Notion. It is a straightforward way to keep them and reduce paper clutter, but again I miss the pen and paper aspect of writing my accomplishments, my failures and the things that made an impact on my life this year.
My Notion review template is a mixture of templates I found online and the HB90 reviews. I write them out and then put them into Notion. Yea it is double the work, but I enjoy having them in both places.
How do you review your year? Do you write out a review in your planner or notebook? Do you use an online app? What do you like to include? There is no right or wrong way to do a review if it works for you.
My writing accomplishments for this year are not as complete as I had hoped, but I have learned a lot from looking back at what I did and did not get done.
Draft 0 Falling in Love Again - Deadline NaNoWriMo 2022 Wrote 20,000 words out of 50,000. I am more than ok with this because I wrote every second, I had time. I seriously underestimated the amount of time I would have to write in the month of November this year. Guest Blog posts: I wrote several guest blogs posts this year and I enjoyed each one. It has helped me learn how to write a blog post better so eventually I can get my own blog going. Newsletters: Monthly newsletters have been so much fun to update and share with the Discord server. I have really learned some new things about creating newsletters! Social Media posts: Oh my - this has been trial and error for me all year. I have tried various posts and hashtags. I even took a workshop on social media. It is something that I think I will continue to have a love/hate relationship with but will continue growing and learning into the next year. Live Critique Reads: One of my favorite writing events this year has been the monthly reads in the Discord Server. I didn’t have something to read every month but the months I did, I had the best writing. My readings were from various projects and chapters but helped me to grow as a writer. Writing Coaching: The workshop that may have helped me the most is the writing coaching workshop I took with S.A. Crow. This month-long coaching helped me find new articles and videos with conversation and feedback on my writing. It helped me to focus on getting words down in a manner that felt natural to me. (There is no one way to draft a book!)What did you write this year? Did you finish a project or several? Are you proud of what you wrote? You should be! Even if you didn’t “Win” NaNo or get that draft finished you showed up for yourself and that is worth being proud of.
As we wrap up the year and scramble to finish those last minute projects, make sure that you take time for yourself. The end of the year is as much a time for last minute work as it is for reflection.
"The farther back you look," Winston Churchill is reputed to have said, "the further ahead you can see."
If you want to follow my Writing Adventures next year you can follow me
FB brandybullockauthor
IG brandybullockauthor
,https://brandybullockauthor.wixsite.com/brandybullockauthor
,https://subscribepage.io/brandybullockauthor
December 7, 2022
A Day in the Life of an Author
Day in the life of author S. A. Crow
I’m sure by now, you’re wondering what an author does all day. Where do ideas for books come from? How long does it take to write a book? How many rejections before I get published? Is my manuscript ready? The is series is meant to answer all those questions and more in a humorous way.
Let’s start with Monday when I outline my blog posts and tackle the most of my weekly items.
Waking up early can be tough, but it’s definitely doable with a bit of effort. I set my alarm for 7am and getting out of bed as soon as it goes off. Once I’m up, I’m excited about the start of a new week or new day. I’m one of those rare souls that doesn’t mind Monday mornings. I work from home as a full-time caregiver, author and Writing Coach and I start my workday at 8 am. After I’ve made a mug of English Breakfast tea. Then, you can head to your desk and get started on the day.
There’s nothing quite like starting your day with a cup of tea and some time for journaling. I find it helps me to clear my mind and get ready for the day ahead. Plus, it’s always nice to add a little of magic to your morning routine! I share weekly inspiration and magical ideas for the day with my writing group, pull an Attracting Abundance card from Jane Struthers deck, and share the card of the day with my writing group On the Wings for Writers.
Work starts at 8am with writing and productivity sprints for 2 hours, often with a YouTube live writing sprint. I break weekly tasks into daily chunks of work. For example, I outline my blog post on Monday, draft it on Tuesday, and post on Wednesday. Thursday I check to see what next week’s blog post will be. I do the same with my Coffee Read a serial story for my Bronze Cup members on buymeacoffee.com/sacrow subscribers.
It’s tough to say what the priorities are for each item on your list without knowing more about what each item entails. However, a good general rule of thumb is to start with the items that are due the soonest. After that, you can prioritize based on importance or personal preference.
There are many different types of writing sprints. Most live writing sprints either on Twitch, YouTube, Rumble, etc. Run 20 minute sprints and 5ish minute breaks. Some viewers use every other sprint for movement and productivity instead of writing. From someone who just recently had carpal tunnel surgery, it’s important to stretch, get up and move around, and give your eyes a break from screen time.
Next, I tackle admin items for all my business emails and more. I’m a full-time author, writing coach, writing group owner, co-owner of the Writing Buddy Program and The Authorworks Creative Mastermind group. These all have their own email addresses, marketing, and task lists.
The last items I can get to before my Tea Time Videos. I started an Author Tea Time vlog on YouTube. Where I chat with you about author things, what’s coming up for me, and I read from my books.
Get ready to go live on YouTube. This entails getting the camera read, turning on my video camera, pulling up Stream Yard.
“What is Streamyard and how does it work?
StreamYard is a live video clip streaming and recording software program that is getting appeal among online content developers. It enables users to share real-time video web content with their followers and communicate with them in real-time. StreamYard also makes it very easy to record and save real-time programs for later playback.”
www.mythtvcast.com/streamyard-app-download/
Tea Time with S. A. Crow Live chat. Playlist
Social lunch, including puppy snuggles. It’s a good idea to step away from the computer and be sociable even if you have a packed to do list. I know some of you are screaming at me. What are you talking about, Shirley?
There are many benefits to taking a sociable lunch. Networking and building relationships with the people around you are just a few benefits. Besides writing full time, I’m also a full-time caregiver. I love to spend my lunch with my Jenn Haun and my adorable puppies.
Back to work on the last items for the day. It’s important when you work at home and/or for yourself that you set a clock out time. Mine is usually 3pm sometimes 4pm. I might have an event at 5pm online but I do clock out and walk away from my desk for a while. Work on household items, spend sometime out in nature if it isn’t Dante’s Inferno outside.
Journaling and end of work items is the last act of my day before I clock out. I journal about how the day went. I look at what I have going tomorrow so I can prepare myself before bed for the next day’s agenda.
Next, is time with the roommates and dinner. I love the act of eating together and showing everyone my undivided attention.
It was great sharing a behind-the-scenes look at what an author’s day is like! Thank you for reading. Check out below what’s up and a little more fun stuff.Giveaway
Project
Raven’s Cookbook vol. 2 2022
Oops! Secret Santa
I completely flaked at this event. I’m so sorry if you were looking to win some goodies for me. But you can catch me tomorrow.
**Dark Recollections (Adrian’s Undead Dia…**by Chris Philbrook
**The Medicine Way: A Shamanic Path to Se…**by Kenneth Meadows
the Deadliest Decade 1980s
Lofi Beats
Yes, I am definitely ready to plan for next year! Let’s join forces and create a plan that we can both stick to. Using my planners at buymeacoffee.com/sacrow
November 30, 2022
Let’s talk about my favorite actors and how I use them in my writing.
When writing, I can’t help but pay attention to all the little details. But I don’t just copy what they look like, or try to write a carbon copy of one of their characters — unless that’s exactly what I’m going for. No, most of the time, these are people who challenge me to see the world differently. Here is how you can use them for your writing, too.
As an author, I know that most of my characters come from my imagination.I write both romantic suspense and urban fantasy under a different pen name Ann Crow.
[image error][image error] Here are some characters that are based on my creation and imagination.Characters from The Fire Series by book:
Into the Fire:
Raven Moore is based on me. My personality and looks and is my creation.
The Nights will Flame with Fire:
Julie Wyatt has lived in my mind for a few years now. She opened the 4th novel for me in the middle of the night, forcing me to get it into my phone before I could forget it.
My coming standalone romance suspense reverse haram Love Rules:
Bridget came to me one day, and I fell in love with her and her badass self.
Jack is a creation of a lot of male heroes I’ve read.
Characters from P.I.R. urban fantasy noir mystery novels
MC: Avril, I wrote the first novel in this series in my 20s and lost the manuscript during my split and move from my ex-husband. I knew her and she has lived inside me for so long. I’m so excited to bringing these novels to the public when they are ready.
My lovely Jenn Haun created Mama the wild card for my role play games in Palladium Fantasy. She was so memorable that I had to bring her into my book world.
When I see a character portrayed on screen or in a book, I try to put that character into my work.Characters form the Fire Series by bookInto the Fire:
Travis Short is based on the actor Christian Kane. This is an interesting story, my family was going through a hard time and in my depressed state I was binging the show Leverage. While I was watching one day, I knew a story where someone like an actor needed a personal chief and the story played in my mind that became Into the Fire. While drafting the story, I mapped out the 9 books of the series on an enormous sheet of presentation paper.
The Fire Inside:
Tony Lisi is based on Captain America, portrayed by Chris Evans
Anna Haun is based on the character
from the crime drama Criminal Minds. I love Kirsten Vangsness and the style and personality of her character in the show.
If the Seas Catch Fire:
Steve Martin is based on Ryan Reynolds.
Mallory is based on a character in the Seals, Inc. series by Mia Dymond’s Cameron Tremaine. I loved how spunky she is.
The Nights will Flame with Fire:
Malcolm Aaron based on Chris Pine
Love Rules:
Quinn slightly based on the character in the Sookie Stackhouse novels better known as True Blood by Charlaine Harris. I’m more of a fan of the novels than the show and Quinn is a were-tiger.
Characters from P.I.R. urban fantasy noir mystery novels:
Alexandr is a little of the character from the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter novels by Laurell K. Hamilton, a bit of Eric from the Sookie Stackhouse Novels by Charlaine Harris
Talon looks like Sam Elliott
Daniel looks like Jason Momoa
William looks like Luke Evans
When it comes to my favorite actors, I like to find out what they do outside of their acting roles.I admit I got a bit fan girl on Christian Kane learning about his life and music. Writing Travis was so easy and a delight that helped bring light to my depressed, dim life.
Another way I do this is to look at the IMBD site.
This is a great place to mine for character information. Take my Travis character based on Christian Kane. Search for the actor here and look at their bio/personal details. This gave me his height, birthday and location of birth, names for their parents, relatives, and trademarks. You can also find trivia. Hence where I found the names for his band mates and best friend Steve and Mike.
You can also sometimes find bio picks on the actors you are using and learn more things that can add to your characters’ backstory.
The best way to get ideas for your novel is by watching and reading as much as possible.“Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is the result of good work habits.” – Twyla Tharp
Some of the best way to feed these habits is to surround yourself with inspiration, like movies, shows, reading, audio books, podcasts, and more.
If you don’t like making characters based on actors, already created characters here are a few resources to create your own character.
Generators I use to create characters
https://www.rangen.co.uk/chars/quickchargen.php
Tarot spreads for characters
https://carriemallon.com/blog/tarot-spreads-for-writing/
Pinterest pinterest.com is a great place to search for characters. That is how I found the looks for a few characters by searching for male models, male actors, fantasy characters, urban fantasy characters, plus size female models, plus size clothing. I also use this to keep boards for each novel filled with characters, notes, locations, moods,
Deviant art https://www.deviantart.com/ just scroll through the art or search for something specific.
AI art apps https://hotpot.ai/game-tools?s=site-menu
10 Best AI Art Generators (November 2022) https://www.unite.ai/10-best-ai-art-generators/
Prompts 15 Quick Writing Prompts to bring your character to life. https://www.derbyshirewritingschool.com/blog/15-quick-writing-prompts-to-bring-your-character-to-life#:~:text=Prompts To Help You Develop A Character
47 Character Development Prompts to Flesh Out Your Book https://authority.pub/character-development-prompts/
Watching movies and reading books can give you ideas for your writing.You know what they say—write what you know. And who better to write characters that are based on than the actors and actresses you love? The best way to write a character is to find someone who has similar traits to your character, then decide based on the actor or actress in question: what they wore, how they spoke, their mannerisms, etc. And don’t just write a character’s impressions—put them on the page.
Keywords
Best Actors, Actors, Favorite Actors, Favorite Movies, Favorite Movie Stars, Movie Characters, Movie Stars Inspiration for Novel Characters
Need a little help planning and getting your act togetherYou can watch my Plan with me play back on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEHGyItBnegI'll be doing another for the 1st Quarter and January on 12/30/22 at 11amhttps://open.spotify.com/album/0Wyn0fD9sZIu00xTyXF4eK?si=S2z6oNx2REmh86I40t6RaA
Wakanda Forever sound track
[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]November 23, 2022
So you want to create a new character for your novel?
How to create a new character for your novel?You’ve probably been in a situation where you’re watching a movie or TV show and a character just jumps out at you. They’re so well-developed and interesting that you can’t help but wonder how the writers came up with them. The same can be said of books–some characters just stay with us long after we’ve finished reading. So, how do writers create such memorable characters? If you’re struggling to create a new character for your latest novel, here are some questions to ask yourself that will help you get started.
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When you sit down to write a new character, it's helpful to have a list of questions to ask yourself. This will help you get to know your character better and make them more three-dimensional. Some things consider are: what is their background, what motivates them, what are their fears and flaws, and what do they want out of life? You can also look to real-life people for inspiration–either people you know or public figures. If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, there are several websites that can help you create a new character. So if you’re looking to create a new character for your next novel, keep reading for a list of questions to ask and websites to visit for inspiration!
All stories start with the character.Characters drive the story, Plot is what they encounter. Share the video from Abby. One of my favorite author tips from Abby here is a video to help you grasp this idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ndJuQUhkQc&list=PLV6pMftb_QTmTGTXoQL-dXgQf6kuunusS&index=2Why not try using characters you know or actors as your inspiration?My first novel in The Fire Series Into the Fire, my main Character Travis Short, is based on the actor Christian Kane. You can also check out the actors and models that inspired some of the main characters in my Fire Series so far here at the Fire Dating page.
Do you have a favorite character from novels, comic books, graphic novels?Do you have a favorite character from an anime, television show, movie?Do you have an actor, model, or famous person in mind for this character?
Ask yourself these questions:What do you love about them?What do you not like about them?What do you know about your example? Do a little research on their lives or what the author was doing with this character.What are their distinctive features, and how would you describe them?How can you put your spin on them?
You can use websites like Pinterest to help you get startedI love using Pinterest to keep track of inspiration for my novels. Here is how you can do the same. Here are a few examples of my book inspiration boards.
Into the Fire Board The Fire Inside Board If the Seas Catch Fire Board The Nights will Flame with Fire Board Keeping Track of your Characters informationUse a site like Google Docs, Dropbox, Notion, ext.
I have a folder in my Google Docs titled stories, in that folder I have my series of folders and standalone stores. Under these I have the book folder and then a breakdown in each of those of characters, inspiration, notes, drafts, and more.Use a Writers Notebook
Notion: Oh my writing companion. I have a writer page that contains all my tracking, including each story and its characters, story notes, series notes, characters, and more. If you would like to learn more about how to set up a notebook like this, take my Writers Notebook workshop (it’s on sale for Cyber Monday)
Or you could try creating a character from scratchIf you decide to go on this route, here are some helpful tips:
Use a generator: links to some of my favoritesAnother great place to get character ideas is One Stop for Writers
Use MBTI, enneagrams, Chinese or Western Astrology.Myers Briggs In personality typology , the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is an introspective self-report questionnaire indicating differing psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions. The test attempts to assign a value to each of four categories: introversion or extraversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, and judging or perceiving. One letter from each category is taken to produce a four-letter test result, such as “INTJ” or “ESFP”.[1][2][3]Enneagrams As a typology, the Enneagram defines nine personality types (sometimes called “enneatypes”), which are represented by the points of a geometric figure called an enneagram ,[2] which indicate connections between the types. There are some different schools of thought among Enneagram teachers and their understandings are not always in agreement.[2]Chinese Astrology Chinese astrology is also a branch or practice of astrology that is majorly practiced in the Chinese sub-continent of the world. It was developed and established during the Zhou Dynasty and became popular during the Han Dynasty. This system of astrology is based on the traditional Chinese Astrology calendar and astronomical principles. You will be even more amazed to know that it has its own zodiac signs represented by various animals. Moreover, it takes into account five primary elements that are assigned to the five classical planets. Let’s gain an in-depth understanding. https://www.yourtarotlife.com/blog/as... astrology is also a branchWestern Astrology Western astrology is the system of astrology most popular in Western countries. Western astrology is historically based on Ptolemy‘s Tetrabiblos (2nd century CE), which in turn was a continuation of Hellenistic and ultimately Babylonian traditions. Western astrology is largely horoscopic, that is, it is a form of divination based on the construction of a horoscope for an exact moment, such as a person’s birth as well as location (since time zones may or may not affect a person’s birth chart), in which various cosmic bodies are said to have an influence. Astrology in western popular culture is often reduced to sun sign astrology, which considers only the individual’s date of birth (i.e. the “position of the Sun” at that date).Here is how I came up with my characters for The Night will Flame with Fire Book 4 in the Fire Series.I created Malcolm in Book 1 Into the Fire when I needed Tony to call in the troupes. I already knew him and had started a bit of a backstory for him. It wasn’t until I was planning book 3 If the Seas Catch Fire (in developmental edit at the moment) that I knew Malcolm needed a novella Small Embers (in revision stage) back story to flow into his book, The Nights will Flame with Fire (current NaNoWriMo project 2022). Malcolm is based on the actor Chris Pine, and the Myers Briggs personality INTP The Logician.
Small Embers
Linda’s normal day is thrown for a loop when she’s partnered with the new student in the fourth period chemistry lab. Little did she know that he’d be the love of her life and that she’d do everything to make sure he can be the best he can be. Even if that means he believes the worst of her for the rest of their lives.
Linda’s sister is Julie, and she hangs out with Linda and Malcolm throughout their high school days. Malcolm burns some bridges with Julie that will haunt them both through The Nights will Flame with Fire book 4.
Julie came out of writing that novella, Small Embers. Julie is based on the model Tess Holliday and the Myers Briggs personality ENTJ, The Commander
You can use these personality types to see how they will handle different situations, for example, type in what is the fatal flaw of an INTP and you will get a result. It’s very handy to help keep your character from changing too much in your manuscript. It will also help give you a character arc to work with because you can learn what they need to work on and how for themselves and if you are writing romance, you can see how they need to help their partner and themselves. Hence character arc.
And there you have it!If you are having trouble coming up with a new character for your novel, don’t worry! You are not alone. Many writers find it difficult to create new characters that are interesting and believable. However, there are some things you can do to make the process easier. Follow our blog for more writing tips and tricks, and if you are feeling stuck, pick a personalized writing coaching package today.
[image error][image error][image error][image error]1980's the Deadliest Decade
Disney + Doc on Wakanda Forever filming
Current Events, you can catch me at
Plan with me on the last day of the month November 30th at 11am
https://youtu.be/VJEAiPejaug
November 16, 2022
How can Getting Away be Productive, Especially for Writers?
How can getting away be productive, especially for writers?
Do you ever feel like there aren't enough hours in your day? Do you feel yourself getting frustrated when you don't accomplish something that you feel like you should have in a specified time? You could be suffering from burnout - or you might be getting there.
When this happens, I usually take a break - I get away from the official work schedule. I change things up. I might take what work I can handle on my laptop and go to a local coffee shop or the library. I work outside. But if I need more than that and have the freedom to take a break - like a vacation or a weekend trip - I will.
Does this mean I will lose all the time I could be productive? Some of it, yes. Does that mean I'll stress out even more because I know I'll miss things? Maybe. Does it mean I won't be productive at all? No.
We can be productive while taking a break by continuing with a flexible routine and choosing to accomplish relaxing and fun activities, even while on vacation. And remember, even relaxing is productive!
Time away from work allows you to recharge. It allows you to think about what's important to you and how you can make those things happen. Taking a break lets you reflect on your work and how your work contributes to what you want to be doing with your life. So, it would help if you had those breaks.
I've come up with a list of strategies for staying productive while also getting away that have worked for me. They may work for you.
Setting up a routine can help you be productive while on vacation.If you already have a routine for your productivity, you don't have to evade that when you take a break. You simply need to modify it. For someone like me, too much chaos will only cause problems. So, I like to have some goals for the trip or a tentative schedule of what I'd like to do for which days.
Does that mean things could change? Sure. I'm not going to get upset if things shift or we must leave something for another time. These things happen. But I feel more comfortable when there is at least a list of things we want to do that everyone knows. Then, around these intentions, we can find other relaxing things to do that might also be considered productive.
Read while on vacation.I bet you never thought of reading as a productive activity. As an author, it is a very productive activity. By reading, we are looking into the current state of the genre expectations. We get inspiration from reading. We can also let the book relax our minds and get away from the overload of current projects we may have. Reading, for anyone, is a means of escaping reality to relaxation.
Take your planners while on vacation.I took my planners for my most recent trip. I had some time between traveling when everyone was enjoying some quiet. I didn't want to think about things too much, so I got my stickers, markers, and washi-tap out. I got my planner, went out on the deck, and began decorating and inserting my pages for the next quarter.
For me, decorating a planner is a lot like using an adult coloring book. I use the washi-tape to bind the edges of the page. I make separations with the smaller tapes and the stickers. I use the markers to highlight things on the page and set up the numbers for the calendar. It's all a work of art that I love by the time I finish. Best of all, it'll be ready to use when I get back to work.
You have fewer distractions, so use this special time.Distraction is the main thing that can take a writer or any professional out of the zone. So, in those quiet times, when we weren't doing anything in particular, I made sure to pull out any FUN writing I wanted to enjoy. No editing. No outlining. Just fun writing.
If I weren't a writer and still wanted to be productive while I had some downtime, I'd do something else. I'd take a walk, go swimming, exercise, or try some meditation. All these things are productive for your body and mind.
Take pictures, record sound, take notes, and really feel your experience.I don't know about you, but I usually have my phone everywhere. That means I have a very nice camera, too. A video camera on top of that, so long as I keep it charged and ready. Whether you have it connected to a cloud service or have plenty of storage, your phone can keep you productive. And using it won't even seem like a chore! It's fun.
You'll want memories of your time away, so you snap some shots, make a recording, and capture some great footage. Don't be the main character. You're not, and besides, that isn't polite. Just be the visitor, taking nothing, leaving everything as it was, and sharing your space. But capture those moments digitally. When you get back from your trip, you'll have all of this to use for social media, for creating ads, to use for books, merch, or designs for notebooks.
Take notes on interesting sights, sounds, smells, and tastes while on vacation. You'll be surprised at how much inspiration these little details will provide when you're back at work! Having your memories written down to use for later is a time saver. This is especially true for later social media posting or if you're a creative writer - these are great to have when you need a setting or a scene later.
Take your cards and wear your merch while on vacation.You would not believe how often I've been stopped by someone complimenting my merch. I was wearing it. They liked it. And when they go out of their way to compliment it, thank them, and hand them a card to your site! Be proud of your own work and tell them about it.
You can also leave your cards in appropriate places wherever you go. Think about it like this - we generally go to places and hang out with people that mirror our tastes. If we write things that these people who come to these places might like, why wouldn't you leave a trail of cards along the way?
I like leaving my card in prominent places like the bulletin boards of the coffee and tea shops I enjoy. So long as it's a space made for sharing your information, please don't be shy about it. My card has a QR code, so curious people don't even have to take the card itself. They can scan the code to find out more.
Leave your social media & professional email alone!Notice I always said before that you should use any digital media you collect later for social media. There are excellent reasons for that. Are you even relaxing if you get into your social media during your vacation or while taking a break? This is marketing. Stop it. Unless you and your friends are goofing around on social media together, it's also rude.
You should be present for your time away from the grind. If you've gone with friends, they are all together because they care about one another and have taken time out to be with each other - not on social media.
The same goes for email! There would only be one caveat to this rule. If you are an insomniac, maybe go through and trash junk email late at night or if you're on the toilet. Otherwise, don't worry about it.
Being productive while on vacation can be stress relief in disguise.Whoever said, "I need a vacation from my vacation," had a point. As a mother of three and a wife of one - I was usually the caregiver. And those vacations were sometimes not nearly as much fun for me as they were for everyone else. I had to clean, pack, prep, plan, clean, get people places on time, cook when needed, pack again, then wash all those clothes when we got back.
If I can find ways to be productive while getting away, and those things don't stress me out - rather, they relax me, I'll do it. It leaves one less thing to handle once I get home. Sometimes it makes the return to my everyday life less stressful.
Remember that you are on vacation!Never do any of the things I've listed if you do not feel like doing them. They are not imperative. They are simply things you can use when you get bored or you're waiting on someone or something else.
You do not have to be “obviously” productive. You do not need to go by a schedule. Take this time to rest your mind. When you come back to everyday life, you want to be able to refocus on what is essential. If you've been too busy, you won't rest, and this will become impossible.
The most important thing about a vacation or time away from your everyday life - is resting. Relaxing keeps our bodies well. We need rest. Rest also allows our brains to reset and will enable us to evaluate our present. When we do that, we can decide better how to get ourselves to the future we want. Therefore, even resting and relaxing are productive activities.
Rachel Adams is a Southern Girl (meaning the Southern United States) who grew up in the “Bible Belt.” Her writing grew from an exploration of the culture and the hidden nuances of that culture. She began writing at around the age of 11. Rachel’s escapism as a child grew her imagination and her spirit.
As a GenXer, her original writing was done in notebooks and on an old-fashioned typewriter. This was before the internet existed. Though most of that writing was destroyed, Rachel did not stop. She wrote stories about places and people around her, fictionalizing as she did. Her characters are often entangled and downtrodden by their place in life, yet willing to reach forward and either adapt to survive or find hope and strength to keep moving. She loves collaborative writing, and many of her works are co-authored with partners who share her passion for deep character development. To that end, many of their hobby writing has ended up on serial platforms such as Kindle Vella.
However, Rachel D. Adams is not just an author of fiction. She writes content for websites. Untapped Sound and Backyard Boosts are examples of this. She partners with her husband for these and other projects. On Rachel D. Adams’ MEDIUM platform, she shares personal interest stories and personal and professional development articles. Rachel firmly believes that we should all be uplifting one another! As such, she supports other authors, artists, and musicians on her social media.
In case you wondered, here are some answers: Rachel loves cooking, eating, coffee, gaming, photography, squirrels & Guinness. She’s a homebody but also loves traveling and working from remote locations. She may seem like an extrovert at times but admits to being an introvert that has to recharge her “social batteries” often.
Twitter @RachelD_Writer
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IG: @racheldadams_writer
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November 9, 2022
Writing Coaching Review
Guest Blog post Brandy Bullock Author
This year I had an amazing opportunity to work with SA Crow in several ways. We have a couple collabs together including
On The Wings for Friends Writing Buddy Group,
Authorworks Creative Mastermind (ACM).
These are amazing new groups that we are trying to build up but the most important thing I have done with her is take her Writing Coach course.
She offers a two week or one month option that is totally customized to your needs where you are right now in your writing journey. The information provided is insightful, helpful and relevant. The feedback she provides is on point with your writing as well. I was stuck in my writing, I didn’t know how to move forward. I always got stuck in the same place on a story and felt like once I hit a certain point I was just lost. She gave me some links to helpful articles and videos, that allowed me to learn on my time and in a way that I needed. Once I had reviewed the material we had a meeting so that I could further ask questions or discuss how the information directly related to my work.
This was the best month of my writing. I made huge progress! There are many coaching services out there. Honestly some of the pricing makes me cringe - not because they are not worth the money to invest in, but because most are way out of my budget. If you can afford a writing coach I would highly recommend one, starting with S. A. Crow.
She is also an author with published books. She works hard to make sure that you get the most out of your investment, with private sessions, tailored instruction and honest and helpful feedback. If you are not sure if a writing coach is right for you, or if you don’t know if you can afford a writing coach for private sessions, consider joining a writing community. While they do not offer the personalized courses they can still give you great information and feedback.
One community is On The Wings for Writers Discord Server. It is full of amazing authors in various stages of their careers willing to answer questions and help guide you if you need pointed in the right direction. I am so thankful to be part of this community and able to not only receive the help from them but also support others through their journey.
A bit about me.I am currently preparing for NaNoWriMo 2022 and working on my debut novels. I have three in the works that I hope to publish in 2023. These will be my career launch and I have worked so hard to make sure that they are the best they can be. You can find me:
FB: brandybullockauthor
IG: brandybullockauthor YT brandybullockauthor website: https://brandybullockauthor.wixsite.com/brandybullockauthor email:brandybullockauthor@gmail.com
November 2, 2022
My Fire Series Novel Project to Draft 50k in 30 Days
If you follow my blog and Facebook page — or if you’ve read any of my books — you know I write The Fire Series (which is a romantic suspense series). My fourth book in this series, THE NIGHTS WILL FLAME WITH FIRE, will be about Malcolm’s story. I’ve got a couple other projects I’m working on as well (ex: If the Seas Catch Fire, which is Book three, developmental edits).
I’m signed up for the Writing Challenge this November NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). My goal is to write 50,000 words in the fourth book in my Fire Series. I didn’t reach my Word Goal in July for Camp NaNoWriMo (where I was drafting Love Rules, a standalone Reverse harem) but I got some words and that’s a win in my book. I should write the first draft of this book over the month and it’s on to working on the 2022 Ravens cookbook.
I’m going to be writing a book over the course of NaNoWriMo 2022, and I’d like to share my progress with you.
My next writing project is to draft 50k words in 30 days on my fourth book in the Fire Series titled The Nights will Flame with Fire. ,I’ve written the first three books in this series.
The first book is titled “Into the Fire”. Can Raven and Travis escape the obsession that follows him? Can they find the courage to fight for what could be the best for both of them?
Into the Fire is the story of Raven and Travis, how they meet and fall for each other while an obsession follows Travis and endangers Raven. Can they find the courage to fight for what could be the best thing for both of them?
You can get that book here:
The second book is titled “The fire inside” and it’s about. Anna Haun is in real and terrifying danger. Understanding herself and trusting the last person she wants to is the only way she is going to survive.
Tony Lisi is going to save Anna even if she hates him in the end because the world deserves to have her in it.
More than Anna’s life hangs in the balance when a psychopath has plans for Anna.
Can Tony and Anna learn the truth and a way to save each other?
You can get that book here:
The third book is titled “If the Seas Catch Fire” Book 3 of The Fire Series
Steve is a freelance journalist and co-founder of the band Home. Finds after writing an exclusive piece on an extreme BDSM and white slavery group with connections all over the world, his life falls apart. He’s blacklisted professionally, and after they release an embarrassing moment on social media, his fans are out for his blood. He reaches for the one person he believes can love him for who he is, and believe in him.
Mallory fell into a pleasant friends with a fantastic benefits with Steve, the best man in her best friend’s wedding. When he wants more from their relationship, she has to decide if she can truly trust that romantic relationships can work for her, despite her family curse. Can she find her way through her fears to stand beside a good man who has been wronged and needs her strength?
You can also get the novella “Home Fires” and it’s about. A Fire Series novel between books 2 and 3, available to newsletter readers only at this moment. Sign up for my newsletter ,here.
Synopsis: Things are looking up for Malcolm Aaron, ex-Navy SEAL, turned bodyguard. He’s now in Seattle, Washington, part owner of Bastian Securities, with his friends. When he’s forced home to Victorville, California and a past, he’d rather forget.
Julie has spent the last few years taking care of her older sister, who was in a coma from a random act of violence. When her sister passes away recently, Julie gains temporary custody of her nephew until they read the will. She learns that the will can’t be read without her sister’s ex-boyfriend appearing back home. She will sacrifice more of her dreams and peace to keep her nephew in his childhood home.
After a letter gives both Malcolm and Julie some shocking truths. They agree to work together to solve the mystery her sister left behind.
Can they work together to get what they want most?
Or will more truths change everything for both of them?
The big question this novel tries to answer is: When is carrying out the wishes of a deceased loved one too much?
Malcolm based on the actor Chris Pine. Malcolm Aaron is an ex-Navy SEAL from Tony’s team.
Moves from Tennessee to Victorville, California, to be close to his grandfather. He meets Linda in High School.
Malcolm struggles to leave the Navy and staying with Linda Marks in her small town life in Victorville, California.
Linda Wyatt lives and works in the same small town they both grew up in, and watched as it has shrunk from its glory days of their youth. She has loved Malcolm since they were children and she was the one that urged him to follow his dream to become a Navy Seal. When he comes back years later in a haze of remembered nostalgia, she knows that this isn’t the life for him and knows she has to let him go, despite loving him so much it will break her heart. She keeps a secret close to her chest as she pushes him into his fated future.
When Malcolm leaves Victorville for the last time, he burns a bridge with Julie, Linda’s little sister, that leaves gaping scars rippling into the future.
Julie Wyatt based on the model Tess Holliday.
First appears in the ,short ,Small Embers red hair like her sister and the same bright blue eyes, but where her sister’s filled with a deep soul, Julie’s is has a twinkle of mischief. She is heavier than her sister and her torso is shorter. She stands 5’6 to Linda’s 5’10. Julie isn’t into sports like her sister ,Linda, instead she has a book in her hands. She reads while waiting for class, while walking to class, on the bus to school, while ,Julie and ,Malcolm watch movies, and as she stands as a lookout when they are making out on the couch back when they were in high school and Julie was a freshman.
When Malcolm leaves, he hurts her more than he could ever guess.
Small EmbersSmall Embers Book 3.5
,Malcolm’s backstory- Happening before book 1 ,Into the Fire With Linda, Julie, Malcolm and Alisa. Leading into book 3 ,If the Seas Catch Fire and book 4, ,Julie is Linda’s sister. ,Malcolm leaves to try out for ,SEAL team with ,Tony, ,Nate, ,Walt, and ,Eliot.
Who: ,Malcolm and Linda
What:
Linda’s normal day is thrown for a loop when she’s partnered with the new student in fourth period chemistry lab. Little did she know that he’d be the love of her life and that she’d do everything to make sure he can be the best he can be. Even if that means he believes the worst of her for the rest of their lives.
Nano events on Discord
We will host daily prompts and encouragement. As well as a social event on the 27th to wrap up the end of NaNoWriMo.
Learn more about our Discord server and follow us on social media.
,https://linktr.ee/onthewingsforwriters
No matter how old I get, NaNoWriMo will always be a great way to get the creative juices flowing. And if my past challenges are any sign of how my future ones will turn out, I’m sure that this one is going to be even more fun—and just as frustrating and difficult as the last. But hopefully by the end I will have another book completed and ready to publish!
