listening to characters

How to Use Character Flaws to Develop a Plot

April 16, 2013 Writing Stuff
Thumbnail image for How to Use Character Flaws to Develop a Plot

Last time, we talked about using our characters’ strengths to develop their flaws. But I didn’t get a chance to talk about how we could figure out the matching flaw for a character strength. Many of you are probably familiar with the Myers Briggs test, a well-known test that labels people with a four-letter abbreviation for [...]

Pin It

Tagged as: advice for writers, antagonist, character archetypes, character flaws, Jami Gold, listening to characters, Michael Hauge, paranormal author, plot-driven vs. character-driven

Click here to read more

The Thin Line between Character Strengths and Flaws

April 11, 2013 Writing Stuff
Thumbnail image for The Thin Line between Character Strengths and Flaws

Last time I asked you to share your superpower, that trait—useful or not—that makes you unique. Everyone shared some great stories, although none of us had skills that would land us on Cracked.com’s “Real People with Mind-Blowing Mutant Superpowers” list. *eyes the superpowers that made the list* Maybe that’s a good thing. At the end [...]

Pin It

Tagged as: advice for writers, antagonist, character archetypes, character flaws, Jami Gold, listening to characters, paranormal author, strong characters, theme

Click here to read more

What’s Your Superpower?

April 9, 2013 Random Musings
Thumbnail image for What’s Your Superpower?

Those of you who follow me on Twitter might have heard the news about my recent broken bone. *sigh* Again. I have a special talent, it seems, for breaking my middle toe. That’s right. Not the big toe or any other appendage that sticks out. Nope. I have to be different and break that middle toe [...]

Pin It

Tagged as: advice for writers, character flaws, happiness, Jami Gold, Jami is insane, life balance, listening to characters, paranormal author

Click here to read more

Dread Writing Sexy Scenes? 5 Tips for Success

March 12, 2013 Writing Stuff
Thumbnail image for Dread Writing Sexy Scenes? 5 Tips for Success

Whatever genre we write, we often have to write scenes that make us uncomfortable. High on that discomfort scale for many authors are romantic scenes between characters. Whether we write romance or another genre with love interests, or whether the characters merely kiss or have sex with the door open to the reader, many of [...]

Pin It

Tagged as: advice for writers, Jami Gold, listening to characters, love, muse, paranormal author, point of view, risk, romance novels, romance novels are not porn, self-doubt

Click here to read more

Author vs. Characters: Can Our Morals Be Different?

January 31, 2013 Writing Stuff
Thumbnail image for Author vs. Characters: Can Our Morals Be Different?

The recent talk of watching what we say on the internet and being aware of our brand has brought up several ways people come to odd conclusions about us as writers. Despite all our work to ensure that our behavior supports who we are and what our brand is, people will always form their own impressions. [...]

Pin It

Tagged as: advice for writers, branding, censorship, character flaws, conferences, genre, Jami Gold, listening to characters, muse, paranormal author, romance novels

Click here to read more

Actions and Reactions: The End-All-Be-All of Storytelling

November 29, 2012 Writing Stuff
Thumbnail image for Actions and Reactions: The End-All-Be-All of Storytelling

This might be a deep philosophical post. Or it might be random thoughts triggered by my remaining sugar coma (7 Thanksgiving desserts!). You’ll have to let me know. I’d been thinking about doing another post about actions and reactions in writing, but the more I thought about it, the bigger the subject became. My fascination with [...]

Pin It

Tagged as: advice for writers, Dwight Swain, Jami Gold, listening to characters, muse, NaNoWriMo, page turning stories, paranormal author, plotter vs. pantser, scenes and sequels, story structure

Click here to read more

Writing Research: A Pain or a Gain?

November 27, 2012 Writing Stuff
Thumbnail image for Writing Research: A Pain or a Gain?

Readers often think that fiction writers just make stuff up. And that’s quite true—when it comes to most stories and characters. However, the supporting details of settings, props, jobs, and plot events are another matter. Whatever genre we write, we usually have to do some research in the course of drafting and revising our story. [...]

Pin It

Tagged as: genre, Jami Gold, Jami is insane, listening to characters, paranormal author, perfectionism, setting and description

Click here to read more

The Point of a Scene: Thinking in Concepts

November 20, 2012 Writing Stuff
Thumbnail image for The Point of a Scene: Thinking in Concepts

A couple of months ago, I read a blog post that forever changed how I approached drafting scenes. That probably sounds melodramatic, but it’s true. We’ve often talked about the differences between plotters and pantsers (those who write by the seat of their pants), and how as a die-hard-and-happy-about-it pantser, I don’t want to plot [...]

Pin It

Tagged as: advice for writers, Jami Gold, Jami is insane, Janice Hardy, listening to characters, muse, NaNoWriMo, paranormal author, perfectionism, plotter vs. pantser, self-doubt, story structure

Click here to read more

Series vs. Stand-Alone: What Should We Work on Next?

November 13, 2012 Writing Stuff
Thumbnail image for Series vs. Stand-Alone: What Should We Work on Next?

Whenever we finish a writing project, we’re told the best way to keep moving forward, especially when we’re dealing with querying/submitting nerves, is to start another project. But that brings up the question: What should that next project be? Should we write a follow up to that previous book? Or should we go in a [...]

Pin It

Tagged as: advice for writers, agents, Jami Gold, listening to characters, paranormal author, professionalism, risk, traditional publishing, voice

Click here to read more

Life Lessons from the “Epic Road Trip”

November 8, 2012 Random Musings
Thumbnail image for Life Lessons from the “Epic Road Trip”

Those of you who follow me on Twitter might have heard that my family and I took a two-week road trip a couple of months ago. And yes, it was “epic.” We traveled over 2100 miles on our way to visit four National Parks, two National Monuments, and one Tribal Park. Er, yeah. I had [...]

Tagged as: advice for writers, emotional heart, happiness, Jami Gold, Jami is insane, life balance, listening to characters, muse, paranormal author

Click here to read more

← Previous Entries