Jami Gold, Paranormal Author

Where Normal Need Not Apply

Learn about Writing

Tip-heavy posts about writing skills and concepts that improve our stories. Sample topics: how to create a strong character, storytelling skills, information dumps, using point of view, subtext, using themes, building scenes, etc.

Author Insights: What’s Our Core Story?

Closeup of avocado cross-section with text: What's the Core of Our Storytelling?

The better we understand ourselves, the better writer we’ll be. One way we can better understand ourselves is to explore our core story. What do our stories have in common?

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Weaving Story Threads Together — Guest: Rosie Danan

Blue braided rug with text: Weaving Our Story's Threads into a Satisfying Whole

We often learn how to develop our story’s plot separate from character arcs, but our story’s threads work in tandem. Here’s a way to ensure they intertwine.

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Writing a Series? 7 Do’s and Don’ts — Guest: Kassandra Lamb

Photo overlays showing the sequence of a snowboard trick with text: 7 Tricks for Setting Up a Series

If you’ve ever thought about writing a series but weren’t sure how to “evolve” the series from book to book, Kassandra Lamb is here to share her insights.

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Story Conflict: It’s Not as Simple as We Think — Guest: L. Deborah Sword

Chessboard with one piece knocked down with text: Does "Healthy" Conflict Make a Story Boring?

How can we include conflict—and conflict resolution—between our characters without relying only on fighting? Check out L. Deborah Sword’s insights.

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NaNoWriMo Is Coming…Are You Ready?

NaNoWriMo 2019 Writer participant badge

This time of year, writers try to get their story idea into shape before the first of November. Here’s some help to get your planning off on the right foot with NaNoWriMo.

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Romance Beats vs. 12 Stages of Intimacy

Hanging heart-shaped beads with text: Can the 12 Stages of Intimacy Work with Beat Sheets?

A reader asked how we’d place the 12 Stages on Intimacy on a beat sheet for the best pacing. Can we mesh the 12 Stages with romance beats in a story?

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How Is Our Protagonist Challenged to Improve? (& a Worksheet!)

Adult elephant shoving a baby elephant across a dirt road with text: What's Pushing Our Characters to Grow?

In our story, something makes our protagonist change and progress in their internal journey. But what’s that something? What triggers them to grow?

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Get a Sneak Peek of My New Romance Workshop!

Close up of finger bending blinds to peek out a window with text: New Romance Workshop: Get a Sneak Peek!

Get a free sneak peek at my new workshop on the Romance Beat Sheet at the Romance Writers Summit, an online event of writing craft advice.

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Watching Out for Redundancy in Our Story

Drawing of a repeating fish pattern with text: Repetition in Our Story

Let’s say this only once: Repetition and redundancy in our writing is a problem, but we can learn how to avoid the issue.

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How to Get Expert Writing Advice…for Free!

Dark background of romantic candles with text: Come Learn at the Romance Writers Summit

The Romance Writers Summit gives writers—especially those who write romance—expert advice with the keys to write powerful fiction. All for free!

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