My A-Z of Writing Tips: Zippers and Writing

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When you do up a zipper, the teeth must fit together correctly so the slider can travel along them and fasten the chain properly. Simple, when you break down all its elements, but something that must seem like magic to someone who’s never seen a zipper before.

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In the same way, all the different parts of our writing need to come together in order to make a complete and publishable story. Characters, voice, grammar, scenes, vocabulary, plot, themes, and so on, and so on. Once all these elements are in place, the zipper can be “done up,” and out pops a perfect story.

Or does it?

When you break writing down to its different elements, each seems (reasonably) simple. You can work on each of them until you’ve mastered (to your satisfaction) that component. Problem is, you can’t then hold your breath and conjure up a complete and publishable story just because you’ve mastered all the components. Something needs to hold all the components together, something indefinable. Something magic.

So I think, anyway.

Not everyone has that magic, though it is something we can work at, in the hope we may one day find—or create—our own little pot of fairy dust.

How about you: Do you think writing requires a pinch of magic? Or is it just a bunch of technical components that anyone can weld together to make a complete and publishable story?





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My A-Z of Writing Tips: Your Say

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I have a few questions I’d love to hear your thoughts on:*

1. Why do you write?
2. Do you struggle with writing? Are there any challenges you have to overcome just to write (eg commitments, health, time pressures, disabilities, etc)?
3. Do you have a critique partner(s) or group? How did you find them? How do you work with each other on a day-to-day/week-to-week basis?

* I’m planning some blog posts on these subjects, so I might pop in your answers – let me know if you’d rather I don’t :)



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My A-Z of Writing Tips: XXX (Hugs to you all)

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With the A-Z Challenge nearly over, I wanted to say welcome to all my new followers, and a huge thanks to all of you who've commented and taught me so much since I began blogging less than a year ago. How time flies! I've so enjoyed getting to know all of you, and I treasure the friendships I've made along the way.

I've got an awesome contest planned for my one year blogiversary on 17 June, so keep your eyes out for my announcement on May 17 ;)

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My A-Z of Writing Tips: Writer - who me?

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I see this question a lot around the blogosphere: When can I call myself a writer?

I tend to look at this quite pragmatically:

• I write, therefore I am a writer
• I think I can write, therefore I am a writer
• I know I'm a writer, therefore I don't need anybody else to tell me I'm a writer

How about you: Do you have a different approach? Are you a writer? Are you waiting to pass a particular milestone, or meet a certain goal/point on a yardstick, before you call yourself a writer? Do you refer to yourself as an "Aspiring Writer" (which implies you're trying to be, but are not yet, a writer)?

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Voice

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In the writing community, “voice” is a word used to describe two things:

• Your writing voice (how you—your attitude, your personality, and your character—come across in your writing)

Holly Lisle describes voice in the following way: [When you write,] you have to put yourself on your page. This is what is known in the writing business as developing your voice. Voice isn't merely style. Style would be easy by comparison. Style is watching your use of adjectives and doing a few flashy things with alliteration. Style without voice is hollow. Voice is style, plus theme, plus personal observations, plus passion, plus belief, plus desire. Voice is bleeding onto the page, and it can be a powerful, frightening, naked experience.

• Your characters’ voice (what makes your characters unique and interesting)

In other words, what is it about your character and the way he/she views the world that makes the reader want to keep reading?

Anyone can write a book, but not everyone is able to create a character the reader is invested in, one they want to follow all the way to the last page. And not everyone has a style of writing that readers connect with.

All is not lost though – we writers can work on improving our voice (the subject of another post perhaps). That’s a step we should leave for revisions though, not something to worry about while we’re writing our first draft.

How about you: Which do you think is more important when you read/write a manuscript, writing voice or the character’s voice? Do you have any tips for strengthening voice in a manuscript?

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Upwards, Always Upwards

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Writing has its ups and downs, just like any career/hobby/pastime/vocation (depending on how you see it). When things get me down, one of the things I like to do is read through my favorite writing quotes - some of them are so inspirational they help me see things in a new light.

Pick the one(s) that appeal to you (whether from here or elsewhere), print them out, and stick them somewhere you’ll see them every day. And remember, upwards, always upwards.

What a joy is there in a good book, writ by some great master of thought, who breaks into beauty, as in summer the meadow into grass and dandelions and violets.
Theodore Parker

But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.
Lord Byron

If you wish to be a writer, write.
Epictetus

Successful writers learn at last what they should learn at first,--to be intelligently simple.
Josh Billings

If a book comes from the heart, it will contrive to reach other hearts; all art and authorcraft are of small amount to that.
Thomas Carlyle

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
C.S. Lewis

How about you: What do you do when things get you down? Do you have a favorite inspirational writing quote?

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Trust

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I’ve been thinking about this post for a while now, and I’m glad I remembered this article because it expresses the concept I wanted to get across to you far better than I could:

Trust that each word that emerges is the correct and appropriate one. Don't judge.

Trust your imagination.

Trust past your imagination, which has its own limits, and trust those creative sources that guide and inspire you.

Trust the unknown.

Trust the depths of a passion you may not even know you feel.

Trust the light that kindles your faith -- your faith that one word will lead to the next, that two words will form a cogent and coherent thought, that each sentence will form part of a whole that is not visible in the writing of it.

How about you: Do you think trust is a necessary part of your writing?

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Show Not Tell Crusader Challenge

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Today's the day of my Show Not Tell Crusader Challenge, woot! Before I go into the Challenge, some thoughts on Show not Tell:

• stay in the moment (describe what is happening to your character as it is happening to avoid telling)
• avoid summarizing as much as possible (eg, "He stabbed her with a knife"). It can work well as a means of "skating over" unimportant details, or moving from one scene to another, but summarizing in the middle of a scene usually reads as "telling"
• keep an eye out for words that (often) indicate the presence of "telling". Examples include "was" (or other forms of "to be") and "felt" (eg, "He felt scared" or "He was scared"). Though note that not every use of "was" is telling
• try to avoid labelling feelings. Rather than saying, "I felt angry," describe what those emotions are doing to the characters, mentally and physically
• but don't just describe the physical effects of an emotion (eg "I clenched my fists"). Dig deeper. Utilize the five senses, things the character notices or doesn't notice, and memories of past events, as well as physical reactions, to show how the character is feeling

My Show Not Tell Challenge: In 300 words or less, write a passage (it can be an excerpt from your WIP, flash fiction, a poem, or any other writing) that shows (rather than tells) the following:

• you're scared and hungry
• it's dusk
• you think someone is following you
• and just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: shimmer, saccadic, substance, and salt.

Here's my Challenge entry:

Saunter

No escape. I spun, trying to find a way out even while I strained to see him. An hour until it was fully dark, but shadows had already swallowed the area around me. I could only see a few feet in any direction. Filthy alleyway. Dead-end wall behind me. Boxes, trash cans, rusty shopping cart lying on its side.

Where was he?

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No doors to pound on, nobody to hear my screams. I couldn’t hear a sound except the thud, thud, thud of my heart and the soft rumble of a storm in the distance. Buildings surrounded me—industrial, gritty, windows staring while the gloom laid its blanket of silence over the world. Graffiti scribbled over the walls in glowing swirls: ‘Bajkarg,’ ‘Saccadic,’ ‘Ves.’ Gang names, or something more sinister?

No people. No help. Only buildings.

And him.

He sauntered toward me. I blinked but his outline shimmered; he had no substance, nothing I could focus on. My head spun, and I sucked in a deep breath.

The spicy smell of curry drifted toward me. My stomach rumbled. Food. Cooking. Food meant people meant help. I tasted my salvation, a sweet syrup on my tongue. If only they listened. “Somebody. Help. Can anyone hear me?” My voice gave out and I coughed, then tried to swallow against the rasp in my throat, the gritty feel of salt grains in my lungs, and the certainty that I’d failed.

No-one to stop him now.

The man strode closer.

I stepped backward, again and again. Once more. Sliding my feet, keeping myself grounded, until my fingertips scraped along the rough stone at my back. No escape.

He reached up and slowly pulled back the hood of his cloak.

And I knew.

288 words - check. Use of all five senses – check. Included the four random “s” words – check. I also gave myself an additional challenge – the above piece contains 41 words beginning with “s” *grins*. Hope you enjoyed it.

Check out the other Challenge entrants in the Linky List below. You're very welcome to join in this Challenge if you want, simply post your entry today (Friday, April 22nd) and enter your details on the Linky List.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE DIRECT LINK TO YOUR POST SO WE CAN FIND IT. DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR NAME AND BLOG LINK, AS I CAN'T CHANGE THE LINKY LIST. IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, RE-ENTER YOUR DETAILS WITH "(USE THIS ONE)" AFTER YOUR NAME/THE NAME OF YOUR BLOG

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Rules. Well, guidelines at least

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Don’t follow the rules as though they’re the only formula for getting published. Know the rules, but use them as guidelines. Always be prepared to break them if it makes your writing better.

Here are some other "R" writing tips:

• Resist the urge to explain

• Read your writing out loud. It helps you pick up inconsistencies, and improve your dialogue and the pacing of your writing

• Read what you want to write, and write what you want to read

• Read in the genre you write. This is SO important - you'll learn what has been done before, things that have worked, the "conventions" and requirements for writing in that genre, things that haven't worked, as well as much more

How about you: What's your take on following the “rules”? Are there any other "R" writing tips you can add to the above list?


Crusader Challenge Heads-up

I'll be holding my final Crusader Challenge on Friday, April 22nd. The theme of the Challenge will be related to the letter S (it has to be "Show not Tell" of course!), so A-Z Challenge entrants can combine both posts if they wish to enter my Crusader Challenge as well. Those who aren't Crusaders are very welcome to take part. This month's Challenge is just for fun, so there won't be any judging or prizes.

I've posted the Challenge below, so you have the next day to come up with your entry. All entries should be posted on Friday, April 22nd. As soon as you've posted, pop back to Rach Writes... and leave the direct link to your entry in the Linky Link tool, which I'll include in my April 22nd post.

Show Not Tell Crusader Challenge: In 300 words or less, write a passage (it can be an excerpt from your WIP, flash fiction, a poem, or any other writing) that shows (rather than tells) the following:

• you're scared and hungry
• it's dusk
• you think someone is following you
• and just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: shimmer, saccadic, substance, and salt.

Can't wait to see what you come up with on April 22nd! 

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Quiet lets your imagination flourish

Something I’ve found so true ever since I started writing: take a moment of quiet, and let your imagination flourish.

By this I don’t mean sitting in a silent room with no music, though by all means do that if it helps. More than that, I mean stilling your doubts and thoughts and worries about other matters, shoving aside that shiny new idea that keeps tempting you away, and concentrating solely on the sentence/paragraph/scene/manuscript before you. It’s amazing the creativity (and productivity) that flows from this simple action.

How about you: Do you find this helps when you write? 


Crusader Challenge Heads-up

I'll be holding my final Crusader Challenge on Friday, April 22nd. The theme of the Challenge will be related to the letter S (it has to be "Show not Tell" of course!), so A-Z Challenge entrants can combine both posts if they wish to enter my Crusader Challenge as well. Those who aren't Crusaders are very welcome to take part. This month's Challenge is just for fun, so there won't be any judging or prizes.

I've posted the Challenge below, so you have a few days to come up with your entry. All entries should be posted on Friday, April 22nd. As soon as you've posted, pop back to Rach Writes... and leave the direct link to your entry in the Linky Link tool, which I'll include in my April 22nd post.

Show Not Tell Crusader Challenge: In 300 words or less, write a passage (it can be an excerpt from your WIP, flash fiction, a poem, or any other writing) that shows (rather than tells) the following:

• you're scared and hungry
• it's dusk
• you think someone is following you
• and just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: shimmer, saccadic, substance, and salt.

Can't wait to see what you come up with on April 22nd!

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Passion

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Practice your writing skills

Persevere and keep writing no matter what

Prepare as much as possible before you submit

Passion is what it’s all about

How about you: Which do you think is most important? 

Crusader Challenge Heads-up

I'll be holding my final Crusader Challenge on Friday, April 22nd. The theme of the Challenge will be related to the letter S (it has to be "Show not Tell" of course!), so A-Z Challenge entrants can combine both posts if they wish to enter my Crusader Challenge as well. Those who aren't Crusaders are very welcome to take part. This month's Challenge is just for fun, so there won't be any judging or prizes.

I've posted the Challenge below, so you have a few days to come up with your entry. All entries should be posted on Friday, April 22nd. As soon as you've posted, pop back to Rach Writes... and leave the direct link to your entry in the Linky Link tool, which I'll include in my April 22nd post.

Show Not Tell Crusader Challenge: In 300 words or less, write a passage (it can be an excerpt from your WIP, flash fiction, a poem, or any other writing) that shows (rather than tells) the following:

• you're scared and hungry
• it's dusk
• you think someone is following you
• and just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: shimmer, saccadic, substance, and salt.

Can't wait to see what you come up with on April 22nd!

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Originality

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"No man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it."

~ C.S. Lewis

How about you: Do you try to write a story nobody else has written, or would you rather put your own spin on a plot that’s been done before? Do you even think it’s possible to write a story nobody else has written? 


Crusader Challenge Heads-up

I'll be holding my final Crusader Challenge on Friday, April 22nd. The theme of the Challenge will be related to the letter S (it has to be "Show not Tell" of course!), so A-Z Challenge entrants can combine both posts if they wish to enter my Crusader Challenge as well. Those who aren't Crusaders are very welcome to take part. This month's Challenge is just for fun, so there won't be any judging or prizes.

I've posted the Challenge below, so you have a few days to come up with your entry. All entries should be posted on Friday, April 22nd. As soon as you've posted, pop back to Rach Writes... and leave the direct link to your entry in the Linky Link tool, which I'll include in my April 22nd post.

Show Not Tell Crusader Challenge: In 300 words or less, write a passage (it can be an excerpt from your WIP, flash fiction, a poem, or any other writing) that shows (rather than tells) the following:

• you're scared and hungry
• it's dusk
• you think someone is following you
• and just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: shimmer, saccadic, substance, and salt.

Can't wait to see what you come up with on April 22nd!

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Nuances of Grammar

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Do not put statements in the negative form.

And don't start sentences with a conjunction.

If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.

Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.

Unqualified superlatives are the worst of all.

De-accession euphemisms.

If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

Last, but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.

~William Safire, "Great Rules of Writing"


How about you: Do you think any other “rules” should be added to this list? Which is your favorite?


Crusader Challenge Heads-up

I'll be holding my final Crusader Challenge on Friday, April 22nd. The theme of the Challenge will be related to the letter S (it has to be "Show not Tell" of course!), so A-Z Challenge entrants can combine both posts if they wish to enter my Crusader Challenge as well. Those who aren't Crusaders are very welcome to take part. This month's Challenge is just for fun, so there won't be any judging or prizes.

I've posted the Challenge below, so you have a week to come up with your entry. All entries should be posted on Friday, April 22nd. As soon as you've posted, pop back to Rach Writes... and leave the direct link to your entry in the Linky Link tool, which I'll include in my April 22nd post.

Show Not Tell Crusader Challenge: In 300 words or less, write a passage (it can be an excerpt from your WIP, flash fiction, a poem, or any other writing) that shows (rather than tells) the following:

• you're scared and hungry
• it's dusk
• you think someone is following you
• and just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: shimmer, saccadic, substance, and salt.

Can't wait to see what you come up with on April 22nd!

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Motto (Plus my Crusader Challenge Heads-up)

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I’ve never had a motto before, but every writer needs one, don’t you think? Here's the one I’ve decided to adopt:

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam - "I will either find a way or I will make one."

How about you: Do you have a writing motto? It doesn't need to be in Latin of course!


Crusader Challenge Heads-up

I'll be holding my final Crusader Challenge on Friday, April 22nd. The theme of the Challenge will be related to the letter S (it has to be "Show not Tell" of course!), so A-Z Challenge entrants can combine both posts if they wish to enter my Crusader Challenge as well. Those who aren't Crusaders are very welcome to take part. This month's Challenge is just for fun, so there won't be any judging or prizes.

I've posted the Challenge below, so you have a week to come up with your entry. All entries should be posted on Friday, April 22nd. As soon as you've posted, pop back to Rach Writes... and leave the direct link to your entry in the Linky Link tool, which I'll include in my April 22nd post.

Show Not Tell Crusader Challenge: In 300 words or less, write a passage (it can be an excerpt from your WIP, flash fiction, a poem, or any other writing) that shows (rather than tells) the following:

• you're scared and hungry
• it's dusk
• you think someone is following you
• and just for fun, see if you can involve all five senses AND include these random words: shimmer, saccadic, substance, and salt.

Can't wait to see what you come up with on April 22nd!

Third Writers' Platform-Building Crusade

I'm excited to announce my Third Writers' Platform-Building Crusade will run from August 22, 2011 to October 31, 2011! Put a note in your calenders to come back to Rach Writes... on August 22nd (or soon afterwards) to sign up, because I'll be closing the List of Crusaders on August 31st!

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Love Writing

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I write because I love to write, because there's not much I'd rather be doing. There's something about arranging little black letters on a page (or computer screen) that I find extremely satisfying. If I never sold a book, I would still write, just because I can.

Because I love writing.


How about you: Why do you do this? Would you keep on writing even if you knew you'd never sell a book?

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Know, Keep, Kill (and Who is Saint Giovanni?)

A trifecta of writing wisdom today:

• Know the rules before you break them

• Keep your character in the moment to avoid "telling"

• Kill all your darlings - get rid of all those pieces of writing you've loved from the start but no longer have a place in your manuscript*

* As Mary Kole says: Lavish description at an inappropriate time is probably a signal that you need to kill some babies. (Translation: cut some of your favorite passages, not actually go down to the nursery and go on a spree.)

How about you: What's your best piece of "K" writing wisdom? 

WHO IS SAINT GIOVANNI?

Have you heard about Rane Anderson's awesome project, "Who is Saint Giovanni?" I call it a project because it's not just the title of the YA paranormal romance novel she's written, it's a whole lot more. Over the next year, Rane will be posting her book online, for free! Click here to read all about what Rane is doing, and more importantly, why she isn't going down the "traditional" publishing route. You can also win some free stuff for helping her spread the word. I think it's amazing when authors do something so generous (and so different).

The first chapter of Who is Saint Giovanni? was posted on The Lit Express on April 11 (click here to read), and Rane will be posting a new installment each week, including illustrations, until the book is fully online (and available for free). Make sure you check it out if you haven't already.

Here's the Preface, which Rane kindly let me post here:

There’s a girl. She’s standing behind me. I don’t see her. The image of her forms in my mind. She’s angry. No. Hurt. She likes music. Bob Dylan. The Beatles. Golden-brown eyes and a warm smile. That’s her. Oh, and that smile. It will burn in my memory for an eternity. I close my eyes. There it is. It’s a rosebud of a smile yet to bloom. It will. I’ll make it bloom.

She’ll hate me.

My heart is hammering inside my chest.

I’ll love her.

She likes black-and-white movies. Jogging in the rain. She has a broken heart. A broken family. There is no breeze here in the graveyard. My skin imagines a breeze, a tender touch, a hand on my shoulder sliding to my chest. It will happen. She will do that.

I hear her step closer. Her name is forming. E. It begins with an E. Thoughts as sweet as a sunset. As bitter as vinegar. That’s her. Emily. That’s her name. The girl I will love is named Emily. It’s the name of a poet. It should be the name of a sonnet. Emily. I smell her perfume. No. Shampoo. Eucalyptus and…lavender. Gentle as her soul.

Her soul. My next breath is sharp. I hold it. I shake my head, hard. I bite my lip. Her soul. I see myself taking it. Soon.

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Jellyfish!

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LOL, you didn't expect that one did you!

In the same way, you should always make sure your plotlines aren't predictable.

When people (whether your mother, your critique partner, your agent, or anyone really) can read a few pages of your book and think to themselves, "I know how that one's going to turn out," it's time to shake things up. Zig instead of zag. Introduce an unexpected character vulnerability/situation/response. Take a "cliched" plotline and turn it on its head.

In other words, keep your readers guessing. And because they can't predict what will happen next, they'll stay interested and invested right to the end of your book.

How about you: Do you have any strategies for making your plotlines unpredictable? And how important do you think this is?

ETA: And check out Cally Jackson's comment below about the importance of any plot twists being believable. So true - shake things up, but make sure any twist falls within the realm of probability (1) in the manuscript's world, (2) with regards to the characters in your manuscript, and (3) realistically taking into account things the reader will believe possible.

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Inspiration

Today I have a question for you...

Where does your writing inspiration come from?

Is it from your family, your job, things you see on the street? Or your imagination? Do your stories have their basis in reality, or in flights of fantasy? Do you follow the instructions when you build, or do you free-build?

Or is your writing cooked from a mixture of both?

I can’t wait to find out!

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Habit

Develop a good writing habit. Write every day, or every second day, or every week, whenever works for you. Write for 15 minutes, for 2 hours, until you reach 1,500 words, until you meet your writing goal for that session.

Above all, just write!

Do it regularly, over and over, until it becomes a habit.

How about you: What are your writing habits?

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Grow as a Writer

Preview

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Never believe you'll know everything there is to know about writing. Every day will bring a new learning experience - be open to these experiences and always seek to improve.

Make growth one of your main priorities.

How about you: What do you do to grow as a writer? 

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Finish the First Draft

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Finish the first draft before you begin revising.

Write first, edit later.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes...your first draft doesn't need to be perfect.

The only thing you can't edit is a blank page.

However you say it, in my opinion this is one of the most important pieces of advice around! When I write, I still find myself reading over the previous scene and tinkering with it a little before I move onto the new scene. But I've forbidden myself from going back to Chapter One and starting revisions UNTIL I've finished writing my last chapter. That way lies disaster for me - I can't count how many manuscripts I've given up on without finishing, simply because I got caught up in revisions and failed to finish the first draft.

And in my next novel, I have high hopes I'll even be able to resist tinkering. Wish me luck!

How about you: do you revise as you go? Do you follow this advice religiously? Or have you found another way to make things work?

My A-Z of Writing Tips: Engaging with your Characters

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So, you’ve decided who your main character is. A girl, 16 years of age. You’ve come up with a cool name; oh, let’s say, “Z”. What then? How do you bring Z to life in the mind of your readers? ‘Cause it certainly won’t be enough just to list name, age, rank, and serial number. Nor simply a physical description (and do you even want to give a detailed physical description, or let the readers imagine Z for themselves – though that’s a whole ‘nother topic in itself).

How to bring Z to life? How to make Z so engaging, so compelling, that the reader actually cares about what happens to her? Hmm…

Here are my top tips:

• think big, and I mean BIG. Before Z can be a compelling character on paper and in the reader’s mind, she needs to exist in your own. She’s the girl who just moved in next door, but do you really want to get to know her? Or would you walk right by her in the street without even really noticing her. What, a sixteen-year-old girl just walked by??? Oops, didn’t even see her there.

• pretend Z is a real person, with likes and dislikes, wants and needs. Some of these will be readily apparent right from the start, and others might just creep in and surprise you. Z’s phobia about turtles, for example. I mean, really, who’s scared of turtles! As your main character comes to life in your mind, that will influence the way you write about them on paper. Hard to avoid making them engaging really, when they’re so real to the writer!

• why does she insist on being called “Z” anyway? Share enough of her past to make her interesting. She’s named after Great-Aunt Zelda. She thinks the name “Z” fits well with her spunky attitude. “M” was already taken (*waves to James Bond fans*). We won’t know unless you tell us. Or even better, show us!

• what motivates Z? What is she after in life? Her first boyfriend. Her first kiss. Her first relationship with a vampire/werewolf/zombie/other paranormal creature. A real friend. Revenge. Acceptance. You name it, the reader will be able to better connect with your main character if they understand what motivates her.

• how does Z react to life’s challenges? Well, she certainly doesn’t passively accept the big pie in the face from the boy down the street. And she’ll have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to the altar of social responsibility and upright teenager-ness. Sometimes she just wants to stand there and yell swear-words at the top of her lungs. However Z reacts, react she should. How else do we become invested in her life? How else do we want to know what will happen to her?

See what I mean. In just a few simple sentences here in this blog, Z is already starting to spring to life. Actually, I think I might just make her the main character in my next WIP.

How about you: How do you make your characters engaging?