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by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Many of our characters have a lifeboat filled with tangible items and memories that help them survive challenges. This is where a character travels when the storms of life gather and blow. The psychological connections keep the character grounded, inspired, on-task, encouraged, entertained, pacified, and motivated.  Sometimes the item is physical, a symbol of what the character designates as important. Other times, a memory, either cherished or despised, acts as a springboard for specific actions. To determine what�s inside your character�s lifeboat, look to genre, goals, needs, wants, personality, and life experiences. Genre Various genres dictate values unique to the type of story.  Contemporary novels contain characters who live in today�s world. The setting depends on culture, and the treasures are unique to the story line. This includes women�s fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, and horror novels. Romance novels use intense emotions to drive...

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Our characters are plunged into an unsteady world brimming with high stakes and a strong potential for failure. The character chooses to go after a goal or solve a problem and is determined to do whatever it takes to succeed. But does the character understand that determination and commitment mean sacrifices? How far will a hero go to ensure what he/she treasures is happy and safe? One of the definitions of sacrifice according to the   New Oxford American Dictionary: � an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.� We writers understand our heroes and heroines must be prepared to give everything they have unselfishly, even their lives. But how do we show a sacrifice without telling the reader what is happening? I�ve heard that stories are what happened, and the plot is how it happened. Sacrifices must weave story and plot through detailed characterization. Only  your hero can make the needed...

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Mystery and suspense writers value the challenge of a red herring, a clue designed to deceive and mislead the characters and readers.  For the writer, developing a red herring takes time and imagination.   For the protagonist, discovering the real culprit requires skill and insight.   For the reader, absorbing details becomes a challenge of wit.   Incorporating a red herring into a plot isn�t a series of misunderstandings that label the protagonist as ill-equipped to investigate a crime. Instead, the technique adds an additional level of complexity for an unpredictable story. The following 10 tips will help the writer successfully create a red herring. Incorporate the red herring character into the fabric of the story. The technique isn�t an add-on when the plot lacks tension, stress, and conflict.   The red herring is an innocent character who has motive to commit a crime, while the real culprit has nothing established pointing to his...

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Some of our character�s traits are easy to discover. Physical description, food preference, a career choice, favorite color or food, wants, goals, and other basic attributes that can be revealed in a non-threatening manner.  Life experiences that had painful physical, mental, or emotional outcomes are often hidden beneath a character�s facade. Sometimes those events are shoved to a dark corner of the mind, and many times they are not topics for discussion.   The writer can�t address issues if she doesn�t know what they are. How does a writer force a character to be transparent? Once we understand the character psychologically, we can better predict the response to uncomfortable situations. The character will  show us the answers to hard questions before telling us. The following steps will help a writer discover deep-rooted traits resulting from wounds. Establish the character�s personality. Many excellent solutions are available for personality...

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Reminders about our craft burst our imaginations into creative mode. From A to Z, we find sources of inspiration to keep us writing. I�ve chosen the first word that entered my mind as a means to keep my imagination in full gear. 26 Reminders for Fiction Writers A - Adventure Penning our stories is an exciting journey for the writer and the reader.  B - Bestseller We all want to have bestseller after our name, so now is the time to commit to learning as a lifelong project. C - Character All great fiction includes superbly crafted personalities. Without these life-like people, our stories fall flat. D - Dialogue Readers are excited to read what our characters have to say and how they say it. This includes body language and gestures. E - Edit An award-winning story needs rounds of editing to ensure the writer�s best is presented to the world. F - Foreshadow How a writer hints of what�s to come is a talent, one that great stories incorporate for success....