Tag Archives: writing

How to Outline a Story: A Guide for Aspiring Authors

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Outlining a story might seem daunting at first, especially if you’re new to writing. But it’s one of the most valuable tools in a writer’s toolkit. An outline serves as a roadmap, guiding you from the beginning of your story to its conclusion. Outlining can help you structure your ideas, stay on track, and avoid those dreaded moments of writer’s block, whether you’re writing a novel, short story, or screenplay. Let me walk you through how to outline a story effectively and make the process feel less intimidating.

1. The Purpose of an Outline

At its core, an outline is a blueprint for your story. It organizes your ideas, helps you identify gaps in the plot, and ensures your story has a clear structure. It’s important to remember that an outline isn’t set in stone. You can—AND SHOULD—adapt it as you write. Think of it as a flexible guide rather than a rigid set of instructions.

The benefits of outlining include:

  • Clarity: You’ll have a clear direction for your story, which helps prevent getting lost in the weeds.
  • Structure: An outline forces you to think about the story’s pacing, character development, and plot points.
  • Motivation: Knowing what comes next keeps you moving forward when you sit down to write.

2. Decide on the Type of Outline

There’s no “one size fits all” approach to outlining. Different writers prefer different methods, and that’s perfectly okay. Here are a few common types of outlines:

  • The Snowflake Method: This method starts with a simple concept and gradually expands it into a detailed outline. First, you write a one-sentence summary of your story, then expand that sentence into a full paragraph, and so on. It’s ideal for writers who prefer to develop their story gradually, refining the details as they go.
  • The Three-Act Structure: A widely-used framework that breaks a story into three acts—Set-Up, Confrontation, and Resolution. This method helps you focus on the major plot points and ensures your story has a strong, well-paced structure. It’s a great option for beginners because of its simplicity.
  • Chapter-by-Chapter Outline: For those who like specifics, this method involves outlining each chapter or scene of your story in detail. This type of outline gives you a clear sense of what needs to happen at each stage of the story.
  • The Hero’s Journey: This method, rooted in Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, is particularly helpful for stories involving a protagonist’s transformation. It involves specific stages like “The Call to Adventure,” “Refusal of the Call,” and “The Return.” It’s a fantastic framework for fantasy, adventure, and other high-stakes genres.
  • Loose Bullet Points: For the more free-spirited writers, some prefer to jot down key plot points and character moments as simple bullet points. This is a more flexible approach and allows room for creativity as the story unfolds.

3. The Building Blocks of a Story Outline

Regardless of the method you choose, there are key elements every story outline should address. Here are the main building blocks you’ll need to consider:

1. The Premise

The premise is the seed of your story. What is your story about? What is the central conflict or question that drives your plot? This is where you should define the “what if” that makes your story compelling. For example:

  • What if magic was real, but only for a select few?
  • What if a dystopian society controlled all information?

Spend some time refining your premise before moving on. It will act as the foundation for everything else.

2. The Main Characters

Your characters are the heart of your story. In your outline, make sure to note the following about your protagonist, antagonist, and key supporting characters:

  • Who are they? Consider their backstory, motivations, desires, and flaws.
  • What do they want? This is the driving force behind their actions. Your protagonist might want justice, love, freedom, or survival.
  • What’s at stake? What happens if they fail? This is essential for creating tension and suspense.

3. The Major Plot Points

In order to outline your plot, break it down into key events. These are the moments that move the story forward and change the direction of the narrative. A few important plot points include:

  • The Inciting Incident: The event that starts the story. This is where your character is thrust into the conflict, whether it’s the discovery of a hidden power or the moment a dystopian society begins to crack.
  • The Rising Action: The buildup of conflict and challenges that lead toward the climax. This is where your character faces obstacles, grows, and learns more about themselves or the world around them.
  • The Climax: The turning point or high point of the story. The protagonist confronts the primary conflict in a dramatic and pivotal way.
  • The Resolution: How the story concludes. Whether the protagonist succeeds or fails, there must be closure and consequences to their actions.

4. The Setting and World-Building

For genres like urban fantasy and dystopian fiction, the setting is crucial. Your outline should include:

  • Where does the story take place? Is it a magical version of New York, or a desolate post-apocalyptic world? Define the environment, rules, and atmosphere.
  • What’s the world’s history? In dystopian stories, especially, understanding the past is vital to understanding the present. Was there a war? An economic collapse? A technological breakthrough gone wrong?
  • What are the stakes within the setting? How do the world’s rules affect the characters and their choices?

5. The Theme

What is the deeper meaning or message of your story? Is it about the fight for freedom, the power of love, or the dangers of unchecked technology? In your outline, think about how you can weave this theme throughout the plot, characters, and setting.

4. Flesh Out Your Outline

Now that you’ve got your main components outlined, it’s time to expand on them. Flesh out the scenes and events that will happen in your story. Here are a few tips to make the outlining process easier:

  • Start with the Big Picture: Begin by outlining the broad strokes—major plot points and character arcs. Where do you want your characters to start, and where do you want them to end? This will help keep your narrative cohesive.
  • Go Scene by Scene: If you prefer more detail, break your outline down into individual scenes or chapters. Write down the purpose of each scene and what needs to happen in it—whether it’s a character development moment, a revelation, or a dramatic plot twist.
  • Think About Pacing: As you lay out each scene, consider how fast the action should move. Are there moments of high tension? Are there quiet, reflective scenes? Mix things up to create variety and keep the reader engaged.
  • Use Visual Aids: Some writers find it helpful to create visual outlines—whether it’s through storyboarding, mind maps, or index cards. These tools can help you see the structure of your story from a new angle.

5. Stay Flexible

The outline isn’t the end-all-be-all. Once you begin writing, you might find that new ideas emerge, characters evolve, or your plot takes a surprising turn. And that’s perfectly okay! Writing is a dynamic process, and oftentimes, the best stories grow from unexpected twists. Don’t be afraid to change your outline as you go along.

6. Final Thoughts

Outlining is a tool, not a rule. It’s there to help you organize your thoughts and bring your story to life with intention. Whether you’re writing a fast-paced thriller, a deep philosophical dystopia, or an epic urban fantasy, outlining gives you the roadmap to reach your destination. The key is to find the approach that works best for you.

Remember, your outline is just a starting point—let your creativity flow, and don’t be afraid to adjust your plan as the story evolves. The more you practice, the easier the outlining process will become. Good luck, and happy writing!

Candy Crone by A.L. Hawke

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Candy Crone is a Christmas Short Story standalone in the bestselling Hawthorne University Witch Series.

Candy Crone
The Hawthorne University Witch Series Book 8
By A.L. Hawke
Genre: Paranormal Holiday Fantasy

Candy Crone is a Christmas Short Story standalone following Shadow Cast in the Hawthorne University Witch Series.

While I’m enjoying a spicy caramel apple surprise at our local ice cream parlor, an old lady in rags rambles nonsense about candy canes to children waiting for Santa. That distracts me from prepping my young friend Cat for her college interview at Hawthorne University.

Christmas turns into creepy Halloween when all the local children, including Cat, disappear in the woods. Bryce and I search our forest but become spellbound. All this voracious casting heralds the arrival of a new witch in town. The Candy Crone.

As the Hawthorne Witch, I hold great power, but with my unborn baby kicking, the witch exploits my sins and vices through gluttony. Am I nothing more than my appetites and power as the Hawthorne Witch? Or can I accomplish something greater? If I can’t sort my stuff out, Cat, my unborn baby, Chandra, and all these innocent kids living in Hawthorne are toast.

Cadence Hawthorne returns in this Christmas novella taking place after Shadow Cast, book 6, in The Hawthorne University Witch Series. Candy Crone is a complete self-contained novella not ending in cliffhangers. Some spoilers cannot be avoided, but the story is a STANDALONE book that can be enjoyed without reading the preceding novels.

Content Warning: Candy Crone contains profanity, adult situations and, of course, witchcraft.

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A.L. Hawke is the author of the bestselling Hawthorne University Witch series. The author lives in Southern California torching the midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic, spice and mayhem. A.L. Hawke writes fantasy and romance spanning four thousand years, from pre-civilization to contemporary and beyond.

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
If I’m really into a particular project, it becomes all encompassing. I prefer one book at a time but it doesn’t always work out that way. And lately, I also work on converting books to audio at the same time.

What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?
I always had ideas in my head about writing. I think I always wanted to be a storyteller my whole life.

Advice you would give new authors?
Take a look at other books in your interested genre. Learn from other writers by looking at what’s been written before. And do it for the fun of writing, not for the dollar. At an average cost of $3.99 per ebook, just doing the math, this isn’t a job making writers rich. You really have to love it for the craft.

Describe your writing style.
I think my books are very dialog-heavy. It’s funny because I’ve heard the opposite. Some say they were impressed with my descriptive writing, but I really feel like most of the time I’m using description as a scaffold for conversation. I’m letting the characters run the show. So, reality comes in the form of dialog. It’s what breathes life into my characters.

What makes a good story?
Something engrossing.

What are you currently reading?
I’m reading It Ends with Us. Heard of it?  I’m giving that book a whirl.

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
No outlines. My characters shape what happens.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
That’s a good question. It’s a mix. If I feel like something is successful, like my witch series has been, then I want to spend my time working with my success. That’s why I’ve written so many books in the series. But I write some books outside of my typical genre. And I like to take chances. It’s part of being an “artist” not a marketer. Because indie writers tend to be on different sides of that spectrum.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?
I can write about four pages an hour. I’m very prolific and can bust out a novel in a couple of weeks. The editing process can take longer, but, in many ways editing is more gratifying. There’s no blank pages staring at you. Or you’re not looking at page count and thinking “man, I’ve only got another hundred pages to go.”

Do you believe in writer’s block?
Absolutely. I suffer from it all the time. But, for me, it’s not a blank page. I can write pages upon pages, but it’s a sense that I’m struggling to get work out. If the story comes easy, it’s so much more of a pleasure and I know it’s going to be good.

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Threshold by Janet and Chris Morris

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On Threshold time travel is about to become possible. The huge space habitat, already 500 years in our future is about to go forward to a safer time and place. Aliens from the All-Time hold the keys. Wanna go?

Threshold
The Threshold Series Book 1
by Janet & Chris Morris
Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Adventure

Set a millennium from now on Threshold Terminal—virtually a Grand Hotel in space— a young test pilot, Joe South, is thrust five hundred years into his future and finds himself in the thick of interstellar smuggling, intrigue, and the rough underworld of an alien environment. It is a time of danger and ever-shifting powers . . . and the destinies of a lost test pilot, an underworld scavenger, and two young lovers become irrevocably intertwined . .

November’s Featured Title of the month with Perseid Press!
On Sale for Only $2.99!
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Bestselling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. Most of her fiction work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written historical and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national security topics.

Christopher Crosby Morris (born 1946) is an American author of fiction and non-fiction, as well as a lyricist, musical composer, and singer-songwriter. He is married to author Janet Morris. He is a defense policy and strategy analyst and a principal in M2 Technologies, Inc. He writes primarily as Chris Morris, but occasionally uses pseudonyms.

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What is something unique/quirky about you?
Together we breed Morgan horses. We consult with Morgan breeders to help them choose crosses to their stock to achieve a desired result.
We are also musicians; Janet plays bass guitar, Chris sings and plays guitar. We have an album on MCA records. Look for Christopher Crosby Morris on Soundcloud or N1M.com

Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
Janet wrote her first novel, High Couch of Silistra in 1975; a friend sent it to an agent who chose to represent her; she had already written the second book in the Silistra Quartet and her agent told her not to disclose that until they finalized the contract for the first one. When the publisher learned of the others, Bantam Books bought the succeeding three. When the fourth book was published, the series already had four million copies in print. Suddenly Janet was a novelist specializing in environmental, gender, historical and political subjects. In the process, Chris started as her editor and ultimately a co-writer. Since then, she and Chris have co-authored many books.

Who is your hero and why?
Heraclitus of Ephesus, a pre-socratic philosopher, whose Cosmic Fragments foreshadow our knowledge of reality and how to perceive it. Among his precepts is the statement that change alone is unchanging. We’ve worked Heraclitus’ fragments in here and there throughout our books.

Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie?
All of them. We write cinematically, our books are vivid adventures we undertake without knowing the destination. I, the Sun, The Sacred Band, and Outpassage are particularly suited to film. The Threshold Series is a feast of opportunities for today’s special effects creators.

What inspired you, to write Threshold?
Threshold explores what will happen if we meet beings who are interdimensional, not limited by time and space as we know it. Of course, there’s massive suspicion and mistrust when humans meet aliens capable of grasping a much wider time spectrum and able to predict what is about to occur as a result of current circumstance. How can ordinary people trust this super-human race and how can they not once given the benefit of their perspective?

Convince us why you feel Threshold is a must read.
Today our space telescopes are showing us pictures of events that happened millions of light years ago, showing us actual images of the plastic nature of time and space. It is a short conceptual jump from those images to imagining beings like us, but capable of accessing a wider present and acting in concert with events provably happening over vast time arcs. As humans, we may feel that a lifetime is but a moment in an eternal reality and guess what it could be like to be free of the clock-time that rules our earthly progress. In Threshold, we get to play on the greatest chess board available to our fledgling perception of our own possible futures.
We’ve gone to lengths to make this book available in e-book, trade paper, hardback, and soon in audiobooks.

Who designed your book covers?
Most of our covers, including Threshold, are realized by Roy Mauritsen, a gifted graphic artist.

Advice to writers?
As for advice to writers, here is all we know: write the story you want to read. Start at the beginning, go to the end, and stop. Seriously. From start to finish you must inhabit the construct in a manner that makes the reader choose to continue; if we as writers can’t feel what it’s like being there, our readers can’t either. Close your eyes, look at your feet where they are standing on the story’s ground; tell us what you see. Tell us what you hear. Ask at the end of each paragraph ‘what happens next?’. If you lose touch with it wait until you’re back inside it. Tell the story that comes to you, and from you, to us.

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Charlie N. Holmberg’s BOOK OF MAGIC

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Charlie N. Holmberg’s Book of Magic
By Charlie N. Holmberg
Genre: Speculative Nonfiction, Writing Self-Help

Unravel the secrets to crafting a masterful magic system from best-selling fantasy author Charlie N. Holmberg.

Whether using magic as flavor or as an essential piece of plot, this book will guide fantasy authors, from new to experienced, through the delicate layers of creating, utilizing, and mastering magic systems.

In this book, we will…
*Discuss the schools, laws, and spectrum of magic
*Learn to build individual pieces of a magic system
*Dig into magic’s influence on worldbuilding
*Examine different types and styles of magic
*Develop and polish original magic systems

With workshops, work pages, and reference materials included, this succinct one-and-done guide to crafting the magical elements of the fantasy genre is a must-have for speculative fiction authors.

“If you haven’t had the fortune of attending one of Charlie’s writing classes (which I have), this is the next best thing. Book of Magic contains so much wit, wisdom, and practical suggestions for helping any beginning author, or veteran, make their magic systems rise up and be noticed. She uses expert examples from other authors you know as well as teaching a masterclass on developing magic systems from scratch based on methods she’s invented. You just may need this book to help find out what kind of magic-based diseases might be festering in your neighbor’s cabbages.” —Jeff Wheeler, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Kingfountain series

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Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author of fantasy and romance fiction, including the Paper Magician series, the Spellbreaker series, and the Whimbrel House series, and writes contemporary romance under C. N. Holmberg. She is published in over twenty languages and is a Goodreads Choice Award, ALA, and RITA finalist. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. A BYU alumna, she discovered in her thirties that she’s actually a cat person. She lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at http://www.charlienholmberg.com.

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What inspired you to write this book?

In the brainstorming process, I almost always discover my stories’ magic first. Whether it’s a full-fledged magic system (like in The Paper Magician) or just a spark of magic (like in Followed by Frost), my brain loves the fantasy element of fantasy novels and beelines straight to that. I think I was in a conference or the like and the idea of writing a craft book on magic came to mind—I jotted it down in the bottom corner of my notes. But of course, I didn’t have TIME to write something like that. It was just an idea, but it’s an idea that liked to revisit my brain once in a while.

When I got an idea for what I could include in the book, I would jot it down. I teach a class at conferences about magic systems, but I didn’t think that would be enough for my own craft book—I wanted to have things in there that were new and fresh, so I tried to brainstorm in that direction. My brain would collect ideas here and there; record them in a notebook or on my phone. And then at the beginning of the year, in between other fiction projects, I thought, “Well, why don’t I just outline it?”

I found I enjoyed it. I outlined it and then just brain-dumped my thoughts under every section. I went into the PowerPoint for my magic class and pulled it in. I know workshops really help to cement an idea, so I wanted to include those in the book as well, even designing them so readers can write directly onto the page as they go. Oliver Heber Books had reached out to me for the possibility of publishing previously, so the route was set!

What can we expect from you in the future?

I don’t have any more craft books on the docket right now, but I’m full steam ahead on fantasy fiction! I’ll be completing my Whimbrel House series (book 4, Wizard of Most Wicked Ways, releases March 4th, 2025, and I’ll draft book 5 next year), and I’m releasing a romantasy duology called The Shattered King, with book one coming out next fall. After those series are finished, I’ll be releasing a historical series—the first book is called The Hedge Witch’s Cure for Marriage, and I’m very excited for it!

Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

So in Charlie N. Holmberg’s Book of Magic, I have several appendices for writers to utilize. One of these appendices is a list of commonly used magic in fantasy novels. This list can be used in three ways: 1) choosing one of these magics to ensure an easier learning curve for magic for the reader, 2) avoiding these magics to encourage a more original magic system, or 3) twisting one of the magics to make it your own.

I was thinking about this while playing Final Fantasy XVI with my husband, and I thought, okay, what if I took my own advice? What if I took something off this list and did #3 (twisted it)?

So I chose healing magic. How would I find a way to make it uniquely mine? And I came up with an idea that really stuck with me. That idea had babies with Final Fantasy XVI (the MMC is inspired by Joshua Rosfield), and then playdates with [ahem, my favorite novel] The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon and To Poison a King by S.G. Prince. And I drafted that book in fifteen days. It wasn’t even a twinkle in my eye in May and it existed in July.

So . . . check out that appendix, I guess. It’s MAGICAL (pun intended).

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

I created this book to help other fantasy authors craft fun, believable magic systems, but I think it would be a fun read for those who just enjoy reading fantasy. Sometimes it’s fun to peek behind the curtain. 😉

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

Paper and ink to set the reader at ease, a bright lilac to inspire creativity, sharp lemon to mimic magic, and freshly cut grass for theme (that one will make sense after you read it).

Fun Facts/Behind the Scenes/Did You Know?’-type tidbits about the author, the book or the writing process of the book.

Obviously one cannot write an adequate book on magic systems without talking about Brandon Sanderson.

Once upon a time, I hired a good friend of mine as a personal assistant/head editor. Her name is Kristy, and she’s one of the most competent people I know. I wasn’t utilizing her full skillset, so when a bigger, better job offer for her came along, we parted ways amicably.

Said job offer happened to be for Dragonsteel, which is Brandon’s company.

In Charlie N. Holmberg’s Book of Magic, I wanted to address Brandon Sanderson’s laws of magic, but I wanted to make sure I did it in a super legal way. So I contacted Kristy simply because she’s a fountain of knowledge and asked her what I was legally aloud to quote, and she told me. And she said if I wasn’t sure, I could send it into Dragonsteel for review.

“Who would I send it to?”

“Me.”

So that made it pretty darn easy to get review eyeballs on it 😀

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SUNSCREEN SHOWER by J.P. Rieger

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Sunscreen Shower
A Detective Kev Dixit Novel 2
by J.P. Rieger
Genre: Crime Mystery, Dark Comedy

Baltimore Police Detective Kev Dixit is being stalked by a psychopath. He’s also saving lives and solving crimes. And he’s late for dinner.
Dixit temporarily heads the Criminal Investigation Division, a real stress inducer. Aided by humorless partners and eccentric high school friends, he investigates two vexing cases. Spouses are found shot to death in their home. Murder-suicide is the obvious call, considering one spouse had just cleaned out the couple’s joint accounts the day before. But all is not as it seems when Forensics takes a closer look at the victims’ DNA. Later, Dixit and his assigned mentee investigate a car bombing. What kind of person would viciously murder a likeable gym rat?
Oh, and that murder-suicide. It reminded Dixit of an earlier investigation, back when he was a mere newbie detective. One where he worked tirelessly to solve a string of increasingly vicious serial attacks on single women. One where he barely escaped with his life.

J. Paul (J.P) Rieger is a born and bred Baltimorean and mostly retired Maryland attorney. He’s the author of Clonk!, a police farce set in Baltimore and published in 2023 by Apprentice House Press (Loyola University-Baltimore). Clonk! was a finalist in 2023’s CIBA Mark Twain Award for Humor and Satire. He’s also author of The Case Files of Roderick Misely, Consultant, a 2013 mystery novel featuring a wannabe lawyer anti-hero. His third novel, The Big Comb Over, a slipstream fantasy/ comedy of manners, was a finalist in 2023’s Wishing Shelf Book Awards. Sunscreen Shower, a Detective Kev Dixit Novel is Paul’s fourth novel and a sequel to Clonk! Paul and his spouse lives in Towson, Maryland, a Baltimore suburb. Chek out his website: jpaulrieger.net.

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J. Paul Rieger © 2024
What advice I would give new authors?

I’m still learning as a writer. There’s something new to learn every day. But I can at least provide some practical advice for the new author.
First, only write when you feel in the mood, when it will be a fun experience. There’s no point in forcing yourself to engage in a “creative” activity when you’re not in a creative mood. If your writing becomes so popular that you find yourself writing constantly, that’s fantastic and its own reward. Until then, chill out and keep it fun!
Don’t get obsessed with outlines. If, like me, you do better by writing down various “scenes,” or perhaps series of phrases or snippets of proposed dialog, go for it. Just let the novel organize itself. Enjoy what you are doing, your way!
Write your book in any order you please. If you’re in the mood to work on a specific section or “scene,” just do it.
Don’t give away your book to people who have not asked for it. I know, this is a tough proposition. Your inclination is to the contrary. But giving away your unrequested book virtually guarantees that the recipient will avoid you in the future. Not because they dislike you. Only because they haven’t read your book and would be embarrassed to admit it. Or worse, some may have actually read it and disliked it. Giving a book away only to someone who requests it is a safe strategy.
Lastly, the new author must accept the possibility that, besides a loved one or two, no one may actually read their book. I know. Quite depressing, right? The novice must ask: “If absolutely no one reads what I am writing, would I continue writing?” If the answer is not, “yes,” the novice writer should consider some other artistic outlet.

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NOW AVAILABLE: FINDING EVERDAL!

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Celeste epitomizes high school success: top grades, head cheerleader, even dating the star quarterback. Life couldn’t be better with a picture-perfect family and college on the horizon. But as she drifts off to sleep on the eve of her 17th birthday, Celeste never fathoms waking up over 1,000 years in the future.

Transported to a world both unfamiliar and strangely linked to her own, Celeste discovers she’s the heir to a royal lineage and her mother is a long-lost princess. Yet as secrets unravel and familial rifts emerge, the once harmonious facade of her family begins to splinter.

Navigating impossible choices, Celeste’s journey becomes a quest for self-discovery and strength. In the chaos, she discovers the power within her identity, the importance of family, and the treasures of genuine friendships. Embark on Celeste’s journey as she boldly faces the mysteries ahead, shaping her fate with courage and unwavering determination.

Nina has always been creative, be it art, theatre, film – anything but singing – you don’t want to hear that! She earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Military Science from Eastern Michigan University where she spent most of her time either on stage, rappelling down buildings, or working one of three jobs. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, like so many other actors, in pursuit of her dreams.

She started writing short stories in 2008. Since then, her dreams have gotten bigger and her storytelling ability has gotten better. Her first novel Awaken (the Blood Angel Series) was published in 2012. Since then, she has completed the Blood Angel Series with Beginnings, Revenge, and Pursuit, published the SECTOR C trilogy (The Chosen, The Hunted, and The Bridge), released a stand-alone interactive fantasy novel called The Beast Within, and just published Finding Everdal a portal-fantasy novel which takes readers over 1,000 years into the future.

Nina loves helping other writers discover their voice and has written a series of books designed to help authors of all ages find their way through the writing process. Check out JUST WRITE, SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK, #WRITINGPROMPTS, and The Invisible You on Amazon today.

In her day-to-day life, Nina is a North Alabama real estate agent, but she has done everything from perform on stage, television, and film to firing an M16 machine gun, jumped out of a C130 aircraft, and given birth – TWICE – but she always returns to her writing.

Though she’ll forever be a Michigan girl at heart, she now lives in the south with her husband and two beautiful children. If she’s not working on her latest story, you can find her playing with her kids, lounging with a good book, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to Starbucks coffee.

Join her online following on Twitter @Nina_Soden and Instagram @Nina_Soden, visit her online at http://www.ninasoden.com and on youtube at www.youtube.com/c/ninasoden

Disclosure: As part of the Amazon affiliate program, I earn a commission for all sales connected with the links within this post. All profits earned are used for the purposes of writing, editing, designing, formatting, and publishing more books.

Finding Everdal

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Celeste epitomizes high school success: top grades, head cheerleader, even dating the star quarterback. Life couldn’t be better with a picture-perfect family and college on the horizon. But as she drifts off to sleep on the eve of her 17th birthday, Celeste never fathoms waking up over 1,000 years in the future.

Transported to a world both unfamiliar and strangely linked to her own, Celeste discovers she’s the heir to a royal lineage and her mother is a long-lost princess. Yet as secrets unravel and familial rifts emerge, the once harmonious facade of her family begins to splinter.

Navigating impossible choices, Celeste’s journey becomes a quest for self-discovery and strength. In the chaos, she discovers the power within her identity, the importance of family, and the treasures of genuine friendships. Embark on Celeste’s journey as she boldly faces the mysteries ahead, shaping her fate with courage and unwavering determination.

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Meet Authors Lauren Sevier & A. Smith

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Lauren Sevier & A. Smith are long time friends and co-authors from southern Louisiana. Guns & Smoke, their first joint publication, began as a “short” story after having too much wine on girl’s night. Nine years later it is now the first novel in a Dystopian/Western Romance series. The duo has plans to publish several series together in the future. A. Smith spends her time with her two rescue dogs and rescue cat surrounding herself with books and Labyrinth paraphernalia. Lauren Sevier collects antique tea cups and tries to stay sane, though as the mother of a toddler she fails brilliantly most days. She also has a growing collection of crowns and tiaras and likes to act silly on Tiktok. Look for more thrilling novels from The Fools Adventure series in the future!

Lauren’s Links: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

A. Smith’s Links: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram  * Amazon * Goodreads

An Interview With A. Smith

Describe your writing style. Generally speaking, I have a really lyrical and emotionally grounded writing style. It’s more pronounced in my solo works like my debut YA Fantasy novel ‘Songs Of Autumn’, but there’s a definite lyrical quality to the sections I write. I’m a fan of alliteration with purpose and finding almost musical beats in storytelling. I think just like the composition of a great song, story structure is very similar and that probably has something to do with it.

What makes a good story? Relatable characters with flaws and realistic stakes. I read somewhere that a problem a character can walk away from is a book a reader can put down and I don’t think I’ve ever felt any piece of writing advice so acutely before. The characters don’t necessarily have to be likeable, but they should be relatable. What’s more relatable than a person who isn’t perfect struggling with a problem that seems overwhelming or impossible to solve? I think I’ve felt that way in my own life so often that it just makes sense to me that other people will have too.

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first? What are common traps for aspiring writers? I am notoriously bad at outlining and having any sort of plan whatsoever when writing. Abbie is actually the one of us who keeps me in line and on track. She usually helps keep timelines on track, and points out when a character’s perspective is missing. Or when we need to accomplish actual plot things in a chapter instead of it being all fluff and nonsense. Honestly, our readers should thank her for the fact that the book isn’t just an absolute mess. LOL! No, but really, drafting for me is all about discovery writing, while editing is where I’m able to tame the story into a believable plot and really make it shine. Abbie helps us to stay on track so that we can draft cleaner and have less overhaul to do in the editing process.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want? Personally, a bit of both. Just like in life, writing is all about balance. We’re conscious of reader expectations but still make decisions based on what feels right for the characters and the story. Overall, we want readers to be satisfied but sometimes that means making decisions that aren’t exactly what they expect. It’s that moment of ‘Oh, I didn’t see that coming’ that will help them keep turning pages and keep being invested in the tale we’re weaving. But to completely ignore your audience and the genre expectations is really just asking for poor reviews. So, we try to balance both as best as we can to deliver a novel that’s familiar but new at the same time. Something that peaks your interest but you can’t predict where it’s going to end up.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex? Lauren has always told me that I am really good at writing men. As a CIS woman, I think one of the most difficult things about writing male characters is getting into the little nuances of being a male that aren’t inherently female. For example, Jesse was almost a little too polished, which is because I like to write male characters in how I would like to see a man. So including genitalia jokes isn’t something that comes naturally to me like it would a man, but it’s those little things that really make a character feel real to readers.

How long on average does it take you to write a book? Drafting a novel together is actually really quick for Abbie and I. We wrote the first draft of Guns & Smoke (it’s current iteration) in less than a month, and the sequel (which is even longer) we cranked out in 26 days. We’re currently working through the first draft of book #3 in the series so that we can hopefully cut down on time between publications for reader satisfaction.

Do you believe in writer’s block? Ha! I’m going to get some heat for this one. Writer’s block doesn’t exist. I thought it did for a really long time. I thought I was stuck in the throes of it for even longer. What I’ve discovered is that you can suffer from lack of confidence in yourself, or you can have an ‘editing block’ where you stop drafting to edit what you already have, psych yourself out, and end up never finishing. Or you can be struggling with ‘imposter syndrome’. Or you can be suffering from not taking enough breaks and refilling your creative well. But the writing is always there. There’s no block to it other than the obstacles you put in your own way. Once I realized that the thing stopping me wasn’t some concept of a ‘writer’s block’ that I couldn’t escape, it was clear to me how to move forward. I won’t say ‘easy’ because I don’t think it’s easy to get out of your own way. In fact, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But, it’s clear what path to take when you realize that the only person stopping you is yourself.

What can we expect from you in the future? So much! Guns & Smoke is the first in a four book series. In addition to those four, we have a couple of sequel series, a prequel series, a few novellas and an anthology set in The Fools Adventure world. We also have plans to write a Victorian-esque fantasy romance as well as a paranormal romance series together. Individually, Lauren is working diligently on the sequel to her YA Fantasy debut, Songs of Autumn, and I’m working on a Fantasy Romance novel with the intention to traditionally publish.

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters in Guns & Smoke? There is one side character in Guns & Smoke who pops up out of nowhere. It’s someone who was a big part of one of the main characters’ lives.

Where did you come up with the names in the story? Love this question! So, because this novel is a Dystopian/Western Romance it’s set in a not-so-distant future where the world has been ravaged by the effects of nuclear warfare. It’s the American Southwest and in a lot of ways, society has reverted back to a time much like the chaos of the Wild West from a not-so-distant past. There are themes in this book about history repeating itself and that’s definitely the case with the names of the characters in this book. Bonnie, for example, is literally name after Bonnie Parker of the infamous Outlaw duo Bonnie & Clyde. She explains in the book how she got her name. Jesse is also literally named after a murderous outlaw from the past. Jesse James. Only in his case, his father thought it would be funny to name him after an outlaw from his childhood and his mother lost a bet. Harry, Jesse’s younger brother, is affectionately coined ‘The Kid’ by Bonnie early on in the novel and this completes the main cast of characters, however, there are several other characters who share their fate with having wonderfully outlaw-inspired names throughout the book and the series as a whole.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book? Really delving into romance. While all of the projects I’ve written before have been centered around a romance, I’ve never embraced the genre until Lauren proposed it to me. Being able to fully dive into these characters in an adult genre really made them pop off of the page and come to life.

What is your favorite part of this book and why? My favorite part of the book are the quiet moments, when Bonnie and Jesse aren’t at each other’s throats and they’re actually being vulnerable with one another. There’s just something about two characters that push past their defenses and come together that really touches my heart. There’s this really great scene between Bonnie and Jesse in chapter ten of Guns & Smoke where they’ve just gone through something really terrible. They open up to one another, which leads them farther into the unknown, but also closer together.  

Have you written any other books that are not published? Literally tons. I have a novel that I’ve been working on for fourteen years. I have really terrible depression and anxiety, and I continually get in my head about it. The story has literally changed so many times, and it’s still not ready for the public just yet, but get this: a secret society of witches, New Orleans, and romance. I also have more than a dozen works in various planning stages that I cannot wait to write.

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre? I read almost anything that I can get my hands on! While Fantasy is probably my favorite genre right now, I have always had a soft spot for dystopian literature like Divergent or The Hunger Games. I’m really big into Sarah J Maas right now. I really love her mental health representation, plus Cassian from A Court of Thorns and Roses is basically my one true love.

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why? Silence is the death of my writing! I have to have music. Lauren and I both will find one song when we’re writing a particular scene that encapsulates the mood and listen to it over and over again. When there’s silence or I have background noise, I struggle to focus, so I plug in my earbuds and just go!

If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose? Harry Potter. Because I’d be set for life!

Pen or type writer or computer? Computer. All the way. I’m no good with dictation software and I think I need the textile feel of the keys on the keyboard to get into a good writing rhythm. There are times when I long-hand scenes that I need to sit with and really nurse the words to make them sound exactly right, but that’s when I can take my time with a section. I write a LOT slower than I type, so for initial drafting and not refining or re-writing, it’s always the computer for me.

Tell us about a favorite character from a book. I feel like people are sick of this answer from me, but Kaz Brekker from the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo is currently my favorite character. He’s almost like the rebirth of the anti-hero in modern fiction and I’m living for it. I have a soft spot for misanthropes and anti-heroes in literature, I seriously fall way too hard in love with them. The amount of character development Bardugo was able to write into his character is still something that astounds me to this day.

What advice would you give new authors? I feel like I give this advice so much, but I feel like it is the one thing that has really helped me: read. Read every single thing that you can get your hands on. You have to study the craft of writing, which doesn’t mean just reading non-fiction craft books. It’s important to read what is big in the market and find the things that you enjoy in those novels and figure out how you can incorporate that feeling into your own work.  

Would you like a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Two Kinds of Us by Sarah Sutton #giveaway

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means, when you purchase a book using an Amazon link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission. All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.

Two Kinds of Us (Love in Fenton County Book 5) by Sarah Sutton

Genre: YA Romance

DIAMONDS MEET ROCK ‘N ROLL AND SECRETS MEET THEIR END.

In a life of diamond bracelets and country clubs, I’m the perfect daughter. I get all the right grades, volunteer at all the right organizations, apply to all the right colleges.

And I hate every second of it. At the rate my life is playing out, under the strict rule of my parents, politicians and housewives will be my future.

Until I meet Harry.

Harry’s a singer in a rock band with a voice so beautiful that I actually feel hypnotized. Doesn’t hurt that he’s hot either, and with the kind, flirty personality to match, it’s the perfect trifecta. And even better, he sees the me I want to be. He sees me as the girl who can break free of the life she’s trapped in, who can control her own future.

The only problem? He knows me as Stella, my fun, carefree alter ego—so drastically different from Destelle, the girl who is trapped in the life her parents rule.

But as we get closer, I realize Harry’s keeping a secret of his own, something related to the dark past that he’s trying to move on from, and when I find out, everything we’ve built could come crashing down.

This is the fifth book in the Love in Fenton County Series, but can be read as a standalone. Check out this Opposites Attract + Hidden Identities Romance today!

Add to Goodreads* Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo

Sarah Sutton is the author of YA Contemporary Romance books from a tiny town in Michigan. These standalone novels can be read in any order and are sure to leave you swooning. She’s always loved the idea of falling in love; capturing the fall through words and heart-melting kisses is one of her passions! Meet-cutes? She’ll take all of them! Accidental touches? She lives for them! First kisses? Yes, please!

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Would you like a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

I am happy to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about

Guest Post ~ by Author Sarah Sutton

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TWO KINDS OF US was such a fun story to write, mostly because it focuses on this girl, Destelle, so desperate to find out who she is and a boy, Harry, who feels like he’s lost his true self. Their dynamic is so inspiring to me, and whenever there was a scene with them together (and since it’s a romance, there were a LOT), I loved the tension and the way they always supported each other.

If I had to choose my favorite scene from the whole book, I think it would be the one where they share their first kiss. There’s something so magical about first kisses in themselves, but watching these two characters come together and take the risk of falling for someone, it’s just so great to me. Maybe it’s because I know they’re still both struggling with their inner demons at this point, but it’s also a way to take back the control of their lives. They’re both deciding that the other person is worth the risk, worth the fight, and there’s something so romantic about that to me.

These two characters have their struggles and conflicts, but it was so fun to see them grow over the course of this book. By the end, the journey they went through together really made them solid. Not just in each other, but confident in themselves as well. Harry and Destelle definitely hold my heart.

10 Rapid Fire Questions About Me

  1. What is your favorite movie?
    I’ve got two that I could watch again and again until the end of time—Tangled and Monte Carlo.
  2. Which of your novels can you see being made into a movie?
    I could definitely, definitely see TWO KINDS OF US being turned into a movie. Cute lead singers and a girl hiding her true identity? I’d so watch that!
  3. What is something unique and quirky about you?
    I’m obsessed with Coca-Cola and my favorite animal is a manatee!
  4. How did you become an author?
    I was in the first grade when I first starting writing—a Gingerbread Man fan-fiction. It was amazing (not really).
  5. What do you do to unwind or relax?
    It changes all the time, but I really like to listen to some relaxing music and journal out whatever’s going on in my brain!
  6. What’s your favorite food?
    Right now, I’m obsessed with breakfast tacos, especially the ones from a little shop near me. I’d marry one if I could!.
  7. Favorite book?
    Nevermore by Kelly Creagh will always be a favorite!
  8. Favorite ice cream flavor?
    I’m love, love, loving one scoop of chocolate paried with one scoop of cookie dough. It’s the perfect combination!
  9. Favorite TV show?
    I will always love The Vampire Diaries, but I recently just finished Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and I’ve got to say—it was epic!
  10. Favorite piece of writing advice?
    “Always remember why you’re writing.”

Ten fun questions about TWO KINDS OF US!

  1. What did you enjoy most about writing this book? This is a secret identities romance, so it was really fun trying to bring that aspect of keeping oneself hidden onto the page! My main character, Destelle, has this alter ego type of persona that gives her a boost of confidence, and it was fun to write out that dynamic. Destelle is more quiet and reserved, but that other persona, Stella, was confident and easygoing, and detailing out the journey of the two meshing into one was so much fun.
  2. Do you have any side stories about the characters? Not a side story per-se, but there is a character in this book who is going to get her own story very, very soon…
  3. What did you edit out of this book? A lot of this book was tweaked and reorganized, actually! I was looking back on it the other day and smiled a bit at how much this story has changed. In the original first draft, my main character, Destelle, actually had a really skeevy ex-boyfriend who caused a lot of conflict toward the middle of the book. I ultimately ended up cutting him because I thought he was just a bit too stereotypical, and the story functions much smoother without him.
  4. What is your favorite part of this book and why? Definitely the main character and the love interest. Harry, our main guy, is a tortured soul who has had a rough past, and him and Destelle, who’s lead more of a privileged life, interacting was so much fun to write. They’re quite opposite of each other, which is why this is really an opposites attract romance as well, but they really bring out the best in each other.
  5. Can you tell us a bit about the main characters? As I mentioned above, Harry’s had a rough past. He’s trying to find himself again after going through a life event that really rocked his world. He’s ashamed of his past, so when he meets Destelle, she makes him feel like he can leave it all behind. And Destelle’s a really interesting character too. She struggles with being her true self because she lives under the strict rule of her parents, so for a breath of fresh air, she created a persona named Stella. Her parents can never know about Stella, so watching her try to hide that identity was so cool to draw out. And, of course, the idea of telling Harry the truth about those identities, that caused a bit of anxiety!
  6. How long did it take you to write this book? I wrote this book for NaNoWriMo 2020, but it took me a little over a month to write to completion. But it was pretty swift moving after that! Wrote the very first draft in November, and now here we are!
  7. If this book were made into a film, who would play the lead? OOH, for Destelle, I can see maybe Bailey Madison or Odeya Rush. Odeya is a bit on the older side, but she’s definitely got the look down! For Harry, I picture him maybe as Jace Norman or Jay Jay Warren!
  8. Did you make a playlist for this book? I did! I put about ten songs on it, but one that really stands out as the perfect song for this book has got to be “Beautiful People” by Ed Sheeran!
  9. What was the hardest part to write? I think the hardest part for me was crafting the side character dynamics. I was so obsessed with Harry and Stella for the longest time that I really did struggle to go back and make sure that the side characters got some love too!
  10. Can we expect anything more from you in the future? Yes! I’ve got one more book coming out this year in November, and it’s going to be my first ever Christmas romance. I’m super excited to dive into that book and see where that wintery journey takes me!

Would you like a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!