Now…author, Jade Kerrion discusses the hero’s journey. 

The Hero’s Journey through the Double Helix series by Jade Kerrion

Series are popular, and for good reason. Readers can continue their love affairs with their favorite fictional heroes and heroines across multiple books, but how do you, as an author, keep your characters fascinating?

Fascinating characters grow and change. There are many books on character development, but none that specifically address character development across a series. I’d like to share an approach I took with my series, the Double Helix.

One of my favorite books on the craft of writing is The Writer’s Journey by Christophe Vogler. It is a step-by-step guide on how to use myth-inspired storyteller paradigms, specifically “The Hero’s Journey”, to develop both character and plot.  The Hero’s Journey has several stages, and I’ll describe those stages with the help of the first hero in my life, Luke Skywalker:

•  Ordinary World: We first meet Luke Skywalker in the humdrum of his daily life on his uncle’s moisture farm
•  Call to Adventure: Luke yearns to enroll at the Academy, like his friend, Biggs
•  Refusal of the Call: But he refuses the call (or rather, his uncle refuses the call for him)
• Meeting with the Mentor: While chasing down his errant droid, Luke meets Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Crossing the First Threshold: The deaths of Luke’s uncle and aunt drives Luke over the threshold, and he takes his first step into a much larger world
• Test, Allies, Enemies: At a cantina in Mos Eisley, Luke and Obi-Wan meet Han Solo and Chewbacca. While on the Millennium Falcon, Luke begins his training as a Jedi
• Approach to the Inmost Cave: Is there anything more ominous than getting sucked into the Death Star by a tractor beam?
• The Ordeal: Luke, Han, and Chewbacca rescue Princess Leia, and in the process, wade through multiple firefights and nearly get compacted with the garbage. Luke witnesses his mentor’s death at the hands of Darth Vader.
• Reward: The princess is saved
• The Road Back: Luke is now where he had wanted to be. The Rebel Alliance is his new Ordinary World.
• The Resurrection: While taking a suicidal run at the Death Star, Luke hears Obi-Wan’s voice. He trusts the Force, turns off his targeting computer, and fires missiles into the Death Star’s core
• Return with the Elixir: Luke returns triumphant, and his victory promises a (brief) reprieve for the Rebel Alliance

The power of a paradigm is that it is recognizable and it resonates with people; hence, you’ll recognize elements of “The Hero’s Journey” in many books and movies. The question remains, how do you apply “The Hero’s Journey” to a series? The answer, which is easier said than done, is to apply “The Hero’s Journey” within each book and across the entire series.

The following sections will contain some spoilers for my novels, and I apologize in advance, but it’s hard to make the point without giving a few things away.

In Perfection Unleashed, Danyael Sabre is rudely yanked out of his ordinary world when he discovers that his genetic material was used as the physical template for Galahad, the perfect human being. He refuses the call; in fact, his first instinct is to get Galahad out of the country, but his friend (and mentor), Lucien Winter, persuades him to investigate his connection with Galahad. Danyael meets many allies and enemies, and in the process, approaches the inmost cave, uncovering the identity of the family that abandoned him many years prior. He is almost killed (an ordeal, certainly) but is saved (a resurrection), and in turn, he saves Galahad, thereby bestowing the elixir of perfection on the world.

Perfect Betrayal and Perfect Weapon, the second and third books of the Double Helix series, have “Hero’s Journey” arcs for Danyael within each book, but the structure of the arc across the series is more relevant to this discussion. To view the series arc, we first need to take a closer look at Danyael Sabre.

Danyael is an alpha empath. He can control emotions, and he can heal through absorption of injury. However, all powers have a dark side. He can hurt others by transferring physical pain, and the miserable memories of his childhood, amplified by his empathic powers, can drive others to suicide. Put simply, Danyael has the power to heal or kill with a touch.

In Perfection Unleashed, Danyael’s chosen life as a doctor in his ordinary world is disrupted by the discovery of his connection with Galahad. Despite the shocking revelations and traumatic situations he endures, Danyael refuses the call to fully embrace his empathic powers. He will not hurt others under any circumstance, whatever the provocation.

In Perfect Betrayal, Danyael crosses the threshold when he unleashes his empathic powers and drives his attackers to suicide in order to save his best friend and the woman he loves. Allies and enemies take on different faces as they maneuver to manipulate Danyael for their ends. At the end of the novel, Danyael approaches the inmost cave. He can choose himself and his freedom by leaving Galahad to die. Is Danyael a healer or a killer? What choice will he make in the silence of his soul?

Through many ordeals in Perfect Weapon, Danyael finally learns to accept his empathic powers, his ability to heal and kill, and to utilize either or both as the situation calls for it. When terrorists attack Washington D.C., Danyael leads a super soldier army to defend the city. As a reward, he is given a chance to begin the road back (which will start in book 4…)

Each book had a “Hero’s Journey.” Danyael got from beginning to end, and something in him changed along the way. But when you take a step back and look at the overall series, you’ll see that each book represents smaller portions of the “Hero’s Journey,” and there is a larger “Hero’s Journey” that connects the series. The larger journey is also the more subtle. Most readers may miss the forest for the trees, but it is important for authors, to map out that greater journey to ensure that our characters and the novels within the series grow to their full potential.

I invite you to check out Danyael’s journey in the Double Helix series, and would welcome a discussion of the Hero’s Journey taken by other famous characters. (Anyone up for a discussion of Harry Potter?)

Author Bio:

Jade Kerrion unites cutting-edge science and bioethics with fast-paced action in her award-winning Double Helix series. Drawing rave reviews for its originality and vision, and described as “a breakout piece of science fiction,” Perfection Unleashed, and its sequels, Perfect Betrayal and Perfect Weapon, are available in print and e-book through Amazon and other major retailers.

About The Double Helix series:

His genetic code sourced from the best that humanity offers, Galahad embodies the pinnacle of perfection. When Zara Itani, a mercenary whose abrasive arrogance exceeds her beauty, frees him from his laboratory prison, she offers him the chance to claim everything that had ever been denied him, beginning with his humanity.

Perfection cannot be unleashed without repercussions, and Galahad’s freedom shatters Danyael Sabre’s life.

An alpha empath, Danyael is rare and coveted, even among the alpha mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution. He wields the power to heal or kill with a touch, but craves only privacy and solitude—both impossible dreams for the man who was used as Galahad’s physical template.

Galahad and Danyael, two men, one face. One man seeks to embrace destiny, and the other to escape it.

The award-winning Double Helix series, consisting of Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon, will challenge your notions of perfection and humanity, and lead you in a celebration of courage and compassion. Science fiction, urban fantasy, and action-adventure readers will enjoy this thrilling roller-coaster ride as it twists and turns through a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution.

Connect with Jade:

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Blog / Facebook / Twitter
Perfection Unleashed: Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords
Perfect Betrayal: Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords
Perfect Weapon: Amazon / Amazon UK / Smashwords

Note:  Perfection Unleashed is on sale for $0.99 (down from $2.99) for the  duration of the tour.

Now on to today’s post. I’ve been tagged for the Next Best Thing by two wonderful people: Orly Konig-Lopez, one of the busiest writers I know (and one brave enough to have early morning Skype video chats with me) and M.L. Swift, NaNo winner and writer and blogger extraordinaire.  If you don’t know these two, you should definitely get to know them.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure which work-in-progress I should post about. The monkey mind and I have a lot of projects in various stages of production. In the end, I decided to post about the debut novel penned by my alter ego which will be published with Carina Press on July 22, 2013. So does this count as my first official interview about the book? Me thinks it does.

What is the working title of your book?

Too Good to Be True is the title. Carina Press kept the title when they acquired the book (SCORE!), however, I went through several titles while writing the book before I decided on this one. It felt right because it best captured various elements of the story.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

My idea for the story stemmed from the fact that “settling down” could be sort of a double entendre. Does a  person have to settle down (or settle for less) in order to settle down in marriage or a long-term, committed relationship?

The original title was Rory Gordon Settles Down. (The characters have also experienced a few name changes.)  The story follows a character who struggles with this question and discovers the role that her own faults and unrealistic expectations have played in her life and relationships.

What genre does your book fall under?

Honestly, that question is a lot harder than it seems. I’m a rule-breaker when it comes to genre. I’d classify the book as women’s fiction with strong romantic elements and some ultra hot love scenes. Since that isn’t a category, per se, Too Good to Be True is classified as erotic contemporary romance.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

This is something authors often daydream about and I am no exception. In fact, there is a Pinterest board that explores this to some degree.

Actress, Annie Ilonzeh’s brilliant smile and spirit definitely invoke my main character, Melanie Gordon.

Former CSI actor, Gary Dourdan, was the inspiration for Raine Mason.

Actor, Lance Gross would make the perfect Jaxson Payne.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Obsessed corporate climber, Melanie Gordon, gets a game-changing job promotion, but it means returning to her hometown, Cleveland, OH, where she finds herself torn between the philanthropist whose secret past she may not be able to overcome, and the reformed bad boy who broke her heart six years ago, but who is now newly single and may be her only chance at saving her career.

Yes, I realize that is one incredibly lengthy sentence.

If you plan to publish, will your book be self-published or published traditionally?

Too Good to Be True will be published on July 22, 2013 by Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital-first imprint.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

The book began as a NaNoWriMo project many NaNos ago. I didn’t finish NaNo that year and it would be a couple years before I went back to finish the book. I’d guesstimate that the actual writing of my first draft took six months or so. However, those six months occurred over the course of four or five years.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

The first book that comes to mind is Erin McCarthy’s You Don’t Know Jack, my favorite erotic contemporary romance. I fell in love with this book several years ago because the characters feel like friends. They are funny and engaging and you are instantly invested in what happens to them. The plot involves the revelation of secrets and the impact they have on both parties (a recurring theme in my fiction).  And the loves scenes (some of which could more accurately be called ‘love chapters’) are well-done and blazing hot.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.  ~Toni Morrison

I wasn’t aware of the quote at the time, but it is the sentiment of Toni Morrison’s eloquent quote that prompted me to write this book. I wanted a book that explored the many fascinating facets of women’s lives. We are brilliant, complicated, emotional, funny, and sexy and we shouldn’t have to apologize to anyone for it.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

The Midwest, Cleveland in particular, is the setting for much of my fiction. I am a fan of chick lit. I was reading it pretty exclusively around the time I started writing fiction again, but I had a few serious gripes with the genre.

All of the stories took place in New York or Los Angeles. All of the women wore scads of designer clothes the average woman can’t afford. They all worked in publishing, television, or something just as glamorous. To be honest, it pissed me off. While I enjoyed most of the stories, what I really wanted to read about was a woman whose experience was relatable to the average woman. So that’s what I wrote.

My main character Melanie is a recruiter. She loves fashion as much as the next woman, but finds hers on the racks at TJ Maxx or on e-Bay. She loves shoes, but is sensible enough not to blow an entire mortgage payment on a single pair.

The stories I write serve as both a celebration of everyday, amazing women, like the ones I know and love. They are also love letters to my hometown of Cleveland that are as passionate and complex as the relationships between my characters. Thankfully, there seems to be a move toward fiction that takes place in the Midwest. I’m glad that Too Good to Be True is part of that move.

Now to tag three other authors. (This might be updated at a later date.) I am tagging:

1. Kianna Alexander/Alexandra Kane, author of romantic fiction with suspense and paranormal elements.
2. Sarra Cannon, an amazing young adult indie author who loves all things Hello Kitty and is kicking indie arse and taking names.
3. Olivia Kelly, author of historical romance.

I’m lucky enough to have met these fabulous women who are members of my local RWA chapter. You should meet them, too.

It was a song written for the rest of us. The women who didn’t look like runway models and video vixens. Women who would likely never grace the cover of a magazine, but who were truly beautiful both inside and out. This anthem of self-love resonated with me and with millions of women who needed to be reminded that we were beautiful and that we should celebrate what was unique about us, rather than trying to look like someone else.

I was impressed.

But, it was Brown Skin, the second song released from her debut album, Acoustic Soul, that sealed the deal for me. In Video India.Arie created a love song that advocated that we learn to love ourselves. In Brown Skin she gave us a sexy, sultry song that celebrated love and lust, yet further celebrated non-traditional beauty. It’s no wonder the album was nominated for seven Grammys.

While Alicia Keys swept the Grammys that year, India.Arie proved that she was an extraordinary singer/songwriter with a gift for creating positive, engaging stories of love and self-acceptance.

India has given us several gorgeous songs that weave beautiful stories while also infusing us with love, light, and encouragement. My all-time favorite being, The Truth. This song and the accompanying video are powerful storytelling at its best. The song captures the intoxicating feeling of being with someone who makes us feel truly special, while acknowledging how maddening that same relationship can be.

India.Arie appeals to me as a storyteller on so many levels. First and foremost, it is probably her ability to convey her sense of self in a way that is positive and celebratory rather than divisive. Second is her ability to tell compelling stories of love. The love affair we should have with ourselves. The pulse-pounding, skin-tingling, heart-melting connection we have with the person we love. A sense of brotherhood and concern for people all over the globe.

The Truth is the essence of what I try to convey in my own storytelling. The stories I’ve written so far feature women who are on a journey of self-growth, learning to learn to love and accept themselves, and experiencing romantic relationships that help them finally see themselves as the remarkable women they truly are.

What songs, stories, or movies have made the biggest impression on you? Is there a song, story, or movie that captures the essence of one of your stories? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

PS: Thank you Demetria for reminding me what a phenomenal storyteller she is.

WRITE.

Before you go off in a huff, hear Anne out. The video is a little over twelve minutes, but well worth it. I agree with a great deal of what she says here. There are two pieces of advice Anne gives that I absolutely love and will try to incorporate in my writing from this point on. There are a couple of ideas I don’t fully agree with. But, as she states more than once, “If what I say isn’t useful to you, then forget it.”

Trust me, you’ll find Anne’s advice useful. Watch and tell us what you think. What is your favorite piece of advice she gives? Is there something you disagree with?

I admire their ability to weave a powerful, engaging story that can sometimes feel like it was written with our personal experience in mind.

What I admire even more is the courage they show in revealing their vulnerabilities and imperfections to the world, no matter how painful. Taylor Swift is a master at both.

While I listen to a wide range of music genres, I’ll admit I’d barely noticed Taylor before she was Kanye’d at the MTV Music Awards a few years ago. But once I did take notice, I was impressed by her poise, voice and remarkable ability as a storyteller.

Her Speak Now album is one of my favorites of the past few years and would probably make my top 100 faves of all times.

There are so many great songs on the album. Dear John and Back to December both tell the story of heartbreak. The first lays blame, the latter expresses regret. Both make us think of past heartbreaks of our own. Mean is an anthem for anyone who has ever been physically or emotionally bullied by others. Never Grow Up and Enchanted are gorgeous, moving songs.

Writers can learn so much from songwriters about cadence, word selection, the use of metaphors and an economy of words. Taylor Swift uses all of these tools to maximum effect which, in my book, makes her a phenomenal storyteller.

Which songwriters do you think have an amazing gift for storytelling?

As we jump into the craziness that is NaNoWrimo, here is a reminder of the things we shouldn’t be doing. At least not until after we’ve hit our daily NaNo word count.

How’d you do today?

“What’s your book about?”

If your response was a series of ramblings, an excuse about how it’s hard to sum up 400 pages, or a series of rapid blinks, you’re in the right place.

It’s an ugly and slightly demoralizing situation, my friend. I know because I’ve been there.

A million thoughts hit my brain. I start mentally scrolling through every character, plot, and scene, wondering which ones should make the cut. By this time, of course, the person who asked is sorry she did and is now wondering if that book , like my description of it, is all in my head.

So, how do we avoid this embarrassing scene? Write the premise BEFORE you write your book. Here are three reasons you’ll be glad you did.

Writing the Premise First Gives Your Story Direction

The premise is the heart of your novel boiled down into a single sentence, typically consisting of 25 words or less. The premise should describe your heroine, the situation she’s up against, and what she proceeds to do about it.

In K.M. Weiland’s Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success, she walks writers through crafting a premise for their novels. She approaches the process with an idea of the storyline and the characters in mind. Then she boils it down to a single sentence that conveys the essence of the story.

Why is developing the premise for your story so important?

Your goal is to create a sentence that conveys the characters, setting, and central conflict…in the most specific way possible. [B]eing able to focus your story into such a compact package will help you stay on track throughout your outline and first draft. ~ K.M. Weiland.

Be clear on what the story is about from the outset. The premise serves as a guidepost that keeps us focused as we write. Starting out with a rock-solid premise will reduce the tendency to wander off on irrelevant, dead-end plot lines.

You’ll Be Glad You Did When It’s Time to Write Your Synopsis

There are few things that make authors crazier than writing the dreaded synopsis. The truth is, with a simplified method like the one Nicola Morgan outlines in Write A Great Synopsis – An Expert Guide, it isn’t such a dreaded task after all. She provides two methods for creating a well-crafted synopsis. The first is to slash and burn your novel down to it’s key elements. The other is to start with the heart of your story (i.e. the premise) and  build up.

Like Nicola, I find the second method easier. But guess what makes that process even easier? You guessed it. Writing the premise before you write the book.

Approaching the synopsis with a clear, definitive premise in mind prevents us from tearing out our hair banging our heads against the wall sifting through the entire story in an attempt to sum it up in twenty-five words or less.

Whether we plan to secure an agent, or approach a publisher directly, we will eventually need a synopsis to sell our story. Crafting the premise before writing the story makes writing the synopsis easier.

No More Deer-in-the-Headlights Reactions

Remember that fear-inducing exchange in the beginning? Now imagine you’re at a writing conference, or in your local cafe, and you run into your dream agent. You strike up a conversation and eventually she says…

“Tell me about your book.”

This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. But rather than giving her a well-prepared pitch that has her salivating for more, your response is the one we described in the outset.

Don’t let this happen to you.

Write your premise before you write your book and you’ll eliminate that deer-in-the-headlights moment from EVER  HAPPENING AGAIN. That alone makes it totally worth it.

Screenwriter and novelist, Alexandra Sokoloff, makes the importance of developing a succinct, effective premise from the outset abundantly clear in her post, Nanowrimo Prep: What’s Your Premise?. She also offers some fantastic examples of well-written premises, based on popular movies and books. As soon as you’re done here, go read that post. Seriously.

Drafting the premise before we start writing the story keeps the story focused as we write; helps us draft an effective synopsis; and enables us to talk to an agent or potential readers intelligently about our book.

Have you developed the premise for your book? Did you write it before you started, or after the book was written? What advantages might there be to writing the premise after you’ve written the story? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

It’s that time of year again. Aspiring and veteran novelists are all worked up about National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

This will be my fifth time participating in NaNoWriMo. During my first three attempts to write 50,000 words in just 30 days I would start out of the gate happy, shiny, and optimistic. Sometimes I kept that enthusiasm going for two weeks. But then I’d let doubt creep in and inevitably get off track.

After three straight years of trying, I skipped a year. When I made my fourth attempt in 2010, I didn’t step into the project haphazardly. I was armed with a detailed plan of attack based on lessons I’d learned in previous years of NaNoWriMo participation and from friends who’d been successful year after year.

Executing that plan made all the difference in the world. In 2010 I finally ‘won’ NaNoWriMo. Then I went on to finish the book. It is one of the manuscripts I’m currently revising, Sorry Charli.

Lest you think the years I participated, but didn’t win, were a bust, they weren’t. I got back into the habit of writing. My participation netted me several partials, which I am completing one-by-one. One of those novels eventually became Too Good to Be True, my debut novel which will be published by Carina Press in 2013.

I wasn’t able to participate last year, but I’m eager to participate in NaNoWriMo 2012. Carina Press acquired Too Good to Be True as part of a two-book deal. I’m using this year’s event to write the bones of the second book, based on a secondary character in Too Good to Be True.

Recently I’ve been chatting with fellow writer and blogger, M.L. Swift about my approach to NaNoWriMo. It occurred to me that re-posting this plan, with a few updates, would be helpful to me and to other NaNoers (both old and new) so they won’t need six years to create a workable plan.

Create an Outline

I’ve typically been a pantster (someone who writes without an outline). I’d begin with my characters and a basic story in mind. Then I’d see where the characters would take me as the story developed. I loved the little surprises my characters would deliver, doing or saying something unexpected. Yet inevitably I’d write myself into a corner. I’d lose momentum and often abandon the story. That’s how I ended up with three incomplete works in progress (WIP).

Then I heard author Kimberla Lawson Roby on an internet radio show talk about her writing process. She uses a very structured outlining process which includes writing a synopsis of each chapter before she begins writing.

I decided to give outlining a try. It helped TREMENDOUSLY. Even if I don’t follow the outline exactly (because sometimes my characters have a mind of their own) it gives me a great framework and I work more effectively. Now if I get stuck, instead of sitting my work aside for a few days (which in one case turned to a few years and counting), I take out a notebook and map out the scene. It works every time! By utilizing the outlining process I was finally able to finish one languishing WIP and then another.

Note: I’ve discovered that when it comes to plotter or pantster, I’m a hybrid. And I’m okay with that.

If you don’t want to do a detailed outline for your story, another option is to write your synopsis BEFORE you write the story. This way you know exactly where the story is going. Relax, the synopsis will simply serve as a guideline. You can always change it.

Flesh Out Your Characters

It ‘s hard to write interesting characters with strong motivations and plausible actions when we don’t know them intimately.

Of course we know your characters. We created them. But our initial vision of our characters may only scratch at the surface–what they look like, friends and family, who they love. Getting readers invested in our story requires a much deeper knowledge of our characters. Having this knowledge from the outset allows us create more meaningful characters.

Character profile sheets can fairly simple, like the one provided by Kitty Felone. Or they can be much more detailed, like the character chart provided on EpiGuide. A detailed chart is important for primary characters (hero, heroine, antagonist). For other important characters who play a smaller role, do a simpler profile sheet.

Are character profile sheets time-consuming? Yes. Do they yield invaluable information about your characters that will enrich your story? ABSOLUTELY. So stop whining, my friend, and just do it.

Creating detailed character profiles is a lengthy process, but I can’t think of a better way to get to know your characters. You’ll be amazed by the secrets and hidden motives your characters reveal. It’s like getting to know a friend over cocktails. All sorts of revelations spill out.

Writing Software

I’ve used and like Writer’s Cafe which has a nice portable feature. It’s the perfect complement to the outlining process. I discovered the software a few years ago. About a third of the way through my story I’d lose track of details like last names and physical traits of minor characters. I started using the software to track these details. This eliminated the need to dig through a manuscript to find them.

K.M. Weiland sings the praises of the free software, yWriter, in her book, Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success.

There are many other options. However, the program most writers I know consistently swear by is Scrivener. I’ll admit, I’ve taken a go at it twice (less than a day each attempt). The program seems complex and difficult to follow. However, I’ve been promised by everyone who uses it that it is worth the effort to learn it.

Pick up your 30-day trial of Scrivener for Mac or PC. (It only counts the days you actually use the program. Then snag a copy of the highly-recommended Scrivener for Dummies.

Know What Time of Day Works Best for You

About three years ago I stumbled across Lisa Coffey’s website What’s Your Dosha where I learned a little about Ayurveda and Dosha types. Ayurveda is India’s 5,000 year old “Science of Life.” It teaches the art of living in harmony with nature. Your dosha is your mind and body type. After taking the Dosha quiz and watching a few of Lisa’s videos I discovered something I would never have believed about myself – I work best very early in the morning – as opposed to late at night, when I was doing most of my writing.

Getting up earlier to attack my writing before moving on to other tasks was a sacrifice initially. But I remembered what writer, Connie Briscoe, said at an author event in Cleveland a few years ago. She said when she first started writing she had a full-time corporate job. She rose early in the morning to write before work because she wanted to give her best to herself. Everyone else would get the rest.

Discover what time of day works best for you. Write when you’re at your best and feeling most creative.

Create a Workable Schedule

Writing doesn’t happen unless we make time to do it. This is especially true when undertaking a huge challenge like NaNoWriMo. Before you know it, you’re in the middle of week two with barely 3,000 words to show for it.

Create a feasible schedule; one you and your family can live with. I’d love to say I’ll write every single day. Who knows, maybe I will. However, I know myself (and my other obligations) enough to admit I probably won’t.

The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words of a new novel during the month of November. That’s 12,500 words per week or about 1,667 words per day. I’m creating a four day per week schedule with a goal of writing 3,500 each day (3,125 words minimum).

Write or Die

Sounds harsh. But Write or Die is an excellent productivity software for writers. It helps me stay focused and keep writing for designated periods of time. I’ve typically produced around 1200 words in 48 minutes using this software. Three sessions (2.5 hours) and I’ve got my goal for the day. You can use the web version of the software or the newer desktop version.

Get Support

No-one understands the craziness of NaNo unless they’ve experienced it.

Connect with fellow writers participating in NaNoWriMo this year. If you’re part of any writing community, Facebook, or Twitter, you should have no trouble discovering participants. NaNoWriMo has a fantastic forum which enables you to connect with other NaNoers by locale, genre, and a number of other factors. Attend local NaNo events if you can. At the very least, join in online writing sprints with other participants.

Fellow NaNo’ers will sympathize with you, encourage you, and give you a much-needed kick in the pants whenever necessary. There is also the element of healthy competition. When you see how much your friends have written you’re more likely to put the remote down and hop on your computer so you won’t be left behind. In the end, you can all celebrate together.

Just Do It

The prospect of writing 50,000 words of a new novel is daunting. No-one is more aware of this than me. However, if you’re a writer who needs to kick-start your writing, NaNoWriMo is a wonderful project.

Whether you finish or not; whether your book ever gets published or not; at least you’ll be writing. That’s a huge step in the right direction.

If you are participating in NaNoWriMo this year, I’d love to connect. My NaNo username is RaleighRoxStar. I’d also love to hear your plan for getting the most out of NaNoWriMo this year. Please share your thoughts with us in the comments.

Happy Writing!

Saturdays here at Mindful Banter are usually reserved for singing the praises of storytellers we admire like Judy Blume, Jocelyn Jackson, Pearl Cleage, and Nora Roberts. But this week I get to spotlight storytellers who are striving to make their mark. Starting with me.

Julie Luekenga, who blogs over at A Thought Grows has become a regular visitor and commenter here on Mindful Banter. I’ve enjoyed our virtual conversations over the past few weeks and the insight she shares on her blog about her life and her writing.

I was thrilled and honored to be one of the five bloggers Julie selected for the Liebster Blog Award. Thanks Julie!

Here are the Liebster Blog Award rules:

1. Answer the blogger’s eleven questions
2. Think of eleven questions of your own
3. Choose eleven worthy bloggers (who have fewer than 200 followers) to interview and pay it forward.

I’ll be bestowing this award to five fabulous All Things Girl writers. (One or more of them may be over the 200 follower limit, but then I’ve always been a bit of a rule breaker.)

My answers to Julie’s questions are below:

Who is your favorite author and why?

Do I only get to pick one? I have so many favorite authors, but if I am tied down and forced to pick one, it is definitely Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice opened my eyes to the magic of stories featuring rich, engaging characters and incredibly clever dialogue. More importantly, it was Jane Austen’s impeccable craft as a storyteller made me want to become one, too.

The ideal writing retreat would be….?

I suffer from interminable Monkey Mind, so my ideal writing retreat wouldn’t have internet access. I dream of spending a month writing at a fabulous little secluded beach house in the Caribbean, preferably near a waterfall.

What is(are) your current writing project(s)?

Carina Press recently acquired my novel, Too Good to Be True, in a two-book deal. Too Good to Be True will be published next year. Right now I am outlining Book #2 in the series because I plan to tackle the bulk of it during National Novel Writing Month.

I’m also 100 pages into a romantic suspense I’m writing which examines what happens when a man forced to live under an assumed identity must tell the woman he loves that everything she believes about him is a lie.

What is the philosophy or mission of your blog?

For a long time I wasn’t clear on this and my blog had no real focus. Earlier this year I took Jeff Goins Intentional Blogging e-course. It helped me to bring storytelling, which had always been an underlying theme, clearly into focus here on Mindful Banter.

My philosophy as a writer has always been Explore. Challenge. Write. My mission is to use Mindful Banter to explore the art and craft of storytelling; challenge conventional wisdom; and help fellow writers be the absolute best we can be at the craft of writing.

You get an all-expense paid week to do anything you want– what would that be?

Travel. I’d spend the week touring fabulous art and architecture in Europe. There is something truly fascinating about being in the presence of beautiful art, architecture and furniture that has been around for hundreds, even thousands of years.

If you could sit down and have coffee n’ chat with anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?

My paternal grandmother. She was such a lively, spirited woman who lived life by her own rules. I wish I’d spent more time learning about her and listening to her stories before Alzheimer’s robbed us of her beautiful mind and spirit.

A maitre-de comes to your table and lifts the silver lid off the plate of the most exquisite meal, what is it?

It would be a lovely pink salmon with a delicious bourbon glaze broiled to mouth-watering perfection; an exquisite mashed potato, rice or couscous dish that would be worth every ounce of starch-filled guilt; Brussels sprouts; and Strawberries Romanoff for dessert.

One item from your bucket list is…?

Attend all four tennis majors: The Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.

What is your favorite place in your house to read a book?

I once read Old Man and the Sea from cover to cover in my garden bathtub in a single sitting. While a bubble bath is a great place for reading physical books, I don’t recommend it for digital books. So my bedroom has become my new favorite spot for reading.

What song are you most likely to be caught singing in the shower?

On a scale of probability, it would be Kiss by Prince just because, who doesn’t love a good Julia Roberts moment. However, right now I am just as likely to be singing Call Me, Maybe by Carly Rae Jepson or Payphone by Maroon 5. Really just depends on my mood and the current decade.

What talent, besides writing, do you possess?

I’ve got mad editing and critiquing skills and I can plan a bargain vacation like it’s nobody’s business.

My five nominees for the Liebster Blog Award are:

The Bathtub Mermaid, my friend, Melissa Bartell who plays a mean game of Words with Friends.

Debra Smouse who shares insightful posts on her coaching blog and has a gorgeous personal blog, Debra Loves.

The gorgeous, funny writer and mommy extraordinaire, Elizabeth Rago.

Jess who blogs about all things crafty over at Sparkles and Crafts.

Fearless, funny explorer of life, Becca Rowan over at Becca’s Byline.

My questions:

1. When did you first fall in love with writing?
2. What three authors make you swoon?
3. What writing projects are you currently working on?
4. Which fictional character do you most identify with and why?
5. If you could tell your 21-year-old self one thing, what would it be?
6. You get backstage passes to see any singer or musician, living or dead. Who would it be?
7. What movie makes you cry, no matter how many times you’ve seen it?
8. Which television shows would we catch you watching when you’re supposed to be writing?
9. What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten (or cooked)?
10. Where do you hope your writing takes you in five years? In ten?
11. What are your three favorite books of all time?

Practicing our hand at poetry or writing short stories forces us to tighten our writing. We must tell a gripping story with an economy of words.

Screenwriting shows us how to use dialogue and action to advance the narrative of our story.

Songwriting teaches us to relate a powerful story that connects with our audience using minimal verse punctuated by haunting metaphors and memorable phrasing.

Earlier this week we discussed the power of a well-told story. We can do this by borrowing techniques traditionally used by any of the storytellers listed above.

The video gives brief instruction on how to use mind-mapping to craft a song that has greater emotional impact. This technique would also be beneficial for a novelist who wants to turn up the emotion in a scene. Check out the video below and tell me what you think.

What tools or techniques do you use to turn up the emotions in your story? Tell us in the comments below.

Photo credit: Some rights reserved by Diesel Demon.