The Medusa Type:  A Woman That Uses Multiple Layers Of Skills To Be None, But Just A Fake Personality,

Types of Opening Scenes for Your Novel

Here are a handful of ways to open the very first scene in your book! There are plenty more to explore, but these are a set of very tried and true methods.

Autobiographic - your protagonist starts the book reflecting or talking about a past event. They’re looking back in time and sharing an important piece of information with the reader.

In trouble/conflict - a problem has arisen for the protagonist and a sense of urgency is established. This can be an intense conflict like a chase scene or a puzzling problem.

Mysterious opening - the reader is introduced to something peculiar (a fantasy location, unique magic, a cloaked figure, etc.) that raises questions in their mind. Their curiosity will keep them reading.

Scene-setting - the most common opening where you focus on introducing the setting and the characters in it before anything else.

The questioner - the protagonist is questioning something: “Who invited the guy in the trench coat covered in red?”

Beginning with a thought - the novel is started with a philosophical quote or meaningful thought from the protagonist. “What is living worth if she’s not doing it with me?”

Intriguing dialogue - the book starts with interesting dialogue that captures the attention of the reader.

Mood establisher - the novel opens with a deliberate mood that signifies to the reader what they should expect from the story. Ex. a spooky story may open with eerie words and a dark atmosphere.

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Where to start as a beginner writer

Are you new to the world of writing? Here are some pointers to consider when starting out your journey!

Define your purpose

A super important first step for any writer is to ask themselves why they are actually writing. What sort of message do you want to put out into the world, what types of stories are you going to tell? Do you want to make people cry, laugh, do you want to inspire them, do you want to shine a torch on important issues, do you want to thrill them or make them feel good?

Familiarize yourself with character arcs

Before plot, there is character! Character arcs are a great way to get yourself started on your writing journey. Learn about internal conflict, misbelief, positive and negative arcs, backstories... Once you know this, the plotting side of things clicks into place much easier.

Understand the basics of story structure

You do not need to be a plot-genius to write a good book. As long as you have a good grasp on your character arcs, and a basic understand of how a story is structured, you’re good to go! It’s great to read about 3-act, 5-act, hero’s journey, and other structures on examples of books you’ve read or films you’ve seen.

Read in your genre

Cannot stress this enough! Every writer should be a reader. It’s so important to read within and outside of your genre, because reading is the best way to learn and grow and improve.

Don’t be afraid to write whatever comes to mind

All writers get stuck into certain parts of their writing, and we all become victims of perfectionism or procrastination one way or another. Don’t let this be a thing to discourage you. What’s important to know about writing is that the more you do it, the more you will improve. So even if you’re writing something for fun, or you’re not entirely happy with the quality, know that actually writing it will help you more than avoiding it.

Did you know I have a free novel plan to get you started on your writing journey?

You can grab it through the [link here] or below!

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The Plottery Links

The Plottery offers writing services such as book coaching, book editing, novel plotting digital courses, and theory books on the craft of w

"I don't believe very much in the hedonics argument about wealth - that the more you have, the more money you need to maintain a certain level of happiness. Happiness has mostly to do with relationships and the quality thereof. I doubt that it's a metric that can be measured effectively by economists to come to a conclusion." —

J.C. Hewitt

Writing is not a fanciful venture. It is the most meaningful, purest step forward in your own personal art. Do not diminish the importance and power in your own fingers tapping at your keyboard or wrapped around a pencil. This is the moment in which you embrace the might of your creation.

Karuna Riazi is an online diversity advocate, essayist and overwhelmed undergrad student. Her debut novel, The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand, will be released in 2017 under Simon and Schuster’s new Salaam Reads imprint.

Writer’s Care Packages from Camp NaNoWriMo and We Need Diverse Books.

(via nanowrimo)

A mis queridos lectores

“Nos pasamos día a día viendo cómo podemos triunfar, cómo podemos hacer para conseguir mejores notas, cómo caerle bien a alguien, cómo conquistar a esa persona que tanto nos atrae… Nos pasamos persiguiendo cosas con la esperanza de que una vez que las tengamos todas vamos a ser verdaderamente felices. Nos angustiamos cuando nos va mal en el colegio, nos deprimimos cuando la persona que nos gusta no nos quiere, nos odiamos cuando no nos vemos de la manera que queremos… Pero, Ustedes creen que si la vida fuese como queremos, que si tuviésemos todo lo que queremos, seríamos felices ¿o sólo encontraríamos más cosas para odiar? Está en la naturaleza del hombre ser ambicioso, querer crecer y seguir creciendo. Pero creo que tenemos muy desordenadas las prioridades.

¿Por qué permitimos que esa mala nota en matemática nos arruine el día? Si al fin y al cabo es sólo eso. Un puntaje. Y tal vez tengo un nueve en literatura, pero yo quería el diez. Entonces no sonrío. En un año esa nota no va a existir, va a haber sido para nada. ¿Por qué quiero conquistar a esa persona que no me quiere? ¿Por qué quiero forzar a alguien a que me ame, cuando seguramente lo hagan mal? ¿Por qué me odio cuando veo que peso más de lo que establece la sociedad como perfección? ¿Por qué quiero el pelo lacio si lo tengo lleno de rulos salvajes?

¿Por qué perseguimos todas esas cosas? Si eso no es crecer, no es triunfar. Nos llenamos la cabeza de preocupaciones, permitimos que los estándares nos convenzan de que no estamos acá para ser felices, sino para trabajar y ser el mejor. Y ascender, y ascender y seguir ascendiendo hasta que las ojeras ya sean parte de nuestras caras, que las sonrisas naturales dejen de existir y que nuestros sueños queden en último lugar. Hasta que, de pronto, abrimos los ojos y nos damos cuenta de cuán equivocados estábamos. Que la felicidad está en las cosas más simples; en los árboles, en el viento cálido, en las luces de la ciudad y en la risa de los niños, en las sonrisas de los adultos y el brillo en los ojos de una persona cuando cumple un objetivo. Así que, a vos que estás leyendo, te pido por favor que no creas que por ese desaprobado en la materia que sea vas a fracasar en todo lo que te propongas, no creas nunca que no sos lo suficientemente bueno/a para cumplir tus sueños. No creas que tenés que seguir una carrera universitaria sí o sí, si tal vez tu pasión es bailar. Nunca dejes de hacer lo que te hace feliz, no importa qué pase. Nunca te pongas en último lugar por nadie, éste es TU juego, y lo podés jugar como vos quieras. Despreocupate, corré, paseá, reíte, saltá, juga, escucha música al volumen que quieras, hace todo lo que quieras y nunca te arrepientas de haberlo hecho si te hizo bien aunque sea por dos segundos. Cumplí tus sueños, lucha por ellos, con paciencia. Seguí creciendo, pero más importante… Sé feliz.”

Las Audiencias

Tengo tiempo ya diciéndolo, que soy selectivo respecto al público que dejo entrar a mi casa, si son uno o dos o tres o mil o millones, es un público que va con una idea. Es un público respetuoso, amable, abierto a nuevas ideas,  y los diálogos y las discusiones y análisis se desarrollan en un ambiente respetuoso, sin pasar lïneas de respeto y cordialidad.

En el nuevo espacio que estoy construyendo para mi casa, sólo entrarán aquellos amigos apreciados, con un nombre real, con un teléfono de acceso, con un correo electrónico, verificaremos con acritud que existan personas reales, con nombres reales, a quienes podamos adjudicar la responsabilidad de un discurso o una palabra.

Decíamos que con las nuevas tecnologías, y las inteligencias artificiales es muy fácil crear espacios de millones con fakes profiles, y me pregunto, si un cliente o negocio, quisiera entrar y sacar información de espacios donde se promueven fake profiles, y no se checan los perfiles. Me pregunto si clientes o dueños de negocios se dejarán llevar por las burbujas de jabón que propician los fakes profiles, y me preguntó si verdaderamente clientes y negocios dejarán llevarse por burbujas que parecen ser que son, pero no son, y tomar decisiones de compra y asociaciones con aquellos que fomentan perfiles ocultos, nombres falsos en cuentas escondidas, etc etc. llevando a un mercado falso.

Es por ello, que dentro de mi casa, mi fundación, ladrillo por ladrillo, desde arriba hacia abajo, estará solo construida por nombres reales, personajes reales, para que sea mi diferencia en un mundo donde cada día mas, se promueve lo engańoso..

5 Tips for Writing Best Friends

Friendships can make books more engaging for readers than romantic or family relationships. The trick is writing best friends in ways that feel real.

It’s why we love Gideon and Nico in The Atlas Six or Bree and Alice in the Legendborn series.

Here are a few tips to get you on the path to writing an incredible friendship that’s the backbone of your character’s arcs.

1. Make the Friendship Serve Both Characters

We’ve all read books where the protagonist has a best friend who seems to only exist when the protagonist needs something. They’re the main character’s source of stress relief and support, but real-world relationships serve both people.

Make sure you write scenes where the best friend also benefits from the relationship. They might come to the main character for support or call the protagonist when they need cheering up. The most minor moments can mean the most to readers.

2. Give the Friendship a Why

Why is the friendship so important to each of your characters? Maybe they met while experiencing a unique life event or a tragedy. Maybe one helped the other through a difficult time and later vice versa.

The why behind the relationship is key to making readers fall in love with the bond between your characters. Why they met might be the only thing holding them together when times get tough. Establish a clear motive to their solid connection and everything that happens afterward will be more impactful for the reader.

3. Create a Life for the Best Friend Too

Best friends need personality traits like protagonists. As you draft their persona during your planning or writing phases, remember to give them traits like:

Likes

Dislikes

Goals

Dreams

A history

These details shape who people are. They can also be the things that pull your protagonist and best friend together. 

4. Set Up the Occasional Clash

Friendships are stronger when they survive the ups and downs. Turbulent times also make friendships realistic because friends never stay in just happy periods of their lives.

Make your two characters clash to learn through their arguments or mistakes, especially if they’re disagreeing about how to solve/accomplish your plot’s main goal. How they work through their differences and move past them demonstrates each character’s core values and how much they value their friendship.

5. Establish Honesty Early On

Best friends are honest with each other. Setting that up early on establishes a foundation of trust. It also sets up stakes when one character decides to lie to the other for a specific goal or purpose, even if they don’t like it. Without honesty, there’s no reason for the two characters to trust each other or remain best friends.

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Develop your best friends as separate individuals before merging them in your plotlines. You’ll create stronger relationships that pull readers in and keep them thinking about your story well after they turn the final page.

Elements in your book by order of importance

The order of importance of elements in a book can vary depending on the genre, theme, and narrative structure. However, here are some common elements that are often considered significant:

- Plot: The sequence of events that drive the story forward and create tension, conflict, and resolution.

- Characters: The individuals who inhabit the story and contribute to its development and emotional engagement.

- Theme: The central idea or message that the book explores and conveys to the reader.

- Setting: The time, place, and environment in which the story takes place, which can enhance mood, atmosphere, and context.

- Writing style: The author's unique voice and the way the story is narrated, which can greatly impact the reader's experience.

- Conflict: The challenges, obstacles, or opposition that the characters face, driving the narrative and character development.

- Dialogue: The conversations and interactions between characters, providing insights into their personalities, relationships, and plot progression.

- Pacing: The rhythm and speed at which events unfold, affecting the book's flow and reader engagement.

- Emotional resonance: The ability of the story to evoke strong emotions and create a connection between the reader and the characters.

- Tone: The overall mood and atmosphere of the book, which can range from light-hearted and humorous to dark and somber.

- Point of view: The perspective from which the story is told, influencing the reader's understanding and connection to the characters.

- Symbolism: The use of symbols or metaphors to convey deeper meanings or layers of understanding.

- Subplots: Secondary storylines that add depth, complexity, and variety to the main plot.

- Imagery: Vivid and descriptive language that appeals to the reader's senses and creates vivid mental images.

- Structure: The organization and arrangement of the story, including chapters, sections, and narrative devices.

- Originality: The unique and innovative aspects of the book that set it apart and make it memorable.

Sad? Insecure? Looking for a sign? This 2 minute song may change the way you look at yourself.