Writing Lessons
11/4/18
A quiz for your lead characters
Here's a good list of questions to ask your hero Your age? Nationality? Hair colour? Style? Age? How do you dress? Best feature? How...
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Here's a good list of questions to ask your hero
Your age?
Nationality?
Hair colour? Style?
Age?
How do you dress?
Best feature?
How attractive on a scale of 1-10?
Your mother?
Your father?
Song you always hum?
Your favorite place?
Your 6 month goal?
Your life dream?
Things you hate?
Something you aren’t?
What’s on your birthday wish list?
What are you weakest traits?
Your best friend?
Your personality in a nutshell?
Your bad mood mode?
Your worst characteristic?
Your biggest asset?
One thing you want to accomplish?
Your best childhood friend?
Your worst enemy?
Something you are?
What you want to control?
Your secret?
You as a lover?
What drives you?
What do you fear most?
What are you very, very good at?
How would someone realize you are irritated or impatient?
What are publishers looking for this year?
Once again, we turn our attention to the publishing market and the trends shaping the upcoming cycle. For authors, understanding what readers are buying is invaluable—particularly in non-fiction, which must tap into the mood of the times. That said, a book can also spark a global trend, unleashing a new concept and capturing imaginations in unexpected ways. The “Let Them Theory,” for example, demonstrates the power of fresh ideas, amplified by podcasters, social media, and celebrity influence.
Should you plan or just write?
Should you plan a book? In my view, there is only one answer: yes. If you want to publish, writing with intent matters.
In non-fiction, planning is especially critical. You will know exactly what belongs in your book, how the chapters build, and what material sits where. That outline becomes your proposal and, later, your compass for the entire manuscript.
Many writers assume novels are different. They aren’t. In fiction, your plan becomes your plot.
