Rae Elliott

How to Write Culturally Diverse Characters (the Right Way!)

by Rae Elliott | Oct 17, 2018 | Blog

We. Want. Great. Cultural. Representation. In. Fiction. Plain and simple. But, as a writer, it can be intimidating to write culturally diverse characters organically. We may know very little about the culture we want to represent in our fiction. So this means we may make the characters feel cardboard-ish, cartoonish or unrealistic. And the absolute LAST thing we ever want to be is unintentionally offensive, inaccurate or just plain ignorant. So how do we do it? How do we create culturally diverse characters in our novels that are well-represented? We focus on three areas where cultural diversity influences human life and how it influences each culture: Interaction and behavior Speech and relationships Beliefs and arts Interaction and Behavior In Oman, Bedouin men greet each other by gently pressing or rubbing their noses together. Tibetan monks stick their tongue out to greet people. They also press the hands together and place them in front of their chest to show that they “come in peace”. They started doing this to prove that they’re not the reincarnation of a cruel king from the 9th century that had a black tongue. There are twelve different Shona ethnic groups spread across Southern Africa, many of which perform rhythmic clapping as a greeting. In fact, shaking hands has a unique history of its own. Hundreds of years ago, it was common to go into a meeting with a pretty little weapon hiding up your sleeve. So, shaking someone’s hand was the quick way to find out if your new friend had an ulterior motive. What’s the point? Across the world, interactions are a fascinating...

Why your Story’s Message Matters Way More Than you Think

by Rae Elliott | Oct 11, 2018 | Blog

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” “Not all that glitters is gold.” So why the list of wise proverbs? These timeless sayings are just a few examples of what is found in every story since the beginning of time: a message. When a story lacks a strong message, readers can sense it. Even if they can’t put their finger on it, readers can tell when a story feels weak, when it’s meandering or lacking focus. So what is a great message for your story and why does it matter so much? Because your message is your story’s north star. So let’s dissect what that means right now, friend. What IS a Message? A story’s message is an age-old adage (wise proverb) that you prove through your hero’s journey. So for instance, “Let your conscience be your guide”, or “Love conquers all” are all good examples of age-old adages or messages that have been told over and over in fresh, awesome styles. Having a message helps you narrow in on which character(s) fully embodies this message, at what pivotal point this message is made clear in your story and what obstacles your character(s) will overcome to get there. But now what’s the difference between a message and a theme? (IS there a difference??) Message or Theme- What's the Diff? Now you might be saying “Rae, isn’t theme more important than a message?” Well, first of all, what’s the difference between theme and a message? A theme is a general, slightly unspecific idea. For instance, “The quest...

How to Come Up With a Great Title for your Work of Fiction

by Rae Elliott | Oct 3, 2018 | Blog

Your book title has the power to hook or bore your reader in precisely two seconds. Yeesh. That kind of pressure can make it mind-numbingly painful to come up with a unique book title that suits your story and wows readers. So how do you do it? How do you come up with a great title for your work of fiction? You give yourself some time, find the heart (or message) of your story, and consider what readers expect in your genre. So what does all this mean exactly? Let’s expand on each idea and get your novel a name unlike any other! Wait For It Timing Oh yes, It’s so tempting to BEGIN with the title and write our story from there like the title is a compass we’ll use to guide us through our fantastical writing journey. But here’s the thing: EVEN IF YOU’RE DEAD CERTAIN YOU LOVE THIS HERE “TITLE” you’re actually doing your story a disservice! That title will instead be like a dumb anchor keeping you down when all you want to do is sail the wide, open ocean of storytelling. So, don’t commit to a title at the start of your writing process, or even at the middle, precious petunia! Have a working title in place if you feel like a title will provide you some reassurance but DON’T by *any* means commit to a title until your work is complete. You don’t wanna settle, ya know? 😉 This tactic gives you the freedom to write your story, make room for unexpected changes, and shed old skins. At the end or...

10 Famous Authors Who Started their Writing Careers in their Teens

by Rae Elliott | Sep 27, 2018 | Blog

You’re a teen writer with dreams of becoming a published author. But maybe you think that it takes years to reach that point: to become a great author like the ones you adore. But I’m gunna let you in on a little secret: some of the most famous authors you love started their writing careers when they were just teenagers. Yep, they too started their writing careers young; filled with inspiration, glittery story ideas and a passion not so different from your own. So if you think you can’t make it as an author, just have a look-sy at these ten famous examples and know that you too can write the next fandom-worthy novel! 1. S.E. Hinton S.E Hinton was inspired at the tender age of 15 to write her famous work The Outsiders. Upset at the rival gangs that fought one another in her own town, she felt an urge to create a story that revealed what it took for teens to survive and overcome in her small town. Through it, came unforgettable characters like Ponyboy, Johnny, Sodapop, Dally and more “greasers”. S.E Hinton published The Outsiders by the time she turned eighteen in 1967. And in 1983, the book became a major motion picture. 2. Christopher Paolini Gotta love that picture of young Christopher, right?! Well, the brilliant young mind behind the Inheritance Cycle series started writing his first book Eragon at the age of 15. With his parents’ full support, he self-published Eragon in 2001 (18 yrs old at the time!) and the family toured the country promoting his book. And that amazing pic above was actually how Christopher promoted...

How to Write Everyday Despite Loads of School Work

by Rae Elliott | Sep 19, 2018 | Blog

Ahhhh, Summer. It pampered us; spoiled us. Gave us all the time in the world to write our stories. But like all stories, your summer romance with your new story had to come to an end sometime. School had to start up again and tear you two apart. And devoting less love to your novel is just the worst, isn’t it? I know I’m suffering withdrawals over here. So with school calling dibs on 8 days of your week and 25 hours of your day, how do you still make the time to write your story AND keep a regular writing routine going? You do these three things: Start small Have fun and fun only Give yourself something to look forward to Let’s find out how these three tips are sure to keep you and your story together 4ever. Start Small Yeeeesh. You’re studying for hours at a time, going through piles of homework, stacks of workbooks all while trying to see through gallons of tears. It can really pile up. And once you’re done doing the volcano for science class and that history report of Thomas Edison and a million other reports, you’re experiencing burn out. Writing more of your novel may seem intimidating, even impossible. But here’s the key: don’t start work on another huge project AFTER finishing a huge project. What do I mean by this? You’re several chapters deep into your novel. So, getting into another massive project, like your novel, after doing loads of school projects may turn you away from writing, period. So start smaller. Don’t focus on writing more of your current novel. Allow yourself...