3 Creative Ways to Create Hype for Your Novel
You know what everyone hates? Being pitched at. And it comes in so many forms today because really, we’re not entirely sure how to create hype for our books in a palatable way that won’t turn off potential readers. We feel stuck having to try a variety of pitches that don’t ever seem to work: The illiterate Tweet: “Buy my gr8 book bcuz 5 stars & *50 Twitter fRiEns sAy itS BeSt BoOk Dey EverRrrR ReAd #amwriting #porgforpresident #childishgambino.” The gun to their head: “BUY MY BOOK!” The show-off: “Look how pretty the cover is. It’s so unique and it looks professional like Marissa Meyer’s books. Won’t U buy??” The morality police: “No, I’m not giving this away for free. This is my life’s work. If you ask for a free copy then you’re basically spitting in my face. Writers are artists and all artists deserve to make a living doing what they love. So show your support and respect for authors by BUYING their books.” (I’ve been guilty of this one multiple times and still firmly believe it.) The bargainer: “If you buy all my books at this extremely discounted price I will post about you and your book on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and even feature you as a character in my book.” Fact is, we just want people to read our books. And likewise, we know that if just one person spends an amount equal to that of pocket change, they’d have an incredible read on their hands. So how do we do it? How do we ORGANICALLY create hype for our novels and market our books without pitching potential...
40 Surprisingly Defining Questions to Ask Your Characters
Bilbo Baggins. Citra Terranova. Princess Leia. Edmond Dantes. Jane Eyre. Why did I list off these character names? Because these characters that matter to me. These are just a few characters from various works of fiction that have resonated with me and remained beloved friends. Yes. Friends. So how do you create characters that matter to your readers as much as these guys? You stop viewing your character as a character and start viewing them as a friend. And how do you make a friend? You get to know someone on a deeper level. You spend enough time with them that you build trust and share more than just your favorite songs and ice cream flavors with one another. You truly open up and bond over the deep stuff. The stuff that no one knows helped shape who you are today. I’ve listed below 40 profound, deeply important questions to ask your characters. These questions are meant to help you realize any gaps you’ve missed in character creation and fill those in. They’ll matter to your readers, even if they never know this fact about your character. They’ll help you view your character as a person and no longer a spark of an idea haunting your thoughts. These questions will help you formulate a strong, well-defined, believable character readers will invest in. Feel free to write down your character’s answers to these questions. I’ve written them in such a way that it’s as if your character is sitting right in front of you as you ask these questions. So pull up a photo or even a drawing of what they look like and- at the risk of looking...
3 Ways to Undeniably Raise the Stakes for your Characters
“I couldn’t put it down!” “I was glued to the pages!” “I read the book in one night!” If it these aren’t the highest compliments that can be paid a writer, then I don’t know what are. So how do we keep readers compelled from “once upon a time” to “happily ever after”? We create conflict and suspense. But how do you do it? How do you raise the stakes for your characters and write compelling conflict?: You dangle the carrot. You make your character face psychological, physical, or professional death. You open a new loop when another closes. So what does all this mean? Well, let’s break it down… Dangle the Carrot Would you hop a thousand miles just to be rewarded with a carrot at the end of the journey? Pfft, no! If you’re a rabbit, however, you would hop a thousand miles and you would hop a thousand more. Why? Because you, a bunny, want a gosh dang carrot more than anything in the world. What is your character’s carrot? What do they want more than anything in life? What would your character die or kill for? You need to discover what his carrot is and then dangle it: (aka) do whatever it takes to keep it from him. And that, dear gumdrop, is your story’s plot. You want to guide the reader through a series of scenes which make him wonder from the first page to the last chapter, “Will Mr. Hero get the carrot? Will He lose his life trying to get this...
How to Write a Fandom-Worthy Character (Part 3): “The Eclectic Mentor”
Beloved mentors like Yoda of Star Wars, Gandalf of the Lord of the Rings, and Gramma Tala of Moana have become legendary in the fictional world. These old sages crack jokes, speak in riddles and provide guidance for the protagonist on his/her journey. Their methods are mysterious– even questionable, but our protagonist trusts them and even loves them. So what traits should your eclectic mentor have in order to be cherished by readers? A unique personality A guiding hand An untimely death or exit Let’s talk about how you can use these traits in your own character crafting process. A Unique Personality Judge him by his size, do you? Don’t be fooled. Yoda was a powerful sage in a tiny, green, wrinkled package. Speaking in riddles, hilarious quips, and ambiguous sayings, we believed Yoda was just a crazy, old coot hiding out in a bog. Yet, through this outlandish approach, Yoda’s ultimate goal to teach Luke the importance of knowing one’s inner strength and relying on the Force succeeded. Able to lift X-Wings out of swamps, fight circles around Sith lords and call down lighting onto an ancient tree with a flick of one finger, Yoda became a Jedi of legend. Dancing her way into our hearts, Gramma Tala was a wise old wisecrack that showed us the character of Motunui. Although many believed she was the island crazy lady, there was truth behind her old wives’ tales. Through her free spirit and firm belief, Gramma Tala taught Moana to believe in herself and her destiny. Gandalf was unpredictable....
How to Write a Fandom-Worthy Character (Part 2): The Lovable Rogue
It’s time to toss the “super good, super pure, superhero” out and replace it with a more interesting character: the lovable rogue. Beloved protagonists like Sherlock Holmes, Han Solo of Star Wars, and Aragorn of the Lord of the Rings, have shoved aside the typical image of a super guy with a super cape. We love these guys in all their rogue-ish charm. So what characteristics should your lovable rogue possess in order for readers to freak over him? A memorable personality A contradictory nature A noble cause he sides with Let’s talk about how you can use these traits in your own character crafting process. But He Has a Great Personality! Who could turn away a scruffy-looking nerf herder like Han Solo? Not even Leia could, in the end. Why? He was egotistical, smart-mouthed, arrogant, sly, and… lovable. Oh, so lovable. The witty comebacks and wise-cracking rat-a-tat he shared with Chewie and Leia made Han’s big personality unforgettable. Han didn’t have a straight-up good boy attitude like Luke. No, Han was a bit more complicated (and jaded) than that. But beneath his charm, smooth-talk, and me-first attitude, lay a secretly self-sacrificing softy who had it bad for one particularly spunky princess. That oil and vinegar personality made Han incredibly engaging. With an unmatched intellect, an outlandish ability to notice insignificant details, and the charm of a set of nails on a chalkboard, Sherlock was in a rank all his own. No filter and no boundaries, Sherlock saves lives but belittles them simultaneously. Really, we should hate Sherlock, but we...I’m Rae Elliott: Author, Blogger, Geek
I believe all teens can write fandom-worthy fiction. Read more about my mission in the About page and get started on your road to fandom-worthiness.
"This is a beautiful story of redemption, second chances, and the strength of love."
"A fun small-town fantasy story with a believable and authentically teenage main character."
"Rae Elliott quickly ushers the reader into this unique setting and...the characters are well developed."
Write Fandom-Worthy Fiction with the Help of Great Resources:
A writer's complete guide to everything worldbuilding.
Slam dunk your NaNoWriMo goals without living like a hermit!
Create well-crafted protagonists readers will adore.
Create unforgettable female characters that readers will applaud.
Barely Hare Books Has Been Selected!:
Rae is currently a Masterclass student of:
Rae is a member of Jeff Goins’:
