Developing Minor Characters: Tips for Making Every Character Count

 

As an author, you know that your story is only as strong as the characters that inhabit it. While the main characters drive the plot forward, it's the minor characters that add depth and complexity to your world. They can serve as foils, provide comic relief, or simply give the reader a glimpse into the lives of other inhabitants of your world. In this post, we will explore the importance of developing minor characters and provide tips for making every character count.

1. Give them a backstory.

Even if a minor character only appears in one scene, it's important to give them a backstory. Where did they come from? What are their goals and motivations? By creating a rich backstory for your minor characters, you can give them depth and make them feel like real people.

2. Use them to move the plot forward.

Minor characters can be used to move the plot forward in a number of ways. They can provide clues, offer advice, or even serve as obstacles for your main characters. By giving your minor characters a purpose, you can ensure that every scene is moving the story forward.

3. Consider their relationships.

Minor characters can also be used to highlight the relationships between your main characters. A parent, friend, or colleague can shed light on your main character's personality or history, and can add emotional weight to your story.

4. Give them unique traits.

Minor characters can also be memorable if they have unique traits or quirks. These can be physical characteristics, such as a distinctive hairstyle or accent, or personality quirks, such as a love for puns or an obsession with cleanliness. These traits can help your minor characters stand out in the reader's mind and make them more memorable.

5. Make them serve a purpose.

Every character in your novel should serve a purpose, and this includes your minor characters. Consider what role they play in the story and how they can help to move the plot forward. If a character doesn't serve a purpose, consider cutting them from your story to streamline your narrative.

6. Use them to reveal information.

Minor characters can also be used to reveal important information to your readers. They can provide exposition or backstory, or even reveal a plot twist. By using minor characters in this way, you can keep your readers engaged and interested in your story.

7. Think about their perspective.

Minor characters can also be used to offer a different perspective on the events of your story. By exploring the world from their point of view, you can add depth and complexity to your world. They may have different values or beliefs than your main characters, and their perspective can help to challenge or reinforce the beliefs of your main characters.

8. Avoid stereotypes.

While unique traits can make your minor characters memorable, it's important to avoid falling into the trap of stereotypes. Your characters should feel like real people, and not just caricatures. Avoid using cliches or relying on tired tropes, and strive to create characters that are fully fleshed out and three-dimensional.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

Eight Ways to Handle Writer's Block

 

Writer's block is a common problem that plagues many writers at some point in their career. It can be
frustrating and demotivating, and it can prevent you from making progress on your writing projects. If you find yourself struggling with writer's block, don't despair! There are several strategies that you can use to overcome it. In this blog post, we'll explore eight tips for handling writer's block and getting back on track with your writing.

1. Take a Break

When you're feeling stuck, sometimes the best thing to do is to take a break. This might mean stepping away from your writing for a few hours, a day, or even longer. Use this time to do something that you enjoy, like going for a walk, reading a book, or spending time with friends and family. Taking a break can help to clear your mind and recharge your creative batteries.

2. Change Your Environment

Sometimes, a change of scenery can help to break through writer's block. Try working in a different location, such as a coffee shop, a library, or a park. This can help to stimulate your creativity and provide new ideas and perspectives.

3. Keep Writing

Even if you're feeling stuck, it's important to keep writing. Set aside a regular writing time each day and make a commitment to write, even if it's just for a few minutes. This can help to keep your writing momentum going and prevent writer's block from taking hold.

4. Try Freewriting

Freewriting is a technique that involves writing continuously without worrying about grammar, punctuation, or structure. The idea is to write whatever comes to mind, without editing or revising. Freewriting can help to break through writer's block and generate new ideas and perspectives.

5. Change Your Writing Process

If you're feeling stuck, it might be time to change your writing process. This might mean writing at a different time of day, using a different writing tool, or trying a new writing exercise. Experiment with different approaches to see what works best for you.

6. Set Small Goals

When you're feeling stuck, it can be helpful to set small, achievable goals for yourself. This might mean writing for a set amount of time each day or completing a specific writing task. Small goals can help to break through writer's block and provide a sense of accomplishment.

7. Get Feedback

Sometimes, getting feedback from other writers or readers can help to break through writer's block. Join a writing group or workshop, or ask a trusted friend or colleague to read your work and provide feedback. This can help to generate new ideas and perspectives and provide motivation to keep writing.

8. Remember Why You Started

Finally, it's important to remember why you started writing in the first place. What inspired you to start writing, and what are your goals and aspirations for your writing? Keeping your motivation and inspiration in mind can help to overcome writer's block and keep you moving forward with your writing.

In conclusion, writer's block is a common problem that can be frustrating and demotivating. However, by using these eight tips, you can overcome writer's block and get back on track with your writing. Remember to take a break, change your environment, keep writing, try freewriting, change your writing process, set small goals, get feedback, and remember why you started. With these strategies in mind, you can break through writer's block and achieve your writing goals.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

Cryptopunk Revolution Trilogy: Character Art

 Fae Luna - The Astral Hacker 

Naveha Jain - The Cyborg Anarchist 

Sunny - The AI Best Friend 

Alexander Fiore - The Cocky Sniper 

Hara Tekken - The Reserved Spymaster 

Major Marcella Virgo - The Kind Nordic 

Deacon Gabriel Ignatius O'Brien III - The Holy Warrior 

Brandon Myers - The Bodybuilder Silversmith 

General Austin Harper - The Ruthless Soldier 

Americus Jain - The Gruff Leader

Ron Paul - The Heroic Raven 

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

Brian Terenna Author Interview on Manybooks

Brian Terenna Interview 

Here a link for an interview that the Manybooks website did for me. It's centered around my first novel in the Cryptopunk Revolution Trilogy, but also touches on the other novels in the series. 

https://manybooks.net/featured-authors/brian-terenna-fantasy-that-takes-readers-to-exciting-unexpected-places

The Three Steps to Lasting Happiness

 

Consciously Choosing to be Happy:

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get bogged down by negativity? A stressful day at work, a fight with a loved one, or even just the gloomy weather can quickly put a damper on our mood. Happiness is often fleeting and dependent on our circumstances but what if you could choose to be happy, even in the midst of adversity? It sounds like a simple answer but taking conscious control of your emotions is a powerful tool for achieving happiness. By recognizing that your thoughts and emotions are not inherently dictated by external circumstances, you can learn to separate your sense of happiness from your surroundings.

The truth is that happiness isn't just a reaction to external events. It's also a conscious choice we can make, even in the face of challenges. By taking control of our own mental state, we can cultivate a sense of joy and contentment that transcends fleeting circumstances. This doesn't mean ignoring problems or pretending everything is perfect. It means acknowledging difficulties while choosing to focus on the positive aspects of life and the strength within ourselves.

Programming Your Subconscious Mind with Happiness:

In this section, we'll explore how to use the power of your subconscious mind to reinforce happiness and positivity. To do this, you'll need to enter a state of deep relaxation, which is often referred to as the theta wave or hypnotic state. There are several ways to achieve this state, including deep meditation and hypnosis. For those who are new to meditation, accessing the theta wave state may take a few attempts, but experienced meditators will find it easier. YouTube offers a range of free guided meditations and hypnosis videos that can help you enter the theta wave state and induce happiness.

When you find a video that resonates with you, take some time to listen to it and allow yourself to fully relax into the suggested state. As you do so, focus on letting go of any doubts or negative thoughts, and simply allow yourself to feel happy and relaxed. If you need to redo a video or try a different one, don't worry - this is a normal part of the process. The key is to find a technique that works for you and make it a regular part of your self-care routine.

One advanced technique for building happiness is called anchoring. Anchoring is a process where you create a physical trigger that, when activated, immediately shifts your state to a feeling of happiness or relaxation. You simply need to create a consistent association between the trigger and the desired state while in your meditation. For example, I have an anchor where I press my thumb into the side of my pointer finger, which immediately transports me to a state of positivity. By using an anchor regularly, you can train your subconscious mind to respond automatically to certain stimuli, making it easier to access happy feelings whenever you need them.

Feeling Happiness Daily:

The final step in your journey to achieving happiness is to make it a daily habit. This means incorporating your anchoring techniques or simply smiling and focusing on happiness in your daily routine. For many of us, this might seem like a daunting task, but trust me, it's worth it. I like to use my downtime to practice feeling happy. You can either do this by using your anchoring technique or by simply smiling and trying to feel happy. Whether I'm doing the dishes, showering, or watching a TV show, I make sure to take a few moments to focus on my happy state. I find that this not only helps to keep me in a positive mindset but also makes the tasks themselves more enjoyable.

It's also helpful to incorporate gratitude into your morning and evening routines. As you wake up in the morning, take a few minutes to reflect on what you're grateful for and focus on your happy state. Similarly, before bed, take a few minutes to do the same. At this stage, you're likely to be in an alpha or theta wave state, making it easier to access your subconscious mind and reprogram it with positive thoughts. By incorporating gratitude and happiness into your daily routine, you'll find that it becomes second nature. You'll experience a significant reduction in negative emotions and an increase in positive ones.

By following these three steps, you can train your brain to respond positively to challenging situations and create a happier, more fulfilling life for yourself. It's not to say that you won't experience negative emotions or setbacks from time to time, but you'll find that these moments are fewer and farther between. With time and practice, happiness will become a natural state for you, and you'll be able to draw on it whenever you need it.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

How to Create Interesting Magic Systems for Fantasy Novels

 

9 Ways to Improve Magic Systems for Fantasy Books 

Magic systems are a key element in many fantasy novels, and creating a compelling and unique system

can be a challenging task. A well-crafted magic system can add depth and complexity to a fantasy world, as well as providing a rich source of conflict and tension. In this blog post, we'll explore nine ways to create better magic systems for fantasy novels, with detailed explanations of each technique.

1. Establish Rules and Limitations

The first step in creating a magic system is to establish clear rules and limitations. These rules should define what magic can and cannot do, as well as any costs or consequences associated with using magic. By establishing these limitations, you can ensure that magic remains a source of conflict and tension throughout your story, rather than a convenient plot device.

2. Tie Magic to the World and its Lore

A good magic system should be integrated into the world and its lore. Consider how magic fits into the cultural and religious beliefs of your world, as well as its history and mythology. By doing so, you can create a more immersive and cohesive world, where magic feels like a natural part of the setting.

3. Develop a Clear Source of Magic

Every magic system should have a clear source of magic, whether it's through innate ability, magical artifacts, or other means. By establishing a clear source of magic, you can create a more consistent and believable system, while also providing opportunities for conflict and tension. For example, if magic is tied to a limited resource, characters may compete for access to that resource.

4. Create Different Types of Magic

To add depth and variety to your magic system, consider creating different types of magic. These may be based on different schools of magic, different sources of power, or different styles of casting. By creating different types of magic, you can add complexity and richness to your world, while also providing opportunities for characters to specialize and stand out.

5. Use Magic to Explore Themes

Magic can be a powerful tool for exploring themes and ideas in your story. Consider how your magic system can be used to explore concepts such as power, identity, or morality. By doing so, you can create a more thought-provoking and impactful story, while also creating a more nuanced and complex magic system.

6. Consider the Cost of Magic

In any good magic system, magic should come with a cost. This may be a physical cost, such as exhaustion or injury, or a more abstract cost, such as loss of sanity or morality. By establishing a cost for magic, you can create tension and conflict, as well as adding depth to your characters and world.

7. Create a Clear System of Learning and Training

To make your magic system feel more grounded and believable, create a clear system of learning and training for your characters. Consider how characters learn and develop their magical abilities, as well as any institutions or organizations that support magic users. By doing so, you can create a more immersive and detailed world, while also providing opportunities for character development and conflict.

8. Use Magic to Create Worldbuilding Opportunities

Magic can be a powerful tool for worldbuilding. Consider how magic is used in different parts of your world, as well as any cultural or societal implications of magic use. By doing so, you can create a more rich and immersive world, while also providing opportunities for conflict and tension.

9. Create a Unique and Memorable Magic System

Ultimately, the key to a successful magic system is creating one that is unique and memorable. Consider how your magic system can stand out from others in the genre, whether through its mechanics, its source, or its themes. By doing so, you can create a more distinctive and memorable story, while also engaging your readers with your world and characters.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

9 Ways to Improve Fantasy Novels

 

Writing Strong Fantasy Novels 

Fantasy novels can be an incredible and immersive form of storytelling, but there are still ways that
authors can improve upon them. Here are nine ways to make your fantasy novels even better.

 

1. Create a compelling world: A great fantasy world should draw the reader in and make them feel like they’re part of the story. Put thought into the details of your world, and the way it interacts with your characters. Consider the geography, climate, cultures, and political systems that exist in your world—the more complex and unique they are, the more interesting your story will be.

 

2. Add a strong antagonist: A strong antagonist can be the driving force of your story. Make sure your antagonist has clear motivations and goals that help to further the plot. Make sure that they’re complex—they should have both good and bad qualities, as well as a backstory that explains why they’re doing what they’re doing.

 

3. Develop believable characters: Characters are the lifeblood of any story, so it’s important to make sure yours are believable. Give them distinct personalities, motivations, and flaws that readers can relate to. Make sure their dialogue feels natural and not forced.

 

4. Use magic carefully: Magic can be a great tool for creating suspense and excitement in your story, but it can also be overused and become a crutch for lazy storytelling. Be careful to make sure that your magic system is logical and consistent—you don’t want readers to get lost in the details.

 

5. Include interesting creatures: Creatures are an important part of fantasy novels, but they don’t all have to be dragons or orcs. Think outside the box and create some unique creatures that will surprise and delight readers.

 

6. Make the stakes high: Every story needs stakes—the higher the stakes, the more exciting the story will be. Make sure your characters have something to fight for, and that their actions have real consequences for them and their world.

 

7. Build tension gradually: Tension is essential for any suspenseful story, but it needs to be built gradually. Start by introducing small conflicts that escalate until they reach a climax at the end of the novel.

 

8. Establish a unique voice: Your writing should reflect your unique voice as an author. Work on developing a consistent writing style, and find ways to make your writing stand out from other fantasy authors.

 

9. Read widely: Reading widely is a great way to get inspiration for your own writing. Read other fantasy books to get a sense of what works and what doesn’t, and use these insights to improve your own work.

Check out my sci-fi adventure mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns,
where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon

Five Tips to Write a Strong First Paragraph for a Novel

 

Writing a strong opening paragraph for a novel can be a daunting task. It's the first thing that
readers will see, and if it’s not good enough then your book may never get read. An opening paragraph should draw readers in, set the tone for the story and hint at what’s to come. Here are some tips to help you write a strong and compelling opening paragraph for your novel.

 

1. Focus on the Setting

The setting of your novel is the foundation for what’s to come. Describe the environment in detail and give readers a sense of what’s to come in the story. Whether it’s a small town, a big city, an exotic location, or even an imagined one, make sure to paint a vivid picture of the setting.

 

2. Introduce a Character

Your first sentence should introduce a character or characters who will become important throughout the novel. Do this by giving a brief description of the character, or hinting at the character’s personality. You don’t have to reveal who they are right away, but make sure to give enough information to pique readers’ interest.

 

3. Create Tension

Tension is essential in any story, and your opening paragraph should create it. Start with an exciting event that grabs readers’ attention, or hint at a situation that needs resolution. This will set up a sense of suspense and anticipation that will keep readers hooked from start to finish.

 

4. Include an Element of Mystery

Nothing grabs readers’ attention more than a bit of mystery. If you can leave readers with questions that need to be answered, they’ll be eager to keep reading to find out what happens next. Don’t give away too much in the beginning, but just enough that readers will be hooked.

 

5. Make it Unique

Your opening paragraph should stand out from all the other books out there. Make sure you’re not rehashing ideas that have already been done before. Your opening paragraph should be unique and original so that readers know they are in for something different.

Check out my cyberpunk mystery series, the "Cryptopunk Revolution."

Join the brilliant hacker Fae Luna and her companions as she battles an unknown foe of unimaginable power. Get ready for an electrifying journey filled with twists and turns, where truth is elusive and nothing is as it seems. Available on Amazon