The Trendsetter

In my previous blog about “outlining vs. not outlining before you start writing your novel”, I wrote about writing a journal for my characters—especially my focal characters. By having a journal sheet for your characters, you’re able to compile their important background information like the height, weight, eye color, race, age, gender, marital status, etc.

And I have also expanded the journal sheet to interview them about their perception about the villain or other secondary characters after meeting them. However, that was not enough to carry my focal character to 100,000 words.

I solved this problem by using Erikson’s Psychosocial Development and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Read more »

I knew I wanted to write and get published when I first got my grubby paws on the romance novel – you know, the ones with gorgeous river pilot on the cover: tall, dark, muscular and handsome hero with beautiful heroine – when I was 16 years old.

I said to one of my best friends, Sylvia, “I’d love to write my own novel one of these days.”

She looked at me. “Like this one? No. You can’t be serious.”

I tried to hide my mischievous smile.

“I don’t believe you,” she said with bulging eyes.

“Watch me,” I said.

She laughed. “All right. The glint in your eyes convinces me you’re up to something.”

Someone clears his throat. “You two, did you finished your work?”

Read more »