That’s all for this disappointing month!
Tag: write
Terry’s December Watercolour Writing Newsletter
- Read the first chapter of The Moon King here
- Read David’s review of The Moon King here
- Here’s the link to last month’s watercolor newsletter
That’s all this month. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Writing!
From Terry 🙂
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I Was Embarrassed That I Was Writing A Novel
At first I didn’t tell anyone I was writing a novel. I was super embarrassed about it.
Now, I’m like, “Ef you embarrassment!” and I punch my embarrassment in the face and now everyone knows I’m doing writing things.
Actually, telling people has only boosted my confidence and I’ve gained so many writing friends who have helped me along the way since I started talking about my writing. Woot!
Subscribe to my email list to receive my watercolour newsletter first thing. Here’s last month’s.
Terry’s November Watercolour Writing Newsletter
Read the first chapter of The Moon King here 
Check out my writing tip videos:
- How to Break into the Publishing Industry
- How Much Time You Need to Spend Promoting Your Novel
- Every Plot Point Must Test Your Character’s Beliefs
- Your Purpose For Writing Determines Everything
- Make Your Novel More Compelling by Using Emotion
Here’s the link to last month’s watercolor newsletter
That’s all this month. Happy Writing!
From Terry!
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Make Your Novel More Compelling by Using Emotion
Every event in your novel is just the news unless your main character has an opinion on it.
- A volcano erupts and kills everyone in town… Okay.
- Your main character’s beloved daughter was in the town when it erupted… Super Sad!
- Your main character had taken out life insurance on his daughter right before she died in the eruption and now he can pay for his wife’s operation… Conflicting!
- Your main character is actually a psychopath and sent his daughter to the town knowing it would erupt… Perfect!
Any event becomes 1000X more dramatic once your main character has an opinion on what is happening.
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Every Plot Point Must Test Your Character’s Beliefs
Writing a Novel?
Using plot points as a way to test and strengthen what your main character believes in will make their development more fulfilling.
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How Much Time You Need to Spend Promoting Your Novel
How many agents have you queried? One?
If it took you a year to write your first novel, then why wouldn’t you spend at least a year promoting it? The writing industry is extremely saturated, so finding an agent or publisher is all about persistence.
Kim Liao even suggests aiming for 100 rejection letters every year, because being persistent enough to get 100 rejections will also lead you on the path to getting an acceptance.
I haven’t found an agent for my first novel yet, but chipping away at that dream every day (47 rejections and counting!).
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Your Villain Is Just the Hero That Succumbed to Her Own Weakness
Having trouble writing your villain?
When I wrote my first novel, I focused so much on building up my main character that I seriously neglected my villain. Turns out my villain was as flat as a board and it seriously impacted my story (not in a good way). It wasn’t until I thought of my villain as the hero of his own story that I was able to make him come to life.
If you’re struggling with writing your villain, maybe this tip will help.
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Three Ways to Improve the Introduction of Your Story
If you’re looking to improve the first few chapters of your novel, here are three impactful ways that I’ve found make my introductions much more compelling.
Happy writing! 🙂
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One Thing That Will Put You Ahead of 100 Other Writers Every Day
“I want to write a novel, but I just don’t have the time.”
That’s what I hear from people after they find out I wrote my first novel.
Novels don’t just happen. They take a lot of persistence and super hard work:
- Waking up early to write before work.
- Saying no to hanging with friends.
- Cancelling weekend plans.
- Pulling your hair out over plot points.
- Contemplating life for three hours in the shower.
- Crying (lots and lots of crying).
But I know that every time I spend even just 1 hour writing, I’m doing what 100 others aren’t. And that’s putting me ahead of the game, little by little.
If you’re thinking of writing a novel, I encourage you to sit down, open a word document, and just start typing 🙂
Terry Ibele: Toronto Stop Motion Animator 