Writing Effective Non-Human Characters

In the genre of speculative fiction, we see many non-human creatures. Yes, most of the time the supernatural creatures are humanoid and/or living in a human world. But there are also those beings from other worlds or those monsters hidden in the unseen depths of our reality that aren't human in any way.

How does a human writer go about effectively portraying such a character then? Here are five tips for writing believable non-humans.

1) The character's physical traits will affect a lot of how they behave. Your non-human may be an arachnid or an alien with no bones. No matter who we are, we are limited by our physicality and the environment we live in. What advantages and disadvantages would your character's body give them? Have they enhanced their strengths? How do they cope with their bodily limitations? How does that all work in their environment?

2) The ways the character deals with their physicality will help build their culture. Our human world is build for fragile warm-blooded beings who walk on two legs and have opposable thumbs. Most things center around the visual. What if your non-human doesn't have that sense? What sort of civilization will they have built? What if there was a world built completely upon the sense of smell? All information would be carried upon scents.

3) With culture evolves ethics. Non-humans aren't going to have a black & white view of the world. They might not even have a concept of good and evil. Your character's morals could revolve around their physical traits or some divine magic. It will be central to how that character thinks.

4) Non-humans aren't going to have emotions as we know them. How they react to a situation will depend on the three things above. It is possible they don't know fear or love. Figuring out the emotional state of your character (or the non-emotional one if it's a robot!) will guide you with how they will act and react within the plot.

5) Even considering all of this, our readers are still human. We must make them relatable to humans. We need something for the readers to hook on to, even if it's just one trait. See that sea dragon above? She wants to fly in the sky. We can all relate to a desire to be more than we are.

Have you ever written non-human characters? Care to share any tips?

When Reading Books on #Writing and #Marketing

It's important for authors to read books on the craft and marketing and how to stay sane, or at least making it look like you're sane so they don't take away your computer, pens, and paper.

Sometimes we'll come across a book that will simultaneously light a bonfire of inspiration and make us bang our heads on the desk for doing it all wrong. Books like this are priceless. Sure, they might momentarily derail us from our goal of appearing sane, but this wicked tug-of-war with your writer's soul is a great teaching moment.

Here are four things to remember when reading books on writing and marketing:

1) There is no one right way for everyone. This is vital to remember. I'm sure you've heard every writer's journey is different. Prepare yourself, because no matter how frustrating it might be, it's true. Pantser or plotter? Whatever works best for you, or rather, for your muse. Twitter or Facebook? Hey, maybe you don't need either one. There is no magic formula for success. You just have to try everything.

2) Everything? Okay, you don't have to do it all, but it helps to try new things. This is why you must know your personal limits. What are you willing to write? Some folks won't venture into R-rated works or write stories about horses, and most people will refuse to combine the two. How much time and money can you devote to marketing? A lot of us have no money to spare. Bills must be paid. So when someone declares book ads are the only way to go, you find a different way that works for you.

3) Let the book inspire you. Get excited, talk about it, and let it propel you forward to being a better writer. Even if you don't learn anything new from the author, you still can be roused to greater heights, and that in itself is valuable.

4) Let the book open your eyes to where you're going wrong. Sometimes we can be stubborn about things. We don't want to change. This could be what's holding you back. It might send you into a wailing fit or make you want to throw your manuscript into the mouth of the Kraken, but don't do it. You can save yourself by trying something new. It might be scary and/or difficult, and it might not even work, but breaking away from stale old habits will help in the long run.

We need these books to keep learning and improving. A good writer is forever bettering herself. Even if you only find one or two nuggets of information in a book that will help you, it is one or two pieces of knowledge you didn't have before. Keep reading and you'll find more. Eventually you'll have all the components for your own magic formula.

What books on writing and marketing have inspired you lately?

5 Tips for Creating A Book Ad

Marketing is one of the toughest jobs of an author. And it's not usually one we enjoy. We're reclusive creatures and that does not mesh with being promotional gurus.

But we want to share our work with the world. One of the best ways to do so is with book ads. Maybe it's just the image of your cover with your tagline or a picture of you on your knees begging readers to buy your book. Whatever you choose to do, here are five tips for creating ads.

1) Know your audience. This means not only knowing your genre, but where your work fits in that genre. Dark, mysterious, funny? What is the theme or mood you wish to portray? What do your readers like best about your book? If it's that weird little robot sidekick, find a picture to represent it and shine the spotlight on it.

2) Make certain the font is readable. I encourage playing around with different fonts and effects, but so many times I've run across ads I couldn't read because of the font. Yes, the fancy swirls are nifty and the reflecting light looks cool, but if I can't read the ad, I won't want to read your book.

3) Images. Yes, many people suggest that displaying your book cover is essential in an ad, but I disagree. You can find images to represent different characters or scenes or a magical item. (Always make certain you have permission to use those images!) You could make your ad look like a movie poster.

4) The message. There isn't a lot of room to explain all the reasons someone should buy your book. So what can you say? Use a clever tagline or a snippet of a great review. Even a line from the story itself can work.

5) Once you've put it all together, DO NOT forget to link it to your book's buy link. Your website is okay, but if the person is interested enough to click on the ad, you want to take them to where they can buy the book immediately.

Do you have any book ad tips to share? What captures your attention when seeing an ad?

Here are a few examples of my latest ads!

Tips for Writing The Big Lie

Oh no! It can't be true.

No, it's not. But it's our job as authors to convince you of it.

The Big Lie is the part in a story which isn't real. Usually in speculative fiction, it's the focus of the story. This could be the magic your urban fantasy wizard is using or the gorgeous vampires that rule the world in your paranormal romance. Whether this untruth be subtle or glaringly obvious, the readers must be made to believe it.

So how to sell your Big Lie? Here are five tips to help you make it believable:

1) Establish rules for your world and don't stray from them. If there's magic in your world, make certain every character is subject to the same precepts. One violation and your Big Lie will crumble.

2) Weave the Big Lie in with familiar truths. Have your spaceship pilot brew coffee for himself and his alien navigator before attempting to fix the warp drive.

3) Whether the characters believe there are monsters in the closets or not, you must make the reader believe. Give the characters logical reactions and emotions. If the readers can connect to one or more of the characters, you will convince them of the Big Lie.

4) You don't have to lay bare all the mysteries of the Big Lie. What you do reveal must be consistent with the rules, though.

5) Be certain the ending doesn't ruin all the work you did to sell the Big Lie. Please, please don't be so ridiculous that it obliterates everything. This is one of the biggest mistakes I see. No dreams, journeys directed by the gods, or forced happy endings.

What is your favorite Big Lie in fiction?