J. J. Hanna © 2024 It was the time of year when forests always seemed to beckon visitors off the path. Most of the time, trees are what they seem: strong, stoic plants that guard the wild spaces. They are wood and greenery, alive yet locked in place and limited to wherever their roots areContinue reading “Off the Path: a Halloween Story”
Tag Archives: writing
Humanity At Home
J. J. Hanna © 2023 The older I’ve gotten, the more at home I feel in coffee shops and cafes. There’s something distinctly comforting about the constant hums of machinery, the smells of freshly ground and brewed coffee beans, and the atmosphere of groups of strangers sharing intimate moments. The environment itself is welcoming, theContinue reading “Humanity At Home”
Using The Five Senses in Writing
When you step outside, a bunch of things happen at once. You see your surroundings, you smell the freshness of the air, you feel the sun’s warmth on your face, you hear the birds singing, and when you raise your coffee mug to your lips, you taste the nutty and tangy flavors accompanying your morningContinue reading “Using The Five Senses in Writing”
The “Misunderstood” Villain
Updated: Feb 24, 2020 “He’s not evil. He’s just misunderstood.” This phrase floated around the internet a lot during the prime of Loki’s Army. I’ve heard it in reference to other villains as well, but as a member of Loki’s Army, well, I’m biased. However, this has become a trope. Villains are becoming less “evil” andContinue reading “The “Misunderstood” Villain”
How to Write a Suspense Novel: Overlapping Motivations
Updated: Oct 18, 2021 This post is part of a continuing discussion on How to Write a Suspense Novel. What you’ll need to write a strong suspense novel: I’ve discussed villain and hero motives before, but as I’ve been editing through my current work in progress and getting feedback from beta readers, I realized another keyContinue reading “How to Write a Suspense Novel: Overlapping Motivations”
How to Write A Suspense Novel: Motives for the Protagonist’s Involvement
Updated: Oct 18, 2021 This is the fourth and final week of a blog series about how to write suspense novels. In the past few weeks I focused on each of the aspects below in the “what you’ll need” section. What you’ll need: This week I’ll be discussing options for your main character to be involvedContinue reading “How to Write A Suspense Novel: Motives for the Protagonist’s Involvement”
How to Write a Suspense Novel: Tips on Differing Points of View
Updated: Oct 18, 2021 This is the third week of a blog series about how to write suspense novels. In the next few weeks I’ll be focusing on one of the aspects below in the “what you’ll need” section. What you’ll need: This week I’ll be discussing how POV can affect your story, and why varyingContinue reading “How to Write a Suspense Novel: Tips on Differing Points of View”
How to Write a Suspense Novel: Raising the Stakes with a Deadline
Updated: Oct 18, 2021 Last week, I began a series about how to write suspense novels. In the next few weeks I’ll be focusing on one of the aspects below in the “what you’ll need” section. What you’ll need: This week I’ll be discussing why a strict timeline is vital to the plot of a suspenseContinue reading “How to Write a Suspense Novel: Raising the Stakes with a Deadline”
How To Write a Suspense Novel: Character Archetypes
Updated: Oct 18, 2021 It’s time to dive into how to write suspense novels, how to fix tension in your plots, and how to craft characters worth rooting for. In the next few weeks I’ll be focusing on one of the aspects below in the “what you’ll need” section. What you’ll need: We’ll start with theContinue reading “How To Write a Suspense Novel: Character Archetypes”
Uncommon Motives for your Antagonist
Updated: Feb 24, 2020 It’s been a little while since I took a moment to talk about villains or antagonists, so for this post, I’m going to suggest some different motivations for your antagonist beyond the typical revenge, money, jealousy options. Curiosity. I haven’t seen this one done very often, but it can be a funContinue reading “Uncommon Motives for your Antagonist”