Creating compelling characters is one of the most crucial parts of writing a book. Readers connect with stories through characters, so making them feel real, dynamic, and engaging is essential. Here’s a step-by-step guide to developing strong characters for your book:

1. Start with the Basics
Before you get into the deeper layers of your character, start with the fundamental details:

• Name – Choose a name that fits the world of your story. Consider meaning, time period, and cultural background.
• Age – This affects behavior, experiences, and perspective.
• Physical Appearance – Not just hair and eye color, but also mannerisms, posture, and unique features.

2. Give Them a Purpose in the Story
Every character should serve a role. Ask:

• What is their main goal? (The protagonist wants to win the race, find the treasure, escape danger, etc.)
• What is stopping them? (The antagonist, inner fears, external forces.)
• How do they grow? (What lesson do they learn by the end of the story?)

Characters should evolve in some way. If they stay the same, the story feels stagnant.

3. Develop Their Backstory
A well-rounded character has a past that influences their actions. Consider:

• Where did they grow up? (City, small town, different planet?)
• What was their childhood like? (Happy, troubled, privileged?)
• Significant life events? (Loss, triumphs, traumas?)
• Who influenced them? (Parents, mentors, enemies?)

Even if this information doesn’t make it into the final book, it will help shape how they think and act.

4. Give Them Strengths and Flaws
Perfect characters are boring. Readers relate to characters who have strengths and weaknesses.

• Strengths: Intelligence, bravery, loyalty, determination, wit.
• Flaws: Stubbornness, selfishness, insecurity, impulsiveness.

A good balance of both makes characters feel human.

5. Define Their Voice and Personality
How does your character talk? How do they interact with others?

• Formal or casual? Do they use slang? Are they precise with words?
• Optimist or pessimist? Do they see the glass as half-full or half-empty?
• Introvert or extrovert? Do they thrive in social settings or avoid them?
• Quirks? Do they bite their nails, hum when nervous, or never use contractions when they speak?

Distinctive traits make characters memorable.

6. Create Conflict
Characters are most interesting when they’re struggling with something. Consider:

• Internal conflict: Fear of failure, guilt, insecurity, indecision.
• External conflict: A rival, a dangerous journey, a ticking clock.

If your character’s life is too easy, there’s no reason for readers to keep turning the pages.

7. Make Their Actions Believable
A character’s decisions should be based on their personality and experiences. If a timid librarian suddenly picks up a sword and slays a dragon without hesitation, it won’t feel earned. Show how they develop the courage to act.

8. Surprise Your Readers
Give your character depth by making them unpredictable—but still consistent with their personality. Maybe the villain loves poetry. Maybe the hero has a fear of the dark. Avoid clichés by adding unexpected layers.

9. Use Relationships to Reveal Character
A character’s interactions with others say a lot about who they are.

• How do they treat their best friend vs. a stranger?
• Who do they confide in? Who do they hide things from?
• How do their relationships change over the course of the story?

10. Test Your Character’s Strength
A great way to see if your character is well-developed is to ask:

• Would I recognize them based on their dialogue alone?
• Would they make the same choice at the start and end of the book? (Growth!)
• Do they feel like a real person?

If your character feels like they could step off the page and into real life, you’ve done your job well.

Final Tip: Let Your Characters Surprise You
​Sometimes, as you write, your characters will take on a life of their own. Let them. If they start acting in ways you didn’t plan but it feels natural, follow where they lead. That’s a sign you’ve created something truly special.
Would you like help fleshing out a specific character?

Crafting the perfect book plot is both an art and a science. You need inspiration, structure, and a roadmap to guide your story from a mere idea to a compelling narrative. Whether you're writing a novel, a thriller, or a children's book (perhaps even one about a Marshmallow Monster!), a strong plot and a solid outline will keep you on track and help you avoid writer’s block.
Here’s how to develop a gripping plot and outline your book for success.

Step 1: Start with a Strong Concept
Every great book starts with a compelling "What if?" question.

• What if a small-town librarian discovered an ancient book that could predict the future?
• What if a child’s imaginary friend turned out to be real… and in danger?
• What if a marshmallow monster roamed a moonlit marsh, searching for friendship instead of fear?

Your central idea should be intriguing, and it should hint at conflict, stakes, and transformation.

Step 2: Develop Your Core Story Elements

1. The Protagonist (Your Hero)
Who is your main character? What do they want more than anything? What’s holding them back?
A great protagonist is flawed, relatable, and driven by a goal.

2. The Antagonist (Your Villain or Force of Opposition)
The stronger the antagonist, the more gripping the story. Your villain (or opposing force) should be just as motivated as the hero, even if their motivations are twisted.

3. The Conflict
At the heart of your story is conflict—what the hero struggles against. There are different types of conflict:

• Internal Conflict: A character battling their own fears, doubts, or desires.
• External Conflict: A battle against a person, society, nature, or a monster in a marsh.

4. The Stakes
What happens if the hero fails? The higher the stakes, the more invested readers will be.

Step 3: Choose a Plot Structure
Now, it’s time to shape your story using a tried-and-true plot structure.

Popular Story Structures:

1. The Three-Act Structure:
   • Act 1: Introduce the characters, setting, and conflict.
   • Act 2: The hero faces obstacles and setbacks.
   • Act 3: The climax and resolution.
2. The Hero’s Journey: (Great for fantasy and adventure stories.)
   • The hero leaves their ordinary world, faces trials, and returns transformed.
3. Save the Cat Beat Sheet: (Perfect for pacing and structure.)
   • This method includes beats like "The Opening Image," "The Catalyst," and "The Dark Night of the Soul."

Choose the structure that best fits your story’s needs.

Step 4: Outline Your Book
A book outline doesn’t need to be rigid—it’s your roadmap, not a prison. Here’s how to create a flexible yet structured outline:

1. Brainstorm Key Scenes
Write down the major events that need to happen. Think of it like setting up dominoes—each scene should lead to the next.

2. Use the "Tentpole Method"
Instead of outlining every single detail, focus on major turning points:

• The Inciting Incident: What sets the story in motion?
• The Midpoint: A game-changing moment.
• The Climax: The ultimate confrontation.
• The Resolution: How everything wraps up.

3. Create Chapter Summaries
Write a one-paragraph summary for each chapter. This keeps you on track while leaving room for creativity.

4. Keep It Flexible
Your story will evolve as you write. Allow yourself the freedom to adjust your outline when inspiration strikes.

Final Thoughts: Bringing It All Together
A strong plot and a clear outline don’t take away the magic of writing—they enhance it. By giving yourself a structured path, you free up creative energy for developing rich characters, exciting twists, and compelling prose.

Whether you’re writing an epic fantasy or a charming children’s book, taking the time to develop your plot and outline will set you up for storytelling success.
​
Now, grab that notebook (or Scrivener file) and start plotting your next masterpiece!
What’s your go-to outlining method? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Speculative fiction doesn’t exist on its own; instead it burrows itself within genres such as fantasy, sci-fi, and horror like a mutant-slime trying to take over the ‘body’ of the story. All that’s required is a single story component levitating right outside of our reality, then you’ll find yourself reading a tale of speculative fiction. It’s often an unexpected twist of the impossible, a creepy troll, a man with multiple lives, a cat transfiguring into a child. If written well the twist seems quite possible. The story might make you check the shifting shadows under your bed for glowing eyes, hesitate taking a dip in a murky lake because of that bumpy log, or search the night sky for an unworldly flash of light. At the same time the story could take you far outside the realm of the possible with elements so spectacular that you can’t imagine it ever happening, legions of axe wielding dwarves or blood sucking interstellar arachnids invading your very neighborhood or a far off realm. ​

​Rebecca LuElla Miller an expert on speculative fiction and contributor to SpeculativeFaith.com agrees with my explanation of the genre. She adds a summarization of Orson Scott Card’s perspective, “The genre can be summed up as the category of stories which violate known reality at some point: stories set in the future; set in the historical past that contradict known facts; set in other worlds; set on earth before recorded history and/or contradicting the known archaeological record; that contradict laws of nature.” Rebecca explains the genre’s fruitful growth, “With the increase in the number of independent publishers and the ease of self-publishing, speculative fiction, and Christian speculative fiction in particular, is available in increasing numbers. From what I’ve read in the past ten years, Christian speculative fiction, which has steadily improved in quality, now has titles that can hold their own against general market speculative stories.” That’s encouraging, because I love reading stories that delve just outside of reality. Visit SpeculativeFaith.com and to find articles and book recommendations to satisfy your growing hunger for speculative fiction, because let’s face it, its scrumptious. It’s like eating your favorite milk chocolate covered alien worm, you just can’t get enough--another example of speculative fiction.

​The quick and purest answer is God — the Master and Creator of the whole world, the universe for that matter. We know from the very beginning of the Bible that God created a wonderful place for His beloved creation (us) to live within. He thought of everything and as John Hammond in the movie Jurassic Park said of his genetically engineered animal park, “I spared no expenses.” Neither did God.

God created man in His own image, and gave us control over all creatures on land, in the sea, and in the sky. He handcrafted a world with soaring mountains, seemingly bottomless sea trenches, puffy white clouds, rolling liquid rock (lava), animals that run, birds that fly, fish that swim, water as ice, fog, or rain. He gave us emotions that gave our life depth and made it real. God crafted a beating heart tot work within our body; providing life blood to our systems, each of which is also handcrafted — from kidneys that clean, a stomach to digest, a tongue to taste, ears to hear, and eyes to see, to a brain to take it all in and make it all work together.
​
All the above to say, we are His creation, His greatest creation, and He made us in His image. By doing so He made us gifted to be creative like He was. And then He surrounded us with things to inspire our creativity. Wow, what didn’t He think of? The answer nothing.

There is a solution to getting these often direct lessons in a nonfiction book into the minds of your kids through the power of fiction. Generally perceived as entertainment, fiction books can provide the exact same values and lessons you wish your adolescents to pick up on. The genres and stories run the gamut, from what authentic love looks like to Biblical allegories, powerful character traits, epic tales that shine light on deep friendship, heroic feats that teach kids to stand up for what they know is right even in the face of adversity, or telling the truth no matter the consequences.

As an author, I not only look at the theme of my entire series and each individual book when I write, but I also try to provide examples within the details of the characters starring in my stories. Take Oliver for instance: he’s got great leadership skills, he’s strong, he’s confident, and he’s courageous—he’s everything a young man wants to be. But he’s also at times arrogant, quick to anger, impatient to listen, and not willing to work as a team. Oliver needs to be relatable to his readers, but he also has to grow right alongside them. We watch his character develop, and in the end, the readers see traits they wish to embody.

If you think back to the books you loved most growing up—or even now—you’ll probably find in some way you relate to a character, whether through their past, their journey, or who they become. Maybe it’s not that you’re just like them, but they embrace the traits you aspire to have. They may give you the courage to make a change in your life or conquer a fear. What characters in stories have done for you, they can also do for your kids.

When shown through the characters of an exciting adventure or emotional journey, character traits can connect with a reader without making them feel the lesson is being forced upon them. Your kids will find themselves relating their own lives and their own journeys to the characters of the story. Even vast epics like the Lord of the Rings teach character traits your kid will relate to such as you can accomplish things greater than yourself, being wealthy is not the most important thing in life, be honest with others and yourself, be courageous, and size doesn’t matter, having “heart” does.

​And if your kids still resist a fiction book handed to them by you, enlist the help of a cool aunt or uncle, or perhaps an older cousin. Personal recommendations for books go a long way in engaging a reader. Often if someone likeminded has invested in reading a book or series, your kid is more likely to see the investment as worth their own time. ​

This mountain is so inspiring. And today I'm working on the final revisions to Hope. Thanks God for the big dose of BEAUTY! 

I need your help in creating more fiction. I've launched Crimson Pulse Media LLC, a media company focused on creating engaging adventure filled fiction for your family. We've got brand new series planned. Take a look at our release schedule HERE>>> 

Publishing takes time and costs money. That's where I need you to step up and come along side me and the amazing authors and editors that Crimson Pulse Media is working with. Would you consider a small monthly donation of $3? You'll get some cool new rewards, which include an e-copy of every Crimson Pulse Release. Plus if you upgrade to $8 a month, you'll get one Crimson Pulse paperback of your choice every Christmas!

Crimson Pulse Media is already off and running, but we need you to keep going. Your support will fuel us to keep producing awesome new stories for years to come.

It's official. I am now on Patreon and hoping you'll come along with me on the next great adventure. Many of you have been asking for the next book in a certain series, or wondering how you might support me as an author. Well, here is a great way to do so.

You may be wondering what Patreon is?
Patreon allows content creators to develop patrons (in my case readers) to partner with them and create great new content.

What I need you to do, is headed over to my Patreon account and find a pledge amount that works for you. Depending on which level of pledge you choose, you'll receive certain rewards in return. mostly you'll get a copy of each new Crimson Pulse Media book release. 

Why should I support you through Patreon? 
Patreon will allow me to create new books more quickly. By having patrons pledged to a project I can estimate my budget for each new title I release. 

Creating books together has never been easier with the many amazing self-publishing tools out there. And while I will still release titles with traditional publishers (The Quest for Truth, Crimson Sparrow, Imagination Station, Nova,) I will also be able to release books like Wasted Wood, Sages of Darkness books, and sub-stories from The Quest for Truth.

I get asked a lot about my writing process and what tools or tricks I use to create a great story. This post focuses on the tools I use to polish my writing. 

Here are the two tools I use to help me along my writing journey. I have purchased both and use them regularly. If you're preparing a manuscript for a proposal or writing an article for your blog or a magazine, you'll want to check it with one of these tools first. 

Test a sample of your writing with Grammarly

Click the graphic to test out the second tool for FREE