Jars of Words

Being a villain is easy; all they do is try to kill the hero, right? Not exactly. While the villain opposes the protagonist's goal, he is more than a source of conflict. He has a heart and soul like everyone else in your story world, so develop him properly and write him well. Your villain can make or break your story. Here are a few ways to write a solid villain: 1. The villain must be as complex as the hero. Give them goals (outside killing the hero), fears, quirks, and hobbies to make them sympathetic. Sometimes, complexity comes when the villain lives in morally gray areas, which creates more conflict for the hero, too. 2. To create depth and better understand your villain, give him adequate motivation and a background. The villain must believe she’s is right. For motivation, take a common emotion and expand on it. Dig into her past and remember: one event doesn’t make a villain. One event can be a spark, but there has to be more. If you’re having troubl...

I love organizing my bookshelves; it’s relaxing, satisfying, and I feel accomplished once I’m finished. If you love it too and aren’t sure how to organize your shelves, a method below may inspire you: 1. Alphabetically a. By the author’s last name. b. By the author’s first name. 2. Color a. Rainbows are gorgeous and versatile; I’ve seen them done horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. Each shelf can be a solitary rainbow or just one color. Try an ombre, full-shelf rainbow (group all books of the same color together and have them transition into the next color as you descend the shelves). b. Create a picture with your books. Flip them around (spines facing in) and use the white pages for your design. 3. Physical characteristics a. By height (all the same, descending, ascending, or alternating). b. By the type of book (hardback vs paperback). c. Stack them. d. Have some covers face out, like in a bookstore. 4. Details a. By genre. Try delv...

I am in love with hummus. It’s creamy, healthy, and delicious. It's perfect to share with your writing buddies or to savor alone. Here's my favorite clean hummus recipe:   Simply blend: 3 tbsp water 1 can chickpeas (15.5 oz) ¼ tsp cumin ¼ tsp paprika ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp olive oil 2 tbsp tahini ⅛ tsp garlic powder ¼ tsp onion powder

By now I’m sure every writer has made New Year’s resolutions. Probably big ones, like: write more, finish my novel, read X amount of books this year, etc. Maybe small goals, like: write for one extra minute with each writing session. Those goals can sound daunting, but they don’t have to be. While discipline is integral to the writing process, inspiration has a role, too. When writing is fun, you’ll want to do it and be more likely to. Here’s how to make writing more enjoyable: 1. Write somewhere you love by creating a space you’ll want to be in. Choose somewhere comfortable and with few distractions. It could be a desk, a recliner, a corner of your bedroom, or a blanket fort. Decorate your space with personal things that delight and inspire you: photos, trinkets, figurines, lights, origami animals, quotes, etc. Let some sunlight in, put fun plants around to clean the air, and keep it organized. If you get bored in one area, change it up - write in different places to keep ...