Jars of Words

A platform is essentially the writer in an online form. Your platform is how you reach readers and writers and how they can glimpse your personality. Furthermore, agents and editors seriously consider how an author presents themself online. They look at what you’re posting, how consistent you are, your audience, your popularity, and much more. 1. Create a concise description of yourself as a writer. List a few major accomplishments, passions, and what you offer to potential readers. This can go in your bios or it can be used when submitting articles. 2. Ask yourself who you want to reach and how you want them to view you. Based on your conclusion, brainstorm three to four topics your platform will focus on. Choose things you are passionate about and that mesh well together. In continuation, the way people feel about you is largely determined by your use of color, font, article topics, and so on. 3. Select social media sites you will use. Remember, it isn’t necessary to use all...

I finished my first draft two months ago and have been looking for things to write about during my break. It was tough at first, and I’m still working through it. If you, too, are struggling to find a story idea, I’m here to help. Asking God for guidance in your search could lead to something greater than you expected. Here’s a quick prayer before you get started:           Abba, thank You for this great calling to write. I appreciate this gift and thank You for every blessing in my life. Please let me glorify You with my next project. Guide my heart to the right story idea, one that is fruitful, pleasing to You, and satisfying to work on. In Jesus’s name, Amen. Let’s begin! 1. Journaling gets creative juices flowing. Knowing your own unique worldview can help you write your character’s. Take note of simple things that interest you, like a funny anecdote or an inside joke. 2. Word sprints are great because you don’t...

Character creation is among the toughest skills to master. Readers will spend hours with your characters, so you want them to be good. It’s helpful to know what readers want before beginning the creation process. Mostly, readers want to see themselves reflected in your characters. They want people who get what they’re going through but also fascinate them. How I Create Characters 1. Journal. Readers sympathize with characters when they have a worldview that touches on hidden truths we all forget. So practice writing honest characters by keeping a journal of details you notice about the world. 2. Who is your character? What quirks, stances, flaws, habits, preferences, contrasts, beliefs, and attitudes (even towards small things) make her unique? This is where journaling is important. Take interesting details about other people and give them to your character. Character Bios are useful, too. 3. Dig deeper. What does she fear most, and what happens when she must face it? What ...

A story is primarily about entertaining. Don’t get me wrong, our books produce messages that change readers’ views and teach them. But people read fiction for the entertainment value, otherwise, they’d read a self-help book. The best way to add entertainment value to your novel is through plot twists. End each scene in a way that catches readers off-guard but is more satisfying than any alternative ending. It can’t just be an attention grab; it must be better than readers’ expectations, logical, and add meaning to the story. There are generally three kinds of twists. 1. Something believable out of nowhere. Make readers uncertain about the direction of the story, then give them an ending that is not what they would have guessed, but is the only possible solution in retrospect. 2. Turn expectations against the reader. Lead the reader into certainty of an event or culprit (if you’re writing a mystery), then reveal that things weren’t going in that direction at all. They were g...

I never paid much attention to description until I realized its importance to a story. Readers can’t imagine what is happening if they can’t picture who it’s happening to or where. Readers want to read description and are delighted when it’s crafted well. Here is how I create meaningful description. The reader should be immediately oriented to the scene’s setting and characters. In order to connect with your story, readers need to visualize where it takes place and to whom. One lengthy paragraph becomes dull; give readers only what’s essential to the plot and dole out your description between action and dialogue. If what you’re describing is less important to the plot, it deserves less description. Begin with the basics then draw into specific details. A character’s figure is most noticeable, then their features, then their mannerisms. The same goes for your setting. Give a general layout, then dig into the five senses and a few metaphors, then what’s lying around. Foc...

It’s easy to forget your target audience and motivation while writing. It’s even easier to start writing without an idea of who you want to reach and why. We all have done this at one point or another. When we lose sight of our motivation for a project, the draft dies in a few days and nothing can resuscitate it. That is why it is so important to reevaluate why you write often. So why are you writing? It doesn’t matter what you write - creative fiction, non-fiction, Christian fiction, secular fiction, and more. If you are a writer, this post is for you. Do you write for the money or so people will know your name? Do you write for ministry? For fun and pleasure? I write because God called me to. I write because I love it and I’m passionate about it.  These reasons come first for me. What’s also important is that we write for others. Write to share your love with them and because you have compassion for them. Don’t trick them with literary gimmicks or try to force a...