The Writing Life

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Whenever someone finds out I’m a writer, I usually see widened eyes, hear a few “wows,” and sometimes I think they smell money. Their reactions always make me laugh. None of these people would want me to balance their checkbook — and most wouldn’t want to spend hours alone inside the writing process either. And I’m …

Understanding Story Foundations—Personality

DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Understanding personalities takes work and patience. Characters are like us—unique individuals whose preferences and life experiences determine our behavior and personality. Most of us recognize a character as an introvert or extrovert, but do we know to what extreme? Is the character a little introverted or a lot? Are they a friendly extrovert or an over-the-top, people-person? …

Behind the Scenes of Writing a Novel

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Writers spend hours, weeks, months, and sometimes years working on behind-the-scenes research in writing a novel. I’m no different. The story must be so real to the readers that they block the outside world and become the character. Research involves thoroughly understanding the protagonist and antagonist. This includes how they live, earn a living, and react/respond …

What Do Writers Eat for Breakfast?

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Have you considered what successful writers eat for breakfast? It must be The Breakfast of Champions, or are they just regular people with normal tastes? I posed this question to several writers, and wow, the surprising responses! I arranged this list from most popular to . . . different. Coffee: 15—This includes the coffee-only bunch. My …

What My Characters Teach Me

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills If I don’t change and grow into a better person when writing a story, I’ve failed —not just the characters, but also the storyline, my readers, myself, and the God who gifted me with the ability to write. My characters help me see life from a new perspective, offering deeper insights into how others live in …

The Differences Between Christian and General Market Suspense

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Before diving into the differences between Christian and general market suspense, let’s first define a suspense novel. A suspense novel uses highly developed characters, excitement, real or imagined fear, anxiety about something potentially violent, and high stakes to create an emotionally charged experience for the reader. The fast-paced stories use literary techniques to keep the character’s …

Love and Danger: Why Romance and Suspense Are a Perfect Match

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnn Mills Love and danger have caught the reader’s attention since the beginning of time. Storytellers gathered faithful listeners around a crackling fire and told stories that caused others to tremble with danger and swoon with romance. The match seems perfect, but why does it work? The following parts of a novel show why love and danger …

October 22 – National Color Day

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills National Color Day celebrates how every person interprets the way  light reflects or bounces off an object. The experience is more than what we see and enjoy or avoid. The various hues and shades impact us creatively, physically, and psychologically. Color is one of my favorite literary tools to show emotion and encourage readers to join …