Last month, I talked about the research I have put in and am putting in to make my stories more believable. Researching, pinning down facts, and applying them to your work help make your story more believable and interesting – and capture the attention of the scrutinizing police officer, medical professional, architect, or any other professional with specialized knowledge. As a writer, you store this information and use it as needed for adding richness to setting descriptions, improving characterization, the mechanics of how special equipment works, and more.
This isn’t always information your reader needs, but your application of your newfound knowledge will keep them interested and focused on the story, rather than that little piece of information you got wrong.
As I start to focus on a new book, I’m working on my setting, plot, and characters. I’m outlining the story, thinking about and describing the various settings, and working to make each character a real, believable person and not just a flat character on a page.
Teenagers talk, think, and move differently than adults. The police detective focused on solving a murder or kidnapping has a different personality than the doctor that is tending to a victim’s wounds. Getting inside each character’s head is the best way to find out more about them. Since you can’t interview a fictional character (unless it’s based on a real-life person), you’ll need to think like your character.
One of the things I’ve done in the past is ‘interview’ my characters. I asked them questions I would have asked a living person, and answered in a way that character would. It revealed a lot about my characters and story, and even caused me to change several key details.
Another thing I’ve done is take personality tests ‘as’ my characters, answering the questions in a way they would. This has also revealed some interesting aspects I hadn’t thought about, or applied to that character when I was initially imaging them. The character I originally pegged as a lover of science and technology and headed to a double major in those fields, is actually a quiet introvert more focused on art, emotion, and compassion for others. But my police detective, almost stereotypical in his desire for tradition, order, and fighting for what’s right. He does, however, have a ‘human’ side that adds a level of compassion and concern a hardened veteran detective might not have.
These characters have strengths and flaws that have been more defined by this research. Understanding how each personality works has helped me understand my characters’ minds just a little bit better. You may think this method of research is boring or unnecessary, but it’s the best way I’ve gone about getting to know my characters better. Don’t worry, you won’t see all this information dumped out onto the page. It will be working silently in the background, making your reader experience that much better.
Think about your favorite and least favorite characters, or a storyline that made you want to put the book down and never pick it up again. What was good or bad about that experience? How would you make it better?
One of the days of the Fresh Start program is dedicated to learning something new, including making a reading list for the year. Let’s make a reading list! Is there a book you’ve read recently you think everyone should read? Is there a book that has helped you do something or solve a problem? What are your goals for this year? Is there a book that will help you achieve it?
These were on my reading list last year. I didn’t get to all of them, but some I was able to buy or already had in my library for when I’m ready to read them and accept their ideas. Have you read any? How did they help you?
The One Thing — By Gary Keller
Unfu*k Yourself: A Motivational Self-Help Book – Gary John Bishop
Spark Joy: Marie Kondo
Financial Peace – Dave Ramsey
The Fitness Mindset: Eat for energy, Train for tension, Manage your mindset, Reap the results by Brian Keane
Weird Michigan
The 80/20 Principle (Richard Koch)
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Dave King
Every year for the last few years I’ve been participating in a week-long writing workshop. This workshop always takes place at the end of the year, daily, from the day after Christmas to New Year’s Day. It guides writers through a ‘fresh start’ reset and a clear plan to move forward with the year ahead. There are new writers just starting out on the journey, writers with a published catalog of ten or more, and writers like me who have nearly completed a book and are awaiting the final steps before pushing “PUBLISH”.
The workshop includes topics like outlining goals for the year and envisioning the steps of reaching those goals. One day is a comprehensive day about organization, from calendars and projecting ‘due’ dates for each step of your plan and the calendars and notebooks or other tools necessary to reach them, to fun days like creating a reading list related to your goals as well as fun or interesting books you’ve put off reading or want to revisit.
This workshop always motivates me, but it also comes with the caveat of knowing that not everything may get done, or get done this year, and that’s okay. As long as you’re working toward it and putting in the effort when you can. Creating small goals, like writing, reading, or organizing thoughts on the next project get you further than you realize. We learned the idea of the 10×100 grid and its reward system (of your own choosing) and how it can keep you motivated to keep going. The check mark, filled in square, sticker, or whatever sign you use to indicate completion adds up, and the knowledge of the disappointment of seeing an empty day on the calendar is a motivator to keep going.
I have personal goals I won’t share here, but my writing goals include the publication of my debut novel, completing the outline and first draft of the next, and at least an outline for the third. This sounds big and daunting, but the smaller steps are easier to digest and I have confidence that I will complete the first draft, with the outline of the third being an ‘it’d be great to achieve that, too’ goal.
Let’s talk about the word ‘resolution.’ Many people make a New Year’s Resolution, often tied to working out, dieting, and doing something else ‘more’ – like visiting friends or family or traveling. But what is ‘more’? If you never went to the gym last year, going for the month of January could be considered going ‘more.’ If you only saw family at Thanksgiving and Christmas, seeing them at Easter as well could be considered seeing them ‘more.’ This is where ‘resolutions’ fall apart. That’s not what you meant, is it? ‘More’ likely meant developing an ongoing habit like going to the gym three times a week, every week. Seeing family ‘more’ meant developing the habit of getting together with family outside of major holidays, perhaps once a month or every couple of months when schedules align.
The word ‘goal’ is much more flexible, and for many much more attainable. Goals can be set with a finish line you create – your goal is to lose X number of pounds by March 31. You’ll find a method of dieting and exercise that fits with your schedule and lifestyle that will still allow you to achieve that goal by the deadline. When you step on the scale on March 31 and see you’ve lost the weight – and possibly more – your goal was met by the deadline. Celebrate!
What are your goals for 2026? How do you plan to reach them? Let’s keep talking on Facebook!
Happy New Year and Welcome to 2026! I’ve spent the last month planning for the New Year and will have some great things in store. A lot of things fell under the category of “Life Happens” in 2025, but I’ll be getting back to those things this year.
I hope you had a fun time with friends and family this holiday season. Did you make any resolutions? Personally, I find resolutions limiting, and sometimes even vague. “I’ll write more this year” doesn’t give you something to work toward. “I’ll increase my social media presence” – okay, but how? I actually started working on that one back in November, when I started posting photos, memes, and articles to social media besides just Facebook and this blog. Then there are the concrete but vague goals, which you can move the dates to fit your motivation. “I’ll outline a new book.” But by when? “I’ll finish the first draft.” By when?
Make sure your resolutions become goals that you can actually measure and achieve. I look forward to sharing my accomplishments with you, as well as hearing about your successes. Let’s talk on Facebook!
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