Blog Spotlight: "Better Novel Project" by: Christine Frazier

​©T.B. Cooper

When I decided it was finally time to focus on my writing career,
I went full speed ahead into researching everything I needed to know to be competent and actually excel.

I started with my standard “go to.”
I bought books.
Lots and Lots of books.

I bought books related to every aspect of the world I wanted to create for just one of the series I was musing around with...
A world that is semi-realistic, semi-fantasy...
​So I loaded my amazon.com cart and probably drove my mail carrier crazy with all of the books on myths, fairy tales, lost cities, ancient ruins, forgotten religions, and everything else in between, that I was constantly ordering and devouring..

Small portion of 'lots and lots of books'

Then it hit me...

I could tell a story, I had characters, I had an idea of where I wanted to go with all of it, but in reality-- I had no idea what I was doing!
I wanted a masterpiece, I'd bought all the materials, tools, and supplies necessary to create one, but I'd forgotten ALL of the (proverbial) User Manuals.

I am a 'LIST' person, a 'Write down on Paper the Plan' person.​
For the Large Scale Projects I was planning on creating, I needed more.
I wanted to know every single detail, mark, point etc., that I needed to hit.

​I quote it often, because it is so true:

“Whatever you are, be a good one”
Abraham Lincoln

​To find out more about this great President, visit:

​​​http://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/abrahamlincoln

​Everything I do in life, if it is worth my time, if it is worth doing--I go BIG. Period. I take every shred of info and instinct that I can find, and combine it all into this new-morphed-thing.

Anyway...

On my journey to become the best writer I could possibly be, I've bought books on structure, character viewpoints, dialogue, setting, etc. I've also scoured the internet for helpful clues, and have discovered several sites (you might have heard of) for helping writers. One is aptly named: Helping Writers Become Authors by: K.M. Weiland (which I'll spotlight next month), but one of my other favorites is Better Novel Project by: Christine Frazier.

Christine Frazier (Christine’s Photo Courtesy of Jon Michael Moses. Picture featured on Better Novel Project)

From Christine's site, I have discovered many useful gems of details to pay attention to, that normally go overlooked. I'm talking about the tiny details that only the masters are intimately;y aware of on a subconscious level. Ms. Frazier's brilliant mind sees patterns, where many people might miss them/not see them.

There really is a wealth of information on the Better Novel Project... from Outlining your story to Creating your Characters, and all of this comes from her unique way of dissecting 3 of the best-selling novels-turned-movies, written in recent years: Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games.

So, where to start?

Well, I could start at the beginning of course, and highlight every spicy meatball she's discovered, but that would take far too long, and I honestly feel you should venture over there to her site, bookmark it, and visit it often in your own time. But I would like to touch on my (unofficial) 5 favorites...

But first,

Everything on Better Novel Project, all of her suggestions, thoughts, and ideas, are done on 'cards.' As if her website is a superb collection of index cards that mark important aspects/details in each chapter of the three selected books, and how you (the writer) can apply these 'cards' to your own story.

In her “Master Outline,” Christine gathers together her 'cards' into a cohesive structure that ANYONE can follow along with; including extremely well-written posts linked to each 'card' that explains what each detail is, where in each book it is referenced, and most importantly—why it matters.

Her 'index cards' have labels such as:
Hero's Trait,
Scene Card,
Character Card,
Theme Card,
and Symbolism Card.

To make this simple, I have decided to pick a 'favorite' within each one of these 'categories.'

*Hero's Trait-- Chekhov's Gun
*Scene Card-- Why Your Hero should Eavesdrop and Make a Bad Assumption (in 4 Steps)
*Character Card-- Writing the Sidekick Archetype (Part II)
*Theme Card-- Racial/Ethnic Tension
*Symbolism Card-- The 9 Secret Roles of Food in Fiction

Click on any of the pictures below, to take you to the corresponding card on Better Novel Project!

Hero Card: Chehkov's Gun

Scene Card: Why your Hero should Eavesdrop and make a Bad Assumption (in 4 steps)

Character Card: Writing the Sidekick Archetype (Part II)

Theme Card: Racial/Ethnic Tension

Symbolism Card: The 9 Secret Roles of Food in Fiction

I HIGHLY suggest that if you are an aspiring writer, you check out Better Novel Project, first.
You are sure to find excellent notes and instructions on outlining and planning your Word Baby.
If you're a seasoned vet, I'm sure stopping by and seeing what Christine has come up with,
might just surprise you and expose some new ideas.


Note: I was NOT asked to do this piece.
In fact, I'm still unsure about the proper etiquette required in the 'Blogging Community,' when it comes to
what I should do when I mention another blogger/writer etc.
Do I message them on the Blog Post, the one I reference?
Or do I attempt to direct email/message them?
Do I do anything?


Well, while I find the answers to these questions (which I'd appreciate hearing from you if you have any suggestions),
I hope in the meantime you'll check out Better Novel Project, and of course, my recent posts...
​
Until Next Time!