Holly Molly In Your Story

Have you ever sat on your desk or bed or wherever with determination to write and then as soon as you opened a page your mind went blank. Yep, happens to me as well. In fact its happening right now so let's cut this chase where I try to come up with an amazing starting paragraph to lure you to read the article and get the article going.

Close your eyes (don't worry I' don't hit people through cellphones. I hit them with cellphones) now, remember all the books you have written, let it be in your head, on actual paper or online.

What is the star of those stories? The amazing protagonist, the cruel antagonist Or the protagonist with a severe lacking of pro?

Truth hurts but I know we all have tried our best to come up with characters which are not a cliche but at the end of the day, it's just putting a horn on a horse to make it look like a unicorn.

Hence, I'll tell you a secret of how to spice up your next story. 

Change the star. 

Let someone else or something else be the star of your book.

Like in Gary Marshal's movies: The valentines day, New years eve and The mothers day. Each of these had a wonderful cast but the hero of the story was the holiday setting.

Or like in the book 'let it snow: three holiday romances' by Lauren Myracle, John Green and Maureen Johnson. Where all three stories with different characters, different feels, and completely different lives, end up at the same place connected.

Or like E.lockhart's We were liers. Yes, it didn't have a holiday. It had a summer holiday but It showed a tradition of the family... and I can't tell you more because its a secret.

Holidays are so versatile and easy to use to lit up a story because nobody celebrates in the same way. We all have different ideas, different choices and a different way to enjoy. Also, we all have our troubles, shortcomings and mess which doesn't stop for a holiday.

So, add a chapter to your book showing what your characters do for the holiday. It's easy to add because there is one or the other holiday coming up. Think, what happens when all these people go around celebrating or not celebrating their holidays. What are the underlying issues that they have avoided the whole year which comes to the surface?

Or, pick up any character you've written and think what they would do during Christmas? What traditions would they follow or what things would they hate? Make it a short story.

Or you can write different characters with a goal for Christmas and let Christmas come between achieving that goal. It will surely spice up your tale and it will be unique.

In summary, never stop trying different things. The more changes you make and the more things you try, the more will your writing and book evolve.

So, be Secret Santa for each other and comment- what you do for Christmas? Pick the one you like and add it to your story.

Happy holidays~