5 Ways to Create Passion in Your Story

by Guest DiAnn Mills

Readers are looking for an intense experience that whisks them away into our character’s world. No longer do they want to read about a character on a journey; they crave to be that person. Readers must be passionately involved with every breath, thought, word, and action in our stories. When readers are disappointed in a writer’s inability to create this world for them, they toss the book aside. And they may never read another word of ours again.

Writers, we can’t let this happen.

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” ― William Wordsworth

How can we ensure our readers have the adventure they deserve?

The writer must have passion for the story.

Only when a story robs us of our sleeping hours and keeps us in a fog during the day can we begin the process. Until then, the words are merely taking refuge on paper.

The writer must spend time getting to know the character.

Prewriting our novels takes time, thought, and lots of mental exhaustion. Ask questions, research, interview, and probe through the forbidden dark places of your character’s mind. Sometimes those places come from our own minds. Use the one fear that stalks them to show character growth and change. Know the character’s backstory as it effects the story. If it doesn’t matter to the character, it won’t matter to the reader.

“First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!”

– Ray Bradbury

The writer must create from her own personal pain.

For readers to feel anger, happiness, sadness, fear, contempt, disgust, and loneliness, we must rip the scars off our hearts and write authentically. Be that character no matter how foreign the experience. Emotions in conflict add tension to every line of story. Slam your character into a corner, watch her squirm and fight her way out.

The writer is convinced her character plays the perfect role.

Only your character can be the one to tread where no one has gone before. Only your character has the past, flaws, weaknesses, victories, goals, and determination to ensure the story ripples with emotion. We all experience life in a different manner, and your character’s inner and outer expressions have to coincide with how she perceives each moment of story.

The writer must select the exact point of view.

This tip is twofold.

1. The deeper the POV, the more the reader can identify with the character. 2. Every time we change point of views, we are asking the reader to step out of the character’s closet, undress, and dress again in the new character’s POV. How many times is that transition necessary for our story? How often will readers move their passion to another character?

Passion wraps its arm around emotion, and within that depth of writing, the writer can provide an adventure that ripples with credibility and unexpected happenings.

How do you create passion in your story?

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DiAnn will be giving away a copy of Deep Extraction today! Please let us know in the comments if you'd like to be entered. Winner will be announced in the weekend edition.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall. Connect with DiAnn here: www.diannmills.com

 Deep Extraction

A SUSPICIOUS DEATH, A SECRET PLOT, A BUDDING ROMANCE. A pacemaker should have saved oil and gas magnate Nathan Moore’s life. Instead, it provided his killer with a perfect means of execution. Special Agent Tori Templeton teams up with US Marshall Cole Jeffers to investigate Nathan’s murder and whether it’s connected to a recent bombing at one of Nathan’s oil rigs. The closer they get to finding the killer, and to each other, the more intent someone is in silencing them for good.

A Writer’s Tenacity

With Guest Blogger DiAnn Mills

How vested are you in your writing goals? 

Some writers view their work as a hobby. If it works and they sell, great. If the market rejects their writing, no problem. Nothing’s vested for them. They can always try something new.

Some writers are afraid to grasp onto their dreams. They are commonly referred to as closet-writers. If they fail, they haven’t lost anything. Or have they?

Other writers are doggedly determined to make it. Doesn’t matter how long it takes to learn the craft. Doesn’t matter how many rejections. Doesn’t matter how many rewrites. Doesn’t matter the intricate nuances of marketing and promotion. They are persistent. Just try to tell them they don’t have what it takes to succeed, and their tenacity raises another notch. Those are my kind of writers. Because I’m one of them.

I believe the cost of doing everything to reach writing goals far outweighs the cost of doing nothing. Failure is not an option.

Below is a acronym for tenacity. Take a look. Can you incorporate these tips into your writing life?

T  is for Thick Skin. A writer needs rhino skin to survive the publishing world. We must learn the craft, a continuing process. We toughen up to accept constructive criticism and move forward to write a quality story that honors God and entertains the reader.

E is for Entertain. Whether plot driven or character driven, story’s foremost purpose is to entertain the reader with unforgettable characters and a unique plot. Stretch yourself to create a memorable experience.

N is for Never Give Up. When a critique points out flaws and weaknesses in our manuscript; or when a friend or family member believes you’re wasting your time; or when an agent or editor rejects a manuscript; it’s easy to walk away. But a successful writer never gives up. I treasure Winston Churchill’s statement, “Never, never, never give up.” I also value his quote, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” In fact, that is how we writers often feel when we’re struggling with our stories.

A is for Active. An active writer understands her career is not spent behind a desk. She  becomes involved in a writer’s group and attends writer conferences. Networking within the industry is necessary for professional contacts and friendships. An active writer keeps her body in shape. An unhealthy body means an unhealthy mind, and that means creativity crashes.

C is for Characters. Characters are the lifeblood of a novel. Their roles live in the hearts of our readers. We have a responsibility to fully develop our characters physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Characters reveal themselves in every aspect of our novels, so the reader never forgets them.  

I is for Inspire. One of our goals is to inspire readers to grow and change, and become better people. We accomplish this by showing a character who walked through fire and survived. We want readers to be inspired by our stories and discover ways for them to live triumphantly

T is for Truth. Story is a vehicle to show truth. It’s revealed in our premise and theme, surfacing in our protagonists attitudes and motivation. God may not be mentioned in our novels, but His truth reigns in characterization and plot.

Y is for You. Each writer has been given a gift. The writer can choose to ignore it, play with it, give it back, or develop the gift into a beautiful story. I can’t do it for you. It’s your seed to nurture and grow.

Tenacity. What does it mean to you? Can you grip it firmly and never let go? What keeps you determined to reach your publishing goals?

GIVEAWAY!  DiAnn is generously giving away a signed copy of Deadlock! Let us know in the comments if you'd like to be entered.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

 Available Now!

Deadlock

Two murders have rocked the city of Houston. Are they the work of a serial killer, or is a copycat trying to get away with murder?

That is the question facing Special Agent Bethany Sanchez, who is eager for her new assignment in violent crimes but anxious about meeting her new partner. Special Agent Thatcher Graves once arrested her brother, and he has a reputation for being a maverick. Plus, their investigative styles couldn’t be more opposite: he operates on instinct, while she goes by the book.

When hot leads soon fizzle out, their differences threaten to leave them deadlocked. But an attempt on their lives turns up the heat and brings them closer together, and a third victim might yield the clue that will help them zero in on a killer. This could be the case of their careers . . . if they can survive long enough to solve it.