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In this video, I share my “secret sauce” to character development process in Calypso’s Heart.
So, what’s my “secret sauce” to character development in Calypso’s Heart?
The honest answer is... I don’t know.
Now, I’m sure that’s not exactly the answer you were looking for. And I’m also sure that’s not the “proper” way I should start off with writing this blog post. But something about me that I believe is a direct reflection in my writing style and process is that I often say, “Fudge the rules.” Okay, maybe I don’t exactly use the word for the delicious sweet treat (because why would I taint such a divine gift from the Gods? ;) ) but I think you get my point.
The thing is, I didn’t go to school to be a writer. Hell, I’ve never even taken a creative writing class or anything to do with writing classes either. The only thing I know about writing is from writing those boring as hell essays in school growing up, where I spent a ridiculous amount of time learning MLA format and that cursed reference page only to be thrown the biggest curve ball of my freaking life when in college I was told to write yet another boring essay about who in the hell even remembers or cares about but make sure it was in APA format (shout out to Purdue Online Writing Lab and lots of caffeine).
Anyway, my point is my writing process, including “character development,” is probably not the norm. I didn’t just sit down one day with a lifelong dream, too much time on my hands, and pent up creative energy, and say, “I’m going to write a paranormal romance story” and then proceed to plan the plot and strategize the storyline and characters.
In fact, I wasn’t even planning on ever being an author, let alone publishing paranormal romance (PNR). Sure, I’m an avid reader of PNR and love it but it wasn’t in the realm of my conscious mind to write PNR. Until one day during the January 2019 super blood moon eclipse, I literally woke up and began writing bios for my imaginary friends (AKA the characters that were suddenly in my head introducing themselves and sharing their world with me). And as soon as I started writing, I couldn’t stop. The words and scenes were just in my mind, playing out like a movie and I just wrote them down.
This is how Calypso’s Heart was written. This is how the characters were written. This is how the “character development” was written. (PS: This is also how Book 2 (Rhyker’s Key) and Book 3 (title not yet revealed) were written).
So, I don’t have any specific ingredients to give you as to what the “secret sauce” for the character development in Calypso’s Heart is. But what I can share is that I believe in following your own creative process and your own creative compass (that creative True North that’s inside of you and I believe is guiding you). What works best for one author, may not work best for you.
And if I may leave a parting thought to all of this, it would be to follow that True North, trust your instincts and intuition, have faith in your desires and dreams, and don’t be afraid to say, “Fudge the rules!”
M.C. Solaris
❤️Author of massively epic love stories
🧜♀️Creator of emotionally satisfying fantasy escapes
✨Healing thru storytelling
✍️ Channeler of Orion’s Order
https://linktr.ee/mcsolarisauthor