Marketing Tip: Character Cards

Masterpiece's Unforgotten

I found the character card ad (pictured left) in my Facebook feed from Masterpiece Theater and thought it would be a terrific marketing tool for books.

1.You can introduce the characters with a mini biography.

2. In a paranormal story, you can list their type: werewolf, witch, angel, demon, etc. and powers.

3. In a mystery, you can introduce the sleuth, the victims, and suspects.

4. In a romance, you could have one for the protagonist and the different love interests if she has to choose.

5. You can introduce the character's role and/or motivation in the story. Are they the protagonist, antagonist, friend, or foe?

The cards could be used with any genre and for a multitude of purposes.

1. Share them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. as a fun marketing tool.

2. Have them printed out and distribute them at events. 

3. Create a collector card set for a series, much like baseball cards. This would be fun for YA and middle grade and epic Fantasy.

4. Feature them on your blog and website.

You can decide whether to use blank "egg head" avatars or use stock photos or sketches if you can draw.

As writers, we'd all love to pick our dream cast for the movie version, but avoid celebrity photos. They won't allow you to use their image for promotional purposes.

With stock photos, make sure you have the right licensing to use them this way. You can read more about using stock photos here.

I made cards for my young adult book series: Mythikas Island (available in print and ebook through Amazon).

You can use Photoshop or other photo-manipulation programs to create the cards. Here some additional resources:

Big Huge Labs 

MTG Card maker 

Deckromancy free software 

Trading Card Template

Custom Game Trading Cards

If you have discovered other unique ways to market your book, please share them in the comments.

Tips for Naming Characters

Part of the fun, and sometimes the struggle, of starting a new book is naming your characters. You should avoid names that are already famous, such as Harry Potter, Hieronymus Bosch, and Katniss Everdeen. It is best to choose something "original," though nearly impossible to find names that haven't been used before. The best you can do is choose names that haven't been "overused."

Naming your characters is similar to naming a baby. You quickly realize how many names have negative connotations, such as people you've known along the way that you didn't like, annoying relatives, ex-lovers. Luckily, there are many helpful resources for creating character names.

You can turn to baby naming sites, such as Baby Wizard.

You can find suggestions for most countries across the globe if you write about a specific place or names popular at a specific time in history.

Old Norse Names

Popular Names by Decade

British Baby Names

Behind the Name

Mom Junction

You may want something with thematic resonance and can choose names based on meaning.

Bable.com

NameBerry

Behind The Name

You may wish to use gender neutral names. 

There are many online name generators.

Character Name Generator 

Name Generator UK

Character Name Generator Fun

Name Generator Biz

Fantasy Character Names

Fantasy Name Generator 

300 Fantasy Names

FantasyNameGen

Create a Fantasy Character Name 

Things to consider when naming your cast:

Golden Rule: Do not confuse the reader.

1. Avoid too many names that start with the same letter. That doesn't mean you can't repeat a letter, just don't make them all Donna, Diana, Denise, Dinah, Dora, Don, Dan. Like many a mother who has adopted this method, you sometimes mix up the names.

2. Avoid names for main characters that sound too much alike or are confusing: Ike and Mike, Charley and Carly, Nick and Rick.

3. If possible, pick names that roll off the tongue easily: Sherlock Holmes, Elizabeth Bennett, Bruce Wayne. Avoid Engelbert Humperdinck, Gwyndoline Wymondham, etc. unless you are writing comedy or satire.

4. Avoid rhyming names unless it is for comedic effect like Nancy Clancy, Joan Jonas.

5. We've all heard a character names spoken and realize we've been mispronouncing them all along, like Siobhan (shiv + awn). If foreign names are correct for the place and time, or your fantasy world is rife with unique names, don't shy away from using them. Consider putting a page in the front or back matter to explain the pronunciation of unusual names and meanings of foreign or made-up words.

6. Unless you are writing satire, avoid on-the-nose names like Mr. Fixit for a carpenter.

7. Be careful when assigning nicknames or multiple names for the same character. While we have a tendency to call people by shortened and pet names, in fiction it is best to limit this tendency to avoid confusing the reader. If you employ nicknames and pet names or alternate names, make sure your critique group or beta readers can follow the switches and references easily. If not, cut them, no matter how much you love them. In the same category, limit the number of times characters call your characters by their names. When in real life do you start a sentence with "Sally, let's go to the mall." "Dick, you know we can't do that." etc. I've read a few books lately where they do this is every other line of dialogue. It's a small irritant, but an irritant nevertheless.

Writers love helping other writers. You can always ask online groups or forums for advice on names and titles. Be prepared for conflicting opinions.

If your book becomes a viral success, picture the title and protagonist name plastered on posters, marketing materials, and ads. The names you choose could be immortalized and forever associated with yours.

For more about how to craft characters, pick up a copy of Story Building Blocks II: Crafting Believable Conflict, available in paperback and E-book and Story Building Blocks: Build A Cast Workbook, available in paperback and E-book.

Online Writing Courses

There are many classes offered online, some with college credit, some without. They range in price accordingly. Some are from Universities and others are from professionals who want to share their passion for the subject.

1.EdX is a site that offers online college courses from a multitude of sources. 

How to Write a Novel: Writing the Draft, University of British Columbia, Whether you’re beginning your novel draft or nearing the end, this course is a unique opportunity to learn the essentials of strong fiction writing from award-winning authors sharing their proven methods and approaches. Cost is $295.

How to Write a Novel: Structure and Outline, In the tradition of the UBC MFA program, this course draws on the work habits of established authors to help writers move quickly toward creating a blueprint for a successful draft. Cost is $295.

English Grammar and Style covers grammatical principles, word usage, writing style, sentence and paragraph structure, and punctuation. Cost is $99.

2. Coursera is another source for online courses priced from $29-$99.

Grammar and Punctuation University of California, Irvine refresher on some tools needed for good writing.   

Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot 

Writing for Young Readers: Opening the Treasure Chest

Creative Writing: The Craft of Character

Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description 

Script Writing: Write a Pilot Episode for a TV or Web Series (Project-Centered Course) 

3. MIT Online offers a variety of online courses by publishing the course materials of virtually all MIT course content. OCW is open and available to the world and is a permanent MIT activity. Here is a brief list of some of the writing related courses.

Course #21W.759 Writing Science Fiction (Spring 2016) Undergraduate Level

Course # 15.269 Leadership Stories: Literature, Ethics, and Authority (Fall 2015)
Graduate level

Course #21A.270 Anthropology Through Speculative Fiction (Fall 2009)
Undergraduate level

Course #21G.010 Introduction to European and Latin American Fiction (Fall 2006)
Undergraduate level

Course #21L.003 Introduction to Fiction (Spring 2002) Undergraduate level

Course # 21L.021 Comedy (Spring 2016) Undergraduate level

Course #21L.310 Bestsellers: Detective Fiction (Fall 2006) Undergraduate level

Course #21L.430vPopular Culture and Narrative: Use and Abuse of the Fairy Tale (Fall 2015) Level

Course #21W.742J Writing About Race: Narratives of Multiraciality (Fall 2008)
Undergraduate level

Course #21W.755 Writing and Reading Short Stories (Spring 2012) Undergraduate Level

Course #21W.758 Genre Fiction Workshop: Fantasy (Fall 2016) Undergraduate Level

Course #21W.758 Genre Fiction Workshop (Spring 2013) Undergraduate Level

4. Stanford University also offers online courses at a cost of $330 per course. Whether you’re just beginning to write or putting the finishing touches on your first novel, our on-campus and online writing courses offer expert instruction, individual attention, and supportive feedback at all levels, in all genres of creative writing.

Fiction Writing Fundamentals: Discovering and Working with Your Best Material

Eavesdropping: Using Overheard Dialogue in Fiction

Fiction Writing The elements of fiction writing: narration, description, and dialogue. Students write complete stories and participate in story workshops.

Creative Writing Beginner

Creative Writing Intermediate

5. Writer's Digest offers online courses to improve your craft in the $400-$600 range.

12 weeks to a Rough Draft

Character Development: Creating Memorable Characters

Build Your Novel Scene by Scene

Advanced Novel Writing

Storytelling: Story Mapping and Pacing

Fundamentals of Fiction

6. Gotham Workshop classes offer the same quality of instruction as our NYC classes, and, as much as possible, our Online classes replicate the experience of being together in a classroom with a teacher and fellow students.

 Fiction Writing I (10-week Workshop)


Screenwriting I (10-week Workshop)

Article Writing I (10-week Workshop)

Creative Writing 101 (6-week Class)

Hit Send: Publishing Short Nonfiction (Selling Seminar)

7. Stratford Career Institute offers online courses in the $600 to $800 range.


Creative Writing  Learn to create stories and characters that are as real on paper as they are in the mind. Provide settings and create plots that will entice and inspire readers. 

Stratford's in-depth curriculum covers everything from writing structure to character development and self-editing. This thorough and fun program can help you learn fundamental writing technique to spark your best stories yet. 

8. The Writers Workshop offers online classes for $500 each in addition to their regional writing workshops. Classes include: Introduction to Fiction Writing, Intermediate Fiction Writing, Advanced Fiction Writing, and Intermediate Novel Writing.

9. The University of North Carolina offers online continuing education courses for credits:  English Comp, English Comp & Grammar, Introduction to Fiction Writing, Intermediate Fiction Writing, and Advanced Fiction Writing. 

10. Skillshare gathers people who provide video courses to help others.

Writing Standout Opening Scenes

How to Write Short Stories

Write Your First Horror Story

It would be remiss to not add my Story Building Blocks series of books which can take you from "I have an idea" to a carefully cast, soundly constructed novel, and richly drawn story world your readers won't forget. All are available in print and ebook through Amazon. There are also free worksheets and materials on my website and a great deal of information in past posts on this blog.

Story Building Blocks I has been called a "mini-MFA" course. Helps you decide what promise you wish to make to your reader and how to keep it by structuring your story in ways that meet their expectations based on genres. The fourteen Build A Plot Workbooks offer a fill-in-the-blanks road map for your story.

Story Building Blocks II: Crafting Believable Conflict: Faulty logic and missing motive are plot holes that cause reader disconnect. In Story Building Blocks II, we explore obstacles and responses at scene and overall story level. We find out how your characters navigate the world, who they love and hate, and why they behave and misbehave. The Build A Cast Workbook utilizes the same prototypes to help you create the perfect cast.

Story Building Blocks III: The Revision Layers helps you eliminate speed bumps and plot holes and present the cleanest manuscript possible whether you submit it to an agent or publisher or go the self-publishing route.

Next week, we take a look at how to name your characters.

Great Courses for Writers

 In addition to the Master Class offerings, Great Courses offers DVD and streaming classes on every topic imaginable. There are quite a few on aspects of writing.

1. Writing Great Fiction: Story Telling Tips and Techniques by James Hynes, Novelist and Writing Instructor. 

2. Analysis and Critique: How to Engage and Write about Anything by Professor Dorsey Armstrong, Ph.D. Purdue University. 

3. The Secrets of Great Mystery and Suspense Fiction by David Schmid, Ph.D.
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. 

4. How Great Science Fiction Works by Professor Gary K. Wolfe, Ph.D. 

5. Redefining Reality: The Intellectual Implications of Modern Science by Professor Steven Gimbel, Ph.D. Gettysburg College 

6. Masterpieces of Short Fiction by Professor Michael Krasny, Ph.D., San Francisco State University. 

7. English Grammar Bootcamp by Professor Anne Curzon, Ph.D. University of Michigan

8. Building Great Sentences by Brooks Landon

9. How to Market Your Book by Jane Friedman 

10. Writing Creative Nonfiction by Professor Tilar J. Mazzeo, Ph.D, Colby College 

11. Becoming a Great Essayist by Professor Jennifer Cognard-Black, Ph.D., St. Mary’s College of Maryland 

12. Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story by Professor Angus Fletcher, Ph.D.
The Ohio State University

13. The Secrets of Great Mystery and Suspense Fiction by Professor David Schmid, Ph.D., University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

14. Heroes and Legends: The Most Influential Characters of Literature by Professor Thomas A. Shippey, Ph.D., St. Louis University 

15. Trails of Evidence: How Forensic Science Works by Professor Elizabeth A. Murray, Ph.D. Mount St. Joseph University

16. Forensic History: Crimes, Frauds, and Scandals by Professor Elizabeth A. Murray, Ph.D. Mount St. Joseph University

17. The English Novel by Professor Timothy Spurgin, Ph.D., Lawrence University 

The list prices for the courses are rather high for struggling authors. But there are frequent sales with up to 70% off, especially once you create an account and get emails or mailed catalogs. Some courses are sold in sets with a price break. Share them with your writing pals or critique group if you have one. Perhaps you could all chip in together and watch the lectures together. Also check your local library. It is possible a course has been donated.

I cannot recommend these courses highly enough, especially for those going it alone and when you can't find local resources for writing classes. There are too few! Most conferences cater to beginning writers. The more you learn about your craft, the better your writing will be.

Next week, we look at online college courses.