If you're an Amazon.com reader, you might be new to this blog, so I'd like to take a moment to welcome you and let you know about some new developments.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The Tarot for Writers guidebook will be released in February, 2009. Click the image to pre-order your copy today."]

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First of all, welcome!
For the last few months, I've been getting ready for the release of my next book,
Tarot for Writers. While most people think of tarot cards as a fortune-telling device, they're also an excellent tool for creative writers. The Tarot for Writers guidebook will show you how tarot cards can help you break through writer's block, create lifelike characters, and develop storylines and plot twists to keep your readers turning the page.
For the last week or so, I've also been posting NaNoWriMo planning tips.
NaNoWriMo, of course, is National Novel Writing Month, a web-based event in which writers all around the world challenge themselves to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. While you can't start writing your novel until midnight on November 1, it's perfectly okay to start planning your novel now.
I've been posting the tips here and on the
Tarot for Writers Meetup Group site. If you're interested in using tarot cards as a tool for creative writing, please join the group! Membership is fun, fast, and free -- and it's not limited to writers in any one geographic area. We're global, and you can participate online! (We also meet in person every Saturday morning at the Mall of America, if you happen to be in the Minneapolis area.)
So now that you're up to speed, here's the fifth in my ongoing series of NaNoWriMo planning tips:
TIP #5: CHARACTER SKETCHES
What do you really need to know about a character's background before you can include him in a story? What facts and figures should you have at hand? What details can you use to bring your characters to life?
You can start with the basics, of course, like name, age, and place of birth -- but there are other telling details that you should be aware of, too. For example, what kind of music does your character listen to? What does he eat for breakfast? How does he dress for work?
As you're planning your story, think about the background knowledge you'd like to have on hand for each of your characters. Then develop a standard "fill in the blank" form that you can use for all of them. You can devise a very simple short form, or a long and comprehensive survey.
Later, you can use tarot cards to help fill in some of the blanks.
You can find all of the tips listed sequentially on the
Tarot for Writers Meetup Group message board.