Have you heard the adage, write what you know? Recently, numerous posts have floated around the internet regarding authors penning characters outside of their personal culture, ethnicity, or race. Some readers and authors contend that it shouldn’t be done. Their theory purports that it’s disrespectful to do so. Before I pull apart the idea as … More SF Benson: WRITING DIVERSE CHARACTERS
Worldbuilding in Action (Part III) In my previous posts, I’ve discussed how I’m building the world for Justice in the Shadows—a dark vigilante novel by my alter ego, Nadirah Foxx. So far, I have created the Liberty City Police Department and City Center—located in the heart of the city. Other areas that I included on … More Worldbuilding in Action Part III SF Benson
Worldbuilding in Action (Part II) In my last post, I was discussing how I was building the world for Justice in the Shadows—a dark vigilante novel by my alter ego, Nadirah Foxx. My main character, Kelsie King, is a computer analyst for the Liberty City Police Department. She works in the cyber crime division. Liberty … More Worldbuilding in Action Part II SF Benson
Worldbuilding in Action (Part I) Next year I plan on releasing a dark vigilante justice novel under my alter ego, Nadirah Foxx. Preparing to draft the manuscript requires a little more than simply plotting and creating a synopsis. In order to make it a plausible story, I have to pay attention to the world which … More Worldbuilding in Action with SF Benson
Recently, I began reading Writing with Emotion, Tension, & Conflict by Cheryl St. John. It’s part reference and part textbook for learning the techniques needed to craft an expressive and compelling novel. Her first chapter launches with the concept of conflict. What exactly is conflict? You know it when you see it. I like to … More Conflict & Characters
Soon, I’ll be drafting my first historical paranormal. It’s the story of a witch who has transcended time. Her contribution to the world? Bringing supernaturals to America. Not a straightforward story, especially when the main character existed before history’s dark ages. I found an unexpected resource in a History channel program—Ancient Aliens. The episode I … More Documentaries as Research
In the last post, I mentioned finding inspiration through documentaries. Today, I’ll show you how to create an actual story with that spark. Show: Two-hour Ancient Aliens Special on Artificial Intelligence Idea: Artificial Intelligence Gone Bad Wait! Hasn’t That Been Done Before? We all know that there aren’t any truly original thoughts in fiction. Right? … More SF Benson: Using Ideas from Television
I’m a huge fan of the History Channel. In my opinion, it should be required viewing for anyone who enjoys learning about global history. But did you know it could act as fodder for fiction? How Did I Make This Discovery? One night I sat down to watch television, but all of my favorite shows … More SF Benson: Finding Inspiration
It’s cover reveal day for Blood Vendetta by author SF Benson! Check out The BlackGuard Society: Blood Vendetta, Urban Fantasy by SF Benson coming April 29, 2019 from Avanturine Press. Cover art by Deranged Doctor Design. Few have seen The BlackGuard Society, yet they’re all around. When rogue paranormals threaten mankind, the BGS alone is … More Cover Reveal Blood Vendetta
Naming Characters & Worldbuilding One of my favorite things about creating characters is naming them. Sometimes the names just seem to magically come to me. When my alter ego was planning an adult paranormal romance set in New Orleans, the name Twilight Vanpeer struck in the shower. Most times, it’s not that easy. Usually, I … More Worldbuilding & Research with SF Benson
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