Using Your Imaginary Friends

     When you were little, you probably had imaginary friends. They were always there, and only you could see them. It may seem like your too old for them, but they could be your biggest ally (again!). You can use your old friends as characters or use the adventures you had with them as plot ideas. If you have younger characters in your story, give them an imaginary friend just like yours!
     Have an old and interesting imaginary friend? Create a character version of them. They can support your character just like they supported you when you were younger.
     Ever had a crazy dramatic adventure with your invisible counterparts? Use that story as a unique plot. You may have to tweak it a bit to be a little more "together", but those made-up adventures are story gold.
     Are you writing a story that includes little kids? Give them some imaginary friends! This gives you the opportunity to add some humor to the story and make those minor characters way more interesting!
     For me, my imaginary friend consisted of an entire world. A place where I made all the rules and weird kick jumps counted as ninja warrior attacks on my enemies. I had a boyfriend there whose name I cannot remember and so did my cousin. My cousin was also in this world (don't worry, she's real!). Somehow, we both could see the imagined world albeit very differently. A name for this world you might ask? Well, none other than "Pretend World", very original, I know.

There's a whole psychology to imaginary friends, and if you'd like to read more, head over to The Understanding Blog! 

Imaginary friends were (are?) our best friends as little kids, its no wonder they'll help us even as we get older!

Writing About Yourself

     I'm so sorry for the lack of posts! Things have been really crazy lately. Anyway, a lot of writers I know like to write about them selves in their books. There are pros and cons to this approach, and in this post I'm going to explain of all them.


     Pros: Some writers can succeed with this approach. The book becomes a fictional diary without limits. With this process, you may not have as much writer's block because you'll have endless inspiration.

    Cons: The problem with the diary approach is that it can limit you. You can become so focused that you lose focus of the book's goal. I admit I've fallen into this trap before. I didn't wan't to give my character flaws because I didn't want to see my own flaws.  Then again, my book had been a very dramatic plot with myself as the main character. Like I said, this may work for some people, but for most, this should be avoided.

     If you want to avoid doing this,  there is a way. Instead of making yourself the MC, create a supporting character for your MC to interact with. That supporting character can become the story version you. You'll become unbiased because you will be writing about how others view you. That way, you can still be a part of your story, without falling into the diary trap.

     Writing requires you to be free from your own life and immersed in your main character's. When you write, you are not in your world, but in your MC's. If the diary approach works for you, that's great! If not, use the tip above to help you!

     I hope everyone has a happy Friday and an enjoyable weekend!

Quote of the Day: Creativity

Hi there! As promised, here's a quote of the day!

I think this goes for for a lot of writers, writing is an escape. The only difference between us and Demi Lovato is that Demi Lovato writes songs, and we write books, stories, etc. Music and writing have a lot in common! :)