kati-mcrae

[kati-mcrae]

I posted one of my TikTok videos to Instagram Reels today. One of those typical 8 second videos that begins with, “POV: You’ve accidentally summoned a sexy demon after using a Ouija Board,” and then hooks the viewer with a spicy teaser at the end.

The comments I received in the first thirty minutes were:

“Bro OMG”

“😂”

“Sounds like the worst book of all time.”

Here’s why those comments didn’t bother me, not even a little bit. In fact, they made me laugh. Why?

Because those comments came from teenage boys. They are NOT my target reader, not even at all.

My target readers are women aged 18-54 who enjoy spicy contemporary and paranormal romance novels. They likely have accounts on multiple serialized fiction apps (like Wattpad, Dreame, GoodNovel, etc.) and read 2-6 books per month.

These trolls don’t fit that description AT ALL.

I know I’m not writing the next great bestselling novel. But I do know the audience I’m writing for, so for those that lie outside that audience, then yes, you probably won’t like it! And that is perfectly okay. Everyone has their own reading tastes, and a book cannot please everybody (and it shouldn’t).

The point is, don’t take comments like this to heart. Some people will find your art weird and unrelatable while others will love it. And that’s what makes art great, whether it’s a book or a painting or a movie, because it at least sparked a reaction and an emotion in someone, whether good or bad.

Know your audience. Study their expectations for the genre, where they interact on social media, and gain insight on their reading habits. You’re going to find your next biggest fan there. 💕

*Image credit to Reedsy Blog.

[kati-mcrae]

If your plot feels flat, STUDY it! Your story might be lacking...

Stakes - What would happen if the protagonist failed? Would it really be such a bad thing if it happened?

Thematic relevance - Do the events of the story speak to a greater emotional or moral message? Is the conflict resolved in a way that befits the theme?

Urgency - How much time does the protagonist have to complete their goal? Are there multiple factors complicating the situation?

Drive - What motivates the protagonist? Are they an active player in the story, or are they repeatedly getting pushed around by external forces? Could you swap them out for a different character with no impact on the plot? On the flip side, do the other characters have sensible motivations of their own?

Yield - Is there foreshadowing? Do the protagonist's choices have unforeseen consequences down the road? Do they use knowledge or clues from the beginning, to help them in the end? Do they learn things about the other characters that weren't immediately obvious?

[kati-mcrae]

Writing your book’s synopsis is way harder than it needs to be. It’s MY book, I KNOW the story, why can’t I make it sound good in like 500 words?

[kati-mcrae]

The sequel to “Thirty Nights with the Alpha King” is now available for FREE on the Dreame app! A new chapter is released every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

[kati-mcrae]

Well, this turned into nightmare fuel. 😨

new writeblr game

type the name of your WIP into DALL-E mini and share the result

I'll go first with Going Quietly and Archipelago:

[kati-mcrae]

🤯

Try this acronym tip to help with world building

[kati-mcrae]

I think about this place a lot. ☁️ 🌸

Howl’s Moving Castle 2004, dir. Hayao Miyazaki

[kati-mcrae]

[kati-mcrae]

This intrigued me. 🤔

Making a deal with a demon requires a soul, everyone knows that. It’s usually a bad idea, but you’ve got a crazy idea. Earlier, you traded your lunch money to the school bully in exchange for a paper that stated you now owned his soul. You’re about to find out if demons consider this a valid contract.

[kati-mcrae]

It’s official! The sequel to “Thirty Nights with the Alpha King” will begin updates on June 1st!

Check out “Thirty Nights Forgotten” on Dreame. 🦄

[kati-mcrae]

I have a deeply hidden and inarticulate desire for something beyond the daily life.

- Virginia Woolf.

[kati-mcrae]

We all know werewolves are having their moment in the paranormal romance realm. So, I was looking for videos of "wolf baring teeth" when this horrifying creature popped up instead. Apparently, wolffish are a thing?!

  Can you imagine if your sexy alpha male lead turned into this jagged-toothed abomination in your paranormal romance novel!? 🤣 Could be a cute story about a werewolf that doesn’t fit in because he’s a little different, but the female lead loves him anyway. <3

[kati-mcrae]

Why am I just now finding out that #bardcore is a thing!? Just found my new writing playlist. 

[kati-mcrae]

It’s 3am and I’m debating whether to join TikTok to promote my books…

OR…do I keep resisting the urge like a grumpy millennial too set in their ways?

[kati-mcrae]

https://themighty.com/2017/03/rare-disease-and-feeling-better/?utm_source=engagement_bar&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=story_page.engagement_bar/

[kati-mcrae]

Me: Please respect my creative writing process. 

Also me: HELP.

[kati-mcrae]

Completing two projects in one week feels SO FRIGGIN’ GOOD!!! Will probably take it easy this week before diving into my next project, but I’m really excited and recharged to start something new!