Hope Ann's Blog

Heroes have overwhelming expectations placed upon them, and villains are pressed into stereotypes, but one role no one expects much from are the under-appreciated minions. As this anonymous letter from a minion, delivered by Kirin testifies, they work hard too and would like others to know it. To whom it… Continue reading

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Inspired by the discovery of A Villain’s Complains last month, Kirin has stepped in to write his own take on the grievances he believes heroes are forced to suffer due to stereotyping.  Everyone likes to throw the word hero around. Saving the world. Very heroic. Saving a nation. Heroic. Saving… Continue reading

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There are too many people claiming the title of villain nowadays. One has only to kidnap a princess or destroy a town and their names are suddenly spoken in hushed whispers. Ridiculous. There are some of us who actually had to WORK for our titles. Continue reading

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met a dragon once. And I lived; always a plus when dealing with unpredictable beasts such as those scaled monsters. Also, don’t you dare tell them I said that because it’s not a thing to even mention in front of a dragon’s face. Or faces, as the case may be. Continue reading

The post Breaking Cliches: By Fire and Fang appeared first on Hope Ann.

As for rescues, have you ever been on the receiving end of one? Because you might notice they don’t always go as planned. Especially when you are being treated as bait so those annoying minor details crop up like an alert guard, a well defended dragon lair, or you a moved cell. To read the stories, most escapes end with the captive in the grip of her captor, a dagger pressed against her throat. Continue reading

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How do you ensure your story doesn’t take place in a blank room? Or a blank forest or castle or city as the case may be? Too much description and your reader’s eyes glaze over. Too little, and they don’t know what is happening. Except, the amount of description is… Continue reading

The post 5 Ways to Create Strong Descriptions appeared first on Hope Ann.

I sometimes don’t know which comes first. The character I’m writing who I suddenly realize is dealing with struggles I relate to. Or struggles of my own that I see more clearly because one of my characters decides to deal with them in their own way. Unlike characters in books,… Continue reading

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“There are three rules of survival in the Walled City: Run fast. Trust no one. Always carry your knife.” Jin is living off the streets and her own speed while searching for the sister her father sold into slavery. Dai tries to escape his past even if that means running… Continue reading

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There’s no single ‘perfect style of writing.’ Everyone connects to words a little differently, and what grips me may not grip the next person. Be that as it may, one of my personal passions in both writing and reading is building a deep emotional connection between the reader and the… Continue reading

The post 5 Tips to Create a Deep Character Voice appeared first on Hope Ann.

It isn’t a new idea. It isn’t revolutionary. But it bears repeating. As Christians, we should not sit down to create the next great Christian piece of art, be it a book or painting or movie. It’s a terrible idea and if that’s all we have to go on it… Continue reading

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