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JL NICH blog beats article, Beyond the Chapters: Examining Character Arcs Across Series. Cover image

Beyond the Chapters: Examining Character Arcs Across Series

Beyond the Chapters: Examining Character Arcs Across Series Welcome. This blog looks at the world of character development across storylines. What I mean is, how are compelling characters crafted across a series of novels?  As a writer, the evolution of my character shapes the essence of my story.  What are her internal struggles? How does […]

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JL NICH blog beats article, Character Relationships in Family Dynamics and Identity Formation in SFF Novels. Cover image for blog. watercolor white haired family walking away.

Character Relationships in Family Dynamics and Identity Formation in SFF Novels

Character Relationships in Family Dynamics and Identity Formation in SFF Novels How did J.K. Rowling point out the somewhat comic but harsh relationships Harry had with the Dursleys in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone? Well besides the neglect, abuse, and mistreatment due to Harry’s status as a Wizard, she created the Weasley family. In

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JL NICH blog beats article, Fantastic Examples of Characters' External vs Internal Struggles. Cover image

Fantastic Examples of Characters’ External vs Internal Struggles

Fantastic Examples of Characters’ External vs Internal Struggles While we readers all love to see the story play out with external wins: Mark Watney gets off Mars, Frodo Baggins flings the ring and its wearer into Mount Doom lava, Katniss Everdeen wins the Hunger Games, Amir finds Hassan’s son and rescues him in the heart

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JL NICH blog beats article, Character Journeys: Exploring Character Arcs in SFF Worlds. Cover image for blog

Character Journeys: Exploring Character Arcs in SFF Worlds

Character Journeys: Exploring Character Arcs in SFF Worlds Let’s take a look at the character arc in 3 novels that became massive hits. Frank Herbert’s Dune has Paul Atredes, the son of Duke Leto Atreides and Lady Jessica, begin his external arc as a young nobleman and move to become the leader of the desert

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JL NICH blog beats article, Redeeming the Fallen: Insights into Crafting Compelling Redemption Arcs. Cover image for blog

Redeeming the Fallen: Insights into Crafting Compelling Redemption Arcs

Redeeming the Fallen: Insights into Crafting Compelling Redemption Arcs The journey of redemption, from flawed to growth, forgiveness, and transformation, is like no other in captivating the reader.  For centuries their power to illuminate the complexities of the human condition, grappling with their past mistakes, and striving for moral renewal have held a timeless allure

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JL NICH blog beats article, Anticipated SFF book releases: Exploring Genre Trends and Debut Voyages. Cover image for blog

Anticipated SFF Book Releases: Exploring Genre Trends and Debut Voyages

Virtual Realities and Magical Realms: Where SFF Literature is Headed in the Coming Years Welcome to my latest exploration of exciting new SFF releases and the trends behind them. Through this exploration of anticipated science fiction and fantasy (SFF) releases, we can uncover emerging genre trends and embark on debut voyages.  I’ve recently stepped into

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JL NICH blog beats article, Virtual Realities and Magical Realms: Where SFF Literature is Headed in the Coming Years. Cover image of woman wearing VR glasses in a magical realm

Virtual Realities and Magical Realms: Where SFF Literature is Headed in the Coming Years

Virtual Realities and Magical Realms: Where SFF Literature is Headed in the Coming Years In speculative fiction, we find ourselves on the brink of an extraordinary journey. Step into a realm where Virtual Realities, Metaverses, and Magical Realms seek paths toward the next frontier of Science Fiction and Fantasy (SFF) literature. As we stand on

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JL NICH blog beats article, Parallel Pasts: Crafting Worlds through Alternative History in SFF. Cover image for blog, image of 1800 style dress man with pocket watch, and advanced digital eye gear

Parallel Pasts: Crafting Worlds through Alternative History in SFF

Parallel Pasts: Crafting Worlds through Alternative History in SFF Alternative History in Science Fiction and Fantasy (SFF) is a growing sub-genre as authors weave intricate tales, they daringly reshape the course of history, introducing readers to worlds where pivotal events took unforeseen turns, magic intermingles with reality, and the boundaries between the possible and the

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JL NICH blog beats article, In the Company of Growth: Friendships as Catalysts in Narrative Arcs. Blog cover image of two sci-fi-women

In the Company of Growth: Friendships as Catalysts in Narrative Arcs

In the Company of Growth: Friendships as Catalysts in Narrative Arcs As a writer, how you develop character relationships can impact the growth level of the Main Character (MC) in various ways.  This area of study is a rich and multifaceted topic that can be approached from many angles. Human experience in friendships emerges as

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