Tanya Lisle

  • Creating fantasy worlds can be hard! There’s a lot to consider in universe building and trying to make your fictional world feel fantastical, but also ensure that the world itself does not become a distraction from the story you are trying to tell.

    Sometimes it’s a lot easier to make a believable fantasy world if you have some foundation in the world we know so that there’s something familiar to use as a benchmark. Doing this can help make sure that people can get pulled into the narrative rather than wonder about things that might not make sense about the worldbuilding.

    Here are a few ideas that you can use to help you figure out how to create that magical world that makes just enough sense by using the real world as a basis.

    Magic as a skill

    This one is a pretty common strategy. In the same way as you get better at art or education or physical activity with practice, magic can be like that. Some people start out naturally more gifted, but with work it can be built on and grow into specializations. Sometimes there are ways to artificially enhance those skills with outside forces, such as a drug or better tools.

    Royalty structure

    You do not need to make your own complicated way that power is passed from one person to another unless that is the point of your story. There are lots of different existing hierarchical structures that already exist in history that you can draw from, from the Thai monarchy to the British parliament. If you use something that already exists to form the structure of your royal family or how the government in your universe works, it has the added benefit of already having most of the rules in place in case you want someone to abdicate the throne or marry in!

    Foliage

    If you want to create some unique foliage for your world that still makes sense, there are some really weird plants out there. If you look up unique plants that currently exist in climates similar to the universe that you are making, then you can use those to pepper your world with your own versions of them that make more sense for how the universe works. Or you can just use them directly and give them some mystical properties, like I am definitely going to do with the Phantom Orchid in a future story.

  • I don’t remember when I put this on my holds list, but it has been on there for ages. Completely forgot about it when it finally showed up as available and I was anxious to find out what this story with the title that sounded like all the YA fantasy romance stories was about and why I would have put a hold on it.

    The story is set in the early 1900s and follows Cassiopeia, a young woman who is living out a Cinderella-like life in servitude to a family that doesn’t like her much. One day in defiance, she reaches into a forbidden chest in her grandfather’s room and awakens a god who takes her with him to retake his place as ruler of the Xibalba and overthrow the brother who imprisoned him in the first place. But his brother takes his own unwilling champion in Cassiopeia’s abusive cousin, Martin.

    This felt very much like a book I might be asked to read for class: One where I liked the read through of it on my own but I had this sense that there were deeper and very intentional themes littered throughout it that were meant to make me learn something. I couldn’t help but feel that my attempts to read it for fun were me reading it somehow incorrectly, but it’s not something that I think anyone else would experience when they read it.

    But I did like the world quite a bit. It was a fun look at what the Americas looked like early in the century, and how the mythology of the story could more easily mingle into the culture of the time and the place. The way the worlds were intertwined, despite them existing separately, creating a more ethereal feel to the story as a whole that I appreciated.

    Overall it was fun! I enjoyed the experience of reading it and I did think that it was an interesting look at other mythologies that I am not familiar with. I do like the stories about pantheons that mingle with humanity, however that happens, and this was a different take than what I’ve read before. If it sounds interesting, do check it out yourself!

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  • I am slowly working on a not so secret project. My newsletter has been aware of it for a while, but I’m ready to start showing off a little of it here! In addition to the existing workbooks, I’m starting to create some more guided ones as well. The first one will be around character development, and it will include a bunch of my process and how I tend to work with them.

    And so, have a sneak peek of what’s inside!

    So what exactly is a character?

    The Merriam Webster definition is: One of the persons of a drama or novel

    I find this definition to be limiting, given that not all characters are people and and not all stories are dramas or novels. Personally, I define a character as:

    A personality in a story that can hold a perspective. This is the core of who this character is as a person or woodland creature or supernatural entity. With that as a framework, I’ve found that you can create a more robust character.

    A character in a story typically though not always will also have a beginning state and and ending state, or where they are at the beginning of the story and where they end up at the end as a person. Or whatever kind of being you’ve decided to create. And that also goes for if they are dead in the end. These changes happen as a result of the events that you put them through.

  • Fiction, how I have missed you! And something about murder and magic, which is right up my alley in terms of stories that I am in the mood for of late! Like so many others, I do not remember adding this to my holds, but I was happy to have it to read as the weather took a very snowy turn.

    The book follows Frances, a young seamstress whose magic is awoken when she was assaulted by her boss late one night. She is quickly brought to Haxhaven, a school for witches disguised as an asylum for tuberculosis patients, where she is to learn to control her magic and use her powers only very quietly for housework because sexism. Frances grows frustrated by this and as soon as she has the opportunity, she starts to venture outside of the strict bounds of the school to start investigating the murder of her brother and gets wrapped up in a war between Haxhaven and the Sons, who want to use their power more brazenly for control.

    It’s a book that essentially is about finding yourself and being true to yourself, and that is generally the kind of thing I like. The pacing is pretty quick, and I do like that it winds and is not terribly straightforward with what the story is. New discoveries brought changes in what characters did next. I did think the romance elements ended up undermining Frances as a character to a degree, but I also just generally think most books would be better without the romantic subplot so I am aware I am alone in this.

    As for the social issues, I’m split on whether or not I like the handling of them. While the sexism felt appropriately woven in, some of the other issues like the racism felt more like it was nodded at without ever really being addressed. There were some characters that felt that their issues were added in as supplementary that didn’t feel like they added to the character or their story because those elements were never really explored and they continued to feel like characters that only really existed for the purposes of enabling Frances’ story.

    But overall, I did enjoy the read! It’s a fun look at a not too distant past and what the world had once been like through the fictional lens of how magic might have been treated and dealt with at the time. There’s a lot of loose ends, but I believe this is the first book and it may be explored more in the future.

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  • It’s been a long time coming, but you’ve finally decided to take that next step and get that book you finished out into the world! You want others to love your story as much as you do, and for your writing to make its way into the lives of others by publishing it for the masses. And also to maybe make a little money while you’re at it! But how do you start?

    Decide how you’re publishing it

    There are many different ways to get your book published, including traditional publishing, self-publishing, and hybrid publishing. Take some time to research the pros and cons of each option to determine which is best for you.

    Do your research on the process

    Depending on the route you choose, the publishing process can be complex. Make sure you understand the steps involved, including editing, design, printing, and distribution. Self publishing will mean that you have to do all of these steps yourself, but if you go the more traditional route, you may be able to pass some of this off onto your publishing team.

    If you choose to pursue traditional publishing, you may need to find an agent to represent you. Agents can help you get your book in front of the right publishers, negotiate a contract on your behalf, and provide guidance throughout the publishing process.

    Edit your manuscript

    Whether you’re self-publishing or submitting to an agent or publisher, it’s important to present your manuscript in the best possible light. Make sure your book is edited and formatted according to industry standards, and that the story is the best it can possibly be before your share it with anyone who might have some say in whether or not another person reads it, whether that’s an agent or your first reviewer.

    Put together your marketing plan

    Once your book is published, it’s up to you to get the word out, regardless of whether you have gone traditional or not. Figure out the best ways to promote your book, whether that’s reaching out to book reviewers and bloggers, participating in local events and book festivals, or just getting active on social media.

    Write another book!

    Even after you’ve published your first novel, it’s important to keep writing. Not only is it going to help you get better at writing and telling stories, but the more books you have to read the happier your audience will be!

  • I know I’ve heard the name Malcom Gladwell before, but I do not know where or why I know it. I know he said something about not thinking people should work remotely despite him working remotely, but I feel like I’ve heard of him before. So I figured I should check out a book of his so I could try and remember. It did not remind me, but I think I understand his comments now.

    The book is essentially an explanation that people who seem extraordinary or exceptional in some way, people who are outliers, are not actually that strange when you put them into their fuller context. Looking at someone’s background and upbringing can bring to light why they were able to succeed when other people failed, such as Bill Gates getting access to a computer at a young age before they were available publicly, which meant he had more experience than anyone else. Or people being born at a certain time of year make them more likely to be great hockey players because they were able to start training earlier.

    I feel like in 2008 this was likely a bit more revolutionary, but in the age where I see more and more people questioning how the rich and famous got that way and nepotism is a more commonly known source of how people got into an industry, this might be one of those books that I came to far too late to get the impact that I was intended to get from it.

    Not to mention it does get uncomfortable the further it goes. While there’s a sense of getting fuller context of individuals earlier on, when it moves to talking about foreign groups there’s an uncomfortable western lens put on things. Chinese kids are good at math because of language with no mention of the culture. The KIPP school is talked about as if the kids just need discipline and an opportunity without looking at the larger context of what a else a low income child might need. Korean pilots needed to be more American in their communication style. ((Which was something that gave me flashbacks to the Netflix book in particular)) There’s this sense of finding one clean-enough explanation and stopping that became much more evident as the book talked about larger and larger groups that were less western.

    Still, for the time and if you did not think about it much before, this might not be a bad place to start. I tend to assume we all know that people that are put up on a pedestal as exceptional (And then later transforms into an unattainable expectation) have most of their context removed, but I am often proven wrong in that regard. If you’ve never thought about it, this might be a good place to start.

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  • This is your year to finally write that book you’ve been wanting to write! You’ve had the idea for ages, but it hasn’t made it past telling people about your idea. But now, this is your time. You are going to actually write it! So where to start?

    Put together a outline

    Before you start, create an outline of your plot, characters, and key events. This will give you a roadmap to follow as you write, and can help prevent writer’s block. It can also help to make sure that all of those parts of the idea you have will make it into your story.

    Carve out some writing time

    Set aside dedicated writing time: Consistency is key when it comes to writing a novel. Try to set aside a specific time each day or week to work on your writing. This could be first thing in the morning, during your lunch break, or late at night – whatever works best for you.

    Get into the routine

    In addition to setting aside dedicated writing time, it can be helpful to establish a routine that works for you. This might include finding a quiet place to write, setting a word count goal for each writing session, or you can try listening to music or putting on something that makes you feel creative that helps you get into a creative flow.

    Don’t look back

    It’s normal to want to make every word perfect as you write, but it’s important to remember that the first draft is just a draft. It’s okay to make mistakes and either revise as you go (Maybe set aside one day a week) or don’t revise at all until the end! The important thing is to get the words down.

    Find a writing buddy

    Writing a novel can be a solitary pursuit, but it can also be helpful to connect with other writers who are also working on their books to chat about the hard times or to bounce ideas off of. Consider joining a writing group or forum, or finding a writing buddy who can provide support and accountability.

    You can do this!

    Writing a novel is a big undertaking, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed or stuck at times. But don’t give up! Remember why you started this journey in the first place, and keep pushing through. Every word you write brings you one step closer to completing that book at last!

    And if you need a hand keeping all of those ideas in order, I have something that might help!

    Write Your Story: Unlock Your Creative Potential

    Are you ready to embark on a journey into the world of storytelling? Look no further! Introducing Write Your Story, a comprehensive resource designed to fuel your imagination, enhance your storytelling skills, and bring your characters to life. Whether you’re an aspiring writer, a seasoned author, or simply someone who loves crafting stories, this workbook is your ultimate companion.

    This Workbook Contains:

    • Story planning spreads
    • Setting and location spreads
    • Character spreads
    • Writing session tracker

  • This was a big year of me reading nonfiction, particularly in the latter half of the year. With my whole life going to absolute hell this year, finding some advice to create structure was something that I ended up gravitating to. Also, nonfiction was a lot easier on the brain than fiction as I was recovering.

    Here are the top 5 nonfiction books I read this year! These may not be the best for everyone, but these are the ones that stuck with me the most and the ones that I could find myself recommending to others.

    Be Scared of Everything

    I don’t read many essay collections, mostly because I don’t understand why these exist. But I finally gave one of them a chance and was pretty entertained by some of the winding thoughts that came out of this! It’s a new format for me, and one that I’m actually pretty intrigued by. I will probably pick this one up again, but I’m feeling like I might give others essay collections a shot just to see what else might be out there.

    One Year to an Organized Work Life review

    Of all of the organize your life books I read this year, this was probably the best. Most of the advice in these books is pretty repetitive, but this one gathered most of the concepts together and put them into a very clear, structured plan. Not a quick fix, but a year long, week by week slow process that you can follow and adapt into your life in a manageable, more long term way.

    Designing your Life

    This book was probably the one that impacted me the most this year. Not because I followed what it said, but because it was the framing device I think I’ve been looking for in all the self help books. It was a framework to build methodologies off of to figure out how I could approach my own journey, and for that it was probably the best thing I read this year.

    Measure What Matters

    I didn’t read as many business-specific books this year, but this one was delightfully practical. I did just read it so that I could throw it at coworkers instead of having to sit down and explain this concept over and over again, and I am pleased to say that I fully intend to now throw this book at just about everyone who asks me about metrics and analytics so they can get a base understanding.

    The Virtual Self

    As someone who is now tracking far too much of their personal life in spreadsheets and other digital formats, this was a pretty interesting look at some of the other motivations and uses of tracking. I am not necessarily up for sharing private data about my recovery publicly, but it is good to hear accounts of how that level of transparency can be used for good rather than just advertising and varying degrees of evil.

  • As I mentioned before, I am going to try to not immediately put out all the things that I have made as I make them anymore, and instead try to do this all in launches. But of course, I am still making a whole bunch of things.

    So here’s a sneak peek at a few things that are coming out in January!

    Jewelry

    The theme for the new year is motivation, in honour of all those well intentioned new years resolutions. Think things that have to do with starting things anew and celebrating the opportunities of the new year!

    Storyteller helpers

    I also put together a workshop for authors wanting to develop their characters more. I’m not quite at a point where I am ready to record and turn it into a video course or any of that, but I am working on making it a guided workbook this time.

    Let me know what you’re looking forward to most for the new year!

    Cat things

    If you want some stuff right now, though, I did keep drawing and putting up Remy art over on Redbubble!

  • It’s been a rough year reading-wise! Not because of the books read, but because of my health making it a hell of a lot harder than usual to actually read. Fiction in particular has been hard, but the first half of the year carried a lot of really interesting stuff, and the things I’ve been able to get through in the latter half of the year have provided some interesting ideas!

    For my top books, these are the ones I read and enjoyed the most in the last year. These are not necessarily award winning, but the stories that left me feeling something and maybe gave me ideas that I wanted to work with more. In no particular order, these are my favourite reads from 2022!

    An Elderly Lady Must not be Crossed

    I have a soft spot for vignette style narratives. And also the idea of seemingly innocent things being responsible for terrible actions that were done entirely intentional. I have no intention of reading the first book, but I find myself liking the story of a little old lady murdering every inconvenience in her path throughout her life the more I remember it. ((And it’s a format I might go back to while I continue to recover!))

    Dead Steam II

    This was a really fun collection. I didn’t like all of the stories, but the ones I did like I loved. It’s very much a case of some resonate with me at different times, and there’s a wide enough spread that I can always find something. Stuff that didn’t click when I read it the first time I’ve found myself liking more later, and it’s been a fun one to casually pick up now and then.

    Wire Wings

    I stand by what I said. The pacing still feels off, but it was something that had me coming up with ideas afterwards, which is the mark of a book that I enjoyed. Especially with all the talk of VR and the Metaverse that happened in tech circles this year, I found myself thinking a lot more about some of the ideas this book brought to my mind. And also, well, the idea that my intact brain could exist in a place where it wasn’t dependent on my body functioning is kind of aspirational right now.

    Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic

    I was so worried this was going to be a romance, but instead it was a strangely Vancouver book. The cover looks so disinctly like a meet cute romance, but instead it follows the story of family troubles, identity, and murder. Which are all things that I really enjoy both writing and reading about, so it was very squarely in the realm of things that felt made for me.

    Also it reminded me of this cupcake store I used to frequent downtown. Which is unrelated.

    Questland

    I don’t know why this stuck with me so much. Maybe because I knew most of the references, or because the concept of the world was so much fun. It was very light as a read on its own, but it’s another book that made me think a lot more about some of my own ideas and sparked some inspiration in the way it went about the story. Plus, it’s nice to have books that are just fun sometimes.

    No Gods, No Monsters

    This might be the odd one in the group, but I feel like I like this more than I think. This is one that I am thinking about going back to when my brain is a bit more recovered, since I feel like it’s something I will like more when I can concentrate better. The elements of modern day monsters in hiding, entirely separate narratives that are interwoven in strange ways that are sometimes in concept only, and very ambiguous world building are all right in my area, but I feel like this was a favourite that I came upon at the wrong time. I’m looking forward to revisiting it.

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