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A Queen’s Trust by Alexa Ryder

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A Queen’s Trust is the first book in the Panthera Chronicles paranormal romance series by Alexa Ryder. For more information on the book, click the link below to see the listing on Amazon.

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I'm Hannah, an editor, author, and writing coach. I love helping writers like you polish their stories, enhance their craft, and chase their publishing dreams.

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Writing can be many things: self-discovery, your i Writing can be many things: self-discovery, your imagination come to life, a hobby, and even a career. What’s important is that you know why it matters to you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #CampNanoOrNot20 Day 12: Why you write ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When writers email me saying that they have writer’s block, or that they are frustrated by their project, or that they aren’t so sure about publishing, I find it always goes back to this question: why do you write? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of the authorpreneur life on Instagram. Heck, I definitely want to make some money from my writing! I’ve self-published two of my own books that add a modest income stream to my business. 🙌 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There’s no shame in turning writing into your career if that’s what YOU want to do. You deserve to be paid for your writing if you want to sell books. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But I think it goes deeper than that, too. Are you only writing for money? If you aren’t, have you lost your passion along the way? Does it always feel hard to sit down and write? Does it always feel like a chore you don’t want to do? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If that’s the case, maybe it’s time to reconnect with your original reason for writing. Ask yourself what’s changed. Sit with that thought as you look back on where you started and where you want to go. You can make writing your career and have it be a joyful part of your life. 🎉 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And if you do want to keep writing as a hobby, remember: that’s okay too! Life’s too short to not pursue your own goals and dreams. Writing can be a fun creative outlet that you don’t have to turn into side income or a career. Not everything has to be monetized. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I write fiction for fun, though that may become part of my career later, and I write nonfiction as part of my business model but also so I can help writers like you! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tell me, why do YOU write? 🤔 ° ° ° #indiesareworthit #amwritingfantasy #authorpreneur #writingsprints #indieauthorsunited #instawrimo #campnanowrimo #campnano2020 #aspiringauthors #authorsofig #authorgram #writingabook #writinginspo #bookeditor #selfpublished #indiepub #writersconnection #writingcommnuityofig #writersblock #indieauthorlife #writerstips
What are fun ways to connect with your readers on What are fun ways to connect with your readers on social media? 🤔 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #CampNanoOrNot20 Day 11: Novel Playlist ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Just like yesterday’s post was about creating a couple of moodboards to share with your readers, you can also share other media with them. Your audience is following you because they like you but also because they want some value out of your posts. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As an author, value isn’t necessarily teaching them something (like I do in my posts as an editor). Many of your readers aren't writers, so posting writing tips may not be the right thing for you to share. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Value can take other forms, like entertainment, bonus material for novels, or even a story from your day that they can connect with. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ With so much material out there nowadays, readers are looking for that extra something, not *just* a constant cat pictures. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ One option to engage with your audience? A playlist for your novel! 🎧 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Because yes, while you do need to sell books if you’re an author, you can’t just say things like, “buy my book!” and post a picture of the paperback. 🤷 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Engage with readers beyond a simple sales ask. Provide that value I mentioned. Think of some fun ways you can do this: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📚 A playlist for your book(s) 📚 A moodboard 📚 A quote that leaves readers on a cliffhanger 📚 Ask questions in your captions 📚 Some kind of name generator related to your series ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There are pretty much endless options if you get creative. And a key piece to this? Before you post, ask yourself if *you* would interact with the post if you saw it on your social media feed. Be honest. If you wouldn’t, figure out how to change it up and make the post more engaging. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What are some ways you like to interact with your audience on social media? ° ° ° #indiesareworthit #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #authorpreneur #writerchallenge #indieauthorsbeseen #instawrimo #campnanowrimo #aspiringauthors #authorgram #writingabook #writinginspo #bookeditor #indiepublished #selfpublished #indiepub #writersconnection #writeeveryday #writingcommnuityofig #indieauthorlife #bookediting #writerstips #writingtipsandtricks #authorlife
Why are moodboards a fun way to connect with your Why are moodboards a fun way to connect with your readers? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #CampNanoOrNot Day 10: Moodboards ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Swipe to see the moodboard for my Camp NaNo novella, then let’s talk about using moodboards to connect with readers. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Think about the author(s) you *really* admire. If they shared a moodboard for a character or scene on their account, wouldn’t you love to see that? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Moodboards can be a fun & easy way to connect with your superfans. It’s a glimpse into your story and creative process, but it still allows you to talk about your book & market authentically. Use a moodboard to convey the tropes or themes in your novel, like your star-crossed lovers romance, or good vs. evil battle. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But it’s not as simple as slapping some pics together. To make your moodboard post(s) engaging: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📚 Don’t forget about your caption. You still need to connect with readers in the caption--tell them about your themes, tropes, characters, etc.  📚 Pick color scheme or theme to stick with. Think about how color and light convey tone/mood. 📚 Use hashtags meant for readers, not writers. Connecting with other writers is great, but they probably aren’t your main audience. Make sure you connect with readers in hashtags relevant to your genre. 📚 Always use images you have the legal right to use. You can find these on sites like Unsplash, Kaboompics, and even Canva. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Use a free program like Canva to create the image. You can even create a ‘permanent’ moodboard on your Pinterest. Some authors, like Sarah J Maas, have done so as another way to engage with their readers. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What do you think? Do you like creating moodboards? Do you think you can use them to connect with your audience? ° ° ° #indiesareworthit #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #authorpreneur #writerchallenge #indieauthorsbeseen #instawrimo #campnanowrimo #aspiringauthors #authorgram #writingabook #writinginspo #bookeditor #indiepublished #selfpublished #indiepub #writersconnection #writeeveryday #writingcommnuityofig #indieauthorlife #bookediting #writerstips #writingtipsandtricks
Love them or hate them, tropes can provide inspira Love them or hate them, tropes can provide inspiration and cater to reader expectations. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #CampNanoOrNot20 Day 9: Fav. tropes ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I love tropes, though they seem to get a bad name for being cliche or predictable. Let’s reframe tropes today so you can utilize them in your novels. 📚 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tropes are simply recognizable plot/story devices that span genres and cultures. They’re part of how we communicate and tell stories. There’s no shame in the trope game, my friends. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Does that mean you should load up your novel with every single trope from your genre? Probably not… that would be a bit boring and predictable. 🤷 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It does, however, mean you can use tropes to your advantage! Readers have certain expectations, and using certain tropes may meet those expectations. Not everyone will love the tropes you choose, but your ideal reader will. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ That being said, you can also turn tropes on their head or use them in creative ways that make sense for your story. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ You can even borrow a trope from another genre, like a missing persons case (from the mystery genre) for your fantasy novel. What unique take do you have on the enemies to lovers trope? How can you change up a love triangle or dystopian government? The possibilities are pretty much endless! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Swipe through to see some popular tropes ↔️  ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What’s your favorite trope? I personally love the “but there was only one bed” trope... That’s the good stuff! ° ° ° #indiesareworthit #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #authorpreneur #writerchallenge #indieauthorsbeseen #instawrimo #campnanowrimo #aspiringauthors #writingabook #writinginspo #bookeditor #indiepublished #selfpublished #indiepub #writersconnection #writeeveryday #writingcommnuityofig #indieauthorlife #bookediting #writerstips #writingtipsandtricks #authorlife #tropes #aspiringwriters #yanovel #writingtips #bookcoach
We’re seven days into Camp NaNo and the month of We’re seven days into Camp NaNo and the month of July 🎉 How’s your WIP coming along? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #CampNanoOrNot20 Day 7: Progress Check-In ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ For my official check-in, I’m at 4,114 words at the time of posting. I’m ahead of schedule ... I got inspired this weekend! I've been writing at night, and I have my writing group tonight, so I'm hoping to break 5k before the day is over. 🤞 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Whether you’re ahead of schedule, on track, or ‘behind’ the goal you set for this month, remember that our productivity does not define us as writers or as humans. Yeah, you’ve got to get words down if you’re an author, but don’t forget that brainstorming, rewriting, plotting, revising, and daydreaming are all part of the creative process. You may not have as many words on the page as you wanted to, but that doesn’t mean you aren't working on the story in some way. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Let me know how I can support you this month. Whether you need a listening ear, want a link to join our Camp NaNo Discord server, or need an objective review from an editor, I’m here to help. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ How’s your July? What are you working on? ° ° ° ° #indiesareworthit #indieauthorsbeseen #authorpreneur #amwritingfantasy #authorchallenge #writerchallenge #campnano2020 #campnanowrimo #writeeveryday #selfpublishing #indiepublished #writingabook #writingsprints #bookediting #writerstips #instagramwriters #indieauthorlife #bookeditor #writinginspo #writersden #writingcoach #selfpublished #indiepub #writersconnection
Do your secondary characters need to be developed Do your secondary characters need to be developed and serve some purpose? Short answer: yes. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #CampNanoOrNot20 Day 6: Secondary characters ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Secondary characters can serve multiple purposes in your story. They aren’t just there for a witty bit of a dialogue thrown in during tense scenes, though they can do that too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In fact, well-developed secondary characters can make or break your story. A cast of minor characters who serve no purpose and play no role will slow things down and detract from the plot. But minor characters who build upon the story as it unfolds? They’re great! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ So, what can your secondary characters do? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📚 Reveal key details about the plot 📚 Motivate the protagonist *or* antagonist 📚 Serve as a foil for your MC 📚 Highlight an important theme 📚 Expand the worldbuilding/set the tone 📚 Create more conflict for your MC ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Think about it. We’re all the main characters in our own stories (of life), and our friends and family are the ‘secondary’ characters. They play many roles in our lives, including some of the above. Your fictional secondary characters should be multi-dimensional too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ How they fill these roles may vary. Maybe they find a clue or more info your MC needs. Maybe they’re wise and offer guidance throughout the hero’s quest. Maybe they function as an embodiment of one of your themes. Maybe they represent the culture of your world. How they fill this role will change from character to character and story to story. Get creative and see what works! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Feel like your minor characters are stagnant? Drop your questions below and let’s work on some character development! ° ° ° ° #indiesareworthit #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #authorchallenge #writerchallenge #campnano2020 #campnanowrimo #writingtipsandtricks #selfpublishing #indiepublished #writingcommunityofig #writingabook #writingsprints #bookediting #writerstips #instagramwriters #indieauthorlife #bookeditor #writinginspo #writersden #writingcoach #selfpublished #indiepub #writersconnection
'If there really was a demon locked within the pal 'If there really was a demon locked within the palace walls, Aelius would find it.' ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #CampNanoOrNot20 Day 5: Share a line you love ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 'He would burn the entire city to the ground if that’s what it took to finally bring Volaris to its knees.' ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Today's #campnano post is actually from my WIP! I'm still in drafting mode, and this has been a very different project for me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It's a novelette, from my villain's POV, and I'm totally pantsing it. 😂 A far cry from my usual 100k novels that I've outlined. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But hey, I'm having fun! And that's just as important as the other parts of the writing process. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We'll see if those lines make it into the final draft, but right now, they definitely speak to my MC's goal. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Have you ever written from a villain's POV? 🤔 ° ° ° ° #indiesareworthit #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #authorchallenge #writerchallenge #campnano2020 #campnanowrimo #writingtipsandtricks #selfpublishing #indiepublished #writingcommunityofig #writingabook #writingsprints #bookediting #writerstips #instagramwriters #indieauthorlife #bookeditor #writinginspo #writersden #writersofig
The beauty of sci-fi and fantasy? Building a setti The beauty of sci-fi and fantasy? Building a setting that feels both familiar and fantastical, like home and like new! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #CampNanoOrNot20 Day 4: Introduce your world ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But worldbuilding can also be intimidating. Whether you’re creating an entirely new world or not, try starting with the basics: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📚 How is society structured? 📚 What type of government(s) exist? 📚 How does religion fit in, if at all? 📚 What are the geography and climate like? 📚 What kind of tech is there? 📚 What’s the history of this place? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ These overarching elements act as a framework before you add details like: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📚 Food and drink 📚 Common smells and sounds 📚 Clothing & fashions, including hair and makeup 📚 Architecture 📚 Population density 📚 Art & culture ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Remember that your world can also create obstacles for your characters. There might be natural disasters or something major like political revolution. You might also include smaller obstacles like poisonous plants or a brief weather delay.  ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And perhaps most importantly, one of the central conflicts in fiction is who (or what) has the power to stop your MC from reaching their goal. This might be a political system. It might be nature itself. Ask yourself who and/or what has this power as your worldbuild for a more engaging plot and rich world. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Worldbuilding is one of my favorite parts of writing and editing. In fact, even though I’m writing in the same universe as my novel, this prequel novelette takes place in the past. It’s making me ask new questions about the world I’ve built, especially since my MC is actually the villain in the novel. Fun stuff! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do you like worldbuilding? What’s your fav part? The worst? Let’s talk! ° ° ° ° #indiesareworthit #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #authorchallenge #writerchallenge #campnano2020 #campnanowrimo #writingtipsandtricks #selfpublishing #indiepublished #writingcommunityofig #writingabook #writingsprints #bookediting #writerstips #instagramwriters #indieauthorlife #bookeditor #writinginspo #writersden #writingcoach
Main characters are the lifeblood of your story. Y Main characters are the lifeblood of your story. Your plot is important, yes, but your characters and their decisions are the driving force behind everything. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #CampNanoOrNot20 Day 3: Introduce Your MC ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Your protagonist should be proactive (takes action), not reactive (only reacting). If your MC isn’t making any choices that lead to new outcomes or obstacles, your story will fall flat. It’ll be boring. An MC who sits on their hands while things happen around/to them is a weak MC. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Side note: this isn’t a blanket statement. If your MC’s whole arc is to gain their own agency, the beginning of your story might start with a reactive protagonist who becomes proactive later. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Your MC’s decisions should hold some weight in the plot. These decisions and actions often lead to some kind of disaster, which creates a new obstacle that yields a new decision. That’s pretty much basic story structure 😜 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ MC has goal ➡️ Encounters obstacle ➡️ Makes a decision ➡️ Rinse & repeat ➡️ DISASTER ➡️ new decision ➡️ start this again! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Let’s look at an example. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📚 Goal: Your MC wants coffee from their favorite cafe. 📚 Obstacle 1: Dead car battery.  📚 Decision 1: Walk or call a cab? They decide to call a cab. 📚 Ob. 2: The driver gets lost. 📚 Dec. 2: They decide to help the driver navigate by pulling up their own GPS app.  📚 Disaster: When they finally get to the cafe, it’s closed!  🌟 Now they have to make a new decision, which may be a revision to their goal or a new plan. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ After all, if your character just stopped after the dead car battery and waited for something to happen, there would be no story. 🤷 And if there’s no story, your reader will get bored and choose a different book! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ TL;DR: As you write, have your character make decisions. They may have to be reactive at times, but overall, a proactive main character helps drive the plot and keep readers engaged. 🙌
A new month means a new planner spread, and a new A new month means a new planner spread, and a new planner spread means new goals. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #CampNanoOrNot20 Day 2: July writing goals ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ For my Camp NaNo project, I’m aiming for 15,000 words. ✍️ As this project is more about discovery and understanding than anything else, that feels like the right goal to start with. That may change as I get into the story, but it’s what I’m working on for July. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Besides my novelette, I’ve got all kinds of client projects this month. Fantasy novels, romance stories, and guiding several authors through the technical side of self-publishing are all on my editorial calendar for July. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It’ll be busy around Between the Lines HQ in July, but the editorial assistants and I are looking forward to the process. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What are your goals for this month? ° ° ° ° #indieauthorsbeseen #aspiringauthor #writingtipsandtricks #planwithme #campnanowrimo #bookeditor #publishingpro #selfpublishing #indiepub #selfpub #indieauthorlife #authorchallenge #writerchallenge #writeveryday #writersden
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