What’s the deal with the Oxford comma?

Today I’m not going to talk about platforms, plot twists, or character development. Instead, I’m going to talk about one of my favorite things: the Oxford comma.

The Oxford comma (also known as the serial comma, series comma, or Harvard comma) is something that grammar nerds and English-language aficionados love to debate.

As “serial” indicates, the Oxford comma is used when listing a series of items. It is placed immediately after the penultimate (second to last) term in the series.

So you might say: apples, oranges, and bananas.

But you would actually be okay NOT using the final comma, and instead just writing it as this: apples, oranges and bananas. People adhering to the AP Guidebook (e.g. newspaper reporters), generally don’t use the Oxford comma.

Here is where things get tricky, though. If a comma will change the meaning of a sentence, then the Oxford comma would be appropriate.

I am inspired by my parents, Barack Obama and Taylor Swift.

Unless your parents are actually Barack Obama and Taylor Swift, you’ll want to add that comma after “Obama.”

(If you find yourself on the anti-comma side of the spectrum, of course the solution would be rewriting the sentence: I am inspired by Barack Obama, Taylor Swift and my parents.)

Introducing the Author’s Roadmap, a boutique service offered to authors who are ready, really ready, to realize their long-held dreams of being published.

First we’ll begin with a 60-minute call in which we’ll get to know one another. You tell me about you and your book and what your big, audacious dreams are for getting it published (and even after that). You ask me whatever questions you have and together we identify which roadblocks are keeping you from getting to your last stop.

After we meet, you’ll send me your manuscript and I’ll dive deep within it, identifying which aspects will be most attractive to publishers, literary agents, and readers – and which might need a little work (and then I’ll tell you how to fix them).

Finally, I’ll give you the steps you will need to take to get your book published, and beloved by readers everywhere. Looking for a literary agent? I’ll tell you how to get there. Self-publishing? I’ll get you there, too.

It can be hard to know which way to go, and the options can feel overwhelming.

I’m here to get you where you need to be: published.

​Are you ready to play big?

Learn from the greats part 7: reading recommendations

Today is the final (for now) newsletter/article featuring book recommendations. As mentioned over the past few weeks, books are, no surprise, my favorite things to talk about, and I get asked for recommendations all of the time. I've started a reading section on the Turn the Page website, so be sure to visit the site to get even more great reading ideas!

This week, let's talk about BOOKS THAT GET RIGHT TO THE POINT:

You Unstuck: Mastering the New Rules of Risk-Taking in Work and Life by Libby Gill

In You Unstuck, Libby Gill uses cases studies, client stories from her coaching work, and brain research to help readers understand the biological basis of fears that hold them back. She shows how to reframe what she calls Riskophobia, turn off the fear voices, and circumvent ancient defense systems. Readers can then create an Escalating Risk Hierarchy by "chunking down" their vision into small, actionable steps, ordered from least to most anxiety inducing. By combining stress-busting relaxation techniques with small action steps, the readers’ odds for realizing their vision greatly increase in this Relax, Risk, Repeat cycle. Gill also shows readers how to "Avoid Limiters & Embrace Liberators," keeping naysayers at bay while seeking influential supporters who can help free their creativity and productivity. Capitalizing on her business background, coaching expertise, and a personal history of risk-taking and resilience, Gill makes complex concepts relevant and accessible through immediately applicable tools, exercises, self-tests, and questionnaires that challenge readers to change.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ipD3Zp

 Exactly What To Say: The Magic Words for Influence and Impact by Phil M. Jones

This is such a great, quick read, and it is packed full of fabulous information and advice. This is all about having better communication – knowing what to say, how to say it, and “how to make it count.” This is a great example of a business book that is well-written and to the point – Jones doesn’t waste time trying to teach you everything he knows, and he gives you tips that you can apply to your life immediately, so you can make changes today – not in some best-case scenario later on down the road.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781989025000

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CxSBBf

The Ultimate Guide to Platform Building by Wendy Keller

In the interest of full disclosure, Wendy is my former mentor and colleague – but she is also a longtime literary agent, industry insider, and platform guru. 

If you are a writer, you NEED a platform – this is true if you are writing fiction, and it is ESPECIALLY true if you are hoping to build a career as a nonfiction author. The world of building (and sustaining) a platform is a new world for a lot of writers, and this book will help you get started, and start adopting the salesperson mindset.

(She also has a ton of great resources here.)

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781599185989

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Cw5SdE

The Author Power Pack: 4 Mini-Trainings to Make Your Writing Dreams Happen and Get Your Book Published Now

Discover Industry Insider Tips and Tricks to FINALLY Write and Publish The Book You’ve Been Talking About Forever

I’m sharing:

• Why you need a nonfiction book proposal, how to write one, and how to make yours stand out from the hundreds of others agents and editors see every day

• The 16 common mistakes and missteps that even the best authors make when writing, editing, and pitching their manuscripts

• The #1 mistake that most authors are making (without even realizing it!) and how you can fix it so you can finally get your book written and published

• The 12 specific strategies my clients use to build their platforms

• The secrets to creating a stellar “elevator pitch” and becoming a pro at pitching yourself

Click the link below to purchase your game-changing Author Power Pack Today!​

​I’m Ready to Be a Published Author

Learn from the greats part 6: reading recommendations

As mentioned over the past few weeks, books are, no surprise, my favorite things to talk about, and I get asked for recommendations all of the time. I've started a reading section on the Turn the Page website, but I will continue sharing some of those recommendations here!

This week, let's talk about BOOKS THAT KNOW THEIR TARGET AUDIENCE:

These books are tons of fun, but the authors also know EXACTLY who their target audience is, and they deliver in spades.

 

Get Rich, Lucky Bitch: Release Your Money Blocks and Live a First-Class Life by Denise Duffield-Thomas

This book has been life-changing for me on a number of levels, but even on it’s own this is an almost perfect self-help/personal development book. Having a positive mindset is such an important part of succeeding in all areas of your life, including as an author, and Duffield-Thomas’ voice is so accessible – you feel like you’re talking to your best girlfriend.

The author is also great to follow because she is a rising queen of the platform. She knows her audience inside and out, and she is constantly innovating and connecting with them in new ways. A self-made millionaire, she initially self-published her books, but they were later acquired by self-help powerhouse publisher Hay House.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781788171335

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IBgR9g

 To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion by Philip Greene

Whether or not Ernest Hemingway is your guy, this is a delightful book that is part-biography, part-cocktail appreciation. Written by the cofounder of the Museum of the American Cocktail (!!!), this takes a look at the myth and legend of Hemingway through a unique lens. 

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780399174902

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VWc45n

Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist by Tim Federle

Even if you are not a cocktail fan, you can appreciate this book for the punny drink names. The Last of the Mojitos? Love in the Time of Kahlua? Vermouth the Bell Tolls? Come on! Paired with witty commentary on some of the greatest books ever published, this book is a fun romp for all the fellow book nerds out there.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780762448654

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IBgR9g

The Author Power Pack: 4 Mini-Trainings to Make Your Writing Dreams Happen and Get Your Book Published Now

Discover Industry Insider Tips and Tricks to FINALLY Write and Publish The Book You’ve Been Talking About Forever

I’m sharing:

• Why you need a nonfiction book proposal, how to write one, and how to make yours stand out from the hundreds of others agents and editors see every day

• The 16 common mistakes and missteps that even the best authors make when writing, editing, and pitching their manuscripts

• The #1 mistake that most authors are making (without even realizing it!) and how you can fix it so you can finally get your book written and published

• The 12 specific strategies my clients use to build their platforms

• The secrets to creating a stellar “elevator pitch” and becoming a pro at pitching yourself

Click the link below to purchase your game-changing Author Power Pack Today!

​I’m Ready to Be a Published Author

Learn from the greats part 5: reading recommendations

As mentioned over the past few weeks, books are, no surprise, my favorite things to talk about, and I get asked for recommendations all of the time. I've started a reading section on the Turn the Page website, but I will continue sharing some of those recommendations here!

This week, let's talk about BOOKS WITH STUNNING, UNFORGETTABLE WRITING STYLES:

 

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

Full disclosure: this is my favorite book of all time. It’s an epic story of the extraordinary, turbulent Wingo family, and focuses on Tom Wingo and his gifted but troubled sister, Savannah. Conroy’s writing is out of this world, and it is impossible to not fall in love with his depiction of the beauty of the Low Country of South Carolina. Unforgettable.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780553381542

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GsAE82

In the Woods by Tana French

This is another great depiction of a world, though this one is way across the ocean. If you haven’t experienced Tana French yet, you should – and this (her first book) is a great place to start. This is the first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series, and, in my opinion, is still the best one.

In the summer of 1984, three children go into the woods, and don’t come out. When the police arrive, they only find young Rob Ryan, gripping a tree trunk in terror, and unable to recall a single detail of the time that has passed. Twenty years later, Rob is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad, working with his best friend Detective Cassie Maddox. When a 12-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, Rob is called to investigate – and comes face-to-face with his past. Complex, addictive, heartbreaking, and very atmospheric.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780143113492

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ItdSQl

Introducing the Author’s Roadmap, a boutique service offered to authors who are ready, really ready, to realize their long-held dreams of being published.

First we’ll begin with a 60-minute call in which we’ll get to know one another. You tell me about you and your book and what your big, audacious dreams are for getting it published (and even after that). You ask me whatever questions you have and together we identify which roadblocks are keeping you from getting to your last stop.

After we meet, you’ll send me your manuscript and I’ll dive deep within it, identifying which aspects will be most attractive to publishers, literary agents, and readers – and which might need a little work (and then I’ll tell you how to fix them).

Finally, I’ll give you the steps you will need to take to get your book published, and beloved by readers everywhere. Looking for a literary agent? I’ll tell you how to get there. Self-publishing? I’ll get you there, too.

It can be hard to know which way to go, and the options can feel overwhelming.

I’m here to get you where you need to be: published.

​Are you ready to play big?

Learn from the greats part 4: reading recommendations

As mentioned over the past few weeks, books are, no surprise, my favorite things to talk about, and I get asked for recommendations all of the time. I've started a reading section on the Turn the Page website but I will continue sharing some of those recommendations here!

This week, let's talk about BOOKS WITH GREAT ATMOSPHERE:

These books have great stories and characters, but the vibe of each book – the way they make the reader feel – is where they really shine.

The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

When her grandfather calls, delivering the news that her cousin Allegra has gone missing, Lane Roanoke returns home to rural Kansas. As a teen, Lane lived on the farm, but ran away – is that what Allegra did, or did something more sinister occur? Even though the story is twisted and horrifying in so many ways, there is so much heart and innocence and love that shine through. Some of the scenes between Lane and Cooper in particular made me cry from their bittersweetness. This is a beautifully-written book.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781101906682

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IwH5tu

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Yes, yes, she wrote the amazing Gone Girl, but this is another stellar book by the author. Reporter Camille Preaker returns to her small-town home (everyone is always returning home in books, I guess!) to cover the murders of two preteen girls. Having avoided speaking to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother, and a half-sister she barely knows, she is forced to get to know them once more. As she delves further into her investigation, she begins finding herself identifying too strongly with the victims, and the demons of her past come back to haunt her.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780307341556

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XbIhXt

Introducing the Author’s Roadmap, a boutique service offered to authors who are ready, really ready, to realize their long-held dreams of being published.

First we’ll begin with a 60-minute call in which we’ll get to know one another. You tell me about you and your book and what your big, audacious dreams are for getting it published (and even after that). You ask me whatever questions you have and together we identify which roadblocks are keeping you from getting to your last stop.

After we meet, you’ll send me your manuscript and I’ll dive deep within it, identifying which aspects will be most attractive to publishers, literary agents, and readers – and which might need a little work (and then I’ll tell you how to fix them).

Finally, I’ll give you the steps you will need to take to get your book published, and beloved by readers everywhere. Looking for a literary agent? I’ll tell you how to get there. Self-publishing? I’ll get you there, too.

It can be hard to know which way to go, and the options can feel overwhelming.

I’m here to get you where you need to be: published.

​Are you ready to play big?

Learn from the greats part 3: reading recommendations

As mentioned over the past few weeks, books are, no surprise, my favorite things to talk about, and I get asked for recommendations all of the time. I've started a reading section on the Turn the Page website (https://www.turnthepagebookcoaching.com/reading-nook), but I will continue sharing some of those recommendations here.

This week, let's talk about BOOKS THAT SHOW INSTEAD OF TELL:

You’ve heard a million times about showing and not telling; these books take it to a whole new level. The level (and quality) of detail in both of these books is stunning, in addition to a beautiful, heartbreaking story and pitch perfect depiction of the devastating effects of World War II.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Marie-Laure is a young girl who loves in Paris. Her father works at the Museum of Natural History, but when the Nazis occupy Paris, they flee to Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s unless lives in a house by the sea. Meanwhile, Werner Pfenning is a German orphan who, among with his younger sister, is fascinated by the radio. He becomes an expert at building and fixing these devices, and soon is enlisted to use his skills to track down the resistance. Of course, Werner and Marie-Laure’s stories intertwine, in a beautiful and bittersweet way.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781501173219

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GOgOpt

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

In a small town in France, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France, but when they do, a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, and she and her daughter must live with the enemy – until Vianne is forced to make an impossible choice. Meanwhile, Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, joins the Resistance and doesn’t look back.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781250080400

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3imWH8k

Introducing the Author’s Roadmap, a boutique service offered to authors who are ready, really ready, to realize their long-held dreams of being published.

First we’ll begin with a 60-minute call in which we’ll get to know one another. You tell me about you and your book and what your big, audacious dreams are for getting it published (and even after that). You ask me whatever questions you have and together we identify which roadblocks are keeping you from getting to your last stop.

After we meet, you’ll send me your manuscript and I’ll dive deep within it, identifying which aspects will be most attractive to publishers, literary agents, and readers – and which might need a little work (and then I’ll tell you how to fix them).

Finally, I’ll give you the steps you will need to take to get your book published, and beloved by readers everywhere. Looking for a literary agent? I’ll tell you how to get there. Self-publishing? I’ll get you there, too.

It can be hard to know which way to go, and the options can feel overwhelming.

I’m here to get you where you need to be: published.

​Are you ready to play big?

Learn from the greats part 2: reading recommendations

As mentioned last week, books are, no surprise, my favorite things to talk about, and I get asked for recommendations all of the time. I've started a reading section on the Turn the Page website (https://www.turnthepagebookcoaching.com/reading-nook), but I will continue sharing some of those recommendations here.

This week, let's talk about BOOKS WITH CREATIVE, INVENTIVE PACING:

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

Nicolette Farrell left her rural hometown soon after her best friend Corinne’s disappearance – she is back, however, to care for her ailing father and tie up loose ends. A murder occurs, and before she knows it, she is pulled back into the mystery of what happened Corrine, family drama, and a burgeoning reunion with an old flame. The twist – the story is told backwards.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781501107979

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jSM5ON

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Another treat for Christie fans, and mystery lovers in general. Book editor Susan Ryeland receives the manuscript of author Alan Conway’s latest crime novel, and assumes it will be just like all of his previous bestsellers. How wrong she is! The more she reads the story (the story within the story!), the more she begins to suspect that all might not be fiction. A truly delightful read.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780062645234

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Cw2IpU

Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

This is a perfect book for mystery lovers, especially Agatha Christie devotees. Years ago, bookseller Malcolm Kershaw put together a list of the mystery genre’s most unsolvable murders. Now the owner of the Old Devils Bookstore in Boston, he is shocked when an FBI knocks on his door – she wants his help in investigating a series of murders, murders that seem to mirror those on Malcolm’s old list. Worried about becoming a suspect himself, he begins doing his own investigation, which brings up major skeletons from his past – and brings the killer out of the shadows. Brilliantly paced and plotted.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780062838193

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3iiJq0G

The Author Power Pack: 4 Mini-Trainings to Make Your Writing Dreams Happen and Get Your Book Published Now

Discover Industry Insider Tips and Tricks to FINALLY Write and Publish The Book You’ve Been Talking About Forever

I’m sharing:

• Why you need a nonfiction book proposal, how to write one, and how to make yours stand out from the hundreds of others agents and editors see every day

• The 16 common mistakes and missteps that even the best authors make when writing, editing, and pitching their manuscripts

• The #1 mistake that most authors are making (without even realizing it!) and how you can fix it so you can finally get your book written and published

• The 12 specific strategies my clients use to build their platforms

• The secrets to creating a stellar “elevator pitch” and becoming a pro at pitching yourself

Click the link below to purchase your game-changing Author Power Pack Today!​

​I’m Ready to Be a Published Author

Learn from the greats: reading recommendations!

Books are, no surprise, my favorite things to talk about, and I get asked for recommendations all of the time. There are some books that are just plain enjoyable, some that are examples of everything you SHOULDN'T do as an author, and then some who have particular strengths. I've started a reading section on the Turn the Page website, but I will start sharing some of those recommendations here.

This week, let's talk about BOOKS WITH AN INCREDIBLE SENSE OF PLACE.

In addition to great stories and themes, these books all transport the reader into the books’ worlds. You can see, hear, smell, feel, even taste alongside the characters – the level of detail is intoxicating, but not overwhelming. Regardless of what type of book you are writing, you want to transport your readers, too – and these books can provide some inspiration in doing so:

The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli

Three photographers are brought together during the fall of Saigon: Helen Adams, an ambitious ingenue; Linh, a local who is torn between his homeland and his burgeoning feelings; and Sam Darrow, who is addicted to the danger of his job – and Helen, too. This is a gripping, emotional read.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780312674441

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VT3d4r

Tangerine by Christine Mangan

A juicy, suspenseful melodrama, this is set in Tangier and Morocco in the 1950s. Upon arriving in northern Africa, Alice Shipley is surprised to see childhood friend Lucy Mason. Once inseparable, they have not spoken in quite some time. The two friends reunite, but soon Alice begins to feel stifled by Lucy. When John, Alice’s husband, goes missing, she begins to question everything, even her own state of mind.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9780062686695

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Csa11R

The Dry by Jane Harper

One of my favorite books (and authors) in the last five years, this is a mystery set in a small town in Australia. When Federal Agent Aaron Falk returns home for his childhood friend’s funeral, he learns that there is more this apparent murder-suicide than meets the eye. As he investigates, and goes up against hostile locals and a hostile environment, he is forced to confront his past.

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/89876/9781250105622

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Qnc25f

The Author Power Pack: 4 Mini-Trainings to Make Your Writing Dreams Happen and Get Your Book Published Now

Discover Industry Insider Tips and Tricks to FINALLY Write and Publish The Book You’ve Been Talking About Forever

I’m sharing:

• Why you need a nonfiction book proposal, how to write one, and how to make yours stand out from the hundreds of others agents and editors see every day

• The 16 common mistakes and missteps that even the best authors make when writing, editing, and pitching their manuscripts

• The #1 mistake that most authors are making (without even realizing it!) and how you can fix it so you can finally get your book written and published

• The 12 specific strategies my clients use to build their platforms

• The secrets to creating a stellar “elevator pitch” and becoming a pro at pitching yourself

Click the link below to purchase your game-changing Author Power Pack Today!

​I’m Ready to Be a Published Author

The truth about agents, rejection, and platforms

A quick note about agents, rejection, and platforms:

Being rejected based on your platform (or lack thereof) does not mean that the literary agent thinks your career path isn’t impressive, that you’re not greatly respected in your field, that you’ve accomplished nothing, or that you do not have anything substantive to say. They likely don’t even think you are lacking in talent, that you should keep your day job, or that there is no hope for you and your book in the wide world of publishing.

The reason that agents care so much about platform is because the editors at publishing companies do. And editors equate platform with potential book sales. This makes sense, of course – if you have X number of fans who are already interacting with your content, then you will likely have X number of fans who will actually purchase your book. And as the publishing house is making an investment in you with the advance they pay, they want to feel comfortable they will make their money back (and more). Agents and editors need to know what IS happening and what HAS happened, not what COULD happen. Even authors choosing to self-publish need to have a platform and to build awareness of their “brand”: fans = money, and if you don’t have the fans, I wouldn’t quit your day job.

It may seem outrageous that someone who has worked in a field for 30 years may not be considered a platform all-star. It may not be “right,” it may not be convenient, but that’s the world we live in and write in. If you’d like to continue to “fight the man,” go ahead. But a change of perspective may be more helpful (and fruitful!). 

The good news is, just because your platform may be in its beginning stages, or it may need a little work, does not mean it will always be that way. Platform is something that people need to constantly be working on – even Oprah is consistently finding new ways to reach out to her fans.

It’s important to remember that not all platforms are the same; it all depends on where your audience is. Some folks build their followings on Twitter or on Instagram, others through speaking engagements or a podcast. Find out where your ideal readers are going and interact with them there. You are aware already that knowing your audience makes you a better writer – after all, it’s all about them, not you – and this thought applies to building a platform, too. Do your research, try, and then try again. And yes, this can be time-consuming (I wish I could say to tweet twenty times a day and publishing success will be yours). 

It’s important to think outside the box when you’re doing this. What are your personal strengths? Look at your competition, or at peers in your field for whom you have great respect. What are they doing that seems to be working? How can you put your own spin on it and make those ideas work for you, too? If you can’t make the process fun, think of it as an inevitable, like doing your taxes, waiting in line at the DMV, or paying off your student loans.

If you’re at the beginning, don’t be discouraged. Writing a whole book seemed pretty impossible at one point, right? Nothing will happen overnight. Platform is about the long term, not the short term, even if you want to just write this one book and then wipe your hands clean of this crazy industry. Slowly but surely, you will start growing your tribe. And the people that are excited for this book will be excited for your next one, and the one after that. 

Introducing the Author’s Roadmap, a boutique service offered to authors who are ready, really ready, to realize their long-held dreams of being published.

First we’ll begin with a 60-minute call in which we’ll get to know one another. You tell me about you and your book and what your big, audacious dreams are for getting it published (and even after that). You ask me whatever questions you have and together we identify which roadblocks are keeping you from getting to your last stop.

After we meet, you’ll send me your manuscript and I’ll dive deep within it, identifying which aspects will be most attractive to publishers, literary agents, and readers – and which might need a little work (and then I’ll tell you how to fix them).

Finally, I’ll give you the steps you will need to take to get your book published, and beloved by readers everywhere. Looking for a literary agent? I’ll tell you how to get there. Self-publishing? I’ll get you there, too.

It can be hard to know which way to go, and the options can feel overwhelming.

I’m here to get you where you need to be: published.

​Are you ready to play big?

Archetypes vs. stereotypes – what’s the difference?

You’ve heard the terms before, but what is the difference between an archetype and a stereotype?

First off, it’s easy to remember that generally archetype = good, stereotype = bad.

In books, an archetype is essentially a recurring symbol. An easy example is a hero. They start out in ordinary circumstances, but everything changes when they must answer the call to “adventure.” They face their darkest fears in a conflict that ultimately transforms them. Think Harry Potter or Ulysses.

Other archetypes include the sidekick (Dr. Watson, Sancho Panza), the villain (Mrs. Danvers, Hannibal Lecter), the innocent (Snow White, Anastasia Steele), and the mentor (Gandalf, Yoda).

A stereotype, on the other hand, is a character with extremely generalized character traits. Two easy examples would the “virgin” and the “vamp” – female characters defined by their sexuality, or lack thereof.

Other stereotypes include Native Americans in Little House on the Prairie, African Americans in Gone With the Wind, and so on.

There are, of course, more examples of each of these, but hopefully this gives you a good introduction to thinking about archetypes and stereotypes.

The Author Power Pack: 4 Mini-Trainings to Make Your Writing Dreams Happen and Get Your Book Published Now

Discover Industry Insider Tips and Tricks to FINALLY Write and Publish The Book You’ve Been Talking About Forever

I’m sharing:

• Why you need a nonfiction book proposal, how to write one, and how to make yours stand out from the hundreds of others agents and editors see every day

• The 16 common mistakes and missteps that even the best authors make when writing, editing, and pitching their manuscripts

• The #1 mistake that most authors are making (without even realizing it!) and how you can fix it so you can finally get your book written and published

• The 12 specific strategies my clients use to build their platforms

• The secrets to creating a stellar “elevator pitch” and becoming a pro at pitching yourself

Click the link below to purchase your game-changing Author Power Pack Today!​

​I’m Ready to Be a Published Author