You have the ideas, you have your computer open and the cursor is blinking on your brand new document. Suddenly, you're at a loss. You type in a sentence only to delete it, or you just stare at the blank page without any idea how to get started.

Sound familiar? If it does, don't worry, you're not alone. First things first, read this post all about how to banish your inner critic. It's imperative to get started without that little companion, so get rid of that voice in your head right now.

Now that you've got that in hand, let's talk about that blank page again. What if you just don't have any idea how to start, or no matter what you do, you seem to still be having trouble with the beginning?

Beginnings can be tricky. There's a lot of pressure weighing on the first few sentences-- we read articles and advice all the time about how it important it is to hook your reader right away. That's all true, but here's a radical thought: the first draft is not for your reader. It's for you.
It's important to give yourself permission to write this first draft for yourself, for your story, and just that. This first draft is just to get those words out. That means it's allowed to have a cheesy first sentence, or start your book off with a less than exciting intro. All that can be fixed in the editing stage when your focus turns to polishing the book for your reader. Right now, though, give yourself the freedom to simply write, even if its done badly.
​
Need some more ideas before setting pen to paper? Here are our top tips for how to start your story!

1. Start in the middle of the action. This is a classic beginning for many books. There's nothing like a little action to hook your reader. One thing to remember, though, is "starting in the middle of the action" does not necessarily mean you need to begin in the center of your climactic point or even right in the middle of your first act. You can begin with action before the catalyst even happens.
2. Introduce your character in a creative way. If you can think of a way to introduce your character that will allow an inside look into who your character is or simply shows your character in their natural environment in a unique way, it can be a great way to start your novel!
3. Stay away from paragraphs of scenic descriptions and cliched intros. It's usually best to avoid paragraphs of words going on and on at the start of your story. Description is good and needed at times, but don't overdo it in the beginning. It's the character's story after all, not the description's. Stay away from cliched intros, too. They're out there all over, so be different!
4. Don't give too much backstory in the very beginning. A lot of stories definitely benefit from not revealing too much backstory all in the beginning. Even if you want a character who is an open book (which would have to be done really well in order to work), it's important not to just give a mini biography of them on the first page.
5. Make the reader fall in love with your character, or at least be curious about them. Ultimately, this is your character's story, so it's imperative that your readers fall in love with your character-- or if they're not a very lovable character, at least be curious about them enough to keep reading. It doesn't matter how amazing the narrator or author is, if the characters aren't grabbing your readers, no amount of fantastic first lines or intriguing hooks will make up for it. If this is your first draft-- make sure you fall in love with your character in the beginning. It will help your writing flow better.
6. Cause the reader to ask "What happens next?". Again, it comes down to engaging your reader. Or at the very least if this is a first draft: engaging you. Make sure your beginning causes you (or your reader) to wonder what happens next. (In fact, this is just good advice for writing every scene).
7. Establish the voice, tone, and mood of your book. The start of your book is the place where you need to instantly establish the voice of your narrator, the tone and mood of your book, and perhaps even lay ground for your themes. This can be done through description, syntax, and more.
8. Don't copy other books-- just write the story the way you know it needs to be told. We've already said not to rely on cliched beginnings, but this point takes it farther-- you don't have to write like other books. You are allowed to write the story however you want. So if you want to break a rule here and there, or you want to use some creative wording, or you choose a style that isn't common: it's perfectly alright. Feel free to do whatever the story wants.
9. Introduce the conflict of the story. Books rely on conflict to keep the plot moving forward, so if you don't start with conflict, your book won't move forward. Again, it doesn't even have to be the main conflict of the book, it could even be a smaller conflict leading up to the main one. Whatever the case, make sure there is some kind of conflict present and that it hints at what the book's main conflict will be about.
10. Show the character in his/her normal world, but present a problem. Showing the character in his/her normal world is a classic first beginning for the hero plot structure, but even if you're not using that model, it can sometimes be a good beginning to introduce your character in their normal setting. This gives you the chance to present the problem they are facing or about to face in sharp contrast to what their comfort zone or normalcy is.
11. Give important information without info-dumping. Things like setting, time period, character description and more are all important, and they're usually a good idea to reveal early on. Just make sure you do it in a way that isn't just info-dumping.
12. If you absolutely must begin with a prologue, avoid monologuing, and treat it just like you would the beginning of any story. Some stories need a prologue, and there's no way around it. If you decide your story must have a prologue though, don't use that as an excuse to monologue, share extensive histories, or info-dump. Despite the word prologue being attached to it, it is still the beginning of the story, so treat it as such.
13. If it's just not coming--jump right in and know you can always fix it later. Back to our original thought: If you are just trying to get your first draft written and absolutely nothing seems to be working, just jump right in and remember that the editing process will save the day down the road. Overthinking is the real villain of first pages, and it's important to realize that there is no room for that kind of an enemy when you are writing your first draft.

So there you have it! Thirteen tips for the first page, plus the permission to write badly, if need be, in the first draft.

We'd love to hear from you in the comments! Share the first line of your novel, OR, relate an experience you've had where you struggled with first page woes.

Stay Fearless!

Diversity is a hot topic lately, but it's an important one. Here at the Fearless Type we are proud to be third culture kids, but this background has always allowed us to be aware of an unfortunate lack of diversity in Christian fiction.  Fiction in general needs more diversity, but Christian fiction is especially empty of well-written diversity. This isn't to say that there aren't any-- but that there should definitely be more, and it should be something on the mind of all Christian writers. Why? Keep reading to find out why we need it and how you can be a part of changing the Christian book world.

Why we need diversity in Christian fiction: 

1. Books show who we are. Your writing tells a lot about you. Every book carries a picture of it's author within it. So, what image do you want to share? Diversity not only opens up your book's world and the eyes of your reader, but it can also shape you as an author and show who you are.
2. Books help us learn about and get into the shoes of others. Not only can books help you connect to characters like you, but they can also help you realize how similar you are to characters unlike you. You can learn more about other people, and get the chance to step into their world. This not only broadens the mind, but it can also help us understand others and have more compassion for the world around us.
3. Books portray messages about what is important and a priority in our lives. Whether you realize it or not, every story conveys a message about what you prioritize and find important. We need more diversity in books, because if it's important to us in our regular lives, we ought to see it in our fiction too. Not only that, but many people live in a world where diversity is the norm-- so why should our books not represent that?
4. Books help us share thoughts, truths, and realities that need to be shared. Thoughts, truths, and realities are present in every book. Like we said above, books convey messages. Stop and think about what messages the books you write portray. Not only do we need to include diversity for diversity's sake alone, but sometimes, there are lessons to be learned from other people that we couldn't learn on our own. Having a diverse cast of characters allows for more truth to be told.
5. Books are designed to be relatable, with characters we understand. At it's core, books open up worlds to us where we can connect to and relate with the characters. Imagine never reading about someone who was similar to you? When your narrative is erased from stories, it can feel like you are also erased. If books show who we are, we need more books showcasing everybody. 

What it would look like: 
So we can agree that there needs to be more diversity in Christian fiction, but what would that look like? How would that be presented in a book?

1. A cast of characters that are each unique and carry different qualities. The simplest answer is to have a cast of characters that celebrates their own uniqueness and allows the reader to celebrate that as well. This is just good writing, if we're going to be honest-- nobody wants a cliched cast or a group of characters that all are carbon copies of each other.
2. More main characters that allow for other narratives to be told. Diverse side characters are becoming more popular, perhaps, but how about more diverse main characters? This gives the chance to tell new narratives, stories from various view points that aren't represented as much, and more. Besides all that, we just need to see more books with main characters that are different, unique, and diverse.
3. More ethnicities portrayed. Most people probably think about ethnicity first when they hear the word diverse, and it's true-- it's an important piece to consider. We live in an amazing world, and many places are already somewhat diverse in Western areas. To see that in a novel would truly be refreshing. Let's appreciate people for who they are.
4. More cultures brought to life. Along with ethnicity is culture. Even within one country, culture can vary wildly. Books that showcase various cultures allow for different viewpoints, different struggles, different mindsets and more.
5. Third culture, multi-cultural/multi-racial, and cross-culture individuals. Especially in this day and age, more and more people are actually a mix of cultures. Cross culture is a wide term to describe someone who grew up in a culture that was a minority in the culture of their society. Multi-cultural/multi-racial indicates a person born into a family with parents of different culture or ethnicity, while third culture individuals are those who spend a large part of their formative years in a country (or countries) that differ in culture from their parent's and their original or "passport" country. Cross-culture individuals can also include immigrants, refugees, international adoptees, minorities, and even what is called "domestic" third culture-- when you've moved between very different cultures in one country.
6. Characters with disabilities, chronic illness, or accurately depicted mental health struggles. Having characters with disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental health struggles, or developmental disorders is important because we need to hear their stories too, especially told accurately and realistically.
7. An authentic view of diverse societies. Most of the western world lives in societies made up of all kinds of people, so why don't we portray that in our books? Having a novel with an authentic view of diverse societies is so important, not only because it shows how life really can be, but also because then you can incorporate diversity as just a part of life, like it should be.
8. Celebrating stories from all parts of the world and all walks of life. Diversity means that other parts of the world need their stories told as well as people from all walks of life. Thinking outside your box can help you write better stories that can reach and make an impact on more people.
9. Digging deeper into history from various viewpoints. This is especially for historical fiction authors, but really anybody should keep this in mind. If you haven't taken the time to research history and dig a little deeper from other viewpoints, you need to do that now. Having the big picture is crucial to writing historical fiction, and even just knowing history from a different pair of eyes can really help you keep your mind open as you write. It may even give you inspiration.
10. Telling the stories that haven't been told yet. At the end of the day, just start by looking for those stories that need to be told but haven't yet. Whether it's legends from other countries, history of other cultures, or even a story from the news, look for the stories that need to be out there but aren't. 

​How you can incorporate diversity in your own writing:

1. Be more conscious of how you represent people, and if you do at all. You may not have really given much thought to diversity in your books up to this point, and if you haven't, now is the time to start. Perhaps, though, you have made a commitment to diversity in your books. Either way, take the time to really stop and think about how you are representing people, and if/what you could do better.
2. Don't use stereotypes, derogatory terms, or portray people with a narrow mind. It's not positive diversity if you only bring in stereotypes or are rude in how you write people. Diversity is not about writing caricatures. It's about writing people, and that's it. Even if you think you are portraying history or society correctly, stop and reflect if your view is uplifting or just going to cause harm. Before you begin putting characters in stereotypical roles, consider the whole story. This is especially important for those of you writing historical fiction or books based on realistic current events. History is messy, and we're often taught a black-and-white bad guy/good guy version of things. Show true discernment by being willing to understand all angles and write your characters as humans, and with respect.
3. Be willing to learn and listen to other people's stories. Part of incorporating diversity in your own writing is being teachable. Just because someone is different doesn't mean they are wrong or weird. Be willing to honestly learn and listen. You can't represent diversity properly if you don't first seek to understand.
4. Create multi-dimensional characters and don't rely on clichés or flat characterization. When you include people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, disabilities and more, be absolutely certain you're not relying on clichés, stereotypes or cardboard cutouts. It's especially important when creating characters that are quite different from you to make sure you aren't subconsciously reverting to stereotypes. While culture etc. can definitely impact a character, they are still a unique individual. Want to know how to craft amazing characters? Check out this post.
5. Celebrate everyone's uniqueness with equality. No one is better than anyone else. Equality isn't always present in our world, unfortunately, but you have the power in your writing to treat every character with equality as you write them. Don't go putting down people in your books-- instead, promote your character's differences as part of their unique makeup.
6. Search for new stories that need to be told. Sometimes you just need to look outside your own comfort zone to find new stories that need to be told. If you put in the effort, you will not only be able to write a story about something entirely new, but you will also be sharing stories that have been hidden under the radar for too long.
7. Do your research thoroughly, and if possible, speak to people who are similar to your characters. Research is always important, but if you're writing about something you're not as familiar with, it's even more critical. Just like you wouldn't attempt to write a historical novel without doing your study first, or you wouldn't just make up scientific knowledge as you go, you need to make sure you are representing people properly. If you can, try talking to or reading up on people who are similar to your characters! Whether you're writing about someone with Autism or someone from Bangladesh, research is vital to your novel's success.
8. Support writers of all kinds. Part of encouraging diversity in books is to encourage diversity in writers, as well. While at first you might not know where to look to find diverse authors, keep an eye out and try to connect with others. Not only does this support help them, but it is also a good way for you to grow as an author and person.
9. Read books that include diverse casts of characters. Often what you read influences what you write, so make a point of finding and reading books that include diverse casts of characters. Not only does this allow you to expand your horizon a bit, but it also helps you see how other authors write diversity-- what to do, and maybe even what not to do.
10. Write about people. Ultimately, just write about people. No matter how many differences there may be from one person to the next, on the inside we all have beating hearts and living souls. Write your characters in the same way-- as humans. All perfectly unique, and important, and with a story to tell.

So there you have it! We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and if you have a favorite Christian/fiction book that has a diverse cast of characters, let us know!

Stay Fearless

We love characters around here, and we love building them. So today we wanted to share one of our favorite tools for developing insanely dynamic, rich and relatable characters-- by using MBTI.

(While this post is strictly about MBTI, we recommend learning both MBTI and the Enneagram typing system for an all around view of your characters. The MBTI is how the world sees you/your character, and Enneagram is how you/your character see the world, so together they form a complete picture).

WHAT IS MBTI:
MBTI -- or Myers Brigg Type Indicator -- is a personality typing system that uses elements called cognitive functions to figure out sixteen different personality types. It's purposely crafted to make the theory of psychological types easy to understand and accessible to the everyday person. Not only does this help people towards a path of self development, but it can also help us understand others. That's where MBTI for book characters come in.

WHY:

• Helps you develop the character as a lifelike person.
• Assists in an all-around understanding of your character-- good and bad.
• Gives you insight instantly to facets you may not have been able to pinpoint without understanding their type.
• Quick way to get a solid grasp on how your book's world and your reader will view your character.

QUICK TYPING:

In our workbook we've talked about the simplest approach to typing, and that's to take the whole system at a surface level to make quick assumptions. This can be an easy way to get started for several reasons. It can give you a jumping off point that helps you focus on one or two of the closest matches quickly, and it can help you bypass a lot of the psychology if that's not your thing. We still recommend trying out MBTI by using the functions (we call it in depth typing and it's the second half of this post), but if you want a refresher on quick-typing, read on.

Each MBTI personality type is a combination of four letters, and those letters essentially become the name of the type. At it's most basic form, it boils down to: Are you extroverted or introverted, are you a sensor or an intuitive, are you a thinker or a feeler, and lastly: are you a judger or a perceiver?

It's important to get a good understanding of what these words actually mean and stand for, because if you don't it is extremely easy not only to mistype but to fall prey to many stereotypes. Let's take a closer look at each part of the equation. 

To do a quick type, simply go through each section and pick which side you feel correlates to your character more. Once you have your final combination, begin your research on that type and decide if it fits your character.

For reference:
Extrovert vs Introvert = E or I
Sensor vs Intuitive = S or N
Thinker vs Feeler = T or F
Judger vs Perceiver = J or P

The total combinations of these letters create the 16 types: INTJ, INTP, ENTJ, ENTP, INFJ, ENFJ, INFP, ENFP, ISTJ, ESTJ, ISFJ, ESFJ, ISTP, ESTP, ISFP, ESFP.


IN DEPTH TYPING:
As we mentioned before, using the quick typing method is really more like educated guesswork at best, and at its worst it could result in mistyping. The reason for this is because it's difficult to break down each type into merely eight distinct differences without losing a lot of the depth to the psychology of it.

This is where the cognitive functions come in. The truth of the matter is, everyone has elements of introversion and extroversion, sensing and intuition, thinking and feeling, and perceiving and judging. We just use them all in different ways, and are stronger or weaker in some areas than others. There are eight functions, and they get to the nitty-gritty of the personality type. Because everyone is able to think, feel, use their intuition and use their senses, it comes down to how do you use each specific part? Are you using it in an introverted manner or an extroverted way? Everyone has a combination of some functions being used in an introverted way and some being extroverted--it's always in a pattern, E-I-E-I or I-E-I-E. It's simply a matter of figuring out what the combination is, and in what order the thinking, feeling, sensing and intuitive factors fall. 

​Every possible combination of these functions becomes the sixteen MBTI personality types. Here's a quick cheat sheet to help you out!

Another place with lots of great references and charts is at Personality Hacker. They have a page full of guides, as well as a podcast and blog articles. If you want a great website to get a quick grasp on all the types individually, head to 16 Personalities. It's a great go-to place to check into the types.

So there you have it! You are now equipped to use the Myers-Brigg Type indicator to craft rich, amazing, realistic characters. Oh, and if you figure out your own type in the process, be sure to head over to our posts on our top tips for introverted and extroverted writers!

Stay Fearless!