This is basically a must for all writers (or at least, it makes our job significantly easier/less time consuming/less likely to make us want to rip our hair out by the roots), but visual thinkers tend to be great at plotting. There’s something about a visible outline that can be inexplicably pleasing to us, and there are so many great ways to go about it. Here are a few examples:
The Three-Act Structure
This one is one of the simplest: it’s divided into the tried-and-true three acts, or parts, a la William Shakespeare, and includes a basic synopsis of what happens in each. It’s simple, it’s familiar, it’s easy to add to, and it get’s the job done.
It starts with Act I – i.e. the set-up, or establishing the status quo – which is usually best if it’s the shortest act, as it tends to bore audiences quickly. This leads to Act II, typically the longest, which introduces the disruptor and shows how characters deal with it, and is sandwiched by Act III (the resolution.)
The Chapter-by-Chapter
This is the one I use the most. It allows you to elucidate on the goings on of your novel in greater detail than the quintessential three act synopsis generally could, fully mapping out your manuscript one chapter at a time. The descriptions can be as simple or as elaborate as you need them to be, and can be added to or edited throughout the progression of your novel.
Can easily be added to/combined with the three-act structure.
The Character Arc(s)
This isn’t one that I’ve used a lot, but it can be a lot of fun, particularly for voice-driven/literary works: instead on focusing on the events of the plot, this one centralizes predominantly around the arc of your main character/characters. As with its plot-driven predecessors, it can be in point-by-point/chapter-by-chapter format, and is a great way to map out character development.
The Tent Moments
By “tent moments,” I mean the moments that hold up the foundation (i.e. the plot) of the novel, in the way that poles and wires hold up a tent. This one builds off of the most prevalent moments of the novel – the one’s you’re righting the story around – and is great for writers that want to cut straight to the action. Write them out in bullet points, and plan the rest of the novel around them.
The Mind Map
This one’s a lot of fun, and as an artist, I should probably start to use it more. It allows you to plot out your novel the way you would a family tree, using doodles, illustrations, and symbols to your heart’s content. Here’s alink to how to create basic mind maps on YouTube.
2. “Show don’t tell” is probably your strong suit.
If you’re a visual thinker, your scenes are probably at least partially originally construed as movie scenes in your head. This can be a good thing, so long as you can harness a little of that mental cinematography and make your readers visualize the scenes the way you do.
A lot of published authors have a real big problem with giving laundry lists of character traits rather than allowing me to just see for myself. Maybe I’m spoiled by the admittedly copious amounts of fanfiction I indulge in, where the writer blissfully assumes that I know the characters already and let’s the personalities and visuals do the talking. Either way, the pervasive “telling” approach does get tedious.
Here’s a hypothetical example. Let’s say you wanted to describe a big, tough, scary guy, who your main character is afraid of. The “tell” approach might go something like this:
Tommy was walking along when he was approached by a big, tough, scary guy who looked sort of angry.
“Hey, kid,” said the guy. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to a friend’s house,” Tommy replied.
I know, right? This is Boring with a capital ‘B.’
On the other hand, let’s check out the “show” approach:
The man lumbered towards Tommy, shaved head pink and glistening in the late afternoon sun. His beady eyes glinted predatorily beneath the thick, angry bushes of his brows.
“Hey, kid,” the man grunted, beefy arms folded over his pot belly. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to a friend’s house,” Tommy replied, hoping the man didn’t know that he was ditching school.
See how much better that is? We don’t need to be told the man is big, tough, and scary looking because the narrative shows us, and draws the reader a lot more in the process.
This goes for scene building, too. For example:
Exhibit A:
Tyrone stepped out onto his balcony. It was a beautiful night.
Lame.
Exhibit B:
Tyrone stepped out onto his balcony, looking up at the inky abyss of the night sky, dotted with countless stars and illuminated by the buttery white glow of the full moon.
Much better.
3. But conversely, know when to tell.
A book without any atmosphere or vivid, transformative descriptors tends to be, by and large, a dry and boring hunk of paper. That said, know when you’re showing the reader a little too much.
Too many descriptors will make your book overflow with purple prose, and likely become a pretentious read that no one wants to bother with.
So when do you “tell” instead of “show?” Well, for starters, when you’re transitioning from one scene to the next.
For example:
As the second hand of the clock sluggishly ticked along, the sky ever-so-slowly transitioning from cerulean, to lilac, to peachy sunset. Finally, it became inky black, the moon rising above the horizon and stars appearing by the time Lakisha got home.
These kind of transitions should be generally pretty immemorable, so if yours look like this you may want to revise.
Day turned into evening by the time Lakisha got home.
See? It’s that simple.
Another example is redundant descriptions: if you show the fudge out of a character when he/she/they are first introduced and create an impression that sticks with the reader, you probably don’t have to do it again.
You can emphasize features that stand out about the character (i.e. Milo’s huge, owline eyes illuminated eerily in the dark) but the reader probably doesn’t need a laundry list of the character’s physical attributes every other sentence. Just call the character by name, and for God’s sake, stay away from epithets: the blond man. The taller woman. The angel. Just, no. If the reader is aware of the character’s name, just say it, or rework the sentence.
All that said, it is important to instill a good mental image of your characters right off the bat.
Which brings us to my next point…
4. Master the art of character descriptions.
Visual thinkers tend to have a difficult time with character descriptions, because most of the time, they tend to envision their characters as played their favorite actors, or as looking like characters from their favorite movies or TV shows.
That’s why you’ll occasionally see characters popping up who are described as looking like, say, Chris Evans.
It’s a personal pet peeve of mine, because A) what if the reader has never seen Chris Evans? Granted, they’d probably have to be living on Mars, but you get the picture: you don’t want your readers to have to Google the celebrity you’re thirsting after in order for them to envision your character. B) It’s just plain lazy, and C) virtually everyone will know that the reason you made this character look like Chris Evans is because you want to bang Chris Evans.
Not that that’s bad or anything, but is that really what you want to be remembered for?
Now, I’m not saying don’t envision your characters as famous attractive people – hell, that’s one of the paramount joys of being a writer. But so’s describing people! Describing characters is a lot of fun, draws in the reader, and really brings your character to life.
So what’s the solution? If you want your character to look like Chris Evans, describe Chris Evans.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:
Exhibit A:
The guy got out of the car to make sure Carlos was alright, and holy cow, he looked just like Dean Winchester!
No bueno. Besides the fact that I’m channeling the writing style of 50 Shades of Grey a little here, everyone who reads this is going to process that you’re basically writing Supernatural fanfiction. That, or they’ll have to Google who Dean Winchester is, which, again, is no good.
Exhibit B:
The guy got out of the car to make sure Carlos was alright, his short, caramel blond hair stirring in the chilly wind and a smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose. His eyes were wide with concern, and as he approached, Carlos could see that they were gold-tinged, peridot green in the late afternoon sun.
Also note that I’m keeping the description a little vague here; I’m doing this for two reasons, the first of which being that, in general, you’re not going to want to describe your characters down to the last detail. Trust me. It’s boring, and your readers are much more likely to become enamored with a well-written personality than they are a vacant sex doll. Next, by keeping the description a little vague, I effectively manage to channel a Dean Winchester-esque character without literally writing about Dean Winchester.
Let’s try another example:
Exhibit A:
Charlotte’s boyfriend looked just like Idris Elba.
Exhibit B:
Charlotte’s boyfriend was a stunning man, eyes pensive pools of dark brown amber and a smile so perfect that it could make you think he was deliciously prejudiced in your favor. His skin was dark copper, textured black hair gray at the temples, and he filled out a suit like no other.
Okay, that one may have been because I just really wanted to describe Idris Elba, but you get the point: it’s more engaging for the reader to be able to imagine your character instead of mentally inserting some sexy fictional character or actor, however beloved they may be.
So don’t skimp on the descriptions!
5. Don’t be afraid to find inspiration in other media!
A lot of older people recommend ditching TV completely in order to improve creativity and become a better writer. Personally, if you’ll pardon my French, I think this is bombastic horseshit.
TV and cinema are artistic mediums the same way anything else is. Moreover, the sheer amount of fanart and fanfiction – some of which is legitimately better than most published content – is proof to me that you can derive inspiration from these mediums as much as anything else.
The trick is to watch media that inspires you. I’m not going to say “good media” because that, in and of itself, is subjective. I, for example, think Supernatural is a fucking masterpiece of intertextual postmodernism and amazing characterization, whereas someone else might think it’s a hot mess of campy special effects and rambling plotlines. Conversely, one of my best friends loves Twilight, both the movies and the books, which, I’m going to confess, I don’t get at all. But it doesn’t matter that it isn’t good to me so long as it’s good to her.
So watch what inspires you. Consume any whatever movies, books, and shows you’re enthusiastic about, figure out what you love most about them, and apply that to your writing. Chances are, readers will find your enthusiasm infectious.
As a disclaimer, this is not to say you get a free pass from reading: I’ve never met a good writer who didn’t read voraciously. If you’re concerned that you can’t fall in love with books the way you used to (which, sadly, is a common phenomenon) fear not: I grappled with that problem after I started college, and I’ll be posting an article shortly on how to fall back in love reading.
So in the meanwhile, be sure to follow my blog, and stay tuned for future content!
(This one goes out to my friend, beta reader, and fellow writer @megpieeee, who is a tremendous visual thinker and whose books will make amazing movies someday.)
Even if you’re not a visual thinker, this might help breakdown writer’s block. Just a different way to think and look.
In Twilight, Bella has absolutely no qualities that make her interesting as a character. She’s shown to have very little personality, in the books or onscreen, and is only made “interesting” (a relative term here) via the inclusion of her sparkly, abusive boyfriend. It feeds into the harmful mentality of adolescent girls that you need a significant other in order to find fulfillment, particularly if he’s significantly older and likes to watch you sleep. Yikes.
Examples:
Bella is welcomed to school by a friendly, extroverted girl and given a place to sit amongst her and her friends. Despite this girl’s kindness, Bella shrugs her off as a stereotypical shallow cheerleader, and spends her time staring wistfully at the guy across the cafeteria from them. Once Edward becomes her official boyfriend, she immediately loses interest in her new friends as her life shifts its orbit to revolve completely around him.
How to avoid her:
Female characters are allowed to have lives outside of their significant others. They’re allowed to have friends, quirks, hobbies, and interests. Give them some.
The best fictional relationships are based off of characters who compliment each other, not one character who revolves around the other. Make sure your female character’s life does not centralize around her significant other.
Strong female characters don’t look down on other girls, even if they are outgoing cheerleaders. Being pasty and introverted doesn’t make you a better person, y’all – if it did, I’d be a decorated hero by now.
Give them aspirations besides getting an obsessive, much-older boyfriend. In fact, don’t give them an obsessive, much-older boyfriend at all – if you do want them to have a significant other, give them one who cares about their interests and accepts that they have lives and goals outside of them.
2. The Molly Hooper (i.e. the starry-eyed punching bag)
Who she is:
Like most things about BBC’s Sherlock, Molly was an amazing concept that went progressively downhill. I used to love her quiet tenacity and emotional intelligence, and was sure that with her strong basis as a character, she would overcome her infatuation with the titular Sherlock and find self-fulfillment. Nope!
Examples:
She remained stubbornly infatuated over the course of five years with an ambiguously gay man who, en large, treated her badly, leading to her public humiliation with zero pertinence to the plot or resolution. Moreover, her infatuation with Sherlock quickly usurped almost all of her other characteristics, leading her to an increasingly immature characterization that was difficult to relate to.
How to avoid her:
By all means, please write female characters who are quiet, kind, and unassuming (a female character does not, contrary to popular belief, need to be rambunctious, callous, or violent to be “strong”) but remember than none of these traits need to make the character a pushover. Let them stand their ground.
Similarly, attraction to men (or anyone, for that matter) does not invalidate a female character’s strength. Just be sure she values herself more than their attention.
As I said earlier, don’t be afraid to make characters who are gentle and soft-spoken, but be wary of making them “childlike,” or giving them an infantile, emotionally characterization.
My best advice for writing gentle, soft-spoken, unassuming women would actually to look to male characters in the media fitting this description; since male characters are rarely infantilized as much as women are by popular media, you’ll get a much better idea of what a well-rounded character looks like.
3. The Irene Adler (i.e. the defanged badass)
Who she is:
Yup, another one of the BBC Sherlock women, among whom only Mrs. Hudson seemed to come through with her dignity and characterization intact. In the books, Irene and Sherlock have absolutely zero romantic connotations, only bonded via Sherlock’s irritation and respect with her substantial intelligence. In the show, it’s a different story entirely.
Examples:
Irene is a badass character who’s turned into a teary-eyed Damsel in Distress via her uncontrollable love for the show’s male lead. It doesn’t help matters that she’s a self-proclaimed lesbian who falls in love with a man, which, unless you’re a woman who loves women yourself and writing about a character realizing she’s bi/pansexual, I would recommend against doing under any circumstances. She ends up being defeated and subsequently rescued by Sherlock – a far cry from her defeat of him in the books.
How to avoid her:
If you’re writing a badass female character, allowher to actually be badass, and allow her to actually show it throughout your work as opposed to just hearing other characters say it. And one punch or kick isn’t enough, either: I want to see this chick jump out of planes.
That said, “badass” does not equal emotionally callous. It doesn’t bother me that Moffat showed Irene having feelings for someone else, what bothers me is how he went about it.
When writing a character who’s shown to be attracted to more than one gender, just say she’s bisexual. Pansexual. Whatever, just don’t call her straight/gay depending on the situation she’s in. Jesus.
4. The Becky (i.e. the comedic rapist)
Who she is:
Most people who know me can vouch for my adoration of Supernatural, but it definitely has its problems: it’s not as diverse as it could be, its treatment of women is subpar, and yes, there is some thinly veiled sexual violence: all three of its leading characters have dealt with it at one point of another (Dean is routinely groped by female demons, a virginal Castiel was sexually taken advantage of by a disguised reaper, and the whole concept of sex under demonic possession is iffy to say the least.) It’s rarely ever addressed afterwards, and is commonly used for comedic fodder. Possibly the most quintessential example of this is Becky.
Examples:
Becky abducts Sam, ties him to the bed, and kisses him against his will. She then drugs him, albeit with a love potion, and is implied to have had sex with him under its influence.
How to avoid her:
Male rape isn’t funny, y’all. Media still takes rape against women a lot more seriously than rape against men, particularly female-on-male rape, and I can assure you its not.
Educate yourself on statistics for male sexual assault: approximately thirty-eight percent of sexual violence survivors are male, for example, and approximately one in sixteen male college students has reported to have experienced sexual assault.
Moreover, be aware that forty-six percent of all instances of male rape have a female perpetrator.
In other words, treat themes of sexual assault against men as seriously as you would treat themes of sexual assault against women.
5. The Movie Hermione (i.e. the flawless superhuman)
Who she is:
Okay, in and of herself, Movie Hermione is amazing: she’s beautiful, intelligent, and heroic, as well as possibly the most useful character of the franchise. She only bothers me in context of the fact that she takes away everything I loved most about Book Hermoine, and everything I loved about Book Ron, too.
Examples:
Book Hermione was beautiful, but not conventionally: she had big, poofy curls, big teeth, and didn’t put a lot of effort into maintaining her appearance. Movie Hermione looks effortlessly flawless, all the time. Book Hermione was intelligent, but also loud, abrasive, and unintentionally annoying when talking about her interests (which meant a lot to me, because as a kid on the Asperger’s spectrum, I frequently was/am that way myself – it was nice to see a character struggling with the same traits). She was also allowed to have flaws, such as struggling to keep up with academia, and being terrified of failure.
Movie Hermione also took all of Ron’s redeeming qualities, and everything that made him compliment her as a couple: his street smarts used to compliment her academic intelligence, for example, staying calm while she panicked in the Philosopher’s Stone when they were being overcome with vines. He also stood up for her in the books against Snape, as opposed to the jerkish “he’s right, you know.”
How to avoid her:
Allow your female characters to have flaws, as much so as any well-rounded male character. Just be sure to counterbalance them with a suitable amount of redeeming qualities. This will make your female character well-rounded, dynamic, and easy to get invested in.
There’s no reason for your female characters to always look perfect. Sure, they can be stunningly gorgeous (particularly if their appearance is important to them), but it’s physical imperfections that make characters fun to imagine: Harry’s scar and wild hair, for example. Female characters are no different.
If you’re writing a female character to have an eventual love interest, allow their personalities to compliment one another. Allow the love interest to have qualities that the female character is lacking, so that they can compliment one another and have better chemistry.
Basically, write your female characters as people.
God willing, I will be publishing essays like this approximately every Friday, so be sure to follow my blog and stay tuned for future writing advice and observations!
If you’ve been around long enough, maybe the smiling eye is familiar to you? I’ve been keeping a secret for months… I’m that new author everyone is talking about! (OK, maybe those conversations were all in my head…but that’s what makes me a writer- the voices!) Sweet Thing Brewing has had some success on its own without being a fan fic author tie in, but a lot of followers seem to like my style, based on notes and comments I receive, and friendships that have grown from that. And I ADORE you all for that support. Without your love and dedication to my small projects, I don’t think I would have believed I could write and publish a novel. But I DID! And I want to share it with you. Here’s a sneak peek at the building romance between Veronica and Enrique…
The parking garage is still full of sports fans cheering and jeering and we pass through the shadows quickly to his truck, not wanting to be swept into any trouble. In the safety of the truck, I sigh a relief and thank him for being my big, strong protector.
“That’s a job I could apply for,” he teases and winks at me. With the confidence of the large truck, he butts his way in line with the other vehicles exiting the garage and making their way onto the streets.
Under the flash of the city lights I watch as his large hand inches its way up from my knee, finally stopping to rest midway up my thigh. His long fingers curve over the top and dig between my legs and he gives a little squeeze. Gasping involuntarily I look over to see if he heard. His eyes are focused on the road as he makes the exit out of the city.
We continue talking about the ballgame, trading stories and singing along to the radio, and enjoy long moments of quiet in the dark night. Occasionally his thumb brushes across my skin and I’m aware of awakened parts of me I’d long forgotten. I struggle to sit still when I truly just yearn for him to slide his hand closer to my sex. By the light of the dash, the iridescent blue glow gives Enrique’s skin a darker tone against mine and the contours of his veins are highlighted in the shadows. I shift in my seat and his fingers tighten. I suck in my breath and bite the inside corner of my mouth before my tongue darts out to wet my lips. My heart beats against my chest and I’m sure in the confined space there’s no keeping secrets.
When he flexes his fingers I look to see a slight upturned grin on his face. His boldness actually helps me relax as I settle back into the seat. I kick off my shoes and slowly part my legs for him, as I cross my arm over my belly and gently wrap my hand around his wrist, brushing my thumb across the ridges his veins create there. I can feel his pulse quicken under my caress and my arousal stirs. We continue talking but I can hear how my voice has become silkier in an attempt to be more alluring. His tone has dropped deeper and even more sultry, each R sound a little more rolled and I begin to imagine just what his tongue could do. The thought alone makes me wet. I feel my panties become doused with my desire and I can’t focus on his words. My eyes haze over as I begin to have thoughts of sex with him.
So lost in my fantasies, it barely registers with me when he pulls the truck over at the roadside park. His husky voice rumbles through me when he speaks, “No puedo…” He shakes his head, a low laugh filling the cab of the truck. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you don’t speak Spanish well.” Placing the shiny vehicle in park, he turns in his seat to look at me, his other hand coming up to the nape of my neck, digging his fingers in my hair. “I can’t keep driving; I can’t concentrate. I keep thinking about kissing you, and I’ve been avoiding it all night, but I can’t ignore it any longer.”
With each word, he moves into my space until his mouth hovers above mine. My eyes are drawn to his pouty lips, glistening with the wet of a recent lick across them from his tongue as he speaks. I realize I am leaning into him as well and his hand has moved higher on my thigh. He pulls on my neck, bringing us even closer. His lips are parted slightly, an open invitation. Wanting nothing more than to taste this man, I crash into him, landing my lips against his. The first kiss is awkward and passionate all at once, leaning over the console as he tugs on my hair, his breath warm on my skin. The smell of beer, summer sweat and his masculine scent fills my nose. And coffee. I pull back, but stay close as a smile crosses my lips. Biting my lip again, I giggle. “Your skin smells of coffee, yet you taste like beer.” Close to his parted lips, quivering with his own need, I inhale the smell of the ballpark hops on his breath. “It’s intoxicating.”
Licking his lips again, he squeezes the back of my neck. “Get drunk on me,” he whispers, tipping his head down for another kiss.
As always, when you read something you love- fan fic or published- leave a comment, share it with friends, reblog… You can comment on this story on Amazon or Good Reads and you can find me on Twitter.
Cass Michaels is the pen name I have chosen as an author, for personal reasons. ‘Cass’ is a part of my personality that was born when I started writing, when I found tumblr. Each of you helped create her and allowed this new side of me to grow… Thank you, from the bottom of my heart
reader tags under the cut- this is the list for ANY of my writings. If you want on or off the list, please let me know
Oh my god is this you… you’re Cass aaaaaaaahhhh. Really. I’m freaking out. Did I misread what just read?
It’s amazing. I want it…gimme
I need more reading!! you sly dog *grabs for*
@mortaltrouble You can also follow me on my author tumblr, for great writing tips and story updates. Thanks for letting me beta today! Good luck to you and your projects too!
If you’ve been around long enough, maybe the smiling eye is familiar to you? I’ve been keeping a secret for months… I’m that new author everyone is talking about! (OK, maybe those conversations were all in my head…but that’s what makes me a writer- the voices!) Sweet Thing Brewing has had some success on its own without being a fan fic author tie in, but a lot of followers seem to like my style, based on notes and comments I receive, and friendships that have grown from that. And I ADORE you all for that support. Without your love and dedication to my small projects, I don’t think I would have believed I could write and publish a novel. But I DID! And I want to share it with you. Here’s a sneak peek at the building romance between Veronica and Enrique…
The parking garage is still full of sports fans cheering and jeering and we pass through the shadows quickly to his truck, not wanting to be swept into any trouble. In the safety of the truck, I sigh a relief and thank him for being my big, strong protector.
“That’s a job I could apply for,” he teases and winks at me. With the confidence of the large truck, he butts his way in line with the other vehicles exiting the garage and making their way onto the streets.
Under the flash of the city lights I watch as his large hand inches its way up from my knee, finally stopping to rest midway up my thigh. His long fingers curve over the top and dig between my legs and he gives a little squeeze. Gasping involuntarily I look over to see if he heard. His eyes are focused on the road as he makes the exit out of the city.
We continue talking about the ballgame, trading stories and singing along to the radio, and enjoy long moments of quiet in the dark night. Occasionally his thumb brushes across my skin and I’m aware of awakened parts of me I’d long forgotten. I struggle to sit still when I truly just yearn for him to slide his hand closer to my sex. By the light of the dash, the iridescent blue glow gives Enrique’s skin a darker tone against mine and the contours of his veins are highlighted in the shadows. I shift in my seat and his fingers tighten. I suck in my breath and bite the inside corner of my mouth before my tongue darts out to wet my lips. My heart beats against my chest and I’m sure in the confined space there’s no keeping secrets.
When he flexes his fingers I look to see a slight upturned grin on his face. His boldness actually helps me relax as I settle back into the seat. I kick off my shoes and slowly part my legs for him, as I cross my arm over my belly and gently wrap my hand around his wrist, brushing my thumb across the ridges his veins create there. I can feel his pulse quicken under my caress and my arousal stirs. We continue talking but I can hear how my voice has become silkier in an attempt to be more alluring. His tone has dropped deeper and even more sultry, each R sound a little more rolled and I begin to imagine just what his tongue could do. The thought alone makes me wet. I feel my panties become doused with my desire and I can’t focus on his words. My eyes haze over as I begin to have thoughts of sex with him.
So lost in my fantasies, it barely registers with me when he pulls the truck over at the roadside park. His husky voice rumbles through me when he speaks, “No puedo…” He shakes his head, a low laugh filling the cab of the truck. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you don’t speak Spanish well.” Placing the shiny vehicle in park, he turns in his seat to look at me, his other hand coming up to the nape of my neck, digging his fingers in my hair. “I can’t keep driving; I can’t concentrate. I keep thinking about kissing you, and I’ve been avoiding it all night, but I can’t ignore it any longer.”
With each word, he moves into my space until his mouth hovers above mine. My eyes are drawn to his pouty lips, glistening with the wet of a recent lick across them from his tongue as he speaks. I realize I am leaning into him as well and his hand has moved higher on my thigh. He pulls on my neck, bringing us even closer. His lips are parted slightly, an open invitation. Wanting nothing more than to taste this man, I crash into him, landing my lips against his. The first kiss is awkward and passionate all at once, leaning over the console as he tugs on my hair, his breath warm on my skin. The smell of beer, summer sweat and his masculine scent fills my nose. And coffee. I pull back, but stay close as a smile crosses my lips. Biting my lip again, I giggle. “Your skin smells of coffee, yet you taste like beer.” Close to his parted lips, quivering with his own need, I inhale the smell of the ballpark hops on his breath. “It’s intoxicating.”
Licking his lips again, he squeezes the back of my neck. “Get drunk on me,” he whispers, tipping his head down for another kiss.
As always, when you read something you love- fan fic or published- leave a comment, share it with friends, reblog… You can comment on this story on Amazon or Good Reads and you can find me on Twitter.
Cass Michaels is the pen name I have chosen as an author, for personal reasons. ‘Cass’ is a part of my personality that was born when I started writing, when I found tumblr. Each of you helped create her and allowed this new side of me to grow… Thank you, from the bottom of my heart
reader tags under the cut- this is the list for ANY of my writings. If you want on or off the list, please let me know
Oh my god is this you… you’re Cass aaaaaaaahhhh. Really. I’m freaking out. Did I misread what just read?
It’s amazing. I want it…gimme
@deliciousinsanity-blog you read that right! Cass Michaels is my nom de plume! (And you know shower scenes are a favorite of mine, sooo….) Just saying. It’s a full novel, family drama, falling in love, a twist or two… and fluffy smut!
Oh my god!!!!!!!! I had a feeling you were published! That is so cool!
You guys go get this book right now! Cass is amazing! and if her fanfics or any prequel to the way she writes…. This it’s just going to be a sack of awesome potatoes!
@ladyamandapanda12 GIRL! You know I love potatoes! And so does Veronica, in Sweet Thing Brewing! It just managed to work it’s way into the story… I couldn’t stop myself. *LOL*
So excited that you’ve let the cat out of the bag! READ, PEOPLE! READ!!
If you’ve been around long enough, maybe the smiling eye is familiar to you? I’ve been keeping a secret for months… I’m that new author everyone is talking about! (OK, maybe those conversations were all in my head…but that’s what makes me a writer- the voices!) Sweet Thing Brewing has had some success on its own without being a fan fic author tie in, but a lot of followers seem to like my style, based on notes and comments I receive, and friendships that have grown from that. And I ADORE you all for that support. Without your love and dedication to my small projects, I don’t think I would have believed I could write and publish a novel. But I DID! And I want to share it with you. Here’s a sneak peek at the building romance between Veronica and Enrique…
The parking garage is still full of sports fans cheering and jeering and we pass through the shadows quickly to his truck, not wanting to be swept into any trouble. In the safety of the truck, I sigh a relief and thank him for being my big, strong protector.
“That’s a job I could apply for,” he teases and winks at me. With the confidence of the large truck, he butts his way in line with the other vehicles exiting the garage and making their way onto the streets.
Under the flash of the city lights I watch as his large hand inches its way up from my knee, finally stopping to rest midway up my thigh. His long fingers curve over the top and dig between my legs and he gives a little squeeze. Gasping involuntarily I look over to see if he heard. His eyes are focused on the road as he makes the exit out of the city.
We continue talking about the ballgame, trading stories and singing along to the radio, and enjoy long moments of quiet in the dark night. Occasionally his thumb brushes across my skin and I’m aware of awakened parts of me I’d long forgotten. I struggle to sit still when I truly just yearn for him to slide his hand closer to my sex. By the light of the dash, the iridescent blue glow gives Enrique’s skin a darker tone against mine and the contours of his veins are highlighted in the shadows. I shift in my seat and his fingers tighten. I suck in my breath and bite the inside corner of my mouth before my tongue darts out to wet my lips. My heart beats against my chest and I’m sure in the confined space there’s no keeping secrets.
When he flexes his fingers I look to see a slight upturned grin on his face. His boldness actually helps me relax as I settle back into the seat. I kick off my shoes and slowly part my legs for him, as I cross my arm over my belly and gently wrap my hand around his wrist, brushing my thumb across the ridges his veins create there. I can feel his pulse quicken under my caress and my arousal stirs. We continue talking but I can hear how my voice has become silkier in an attempt to be more alluring. His tone has dropped deeper and even more sultry, each R sound a little more rolled and I begin to imagine just what his tongue could do. The thought alone makes me wet. I feel my panties become doused with my desire and I can’t focus on his words. My eyes haze over as I begin to have thoughts of sex with him.
So lost in my fantasies, it barely registers with me when he pulls the truck over at the roadside park. His husky voice rumbles through me when he speaks, “No puedo…” He shakes his head, a low laugh filling the cab of the truck. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you don’t speak Spanish well.” Placing the shiny vehicle in park, he turns in his seat to look at me, his other hand coming up to the nape of my neck, digging his fingers in my hair. “I can’t keep driving; I can’t concentrate. I keep thinking about kissing you, and I’ve been avoiding it all night, but I can’t ignore it any longer.”
With each word, he moves into my space until his mouth hovers above mine. My eyes are drawn to his pouty lips, glistening with the wet of a recent lick across them from his tongue as he speaks. I realize I am leaning into him as well and his hand has moved higher on my thigh. He pulls on my neck, bringing us even closer. His lips are parted slightly, an open invitation. Wanting nothing more than to taste this man, I crash into him, landing my lips against his. The first kiss is awkward and passionate all at once, leaning over the console as he tugs on my hair, his breath warm on my skin. The smell of beer, summer sweat and his masculine scent fills my nose. And coffee. I pull back, but stay close as a smile crosses my lips. Biting my lip again, I giggle. “Your skin smells of coffee, yet you taste like beer.” Close to his parted lips, quivering with his own need, I inhale the smell of the ballpark hops on his breath. “It’s intoxicating.”
Licking his lips again, he squeezes the back of my neck. “Get drunk on me,” he whispers, tipping his head down for another kiss.
As always, when you read something you love- fan fic or published- leave a comment, share it with friends, reblog… You can comment on this story on Amazon or Good Reads and you can find me on Twitter.
Cass Michaels is the pen name I have chosen as an author, for personal reasons. ‘Cass’ is a part of my personality that was born when I started writing, when I found tumblr. Each of you helped create her and allowed this new side of me to grow… Thank you, from the bottom of my heart
reader tags under the cut- this is the list for ANY of my writings. If you want on or off the list, please let me know
Oh my god is this you… you’re Cass aaaaaaaahhhh. Really. I’m freaking out. Did I misread what just read?
It’s amazing. I want it…gimme
@deliciousinsanity-blog you read that right! Cass Michaels is my nom de plume! (And you know shower scenes are a favorite of mine, sooo….) Just saying. It’s a full novel, family drama, falling in love, a twist or two… and fluffy smut!
Oh my god!!!!!!!! I had a feeling you were published! That is so cool!
If you’ve been around long enough, maybe the smiling eye is familiar to you? I’ve been keeping a secret for months… I’m that new author everyone is talking about! (OK, maybe those conversations were all in my head…but that’s what makes me a writer- the voices!) Sweet Thing Brewing has had some success on its own without being a fan fic author tie in, but a lot of followers seem to like my style, based on notes and comments I receive, and friendships that have grown from that. And I ADORE you all for that support. Without your love and dedication to my small projects, I don’t think I would have believed I could write and publish a novel. But I DID! And I want to share it with you. Here’s a sneak peek at the building romance between Veronica and Enrique…
The parking garage is still full of sports fans cheering and jeering and we pass through the shadows quickly to his truck, not wanting to be swept into any trouble. In the safety of the truck, I sigh a relief and thank him for being my big, strong protector.
“That’s a job I could apply for,” he teases and winks at me. With the confidence of the large truck, he butts his way in line with the other vehicles exiting the garage and making their way onto the streets.
Under the flash of the city lights I watch as his large hand inches its way up from my knee, finally stopping to rest midway up my thigh. His long fingers curve over the top and dig between my legs and he gives a little squeeze. Gasping involuntarily I look over to see if he heard. His eyes are focused on the road as he makes the exit out of the city.
We continue talking about the ballgame, trading stories and singing along to the radio, and enjoy long moments of quiet in the dark night. Occasionally his thumb brushes across my skin and I’m aware of awakened parts of me I’d long forgotten. I struggle to sit still when I truly just yearn for him to slide his hand closer to my sex. By the light of the dash, the iridescent blue glow gives Enrique’s skin a darker tone against mine and the contours of his veins are highlighted in the shadows. I shift in my seat and his fingers tighten. I suck in my breath and bite the inside corner of my mouth before my tongue darts out to wet my lips. My heart beats against my chest and I’m sure in the confined space there’s no keeping secrets.
When he flexes his fingers I look to see a slight upturned grin on his face. His boldness actually helps me relax as I settle back into the seat. I kick off my shoes and slowly part my legs for him, as I cross my arm over my belly and gently wrap my hand around his wrist, brushing my thumb across the ridges his veins create there. I can feel his pulse quicken under my caress and my arousal stirs. We continue talking but I can hear how my voice has become silkier in an attempt to be more alluring. His tone has dropped deeper and even more sultry, each R sound a little more rolled and I begin to imagine just what his tongue could do. The thought alone makes me wet. I feel my panties become doused with my desire and I can’t focus on his words. My eyes haze over as I begin to have thoughts of sex with him.
So lost in my fantasies, it barely registers with me when he pulls the truck over at the roadside park. His husky voice rumbles through me when he speaks, “No puedo…” He shakes his head, a low laugh filling the cab of the truck. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you don’t speak Spanish well.” Placing the shiny vehicle in park, he turns in his seat to look at me, his other hand coming up to the nape of my neck, digging his fingers in my hair. “I can’t keep driving; I can’t concentrate. I keep thinking about kissing you, and I’ve been avoiding it all night, but I can’t ignore it any longer.”
With each word, he moves into my space until his mouth hovers above mine. My eyes are drawn to his pouty lips, glistening with the wet of a recent lick across them from his tongue as he speaks. I realize I am leaning into him as well and his hand has moved higher on my thigh. He pulls on my neck, bringing us even closer. His lips are parted slightly, an open invitation. Wanting nothing more than to taste this man, I crash into him, landing my lips against his. The first kiss is awkward and passionate all at once, leaning over the console as he tugs on my hair, his breath warm on my skin. The smell of beer, summer sweat and his masculine scent fills my nose. And coffee. I pull back, but stay close as a smile crosses my lips. Biting my lip again, I giggle. “Your skin smells of coffee, yet you taste like beer.” Close to his parted lips, quivering with his own need, I inhale the smell of the ballpark hops on his breath. “It’s intoxicating.”
Licking his lips again, he squeezes the back of my neck. “Get drunk on me,” he whispers, tipping his head down for another kiss.
As always, when you read something you love- fan fic or published- leave a comment, share it with friends, reblog… You can comment on this story on Amazon or Good Reads and you can find me on Twitter.
Cass Michaels is the pen name I have chosen as an author, for personal reasons. ‘Cass’ is a part of my personality that was born when I started writing, when I found tumblr. Each of you helped create her and allowed this new side of me to grow… Thank you, from the bottom of my heart
reader tags under the cut- this is the list for ANY of my writings. If you want on or off the list, please let me know
Oh my god is this you… you’re Cass aaaaaaaahhhh. Really. I’m freaking out. Did I misread what just read?
It’s amazing. I want it…gimme
@deliciousinsanity-blog you read that right! Cass Michaels is my nom de plume! (And you know shower scenes are a favorite of mine, sooo….) Just saying. It’s a full novel, family drama, falling in love, a twist or two… and fluffy smut!
Oh my god!!!!!!!! I had a feeling you were published! That is so cool!
You guys go get this book right now! Cass is amazing! and if her fanfics or any prequel to the way she writes…. This it’s just going to be a sack of awesome potatoes!
@ladyamandapanda12 GIRL! You know I love potatoes! And so does Veronica, in Sweet Thing Brewing! It just managed to work it’s way into the story… I couldn’t stop myself. *LOL*
If you’ve been around long enough, maybe the smiling eye is familiar to you? I’ve been keeping a secret for months… I’m that new author everyone is talking about! (OK, maybe those conversations were all in my head…but that’s what makes me a writer- the voices!) Sweet Thing Brewing has had some success on its own without being a fan fic author tie in, but a lot of followers seem to like my style, based on notes and comments I receive, and friendships that have grown from that. And I ADORE you all for that support. Without your love and dedication to my small projects, I don’t think I would have believed I could write and publish a novel. But I DID! And I want to share it with you. Here’s a sneak peek at the building romance between Veronica and Enrique…
The parking garage is still full of sports fans cheering and jeering and we pass through the shadows quickly to his truck, not wanting to be swept into any trouble. In the safety of the truck, I sigh a relief and thank him for being my big, strong protector.
“That’s a job I could apply for,” he teases and winks at me. With the confidence of the large truck, he butts his way in line with the other vehicles exiting the garage and making their way onto the streets.
Under the flash of the city lights I watch as his large hand inches its way up from my knee, finally stopping to rest midway up my thigh. His long fingers curve over the top and dig between my legs and he gives a little squeeze. Gasping involuntarily I look over to see if he heard. His eyes are focused on the road as he makes the exit out of the city.
We continue talking about the ballgame, trading stories and singing along to the radio, and enjoy long moments of quiet in the dark night. Occasionally his thumb brushes across my skin and I’m aware of awakened parts of me I’d long forgotten. I struggle to sit still when I truly just yearn for him to slide his hand closer to my sex. By the light of the dash, the iridescent blue glow gives Enrique’s skin a darker tone against mine and the contours of his veins are highlighted in the shadows. I shift in my seat and his fingers tighten. I suck in my breath and bite the inside corner of my mouth before my tongue darts out to wet my lips. My heart beats against my chest and I’m sure in the confined space there’s no keeping secrets.
When he flexes his fingers I look to see a slight upturned grin on his face. His boldness actually helps me relax as I settle back into the seat. I kick off my shoes and slowly part my legs for him, as I cross my arm over my belly and gently wrap my hand around his wrist, brushing my thumb across the ridges his veins create there. I can feel his pulse quicken under my caress and my arousal stirs. We continue talking but I can hear how my voice has become silkier in an attempt to be more alluring. His tone has dropped deeper and even more sultry, each R sound a little more rolled and I begin to imagine just what his tongue could do. The thought alone makes me wet. I feel my panties become doused with my desire and I can’t focus on his words. My eyes haze over as I begin to have thoughts of sex with him.
So lost in my fantasies, it barely registers with me when he pulls the truck over at the roadside park. His husky voice rumbles through me when he speaks, “No puedo…” He shakes his head, a low laugh filling the cab of the truck. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you don’t speak Spanish well.” Placing the shiny vehicle in park, he turns in his seat to look at me, his other hand coming up to the nape of my neck, digging his fingers in my hair. “I can’t keep driving; I can’t concentrate. I keep thinking about kissing you, and I’ve been avoiding it all night, but I can’t ignore it any longer.”
With each word, he moves into my space until his mouth hovers above mine. My eyes are drawn to his pouty lips, glistening with the wet of a recent lick across them from his tongue as he speaks. I realize I am leaning into him as well and his hand has moved higher on my thigh. He pulls on my neck, bringing us even closer. His lips are parted slightly, an open invitation. Wanting nothing more than to taste this man, I crash into him, landing my lips against his. The first kiss is awkward and passionate all at once, leaning over the console as he tugs on my hair, his breath warm on my skin. The smell of beer, summer sweat and his masculine scent fills my nose. And coffee. I pull back, but stay close as a smile crosses my lips. Biting my lip again, I giggle. “Your skin smells of coffee, yet you taste like beer.” Close to his parted lips, quivering with his own need, I inhale the smell of the ballpark hops on his breath. “It’s intoxicating.”
Licking his lips again, he squeezes the back of my neck. “Get drunk on me,” he whispers, tipping his head down for another kiss.
As always, when you read something you love- fan fic or published- leave a comment, share it with friends, reblog… You can comment on this story on Amazon or Good Reads and you can find me on Twitter.
Cass Michaels is the pen name I have chosen as an author, for personal reasons. ‘Cass’ is a part of my personality that was born when I started writing, when I found tumblr. Each of you helped create her and allowed this new side of me to grow… Thank you, from the bottom of my heart
reader tags under the cut- this is the list for ANY of my writings. If you want on or off the list, please let me know
Oh my god is this you… you’re Cass aaaaaaaahhhh. Really. I’m freaking out. Did I misread what just read?
It’s amazing. I want it…gimme
@deliciousinsanity-blog you read that right! Cass Michaels is my nom de plume! (And you know shower scenes are a favorite of mine, sooo….) Just saying. It’s a full novel, family drama, falling in love, a twist or two… and fluffy smut!
avenger-nerd-mom 