Story Sparks Denise Jaden New World Library ISBN: 1608685098 Paperback - $12.16 Ebook: $9.99 If you are searching for a new idea for a new book in this New Year, this resource will be of great benefit. In the introduction of Story Sparks , the author states that “idea gathering is a highly learnable skill.” Then she goes on to help writers hone that skill with her advice and exercises. The book is divided into several parts in which specific suggestions are given to help writers find their ideas for story, for character and for setting. Part one is where Jaden explains what S.P.A.R.K. stands for: Seek, Passion, Allies, Resonance, Kinetic energy. Seek: Not just new story ideas but things that will help make those stories stronger. Jaden gives many suggestions for strengthening our skills of observation, noting details of places and people that we can use to make our characters and settings “visible” to our readers. Passion:   We should always be writing about ...

This top post of 2016 was first published on February 4. We wouldn't want to neglect real life (a.k.a. non-fiction) in our month of romance from the male perspective, so we are delighted to run an excerpt from Succulent Wild Love , a new book co-authored by SARK with her beloved, Dr. John Waddell . The happy couple share their advice on how we can all keep the love and romance in our lives even when there's only one piece of blueberry pie left.  Believe You Can Create a Joyful Solution An Excerpt from Succulent Wild Love Most people spontaneously look for solutions that meet everyone’s needs. We want to please the people we love and want to please ourselves. It’s when we get stuck that we start to look for a compromise or think someone has to sacrifice. To create a Joyful Solution, you start with the attitude that everyone can get what they want. That is the biggest factor. Starting from that approach is so powerful because when you believe that everyone can get wh...