Writers in the Storm

By RJ Redden

We'd just come back from lunch, and honestly? The kids were dragging. My seven-year-old niece was doing that thing where she walks just slow enough to make it clear she's not entirely thrilled about the next activity. My five-year-old nephew was clutching my hand, but more out of obligation than excitement.

We shuffled into the children's museum like we were heading to a dentist appointment.

Then my niece spotted it.

"THE NEWS ROOM!"

The transformation was instant. One second she was dragging her feet, the next she was gone. Rushing toward a mock television studio complete with cameras, desks, and stacks of papers. My nephew dropped my hand and sprinted after her.

No hesitation. No “what do we do here?” moment.

They just knew.

Within seconds, my niece was shuffling papers with the seriousness of a seasoned anchor.

My nephew was making exaggerated reporter faces at the camera. The giggles started almost immediately, but underneath the laughter was something deeper:

Pure, unfiltered engagement.

They weren't learning about journalism. They weren't consuming content about news production. They were being journalists. Playing the role. Living the experience.

And watching their faces transform from sluggish obligation to electric participation, I had a revelation:

This is what we're all chasing as writers.

Not readers who just consume our work and move on. Readers who see our world and think "I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS" and rush in to explore, to play, to participate.

Readers who go from dragging their feet to sprinting toward engagement.

The question is: How do we build newsrooms?

The Problem With Traditional Marketing

Here's what most of us have been taught: Write the book. Post about the book. Send newsletters about the book. Remind everyone, constantly, that the book exists and they should buy it.

It's the spray-and-pray approach. Shout into the void. Hope someone's listening.

And look—I get it. We do it because we don't know what else to do. Because someone told us "visibility" was the game. Because the algorithm demands constant content and we're all just trying to keep up.

But here's what that approach actually creates: readers with their shields up.

You know the feeling. Someone's trying to sell you something, and your whole body goes “nope.” You scroll faster. You delete the email without opening it. You unfollow.

That's not connection. That's noise.

And noise doesn't create fans. Noise creates... crickets.

So what's the alternative?

Stop marketing. Start building playgrounds.

The Journey: From Reader to Ride-or-Die

Not all readers are created equal. And I don't mean that in a snobby way—I mean it in a "there's a transformation that happens" way. A journey. And understanding that journey is the key to building something readers can't resist.

Stage 1: The Reader

They bought your book. Maybe they even finished it. They liked it! Gave it four stars, meant to leave a review but got distracted by laundry.

And then... they moved on. To the next book. The next glowing rectangle demanding their attention.

You're a pleasant memory. A name they might recognize if they saw it again. But you're not taking up any real estate in their brain.

This is where most readers stay. Not because your book wasn't good—but because there was nothing to DO after they finished it. No door to walk through. No newsroom to discover.

Stage 2: The Engaged Reader

These folks follow you on social media. They open your newsletters (sometimes). When your name pops up, there's a little spark of recognition.

But they're still on the outside looking in. They're watching through the window.

Interested, sure. But not invested.

Stage 3: The Participant

HERE'S where the magic happens.

Something shifted. They didn't just read about your world—they stepped into it. Maybe they took your "Which Character Are You?" quiz and got unreasonably excited about their result. Maybe they found the playlist you made for your protagonist and listened to it on repeat while doing dishes. Maybe they chatted with your character through a chatbot at 2 AM when they couldn't sleep.

Whatever it was, they crossed a threshold. They went from audience to participant. From watching the newsroom to shuffling papers behind the desk.

And something changed in their brain. We'll get to the science in a minute, but trust me—this shift is real and it is powerful.

Stage 4: The Superfan

You know these people. You might be one of these people for some author or fictional world.

They have the tattoo. They made the fan art. They've recommended your book to everyone at their book club, their office, their gym, and that poor unsuspecting stranger on the subway who made the mistake of asking what they were reading.

They pre-order everything you write, sight unseen. They cry when you announce a sequel. They have opinions about casting if your book ever becomes a movie, and they will defend those opinions.

They are ride or die.

And here's the secret that might change how you think about everything: Every single level-up in this journey didn't happen because you marketed harder. It happened because you invited them to play.

The Science: Why Play Changes Everything

Okay, let's get a little nerdy. Because this isn't just fuzzy "engagement" talk. There's actual brain science behind why play works when marketing doesn't.

The Defense Drop

Remember that feeling when someone's trying to sell you something? The internal nope? That's your brain's defense system kicking in. We're wired to be suspicious of people who want something from us. It's a survival thing. And traditional marketing triggers that response.

But play? Play sneaks past like it's got an invisibility cloak.

Because play isn't asking for anything. Play is offering something. An experience. A moment of fun. A chance to explore.

When you invite someone to take a quiz or chat with a character or listen to a playlist, you're not selling. You're opening a door. And open doors don't trigger defense systems—they trigger curiosity.

The Dopamine Loop

Your brain loves a good loop. Question leads to interaction leads to reward leads to dopamine hit leads to wanting more

That "Which Character Are You?" quiz? That's not a gimmick. That's a dopamine delivery system.

Curiosity (I wonder who I'll get) → Interaction (answering the questions) → Reward (finding out the result) → Dopamine (the little hit of pleasure) → Sharing (telling everyone you got the villain and you're not even mad about it).

This is why interactive content gets shared more than static content. It's not just fun. It's literally lighting up reward centers in people's brains.

The IKEA Effect

One weird truth about human psychology: we love things more when we helped create them.

It's called the IKEA Effect, and it's why you're irrationally attached to that wonky bookshelf you assembled yourself. You put effort into it. It's yours now.

When readers participate in your world—choose their faction, chat with your villain, build their own playlist of songs for your protagonist—something shifts.

It stops being your world. It becomes theirs

And people don't just casually appreciate things that are theirs. They protect them. They evangelize them. They get tattoos of them.

The Invitation: Building Your Playground

So how do you actually do this? How do you go from "author with a book" to "architect of a world readers can't resist playing in?"

You start where you are. You use what you have. And you build one piece of playground equipment at a time.

Low-Effort Entry Points

You don't need to build Disneyland on day one. Start simple:

A playlist for your book or main character (Spotify is free)

A "Which Character Are You?" quiz (plenty of free quiz builders out there)

Behind-the-scenes content about your world—the stuff that didn't make it into the book but makes the world richer

Remember: those scraps on your editing room floor? That's not trash.

That's playground equipment waiting to be assembled.

Once you've got the basics, level up:

- Character chatbots—imagine your readers having actual conversations with your protagonist (or your villain, which is honestly more fun)

- Interactive maps of your world

- "Bonus chapters" from different characters' perspectives

- Email sequences that feel like letters from a character

For when you're ready to go all-in:

• Augmented reality experiences
• Alternate reality games that blur the line between fiction and reality
• Full-blown community spaces where readers can interact with each other and your world

The point isn't to do all of these. The point is to start thinking differently.

Stop thinking like a marketer standing outside the fence shouting at people to come look at your thing

Start thinking like a playground designer building something people can't resist climbing on.

The Newsroom Is Waiting

Back at the children's museum, I watched my niece and nephew play journalists for a solid forty-five minutes. They made up stories. They interviewed each other. They took turns being "the camera person" with exaggerated seriousness.

Nobody told them what to do. Nobody gave them a tutorial. The environment was designed so well that they just... stepped in and started playing.

That's what your readers are waiting for.

Not another newsletter asking them to buy something. Not another social post reminding them you exist. But a newsroom. A space designed so invitingly that they take one look and think:

I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS.

And then they sprint toward it. Your world is already built. Your characters already exist. The raw materials are sitting right there on your editing room floor, gathering dust. The only question left is: are you going to keep shouting from outside the fence?

Or are you going to open the gate and let them play?

About RJ

RJ Redden is your digital fairy godmother for audience engagement. Her wand wields AI, chatbots, and augmented reality to create experiences so engaging, your readers will forget Netflix exists. Find her at https://blackbeltbots.com. This article was edited with AI assistance, because this fairy godmother believes in using every tool in the workshop—ethically and transparently.

Top image from Pixabay

By Janice Hardy

A choice I had to live with—despite the consequences.

My husband and I were kitten shopping and we came across a four-month-old gray kitten who was eager to get our attention. He meowed at us as he clung to the side of the kitten-cage, his little paw poking out like he was trying to flag us down. My husband picked him up and he immediately snuggled in and purred.

Then I got to hold him.

He was just as sweet with me, but my nose started running and my eyes got a little itchy. I figured it was just from the sheer number of kitties at the shelter and didn’t think anything of it. I’ve always known I had a mild allergy to cats, but it never bothered me enough not to have them.

Three days later, it was clear I was highly allergic to this cat.

But by then, he wasn’t “some random kitten from the shelter,” he was Sterling, our lovable boo boo kitty, and he was ours.

I had to choose—send him back, or keep him and spend the next 15-20 years taking allergy meds every day.

I chose to keep him, which led to an unexpected problem.

Tough choices are the first step to creating conflict.

Choices force a character to act, which moves the plot and story forward. Tough choices create unpredictable outcomes, because readers aren’t sure which option the protagonist might take. This uncertainty leads to curiosity, and readers want to know:

• Did the character choose wisely?
• What price will that choice demand?
• Will the consequences be worse than they feared?
• Will the price be worth it in the end?

Without a difficult decision at the heart of a scene, events just “happen” without conflict, and tension doesn’t build. Nothing important is truly at risk. Readers don’t care about the outcome unless that outcome matters.

However…a choice only matters if it’s a legitimate choice, not a cardboard conflict.

For example:

• Take the job and get the one million dollar signing bonus.
• Don’t take the job and lose your house, family, and everything you value.

Nobody is going to turn down a job with those consequences, and a decision this easy isn’t going to make readers worry about the choice. But if taking the job comes with consequences, and if losing everything is actually the better option, then readers will be dying to know why.

Look for meaningful choices the character can agonize over—like returning a kitten they already love versus accepting years of runny noses, watery eyes, and not being able to breathe.

Characters facing real consequences for their choices is step two.

A choice by itself isn’t automatically interesting—it’s what that choice costs the protagonist or those close to them. The consequences turn a simple plot-beat decision into a conflict that can have long-lasting ramifications for the story.

Consequences create stakes and uncertainty, and that engages readers and makes them devour your pages as fast as they can turn them. And a great way to do this is…

The impossible choice.

This is a sure-fire way to hook your reader. None of the options are good, and every single one comes with repercussions the protagonist would rather not face. Readers can’t see the clear path out, and they’re not sure how the repercussions will affect the characters, which draws them deeper into the story and makes them more invested in how that story turns out.

Impossible choices are great for shaking up the story, adding conflict to a character arc, and forcing characters into situations they don’t want to be in.

Are your character choices strong enough?

It all depends on the story and how dire things are. A light-hearted romp with lower stakes probably won’t have life-or-death stakes, and the choices will reflect that. But a thriller will likely have a lot more impossible choices and dire stakes for the protagonist to deal with.

Consider your genre and story and ask:

Does this choice have consequences for whatever the character decides?

No matter how dire your story, if only one option carries a cost, odds are it’s not strong enough. A real dilemma means both paths lead to consequences that will cause trouble for the protagonist somehow.

In your novel, ask:

• What’s the consequence if the protagonist chooses A?
• What’s the consequence if the protagonist chooses B?
• How personal are these consequences?

The more personal the consequences, the better the choice. “Everyone dies” might feel like high stakes, but readers don’t typically care about faceless masses. They care about the characters they’ve been reading about and rooting for. 

Do those consequences affect the character and the story?

Consequences that don’t change anything wind up feeling pointless and even melodramatic, because the story unfolds the same even if they didn’t happen. Good choices change the plot and affect how the story unfolds.

A choice might:

• Complicate the character’s goal
• Make future problems harder
• Remove options that would make things easier
• Expose a flaw or fear the character would rather avoid

The more a consequence affects the character and story going forward, the more weight that choice carries.

How would the story change if the protagonist chose the other option?

Knowing things would change is good, but it’s worth taking a few minutes to brainstorm how each choice could affect the story. You might uncover more interesting paths and problems you wouldn’t have otherwise.

Look at the other option and ask:

• What does it do to the plot?
• How does it affect the tone, mood, or pacing?
• How does it affect the character’s growth?
• What other characters might be affected or involved?
• Does it connect to a subplot or tie thematic elements together?

Sometimes we get so focused on what we know happens, we miss opportunities to make our stories even stronger. Some of my best scenes came from characters making choices I hadn’t expected them to make.

Pick whichever choice best serves your story.

Not the nicest choice. Not the safest choice. The choice that creates the most tension, growth, and delicious fallout. That’s the choice readers will remember.

For those wondering what happened with Sterling and my allergies…

After taking antihistamines for a few weeks, I found out they gave me heart palpitations, and I had to stop taking them. Which sent me to the allergist for tests. Turned out I’d always been highly allergic to cats, but I was also highly allergic to a slew of other things and never realized it. I’d thought a full-time runny nose was normal. I’m on non-histamine allergy meds and get regular allergy shots now, and life is a whole lot better.

And Sterling is still our snuggly boo boo kitty.

What are the tough choices in your current book? What’s a tough choice you
personally had to make?

About Janice

Janice Hardy is the award-winning author of the teen fantasy trilogy The Healing Wars, including The Shifter, Blue Fire, and Darkfall from Balzer+Bray/Harper Collins. and the chapter books Who's Haunting Who? and The Haunting of Cabin 13 for Lerner Publishing. For adults, she writes the Grace Harper urban fantasy series under the name, J.T. Hardy. When she's not writing fiction, she runs the popular writing site Fiction University, and has written multiple books on writing, including Understanding Show, Don't Tell (And Really Getting It), Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure, and the Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft series. Sign up for her newsletter and receive 25 ways to Strengthen Your Writing Right Now free.

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Featured image by Pixabay

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How to Create Posts That Spark Real Engagement

By Edie Melson

I love to blog.

I love the creativity of it and the way a simple post can spark conversation and connection. I love that blogging lets us connect with people who “get it”—people who love books, storytelling, words, faith, and the messy middle of learning how to live well.

But I know many of you aren’t exactly fans.

Some writers try to love blogging because they know it’s a great way to connect with readers and build an online presence. Others don’t even attempt to love it. They blog out of necessity, like eating vegetables or cleaning out the fridge. And then there are those who truly enjoy the process, like me—because blogging feels like a conversation that never has to end.

No matter where you fall on the “blogging enthusiasm scale,” it’s worth doing well.

Because your blog is still one of the most valuable tools you own.

Social media comes and goes. Algorithms shift. Platforms rise and fall. But your blog? That’s your home base. It’s one of the few online spaces you actually control.

The Dos of Blogging Today

1. Do end every post with a real invitation

The best posts don’t just end. They open a door.

Instead of:
“What do you think?”

Try:
“What’s one blogging habit you want to strengthen this month?”
or
“Which of these ‘don’ts’ have you accidentally done—and what did you learn?”

2. Do ask questions that aren’t yes/no—and aren’t “test questions”

A yes/no question gives readers an easy exit. And questions with a “right answer” feel like a quiz, which shuts down most comments immediately.

Better questions invite story, experience, personality, and variety.

3. Do encourage readers to share an experience

Sometimes a post doesn’t lend itself naturally to a question, and that’s fine. In those cases, invite readers to share something personal and relatable:

•  “What have you tried?”
• “What’s one thing you’ve learned the hard way?”

That’s how we build community and connections—one shared story at a time.

4. Do ask readers to add to your list

This is one of my favorite conversation starters because it’s easy and fun.

You share a handful of tips and then ask:
“What would you add?”

It works because it gives readers a clear on-ramp. Even a quiet reader can contribute one idea.

5. Do watch your tone—especially with the word “you”

The word you can feel like finger-pointing, especially when talking about something writers struggle with.

“You need to stop…”
“You should really…”
“You must…”

Try “we” language instead, especially in instruction-style posts. It creates partnership instead of pressure.

6. Do share personal examples

In today’s blogging culture, readers are drawn to writers who feel human. And our personal stories are what set us apart from AI generated content.

Not perfect. Not polished. Human.

If you want people to feel safe commenting, go first. Share the moment you struggled. The mistake you made. The lesson you learned. It’s disarming—in the best way.

7. Do make your posts skimmable

We are living in the Age of Skimming, mainly because readers are overwhelmed.

Help your readers by using:

• short paragraphs (1–3 sentences is fine!)
• subheadings
• bullet points and lists
• occasional bold emphasis
• white space

8. Do answer comments (and make it feel like a conversation)

When someone comments, they aren’t just leaving feedback—they’re offering time.

When you respond to their comment, you build a connection and let them know you see them.

And here’s the modern twist: if you want conversation, respond with another question.

Example:
“Thank you for sharing this! What helped you push through that season?”

That one small move turns a comment section into a community.

9. Do keep a schedule that works for YOU

Consistency still matters—not because readers are demanding, but because humans build habits.

But your schedule needs to match YOUR life.

For some writers, that’s weekly. For others, twice a month. For others, one solid post a month that’s thoughtful and shareable.

The goal isn’t “post constantly.”
The goal is “post consistently.”

10. Do include social media links—and an email signup you actually mention

Yes, include your social links.

But if you want the most stable long-term connection, build your email list.

Social media is borrowed space. Email is a relationship you can keep.

So don’t hide the signup form in the basement of your sidebar. Mention it naturally in posts:
“If you’d like posts like this delivered to your inbox, you can subscribe here.”

11. Do write for today’s readers—because AI has changed how people find blogs

We used to think of “being found” as an SEO issue. But now, AI has changed the whole ecosystem. It’s vital to get your blog post found in an AI search, not just Google.

Readers still use Google, yes—but many also discover content through AI tools that summarize posts, pull out key points, and recommend articles based on questions people ask.

So instead of focusing only on ranking, focus on clarity.

Use:

• specific titles
• scannable structure and headings
• simple phrasing that matches real reader questions
• takeaways that are easy to quote and share

Your goal isn’t to chase algorithms. It’s to make your content easy to understand, easy to share, and easy to recommend.

The Don’ts of Blogging Today

1. Don’t obsess over “perfect” post length

Years ago, bloggers were told, “Every post should be between 300–600 words.”

Today? It’s more nuanced.

Longer posts can still work beautifully—especially if they’re story-driven, structured well, packed with value, and easy to scan. Shorter posts can also work if they’re focused, punchy, and clear.

The new rule is: write as long as it takes to deliver the value you promised in the title… and not a word more.

That said, if you want evergreen value, posts in the 800 – 1500 word range often perform well when well formatted.

2. Don’t use vague titles

Blog titles are not the place to be cryptic, or even overly clever.

Most people will discover your post through search results, social shares, email forwards, and AI summaries—meaning they may only see the title. But learn how to choose titles that rank in an AI search as well as through SEO.

So, ask yourself: “If someone only reads the title, do they know what this post is about?”

If the answer is no, revise it.

3. Don’t treat your blog like a billboard

This one matters.

If every post feels like: “Buy my book! Here’s my link! Please support me!” …readers will quietly back away.

People connect with people—not sales pitches. Yes, share your books and work. But make sure your blog offers generosity. Focus on connection, encouragement, and practical help.

Remember the Goal: Be a Good Host

The heart of blogging hasn’t changed. Blogging is relationship and we want to be good hosts. We want our blog to feel like:

• a welcoming front porch
• a shared time in a coffee shop
• a conversation, not a performance

It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to feel real.

Your Turn

What makes you feel welcome when you visit a blog? And what turns you off fast? Be sure to share your thoughts—and your best blogging tips—in the comments section below.

Don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,
Edie

About Edie

Edie Melson is an award-winning author—and photographer—with numerous books to her credit. She’s a top-tier industry blogger, and sought-after speaker. Her blog, The Write Conversation has been part of the Writer’s Digest Top 101 Sites for Writers since 2017 and boasts over 9 million unique visitors. She’s also the director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and board member of AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association).

Her heart to help others define and reach their dreams has connected her with writers across the country and around the world. She and husband Kirk have been married 44+ years with three grown sons and four grandchildren. They live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and can often be found—with their big black dog and Edie’s camera—hiking the mountains. Connect with her at EdieMelson.com and through social media.

Featured image from Pixabay