Adding Paranormal Into Your Story by Rose Pressey #ChaBooCha

Adding Paranormal Into Your Story
by Rose Pressey

Adding paranormal into your story can open up all new worlds to you and your readers. There are many ways to weave the paranormal into your writing. It all starts with how much supernatural you want to include. If you just want a hint of the paranormal, and the main topic of your book doesn’t really deal with this subject, then you could just add a spooky setting or mention paranormal events that your characters experienced in the past.

Have your characters talk about paranormal events in their lives. They can recount ghost stories, unexplained mysteries, or maybe a sixth sense. Not too much of this method though. You want to avoid ‘telling’ and have more ‘showing’ in your story. There are many books on this subject.

If you want more paranormal elements, then you can add actual ghost sightings, visits from vampires, werewolves, etc. Let your imagination run wild. Make up your own world and paranormal elements. It also depends on what type of paranormal world you want to create. Supernatural beings require more world building, but you can weave this into the everyday life of your characters.

Is your main character a paranormal being or have paranormal powers? Show your readers the paranormal effects your characters deal with on a daily basis. Do they have to make special accommodations to avoid the paranormal? Or do they use paranormal powers for daily tasks or to help solve problems? Maybe they have special tricks or ways to deal with their paranormal abilities.

Other ways to show paranormal might be subtle scenes added to your story, like your character walking under streetlights and having the lights go off at that exact moment. Maybe they read people’s minds and have to keep what they discover a secret, yet they always finish the other person’s sentences.

I also like to allow my characters to help me figure out where the paranormal should be in the story. Spend time developing your characters and they’ll have an easier time taking to you on the page.

There are many ways to add paranormal to a story. So here are just a few bullet points to help you. 
       

·         Subtle hints of the paranormal throughout the story.

·         Main characters with paranormal skills or beings.

·         Paranormal settings like haunted houses or other supernatural settings.

·         Make sure paranormal elements fit your story.

·         Paranormal abilities with day-to-day life.

I hope this helps you add to or enhance your paranormal world.  

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Rose Pressey is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. The paranormal has always captured her interest. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained fascinates her. When she's not writing about werewolves, vampires and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties. Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of Kentucky with her husband, son and three sassy Chihuahuas.

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Give-away

Today's prize is Writing the Paranormal Novel: Techniques and Exercises for Weaving Supernatural Elements Into Your Story by Steven Harper. If you are a signed-up member of ChaBooCha, all you need to do to be entered into the drawing for this book is comment on this blog post. Winners will be selected from a random number generator on March 31st at noon (GMT).