You can have the greatest characters in the world and write beautifully, but if nothing's happening, the story falls on its face pretty quickly. Jennifer McMahon beautifullycharacterface Change image and share on social
I have a friend who calls me the queen of the nightmares because I've always had really bad nightmares. I keep a notebook by the side of my bed, so I'll wake up in the night from a bad dream, and my heart's pounding, and I'm really scared, but I write it down, and sometimes I get ideas for books that way. Jennifer McMahon badbedbook share on social
In all honesty, I didn't love reading when I was a kid. I'd rather be running around in the woods or doing my best to scare the pants off all the children in the neighborhood by pretending my house was haunted or making them play Bloody Mary in the bathroom. Jennifer McMahon bathroombloodychild share on social
At the heart of every story is conflict - whether external or internal, make it a good one, and remember that this problem is going to shape your character, leaving her forever changed. Jennifer McMahon changecharacterconflict Change image and share on social
One exercise I always do when I'm getting to know a character is ask her to tell me her secrets. Sit down with a pen and paper, and start with, 'I never told anybody...' and go from there, writing in the voice of your character. Jennifer McMahon characterexercisepaper share on social
My grandmother was a psychiatrist and possibly the ultimate of all skeptics. But even she couldn't explain the strange noises we so often heard in the attic. Jennifer McMahon atticexplaingrandmother Change image and share on social