 The setting for your supernatural story is key. It becomes like a character itself. The setting must also work for the monster in that it has to fit the legend or backstory you have created. For example, a ghost in a creepy house, a monster in the woods. Of course, the place does not have to be creepy to begin with. It can turn that way over time. Or when the sun sets.
You want to build tension over time. Let the MC have some moments of relief where they think they have solved the problem - rattling pipes, birds in the attic etc. Give them other locations to work with - safe, brightly lit locations that will contrast well with the main location. If you are setting your story in an unfamiliar location or country, do your research. Nothing will break a reader out of a story faster than having something be off with the setting - for example having a specific type of animal that doesn't live in that area or geography issues. Online street views can really help to paint a picture. Build it up in your mind, draw out rough sketches if it helps. This way you will know it inside out and it will help when it comes to moving your character around the location. More next week!
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 When you write about the supernatural, there are so many different elements to choose from. Ghosts, monsters, magic, demons - there is so much to choose from. So where do you start?
The best way to decide is to read up on myths and ghost stories for inspiration. Take notes on the characteristics, where these being appear, how the stories are told. If for example you decide to write about ghosts, what are the rules for your ghosts? Can they be seen by everyone or just some people? Do they have the ability to move things? Are they good or bad? Within supernatural stories, generally the supernatural element used is bad, while the main character is the force of good that goes up against it. However, that doesn't mean you can't have fun with it. They could appear to be an ally to begin with for example before the truth is revealed. Often the main character knows nothing about the supernatural before they are dragged into the chaos. This allows the audience to learn with them. If they are aware, then it is always a good idea to pit them against something they are unfamiliar with. Or they think they know the rules, but then everything is turned on its head. Your main character needs a good reason for being there too. They could be a self proclaimed demon hunter, or a psychic for example. Or perhaps they stumbled across a creepy house in the woods and made the foolish decision to go inside. Take time to create your supernatural being first, come up with a list of rules and some backstory to set the scene. Next week, we will look at when to spring your monster on the MC.  If you are struggling to create conflict for your characters, at least beyond the forbidden romance angle, then consider the following -
 Paranormal Romance has two key characters - your main character and their love interest. But how do you write compelling characters when it comes to PNR?
First, you need to decide what type of supernatural your characters are and build up their backstory. What is their life like? What challenges do they face? Remember that before they get together, your characters have lives and issues of their own. They are not just sitting around waiting for the other to show up! While your characters will face obstacles in getting together, they will also face issues in their own separate lives that could impact their life together. For example, one character might be dealing with a hunter trying to kill them. The love interest could (and should) get caught up in that. Or perhaps one of them has been cursed and it will eventually kill them. How will that affect their love interest? The way to answer these questions is to decide what kind of person they are. They need to have their own unique personalities and also be likeable and/or relatable. If not, the reader isn't going to root for them. Before you start writing, create a brief profile for both characters in their individual lives - family, background, conflict etc. Then consider how they will work together. This is how we get our tropes such as grumpy/sunshine or enemies to lovers. Once you know your characters inside out, you can figure out exactly how they would react in any situation. Happy Writing!  For February, we will be looking at writing Paranormal Romance. First up - World Building.
Most fantasy books include world building and that is no different for Paranormal Romance. Your characters are going to have to follow or break the rules as their love blossoms, so the reader needs to know what they are. What types of supernatural creatures exist in your world? Are they allowed to interact? Is there a forbidden love aspect? What are the repercussions of that? These questions need to be answered which is why your world building should come first. As you decide the rules of your world, it can help to resolve any plot holes or point out further issues your characters may face. Let's use an example - a vampire and a werewolf fall in love. In most books, they are enemies. To have two fall in love would cause a lot of issues. Their people will not be happy about it. It could lead to fighting or even a war. There are the personal aspects to consider too - can the vampire control themselves? What if they attack the werewolf? What if the werewolf can't control the shift and attacks the vampire? There are of course other issues to consider to such as a vampire is immortal while a werewolf is not. These are all types of conflict they will face. World building can seem daunting, especially if you are a pantser and not a plotter, but I would encourage you to at lease jot down some ideas to keep you right. It will save trouble later on. Look at the following -
The most important aspect is to remember that it is a romance that happens to be between supernatural beings. The romance is the focus and you do not want to make it easy for your characters to be together! Next week, we will look at creating your characters - Happy Writing!  Dead men are filled with life… Eleven years ago, heavy metal guitarists Hale and Aleksandr learned that monsters were real. What should have been a routine visit to the mountains turned to tragedy when a vampire attacked, killing Hale’s fiancé and Aleksandr’s brother. When the carnage was over, they vowed to make sure no one else would go through what they did. Armed with knives and anger, they hunt vampires while touring as some of Sweden’s most famous musicians. To the rest of the world, they’ve moved on. Emperor Immortal is stronger than ever. Hale and Aleksandr are stronger than ever. But while their band was growing, their personal lives were spiralling. When six years of building trauma nearly cost Aleksandr his life, Hale made a bargain with the gods to save his best friend’s life. Half a decade later, and he’s still paying that debt. But things are far more complicated than they appear, and it won’t be long be long before their past mistakes catch up to them. The dead are rising. The gods are angry. And they aren’t even Hale’s biggest problem. This collection contains A Riff of Retribution, A Chant of Chains, and A Harmony of Hel. Note: This series contains depictions of substance abuse and self-harm, and talk of attempted suicide. Why you should check it out -
This series dives deep into Norse mythology in a modern setting, bringing in some of the classics and some lesser known stories, and combines it with the life of a professional heavy metal musician. The main characters are all completely different, with their own goals and motivations that are sometimes at odds with each other. If you're looking for a unique take on urban fantasy and have ever wondered about this history of Norwegian black metal, then this is the series for you. Fun fact: In the Danish version of The Death of Baldr, Baldr is killed with a spear made of mistletoe rather than a sprig.  I have worked hard for the peace I've built in Fort Chance: my quiet life with my two snakes, my slow-but-steady business of helping the dead as well as the living move on, no romantic relationships to complicate things… It's close to perfect. This peace is fragile, however. I hide who I am every day, and if I say or do the wrong thing at the wrong time, I could lose everything. I'm a witch—not just any, but a breach witch. My ancestors came from another world, and we've been working hard to hide that fact. We witches are largely self-governed, and other supernaturals certainly have no respect for us. To blend in, I've been using the guise of a Voodoo practitioner for years… But the weight of feeling like an impostor every day is not one I'd carry if I had a choice. When a wraith, a walking nightmare from across the breach, shows up right here in Fort Chance, I may well be the only one who can deal with it… Because wraiths suck the souls out of their victims, and its stalking abilities are the one thing even I can't hide from. Even the dead I have sworn to protect have become unresponsive husks in its wake. Worse, Nova—the most annoying woman I've ever met—seems determined to help for some reason. Worse again, it seems vampires are involved somehow. All I know is this: I neither need nor want anyone's help, certainly not theirs. I prefer to wager my own life to keep Fort Chance safe. At least that way, I'm in control. Can I truly save my home on my own, however… or are we both doomed to lose our souls to the wraith? Why You Should Read It?
Check out Spirit Court if you like - slow-burn romance, own-voice demi rep, witch familiars, a power struggle between witches and vampires, Voodoo self-acceptance, and personal growth and all the (pretty, green, shiny) magic!  There's always a price with magic... Magic can be tempting, especially when you are navigating the world for the first time. Tempting enough to turn to the dark side. For these witches, they must decide how to use their abilities. Will they choose to help others or help themselves? Either way, there will be a price to pay. Are they willing to pay it? A Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy Collection Why Should You Check It Out?
The Price of Magic is a collection of young adult witch stories. The idea started out as a series of prompts for stories and authors chose one idea each. I have read so many witch stories and I love the genre, but I thought it would be a fun idea to see what it would be like for teenage witches. How would they handle their abilities? How does it affect their lives? A fun fact about the set - its all British and Irish authors! You can pre-order now and the set is released on January 17th, 2026. It will also be available in paperback.  Happy New Year! We hope that 2026 is your year.
We will be bringing you multiple new events, promos, sales and giveaways across the year. This month we will have new releases from authors including our first anthology of the year - The Price of Magic. In February, it will be all about love. If you love Romantasy or Paranormal Romance, be sure to check out our new posts every Monday. We hope you will join us and hopefully get some great reading recommendations or new authors to follow. Have a great New Year! |
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About the Author:S. K. Gregory is an author, editor and blogger. She currently resides in Northern Ireland. “Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.” 
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