Hi, everyone! As we roll toward March, we come a little bit closer to spring: a time for new beginnings, growth, and light. It seems like the perfect time for me to unveil a new project I’ve been letting incubate for a couple of months now… my first non-fiction writing!
Those of you who’ve been following me on this writing journey of mine know that I’ve always felt that magic and stories were tied very closely together. My next book, In The Cards, had the first seeds of its plot buried in a tarot spread I did with my very first deck, and ever since then, I’ve seen tarot as a great source of creative inspiration. The more I study, the more I realize that there’s a fantastic tool for writers to be had, here!
My new blog feature, The Authors' Oracle, will explore tarot from the perspective of a fiction writer. Each entry will provide an overview of a card, along with its implications for character, plot, and the writing process. Eventually, all 78 entries will be gathered into a book, which will include a chapter of custom-made tarot spreads for various aspects of the novel-writing process.
To kick off The Authors' Oracle, I’ve created a tarot-themed questionnaire for my fellow authors. Please leave a link in a comment here once you’ve answered the questionnaire, so that everyone can see and I can help spread the word about your blog!
Interested? Read on to find your questions, and happy blogging! I’ll see you all next Thursday, when we begin our tarot journey with Card 0: The Fool!
Have a beautiful week!
The Authors' Oracle Questionnaire
There are 22 questions, one for each card of the Major Arcana. If answering all of them at once is too time-consuming or daunting – or if you feel that the post would be too lengthy – please feel free to break it into as many installments as you wish.
0. The Fool: Which of your characters is the most intuitive? The worst decision-maker?
I. The Magician: What character, location, or object has the most positive influence in your story?
II . The High Priestess: Do any of your characters have very strong beliefs?
III. The Empress: Who is your biggest supporter? Give them a little love, here.
IV. The Emperor: Do you outline or plan? (You know … plotter or pantser…)
V. The Hierophant: What do you feel is your most valuable piece of writing advice?
VI. The Lovers: Which of your characters follow their heart? Is it for the right reasons?
VII. The Chariot: Tell us about the first “darling” you ever “killed”.
VIII. Strength: What do you feel your greatest creative strength is?
IX. The Hermit: Can you write in coffee shops or other busy places, or do you need quiet?
X. The Wheel of Fortune: Do you have a set routine or schedule?
XI. Justice: What’s the biggest consequence that your main character will have to face? (If it spoils the plot, feel free to be vague.)
XII. The Hanged Man: What sacrifices do you make for writing time? Or, what must your main character be willing to choose between?
XIII. Death: What do you do after you’ve finished a project?
XIV. Temperance: Please share your best tested & proven tip for balancing writing and “the rest”:
XV. The Devil: Everyone has a nasty habit they can’t shake. What’s your main character’s?
XVI. The Tower: Have you ever had to scrap an entire project and start over? How did it feel? Were you frustrated, sad … relieved?
XVII. The Star: What is your favorite part of starting a new project? New notebook smell? Getting to know the characters? Building the plot?
XVIII. The Moon: What’s the biggest lie that your main character is telling themselves?
XIX. The Sun: Do you have any themes, symbols or objects which come full circle in your work?
XX. Judgement: Do your characters get what they deserve? Why or why not?
XXI. The World: At what point did you know that you had to write this project?
There are 22 questions, one for each card of the Major Arcana. If answering all of them at once is too time-consuming or daunting – or if you feel that the post would be too lengthy – please feel free to break it into as many installments as you wish.
0. The Fool: Which of your characters is the most intuitive? The worst decision-maker?
I. The Magician: What character, location, or object has the most positive influence in your story?
II . The High Priestess: Do any of your characters have very strong beliefs?
III. The Empress: Who is your biggest supporter? Give them a little love, here.
IV. The Emperor: Do you outline or plan? (You know … plotter or pantser…)
V. The Hierophant: What do you feel is your most valuable piece of writing advice?
VI. The Lovers: Which of your characters follow their heart? Is it for the right reasons?
VII. The Chariot: Tell us about the first “darling” you ever “killed”.
VIII. Strength: What do you feel your greatest creative strength is?
IX. The Hermit: Can you write in coffee shops or other busy places, or do you need quiet?
X. The Wheel of Fortune: Do you have a set routine or schedule?
XI. Justice: What’s the biggest consequence that your main character will have to face? (If it spoils the plot, feel free to be vague.)
XII. The Hanged Man: What sacrifices do you make for writing time? Or, what must your main character be willing to choose between?
XIII. Death: What do you do after you’ve finished a project?
XIV. Temperance: Please share your best tested & proven tip for balancing writing and “the rest”:
XV. The Devil: Everyone has a nasty habit they can’t shake. What’s your main character’s?
XVI. The Tower: Have you ever had to scrap an entire project and start over? How did it feel? Were you frustrated, sad … relieved?
XVII. The Star: What is your favorite part of starting a new project? New notebook smell? Getting to know the characters? Building the plot?
XVIII. The Moon: What’s the biggest lie that your main character is telling themselves?
XIX. The Sun: Do you have any themes, symbols or objects which come full circle in your work?
XX. Judgement: Do your characters get what they deserve? Why or why not?
XXI. The World: At what point did you know that you had to write this project?
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