How to write books that cast a spell over your reader and change them forever.
What is a book of power?
Our culture, and indeed many cultures across the world, are full of legends about magical books containing forbidden knowledge, sources of energy, or secrets that might elevate one to the level of a god – or at least a wizard. In my own travels and explorations of the occult, I have encountered many such rumoured tomes, all of which, to a degree, made the same promises: the power to fly, to create wealth, turn invisible, even to move mountains.
The greatest books, the true “books of power”, are themselves spells that work upon the unconscious of the reader.
One of my favourite occult theories around “books of power” is that of the oneiric grimoires – books accessible only upon astral or dream-planes. One cannot ever “own” such a book, one can merely access it in states of altered consciousness. Attempts to write these books down in full invariably go badly; madness and death seem to await those who try to defy divine decree and manifest the un-manifestable.
The occultist Kenneth Grant theorised that Lovecraft’s Necronomicon was one such oneiric tome, and that unwittingly the atheist writer accessed it through dream, leading to the creation of the Mythos we know today. Certainly, one feels Lovecraft “doth protest too much” when it comes to the alleged “fiction” of his writing, endlessly insisting in his letters to friends and admirers none of it is real, which surely would be so obvious as to require no justification. Unless, of course, deep down Lovecraft himself feared maybe some of it was real.
Now that’s a scary thought.
I have my own collection of grimoires. I possess books once banned, books containing ritual methodologies which would make most peoples’ skin crawl, books of which only a few hundred copies exist in the entire world. There is one tome I possess which is referred to by those in my circle as simply “his black book”, and despite the courage, strength (or indeed skepticism) of my friends, they refuse to read even a line of it. The irony of this is that my black book is by far one of the least potent talismans in my possession.
I tell you this not to “flex” my library, but merely to illustrate one important point. Whilst many spell-tomes or grimoires plead their significance by virtue of their inclusion of recipes for potions, ritual mechanics, or the lexicon of demonic, angelic, astrological, or elemental names, none of these books are truly magical, or powerful, in the most potent sense. Ultimately, many of these books rely, much like businesses do, upon assuring that “their formula works best” and will “produce results”. Whilst fascinating, and not entirely without merit, any power derived through deploying rituals or recipes learned from such books is circumstantially effective at best.
The greatest books, the true “books of power”, are themselves spells that work upon the unconscious of the reader. They use words as symbols which they bury deep within the psyche, only to activate them at a later stage, rather like the spores of a fungal node bursting into life within the mind of an ant. However, unlike fungal spores, which take over the ant and rob them of agency, these spores catalyst change not death; in fact, they precipitate far greater agency because they remove the previous shackles of limited thought.
They infiltrate the human mind through the back-door of subconscious dream-language. They speak directly to that which is buried deep within us.
I refer to these tomes – and they are rare – as “oneiric psycho-agents”. They alter and shape the dreams and desires of the reader, which in turn reshapes who they are as person. In some ways they operate similarly to a magic mushroom trip, though with far less ambiguity attached, and far greater precision and efficacy. They infiltrate the human mind through the back-door of subconscious dream-language. They speak directly to that which is buried deep within us. Such books are powerful beyond measure. Merely to read them is to feel one’s essential being changing, to open one’s perception to a whole new realm, to activate a dormant current within the Self.
A mage who can author such a book is not to be trifled with. Such writers have harnessed and understood the power of the Word. Words are, after all, magical forces. Words spoke the universe into being. We feel this every time we pick up a fantasy novel and read of worlds hitherto unmapped: the raw energy of unbounded creation. The religion of modern science may ever claim otherwise, as is its want to destroy human imagination, but the spiritual truth remains unassailable because it is experienced, it is lived.
As writers, we must not seek to write works that have only superficial power by virtue of what they include – whether that be popular genre elements, modern zeitgeists, new information, or pop-culture references. We should seek a deeper and more profound power: that of transforming the dreams and desires of whomever should read our work, so that they might become all they were ever meant to be.
As someone who helps upcoming writers refine and structure their work, I get a lot of questions about my craft: how I do what I do, the secret knowledge of how narrative works. All great writing is built on a deep philosophy which, at least in a healthy organism, evolves over time and with greater learning and understanding. Many people look to me for guidance about the underlying principles of narrative and how to work spells upon your reader.
This Patreon, the Mindvault, is built to give you the answers to these questions.
Once a month, I will share with you a Lost Relic – a piece of occult writing expanding on a narrative idea. For higher tier backers, I’ll also be sharing short behind-the-scenes videos about my creative process, the tools I use to create fiction and narrative, the hobbies that feed my creativity, and more. This is your chance to get up close and personal with a fully tentacled mindflayer.
Every other Monday, we introduce you to a writer from the Writers’ Mastermind. Today we are excited to present Sara Cristia H.J.. She is a storyteller and freelance writer who was born in Venezuela and lives in Lebanon.
Sara writes historical and contemporary dramas with touches of surrealism, the paranormal, and fantasy. She also creates blog content for websites and is now in the editing process of her first fiction novel.
You have seen her reading an excerpt of her story, The Witch’s Amulet, in the Writers Mastermind Mash Up. Learn more about her rich Caribbean/Mediterranean life and her dreams for the future.
Tell us a bit of yourself. Where are you from? Where are you now? What has your life been like?
My background is a mix of Caribbean and Mediterranean. I was born in Venezuela to Lebanese parents who raised my siblings and me there for the first ten years of my life. Then, my father thought it would be best for us to grow among our relatives and culture. So we moved to Lebanon, where my interest in historical, religious, and esoteric topics caught my genuine interest.
Afterward, we were constantly moving or traveling from Lebanon to Venezuela and vice versa. This caused me some gaps in the three languages I know. Though I manage them fluently, except for Arabic, which I know at a medium level, I still needed to improve my writing skills. I realized that the only way to do so was by reading.
Today, I live in Lebanon with my husband, three lovely and smart daughters, and my spoiled mini-toy poodle, Lassie. Life has been a bit of a challenge in every aspect, and I still don’t feel like settling here for a long time. Yet, what helps me to carry on with the tedious routine is my constant learning. I’m so grateful for the online education to find something new to upgrade my skills.
My life has been a mixture of adventure, freedom, adaptations, drawbacks, up-scaling, self-growth, and excitement with a bit of the Caribbean warmth and the traditional Mediterranean freshness. I consider life a journey that we have to travel as positively and thrilled as possible, taking the challenges and lessons for our benefit and enjoying every detail of it.
What kind of stories do you write?
I write historical and contemporary romantic dramas. I’m editing my first novel, which is a stand-alone but also the first in a series. The story revolves around two lovers who find each other in the late Austro-Hungarian Empire, but a fatal incident and mysterious events separate them. They’ll meet, however, in another lifetime where sharper challenges will dare them to stay together. I’ll treat diverse topics in this series, such as emotional abuse, anxiety, reincarnation, Latin American corruption, etc.
I also write short stories with bits of surrealism, paranormal, and real-life events.
More recently, I decided to give my creative writing a break while exploring the objective world of freelance writing. I must say I am most satisfied since I consider myself a logic-thinker, and I love researching and writing about various topics that defy my intellect and skills.
What sets you apart from other writers in your space?
Each writer has their unique spark. I think what sets me apart from other fellow writers is that I like to treat subtly real-life facts and conditions through fantasy and fiction.
My perseverance in upgrading my writing skills, despite all the educational challenges I had when I was younger, and consistency are also keys to my writing. I don’t like the words “give up,” so I try to do my best to find my way and show others that if I can do it, they certainly can, too.
Writing fiction not only liberates our creativity but also provides us with endless ways to see and treat life’s events. We can entertain, enlighten, and guide people through our stories and make them reflect on the different facets of life.
Sara Cristia H.J.
What drives your writing? What do you mean to accomplish with your stories?
We can achieve so much through the written word. You can say the world’s most significant truths through the beautiful lies of fiction and state life’s facts through well-crafted and researched articles. You can influence a generation with your opinion and stories, soothe the depressed, and guide the one who seeks the light. This and more is what I want to accomplish with my writings.
Who are your favorite writers and books? What are your other creative influences?
I have a bunch of favorite writers and books that have influenced my writing. Among those I most enjoyed reading and learning from are: The Lord of the Rings books; Pachinko, by Lee Min Jin; almost every Jane Austen’s book and Lara Temple’s too; The Thorn Birds; Three Daughters of Eve, by Elif Shafak; and books of Paulo Coelho and Gibran Khalil Gibran.
Some of my favorite non-fiction books are: You Can Heal Your Life, by Louise Hay; the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series, by Robert Kiyosaki; The Giant Within, by Tony Robins; Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. I also love Dan Brown’s style.
There are certainly more, especially among indie books, such as Through Her Eyes, by Sophie Fahy; Murder at MacBeth, by Samantha Goodwin; The Seven Lives of Grace, by Elena Shelest; That Truthful Place, by Patty Lesser; The Last Nautch Girl, by C. Phillip; Lilia, by Linda Ganzini; Seeker of Time series by, J. M. Buckler; and Behold the Dawn, by K. M. Weiland. Now, I look forward to exploring more indie jewels, like those of Joe Sale, Christa Wojciechowski, Clennell Anthony, and Bia Bella Baker.
Do you write in silence? Background noise? Or music? What kind?
It depends on the scene’s mood. If it’s an action or mental health issue, you will find me writing with some metallic or gothic rock in the background, such as Poets of the Fall, Nightwish, Disturbed, or Within Temptation. If I’m writing a rough-love scene, I’ll listen to Lady Gaga, Allan Walker, or Demi Lovato. Otherwise, I’ll be listening to softer and more classic melodies, like Beethoven, Chopin, BrunuhVille, Sade, Jazz music with rain, or coffee shop background sounds (my favorite when I want to chill out), etc.
As you see, my music list is as eclectic as my readings.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not writing?
I think I don’t have that much free time. When I’m not writing or researching, I’m with my girls, helping them with their studies or watching a movie together. I have to attend to my house chores and my online learning. But I would much prefer to have a fixed time to go for a walk or hiking. I also love gardening and reading, of course.
Who is your current celebrity crush?
Celebrity crush? Not now, lol! But when I was younger, I liked Johnathan Brandis, the first time when I watched The NeverEnding Story and then SeaQuest DSV.
I also loved Gerard Butler’s role in The Phantom of the Opera.
Why do you think it’s important to write fiction?
Writing fiction not only liberates our creativity but also provides us with endless ways to see and treat life’s events. We can entertain, enlighten, and guide people through our stories and make them reflect on the different facets of life. Storytelling is such a powerful tool to plant the seed for a better future.
Who would be the best writer, alive or dead, to tell the story of your life?
I have never thought of this, but I think I’d like Paulo Coelho to write the story of my life for his magical and surrealistic style and his vast exploration of the Mediterranean and South American lifestyles.
What are you working on right now?
My creative/fiction writing is somehow slow-paced now because I’m more dedicated to my freelance writing and internship at the Digital Nomad Writing Club. However, I always spare some time for my editing, mainly because my characters don’t give me peace of mind.
Besides, I’m building my portfolio with a variety of topics, though I’m niching down to more specific themes on B2B strategies, emotional and mental wellness, self-growth, and productivity. I’m also completing my specialization in SEO which will serve my blogging skills greatly.
Thank you for sharing your fascinating writing life with us, Sara!
No one writes a perfect first draft. Even the most skilled writer makes mistakes.
Once your story is done, how do you keep track of all the things that can possibly go wrong?
And publishers rarely give a reason for rejection. What if an editing issue is the reason your otherwise amazing story was passed up?
Our upcoming self-editing mastermind event is about developing a foolproof system to make your stories and manuscripts the best they can be before submitting to agents, publishers, or a professional editor.
Learning to self-edit will also incrementally help you become a better (and faster) writer.
We invite you to join us and to bring your most pressing editing questions and struggles. We will help you settle them once and for all!
Our Guest Expert
Candace Johnson is a professional freelance editor, writer, proofreader, and ghostwriter. She has worked with traditional publishers, self-published authors, agents, and independent book packagers in numerous fiction genres and nonfiction subjects. As an editorial specialist, she believes in maintaining an author’s unique voice while helping to polish every sentence to make it the best it can be.
Do you feel stuck and unsure as a writer? Are you not getting acceptances, not making sales, not writing to your full potential? How can you break through the self-doubt and noise to start carving out your unique space in the world of fiction?
Ross Jeffery is joining us for a Live ZOOM chat this Thursday to talk about his experience.
Ross is the Executive Director of STORGY literary magazine and its Head of Books. He is also the Bram Stoker Award Nominated Author of Tome, Juniper, and Tethered.
It’s hard to believe that Ross had given up on writing for seven years. Yes, 7 years! Now he is exploding in the dark fiction scene, and he is going to join us on Zoom to talk about how to break through as a writer.
What You’ll Learn – How to Break Through as a Writer with Ross Jeffery
Why Ross gave up writing for so long and what made him start again
What drives his dark, disturbing stories
The breakthrough moment in his writing career that got his momentum going
How writers can approach other authors for blurbs
How writers can position themselves to be nominated for awards
Ross’ advice for all those writers who have given up, are thinking of given up, or haven’t even started
Unnecessary, weak words, like grammatical expletives, dilute our writing, but most of us don’t even realize we’re using them. That’s because they are part of our everyday conversation.
I’ll tell you about my rude awakening to filler words and weak qualifiers (e.g. “very, really, a lot”). When I was going through the editing process with my first novella, I noticed I used the word “just” twice in a sentence. Out of curiosity, I searched up how just many “justs” were in the whole document. My story was infected!
Here is a list of overused vague qualifiers/filler words. Sharpen your writing in minutes by searching your manuscript with the “find and replace” feature and removing/changing these words.
very
too
so
quite
rather
somewhat
basically
virtually
generally
slightly
really
a lot
sort of
indeed
still
almost
fairly
even
a bit
a little
kind of
usually
a few
mostly
and my favorite“just“
Stephen King said that the road to hell is paved in adverbs. I would then say that same road is blacktopped with the words in this list. It’s almost impossible to get out of the habit of using them, so make sure you look for them before submitting, publishing, or turning your manuscript over to your editor.
What word out of this list do you notice in your writing?
I’d love to know if you’ve filtered your writing for these words. How many did you find?
Happy Writing!
—Christa
Our focus this month is on systemizing your self-editing process.
