The 2006 Christopher Nolan film The Prestige, based on the novel by Christopher Priest, has a lot to tell us about how to write magical stories.
Though there are many things to learn from the way it presents us with a story of two rival magicians, perhaps the most important learning point is the concept embodied in the title itself. For those who don’t know, “The Prestige” is the third act of any magician’s trick, in which what they previously destroyed, or made to disappear, returns – to the delight and adulation of the crowd. As Michael Caine’s character, Cutter, observes, “It’s not enough to make something disappear. You have to bring it back.”
“It’s not enough to make something disappear. You have to bring it back.”
Our mythologies and religions are full to bursting with gods and human beings who return from death. From the wounded King Arthur, who will one day come again from beyond the veils of Avalon, to the crucified Jesus who lay three days dead in the tomb yet rose, to the dismembered god Osiris, who was reforged from scattered body parts by his wife, Isis, the list goes on and on.
The recurrence of this image throughout history and across innumerable cultures is evidence that the idea of a “prestige” is hardwired into our deepest psyche. We yearn for what was lost to return to us. The concept has filtered through into modern-day popular culture too: The Return of the King, The Return of the Jedi, even Superman Returns. There is a sense that true heroes, true saviours, come back to us when we need them the most.
Of course, sometimes this deep human need is exploited for quick cash grabs, as in the “endless sequel” effect in which our favourite characters just keep coming back time and time again. In these instances, often it is the case that the story begins to lose all meaning, because there are no real stakes; the heroes are invulnerable, and even if they seem to die, they always come back without a scratch.
However, when this mythic principle is handled with sincerity and integrity, it can produce some of the most startling and moving moments in cinema, prose, poetry, indeed, any medium. The initial disappearance of the figure who is going to return need not even be via death; it can be just that: a disappearance. Consider how Gandalf leaving Helm’s Deep in the second Lord of the Rings movie shapes the narrative. He leaves the story for some time, long enough we almost forget where he’s gone off to, but at the critical moment, when all hope seems lost, he returns to save the day (bringing with him the “lost” Rohirrim) in a sublime eucatastrophe.
I often hear writers talking about how they have “written themselves into a corner” by disposing of an artefact, character, or even a place. Many of these issues can be fixed by building the concept of a “prestige” into your fiction from the get go.
A sad death at the end of a book can be devastating. But a “prestige”, a triumphant return, is infinitely more powerful; it shakes to the bone.
And on that subject, I always admire a writer who has the guts to kill their characters, and sometimes a character simply has to die, and die forever, for a story to end, for it to have any meaning. But whilst the bitter fruit of death, or loss, is sometimes what is needed to round out a tale, the far sweeter fruit of return also has its place. This is more true of horror, not less. In Nolan’s 2010 film Inception, he remarked that “Positive emotion trumps negative every time”, and I also happen to agree with him on this front. A sad death at the end of a book can be devastating. But a “prestige”, a triumphant return, is infinitely more powerful; it shakes to the bone. Death, after all, is merely existential.
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 J.A. Cox. He is a veteran of the Iraq War, the author of Mastering Your Scenes, and is currently working on his first Sci-Fi trilogy.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you now? What has your life been like?
I am a Christian, disabled veteran, husband and father. I was born in Florida but left to join the Army which I spent most of my enlistment stationed in Vilseck, Germany. I did two one-year tours in Iraq, starting with the invasion in 2003 and got a severe nerve injury during my second deployment in 2005 which has changed my life greatly. Currently I reside in WA in the vicinity of Tacoma. My life has been full of ups, downs and failures and success. God has kept his hand upon me through all and has sustained me with his mercy, especially during my failures. In my darkest moments I came to truly know how great and powerful his mercy really is. I also came to understand that his love is a tsunami that hits you like a feather.
2. What kind of stories do you write?
I write non-fiction stories and fiction stories. For fiction, sci-fi is my thing but I am also a fantasy lover.
3. What sets you apart from other writers in your space?
I really don’t know what really sets me apart, but I know that I share the drive to either help or entertain others through writing.
Although, I believe when it comes to scene writing, I offer a perspective that is very unique. The literature that I have perused involving the subject on scenes does not really give you a true idea of what is really involved in a typical scene but places more of a focus on general structure. I come at scene writing with the focus of helping the writer to truly grasp all the many ingredients or materials that you have available to help generate endless creativity and produce their greatest masterpiece. or instance, I incorporate the importance of understanding how to get the most out of your locations. More often than not, writers tend to underscore how essential the place that your scene plays out really is, even if it is outer space, out on the ocean or in the air. I mention these because they are considered to be just empty space but don’t be deceived. The sky naturally has varying degrees of pressure and currents based on altitude. There is also the weather itself such as brewing storm clouds and then there is the fowl depending on season and place. Just imagine the type of situation your characters would have flying over the Bermuda triangle compared to the area between the Bahamas and Florida during hurricane season. The point is while this space is somewhat empty it really is filled with many naturally occurring factors that can be put to use to help create a dazzling scene masterpiece. This is just a tiny fraction of the things that I introduce to writers in my book Mastering Your Scenes to help them develop a true masterpiece through the use of a handful of other elements the are part of a single scene.
4. What drives your writing? What do you mean to accomplish with your stories?
In a word, passion is what drives my writing. It does not matter if it is fiction or non-fiction, I believe my passion for getting across my point or entertaining the reader comes across very clearly. In my non-fiction works my goal is to inform, empower or to teach. In my fiction along with entertainment I enjoy touching on serious topics from different perspectives to help people to walk away with something meaningful. For instance, in my current sci- fi work in progress I deal with the collateral damage caused by my main character on their quest for vengeance. Most of the story is propelled along dealing with the back lash from her single-minded quest which interferes with her actual goals but forces her to come to terms with the fact that the destruction she causes to achieve her goal does not justify the livelihood of others that is sacrificed in order for her to do so.
5. Who are you favorite writers and books? What are your other creative influences?
When I was in high school I was enamored with the 3 Dark Traditionalists: Edgar Allen Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville. Out of the three Poe was my absolute all-time favorite, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven and The Poem about the bells were my favorites. Aside from that life itself is my most creative influence. I am a firm believer that fact is stranger than fiction and love to stretch that strangeness to its limits in my writing.
6. Do you write in silence? Background noise? Or music? What kind?
It varies. When I write non-fiction, I prefer silence. When I write fiction, I love listening to music. My music of choice is soundtracks from battle scenes of different anime that I have watched such as Sengoku Basara, Re:Creators, Bleach, One Piece and Naruto just to name a few.
7. What is your favorite thing to do when you are not writing?
My most favorite thing to do when I am not writing is spending time with my wife.
8. Who is your current celebrity crush?
I don’t have one.
9. Why do you think it’s important to write fiction?
I think writing period is very important because it allows for the things trapped within the subconscious to be expelled in a way that liberates us from their influence. Fictional writing is a way to live the life we have always dreamed or experience our impossible fantasies as if they really happened. Of course, it is also a way to tell the world at the top of our lungs that, we are here, we are here. That last part is for all of you Horton hears a Who fans.
10. Who would be the best writer, alive or dead, to tell the story of your life?
Honestly, I don’t know.
11. What are you working on right now?
I am currently working on wrapping up book one for my sci-fi trilogy Fulfilling a Vow. The first book’s title is Fulfilling a Vow: Searching for Answers.
Mastering Your Scenes
Learn how to produce magnificent scenes in your writing every time. You will be given an anatomical look of what composes a scene and understand what goes into creating scenes that are engaging, seamless, and bristling with activity without any fluff. Mastering Your Scenes gives you the practical advice you need to keep your readers turning pages and falling in love with your characters. With the steps you will learn there will be no more question of if that scene fits or seems out of place.
J. A. COX enjoys investing into and empowering others with the things that he is knowledgeable in. It brings him great joy to take out the time to help another person understand something that he has an interest in and has put the time into studying and researching, to aide them in gaining a greater perspective on the subject. In the end it is the love of empowering that teaching brings along with it that brings him the greatest joy.
On Monday, I had the the pleasure of being on Boomers on Books with Vince Stevenson, a livestream show that features emerging and established authors. Vince is also known as The Fear Doctor and is a leading trainer and bestselling author on overcoming the fear of public speaking.
This was a most fortunate circumstance for me. Being my first livestream video, I was nervous. But you will see that Vince is a charming and skilled host, and we enjoyed a great conversation. We covered many fascinating topics other than my books—relationship dynamics, addiction and mental illness, self-doubt, and life in Panama. Not your same ol’ author interview!
Boomers on Books is a video channel for emerging and established authors. We welcome authors from all continents, ages, genders, colours and creeds. The video interview is live-streamed on YouTube and available on-demand and indefinitely for people’s viewing. The hosts are boomer Vince Stevenson and boomer Mark Shultz (although due to Mark’s wife’s medical issues, Mark has been unavailable to participate).
Vince Stevenson
Vince Stevenson is known as the ‘Fear Doctor’ and describes himself as a ‘recovering speaker’. He works in London and around the world encouraging people to speak their own truth. Vince has worked from Brazil to Bangladesh with top companies and NGOs, assisting their senior executives to become improved communicators. He runs regular classes in London and is a popular choice as a conference speaker. Vince has a devilish sense of humour and he loves talking about his fears, foibles and failures. Vince can be contacted at the College of Public Speaking London.
Every other Monday, we introduce you to a writer from the Writers’ Mastermind. Today we are excited to have Patty Lesser. She has backpacked the world, plays Texas hold ’em, and writes everything from murder mysteries to scifi to dark paranormal fantasy and beyond.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you now? What has your life been like?
Four years ago, I moved to Brantford, starting over. I knew no one here or anything. Everything was new, but I made a life for myself along with four volunteer positions and playing in a local poker league. I grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, but when I was 19, I left Canada to backpack around the world for 25 years.
When I came back to Canada, I settled in Toronto before moving back to Hamilton. I moved around a lot before settling here. I love my new life.
2. What kind of stories do you write?
I think of a plot, work it around in my head, thinking of ideas for a story. If it works out, I write it down and start the novel. Then I think about the genre, so I end up writing various genres like mystery, fantasy, sci fi, adventure, thriller, etc.
3. What sets you apart from other writers in your space?
I write from A directly to B. My writing is direct and somewhat simple, and my stories are completely my imagination, so I find it hard to compare my books with other authors.
4. What drives your writing? What do you mean to accomplish with your stories?
I’m a storyteller. I like to tell stories that I want others to read to escape from reality for a while and enjoy someone else’s saga and my imagination.
5. Who are your favourite writers and books? What are your other creative influences?
My favourite authors and their books are: Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, Alexandre Dumas’ Count of Monte Crisco, and Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge. When I need inspiration, I go back and read stuff I’ve written.
6. Do you write in silence? Background noise? What kind?
I always write with a movie playing on the TV. It’s always a movie I’ve seen many times, so I don’t have to watch. I can look up from time to time and just listen when I need a break from the writing.
7. What is your favourite thing to do when you are not writing?
I play tournament Texas hold’em no limit poker. I play in a local league, but of course we’ve been closed down because of Covid. I have been playing online for money since 2005.
8. Who is your current celebrity crush?
John de Lancie otherwise known as Q on Star Trek: The Next Generation. He’s an Australian actor.
9. Why do you think it’s important to write fiction?
People have been writing fiction since the beginning of time. The Bible is made up of fictional stories that someone put together in an anthology. Fiction is important to take us away from reality.
10. Who would be the best writer, alive or dead, to tell the story of your life?
Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain. I love the way he wrote his autobiography. He’s a great storyteller.
11. What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a murder mystery that takes place in a community centre. The subplot is all about the importance of volunteering. The interesting thing is I don’t know who the murderer is, but I guess I’ll just find out when the readers do. I volunteered at a community centre for 4 years, and my story mirrors this one. I was also the Volunteer Reporter and I wrote all the volunteers’ profiles, so I’ve got lots to draw from. I want people to read my book and then say, I should volunteer somewhere.
Devouring Time: A Race Against the Clock to Expose Shocking Secrets, Shameless Greed, and Murder
Marcus Tate doesn’t understand the odd request: leave London to deliver a small, carefully-wrapped box to a family in Canada? But his mentor, mother figure, and friend, Cathy Edwards, insists that Marcus is precisely the right person to deliver the important package that she has held onto for many long years.
Little does Marcus realize that his world is about to be turned upside down. In less than one day, Marcus learns not only the shocking truth about his mother, but also the real reason Cathy forged such a strong bond with him. And despite Marcus’s attempt to make a quick delivery and leave, the eccentric Blackbourne family insists that he stay to learn more about the contents of the mysterious box.
The Blackbournes can’t wait for Lillian, the family matriarch, to peel the brown paper wrapping from the package. To each family member, the package represents the promise of an even richer life. More money. Financial independence. Power. Freedom to travel the world.
But to the family’s surprise, the package is only one small piece of a much larger labyrinth of lies and betrayal, leading to the discovery of family secrets . . . and murder.
Time ticks away as the family attempts to solve the mystery of Lillian’s murder, all while trying to make sense of their past. Through it all, the Blackbournes and Marcus can’t help but wonder if the murderer is still lurking among them.
Join Marcus and the entire Blackbourne family on a whirlwind twenty-four hour adventure, through a world of insatiable greed, family secrets, forbidden love, and murder!
Every other Monday, we introduce you to a writer from the Writers’ Mastermind. Today we are thrilled to have Black Historical Fiction, Poetry, and Urban Fantasy Author, Yecheilyah Ysrayl.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? Where are you now? What has your life been like?
Sure, thanks so much for having me. My name is Yecheilyah (e-see-li-yah), and everyone calls me EC for short. I am an Author, Book Blogger, Poet, and Publisher from Chicago, where I was born and raised. In 2009, I left home for Louisiana and then, in 2017, transitioned again to Georgia, where I now live with my husband. As you can probably tell, I love to travel and look forward to doing more International travel when the world opens up fully. Life has not been easy, especially with the loss of my mom last year, but I can’t complain. I am thankful for the good that encourages me and the sufferings that shape me.
What kind of stories do you write?
I write Black Historical Fiction, Poetry, and Urban Fantasy. I have also written Inspirational Non-Fiction.
What sets you apart from other writers in your space?
Everything I write has a black historical theme embedded, and I believe this sets me apart. Black history is my passion, and I write to restore black historical truth regardless of genre. This summer, for instance, I am releasing my first Urban Fantasy novel. The plot focuses on the mysterious killings of black men by supernatural forces attacking them for their power. In Greek Mythology, Paschar (push-shar) is the God of Vision. In my story, though, Paschar is a Black Woman Goddess. So, while the book has traditional fantasy themes, it is not without Black/AFAM representation. The depiction of Paschar on the cover is of a very dark-skinned woman. This was intentional.
What drives your writing? What do you mean to accomplish with your stories?
What drives my writing is my love for truth, historical accuracy, and self-expression. When I sit down to write, I hope my words will free someone from the limited ways the world teaches us and programs us to think and feel. Whether it is poetry or fantasy, or historical fiction, I hope people can walk away from my stories with a fresh way of seeing the world. I want people to know it’s okay to be different and to think differently. I hope we become brave enough to defy the norms, regardless of public judgment and persecution.
Who are you favorite writers and books? What are your other creative influences?
Some of my favorite authors and books are a mix of both new and old-school writers, such as Underground Railroad and The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, and the Logan Family series including Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry and Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor. I am Not Your Negro by James Baldwin, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington, The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, and I could go on forever, so we’ll stop there.
I love music, so my other creative influences come from my favorite soulful R&B artists like Lauryn Hill, Musiq Soulchild, Whitney Houston, Kenny Lattimore, Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, and more.
Do you write in silence? Background noise? Or music? What kind?
Silence. I can listen to 90s R&B if I am working on something that is not writing, say researching or updating my website, but I can’t listen to anything while I write, so it’s the quiet for me.
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not writing?
When I am not writing, my favorite thing is reading, traveling, and binge-watching my favorite TV shows. A fun fact is that though I am a movie buff, I watch little TV during the day. Most of my TV time is in the evenings with the hubs and on the weekend. This makes it much more exciting when I watch a favorite or new show, which I only end up writing about as a review.
Who is your current celebrity crush?
Hmm. Let’s see here. One of my favorite TV shows now is This Is Us, so I would have to go with Randall. I mean Sterling K. Brown, lol.
Why do you think it’s important to write fiction?
Writing fiction is important because it’s one of the most exciting and effortless ways of informal teaching outside of movies, film, and theater. We learn a lot from reading, and fiction explicitly takes the form of edutainment, educating through entertainment. We write what we do not say out loud.
Reading novels makes us curious and can force us to change in ways we never imagined. I don’t think fiction encourages us to escape the pressures of our reality more so than it does to help us understand it better. Although we are reading something that is part of someone’s imagination, the truth is often stranger than fiction. That is to say, the truth of the world can sometimes be much wilder than anything that we can read in books. But it is through reading fiction in the first place that we pay attention to the world enough to see that.
So, it makes the authors of fiction that much more critical because we are not merely throwing words to the wall; we are potentially shaping and changing how people think. This can have powerful or detrimental outcomes depending on the information being put out there.
Who would be the best writer, alive or dead, to tell the story of your life?
With her experience with trauma and success, with her mastery of language and delivery, with her intelligence and compassion, with her love for people and poetic wisdom, I think Maya Angelou’s voice would be influential in my life story’s narration if she were alive.
What are you working on right now?
Right now, I am preparing to release my first urban fantasy novel, “The Women with Blue Eyes: Rise of the Fallen.” The story is about the mysterious murder of only black men and one woman’s discovery that the serial killer is beyond this realm. Readers can learn more about the book and preorder it now at yecheilyahysrayl.com.
The Women with Blue Eyes: Rise of the Fallen
When Tina’s nephew, Ronnie is killed, she is left to care for his siblings and to solve a series of mysterious murders involving only black men. Investigating each murder thrusts her and her team into a world of deities, demons, and fallen angels, leading Tina to battle a serial killer beyond this realm.
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.
INTRODUCTION
SELF-EDITING
Self-editing can be a daunting part of the publishing process, but it is a necessary skill set every writer must have.
WHEN TO DO YOUR SELF-EDIT?
Whether you’ve been self-editing your story/book along the way or have waited until you’ve typed “The End,” you will want to make sure your manuscript is as polished as you can possibly make it.
It’s important to emphasize that writers should not rely solely on self-editing before submitting or publishing. Getting the help of a professional editor is crucial to your success as an author.
However, if you know how to prepare your manuscript for your editor, you will save time, money, and frustration.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
In this masterclass, you will be guided through a thorough checklist of common issues in story structure, plot, characterization, grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and formatting.
This will ensure that your self-editing process is efficient and that your manuscript is as tight and clean as can be before handing it off to your editor.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
6-Part Video Series
36-Page Self-Editing Workbook
Support, motivation, and advice in our private Facebook Group
Access to our live write-ins and all classes in the members area
Live Q&A with Candace Johnson from Change It Up Edit (replay available)
COST
FREE with your 30-Day Trial in the Writers’ Mastermind
Then $19 per month if you choose to stay (Sign up soon. Membership price goes up to $29 per month July 1st)
