Zombunny by Craig Crawford

3/2/2025

Multi-volume horror writer Craig Crawford introduces us to his latest answer to nearly every writer's question, what if, “Zombunny”:
A little girl comes across the world’s softest stuffed rabbit. Frank thinks the bunny is weird as hell with its bright green fur and mouth stitched shut. His daughter Penny’s enthralled, though—and he can’t say no to that face.
Then a bully at school gets bitten. Even though it couldn’t have been anyone else, Penny swears it wasn’t her …
… Zombunny just wants to keep her safe. That’s all.

This is the cutest horror story I have ever read! Is there blood? Yes! Lots of blood. Is there a monster? Yes.
No spoilers from me! I am not fond of gory stories but I think I have been bitten by something because I love this story. Do I look flushed? I am feeling a bit warm. I am going to lay down for a little while, take a couple of Tylenol. I am sure I'll feel better in the morning.
Buy this book and read it now before anything else goes wrong.

49 Comments

Craig Crawford link

3/3/2025 01:03:58 pm

Hi Mark! It's good to talk with you again!

Mark

3/3/2025 02:31:04 pm

I am so happy to continue our conversation from before. Our interview has now spanned five different promotions. The links for all five reviews are just above. For our readers, click on the word Comments to show the interview that is under the review.

You have been busy! How about giving us a brief rundown on all of your projects.

3/3/2025 05:44:30 pm

I have indeed! In the fall of 2023 I published a four part horror science fiction serial with RedCape Publishing out of Brighton, England. It's a novel length set of stories but the first three books are told from different sets of characters' points of view. in the fourth book they all come together to combat a common enemy. It's got monsters, characters with mental abilities, and it takes the stance of a multiverse where a secret organization quietly steps in and "deals" with monsters, entities and intrusions from other dimensions. Those books you can purchase singly, though RedCape also published a compendium in hardback with all of the stories.

It's ongoing and at the end of this month, Project Threshold #2 begins with the second chapter in Team Berger. The second picks up where the first left off and there are new monsters but also new problems arising in the aftermath of the first stories.

Also, at the end of March or early in April, an audio book is coming out with the entire Project Threshold-1 stories. RedCape has been working on that for me and I'm excited to release the entire thing in the audio format!

My other publishing piece you made a link for is Dave E Lish's Beginner's Guide to Being Evil. It's not dark or sci-fi, but a humorous look at the CEO of the underworld and his take on humanity, movies, and . . . evil.

My writing tends to go down the dark paths, but every now and again I get in a whimsical mood and write something silly. I had a lot of fun with Dave and I do eventually have plans for at least another treatise by Dave, but other stuff keeps getting in the way.

Other than that, life is...well, as calm as my life can be :)

3/3/2025 05:54:38 pm

Of course, there is this book, "Zombunny" a story with bite. Your fans are going to be excited.

New question.

Is using X, formerly known as Twitter and other social media part of your marketing strategy?

3/3/2025 09:11:20 pm

Yes--Zombunny took some brains to figure it all out...

X/Twitter...yes. I guess it was 2022 as I was getting more stories published I was listening to podcasts on being a published author, and almost every agent said you HAD to have a social media presence. I had had a Twitter account I started just for Dave E Lish but in trying to get into Twitter, it just wasn't clicking with me and I dropped it (this was back in 2014ish when I first finished Dave but before I published it).

I also had a Facebook account but I only bounced around on there from time to time. Dusting off and starting a new Twitter account with my name, I just started hanging out, occasionally liking or reposting but I spent my time just feeling out the platform. Slowly I started talking to other people, mostly horror accounts and other creatives.

So, the long answer is yes, it was initially one of those "I guess I gotta" endeavors, I've found I really like Twitter (sorry, just can't call it X). I have several friends here, I enjoy all the zany and ignore the darker side of it. I check in almost every day and just enjoy goofing off.

3/4/2025 09:01:48 am

X, Twitter, I've seen Xwitter. On Twitter, I use only X because they are likely reducing engagement for anyone using the old name, Twitter. As much as I hated to, I caved and started using X because I didn't want my posts to be limited. In December, I read that using hashtags and putting links in a post is frowned upon and exposure is reduced for that also. I experimented for several weeks and can confirm that posts without links and hashtags get better exposure and engagement. My posts are now link free. I add links to my main posts as a reply.

It took me some time to figure out what was acceptable on Twitter, I apologize to all of those who blocked me. I deserved it most of the time.

I read quite a while ago that some publishers wouldn't look at you unless you had a following of at least a couple thousand. Those followers represented some nearly guaranteed sales. I don't know if that is true any longer.

There is a lot of fun on Twitter and a lot of dark. Now I spend a fair amount of my X time removing scammy followers and blocking those who jump into my DM box. I do enjoy interacting with writers and authors.

New question.

How do you convince readers to write a book review?

Craig Crawford

3/4/2025 10:17:43 am

I should probably take that more seriously 😇

For the darker side of Twitter I immediately block trolls and people just looking to argue for no reason. If people want to engage in honest discussion I'm all in.

As to your question, that is the proverbial $100K question. I've made attempts with my newsletter, DM'd people here, and a variety of other actions but getting people to review is a hard thing.

I've had some success with talking to people here and mailing books to them in exchange for reviews, but it's still been small scale. For Zombunny, Graveside Press sent me 10 codes to hand out for free reads, and even that has been hit and miss.

For authors who have lots of reviews, my guess is they've gained a steady following because getting a decent amount of people to review your stories is an uphill battle. I don't have the answer yet.

3/4/2025 01:54:53 pm

Getting reviews is a hard nut to crack. A very low percentage of people leave a review even when the book is free. Here is a copy-and-paste link that might be useful to you or hit the search block below.

Create The Biggest Audience For Your Book https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2022/07/18/reach-readers-book-marketing

New question.

What are your thoughts on bad book reviews?

3/4/2025 03:25:29 pm

Thanks! I'm always interested in new approaches!

I think bad reviews keep you honest--they remind an author that with 8 billion people on the planet, an awful lot of people may not like your writng, story, style, etc. and we, as authors need to take those bad reviews with a proverbial grain of salt.

Looking at the big picture as an author is a key skill to grow.

3/4/2025 04:47:38 pm

You are so correct! The perfect, universally loved and acclaimed book has never been written and never will be. It has also been said that an author writes a book and every person who reads that book is reading a different book because each reader has their own filters they perceive the book through.

Many new authors perseverate over their first bad review, especially if it is a troll posting the review. Much of the time the troll hasn't even read the book and they just like stirring the water. I tell authors that a bad review validates all of the good reviews. Prospective readers are cogent enough to recognize a troll's handiwork and ignore that review.

That grain of salt can save you from a lot of grief.

New question.

What marketing strategy, if any, has had an immediate impact on your daily sales?

3/4/2025 06:56:37 pm

I totally agree. I come across other authors who get discouraged and try to remind them that it's okay if people don't like your stories. I get rejections from publishers and presses all the time. What it really means is that that person, albeit they're a gatekeeper of sorts, just didn't click with your work. Move on and keep going.

I don't know that I've had a marketing strategy I could point to yet and say it worked great so far. I'm trying different things. Initially, I did promote my books on a supernatural/paranormal podcast called IntoTheFrayRadio, running ads on the episodes, and I did gain several followers for my newsletter.

I also attended my first horror convention last fall and sold several books while connecting with a couple of other authors. I made enough money to cover my costs and then some, so we'll call that successful. And it was fun. I'm going to do more but I have been sidelined trying to do everything else.

In the next week, for my second set of Project Threshold books, I'm going to do a press release in the Iowa area. From there I'm going to use several small scale groups to advertise the books, then switch to another set of small scale groups and do the same. I'll do that over a span of months. Then I'm going back to my podcast and perhaps a couple of others. While that's going on, I'm going to run ads on Facebook and I'm going to try out YouTube ads.

Again, I want to advertise for several months for as much as I can afford, the idea being that if I can get the ads in front of people over and over, it may convince people to eventually check them out.

For Zombunny, I'm going to run small scale ads on Promotehorror.com and a couple of other places as well.

All of this will be testing to see what gets me somewhere and what doesn't, refine my plans and keep at it. We'll see :) :) :)

3/5/2025 08:07:17 am

Many authors report that in-person events are usually successful, however they are measuring that.

Test and retest is the name of the game. especially when it comes to ads on different platforms. The platforms want to make as much money as they can, so they are adjusting their plans and algorithms frequently.

New question.

Have you thought about doing a book trailer?

3/5/2025 08:49:13 am

Yep. I had one done but then last fall I ran into a site called InVideo and learned how to make them. I have two now. I am impressed with InVideo because the process is intuitive and easy. And inexpensive at $25 a month. I'm going to unleash those soon--be happy to share if I havent already.

3/5/2025 10:37:36 am

Congratulations on mastering that skill. An author has to wear many hats. Everything needed to promote books as a cost that is paid in money or time.

Years ago, I envisioned a channel on YouTube for Word Refiner. I ran into an issue I couldn't edit out. My stammer was far more prominent than I liked. I pulled the videos off of the platform.

New question.

How do you relax when you're not writing?

3/5/2025 02:06:53 pm

I have lots of diversions including family time. I read and watch movies in my favorite genres. I love walking and hiking to let my mind wander. I also research cryptids--not necessarily for writing material but because they fascinate me.

However, even household chores and projects actually give my creative side a break and help rejuvenate my inspiration.

3/5/2025 04:04:28 pm

There are a lot of activities that are relaxing, walking is high on my list. When I had a house, I enjoyed raking the leaves. Bicycling, gardening, baking, laundry and folding clothes are all activities that authors have mentioned to me in the past. The common denominator seems to be a very familiar activity that requires little or no conscious thought.

Since you mentioned cryptids, you should check Michael Kelso's book, The Misadventures of a Cryptid Hunter. I reviewed it previously and it's so funny! I laughed a great deal.

New question.

What is your favorite motivational phrase that keeps you going?

3/5/2025 05:38:33 pm

MY favorite quote of all time is: No matter where you're going, there you are ;)

I first heard this quote in a movie called Buckaroo Banzai, but later discovered it's from Confucius. I love it because it simplifies life down to the basics, and, reading between the lines, it reminds us not to take life so seriously but also not to get too caught up in the drama that is life.

I do have two quotes on writing and art that I have on my wall too:

1) "Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way"--Ray Bradbury. This is true for me. If I'm writing and a story is bogging down or I keep getting stuck, I know it's because I'm trying to impose my will on a story and not letting it be what it wants to become.

I've learned to go back, erase my nonsense and let the story take charge.

My second is: "Art is not finished when the artist says it is. Art must be viewed and interpreted by an audience. Sometimes it's correctly interpreted and sometimes it's not--that's for the audience to decide"--Brian Ashcraft.

I took a creative writing class in college and wrote a story about a drifter coming to town and flying kites with the local kids on a playground. Except the parents got wind of this stranger and one night a few of the dads beat the crap out of him and convinced him to move on.

The class read that story giving critiques, and they saw all kinds of things in that story from drugs to Jesus imagery.

I never consciously intended any of it. For me, it was a story about how people react to what they don't know and nothing more, but it was then I saw how an audience can not only perceive a story in a certain way, but how their own life experiences tie into those interpretations.

3/5/2025 07:22:56 pm

Those are great quotes. All of them resonate with me.

That drifter story is a great example of how every person that reads a book or story reads through their filters that are different from the author's filters.

New questions.

Which famous person, living or dead, would you like to meet?

Which famous author?

3/5/2025 08:35:22 pm

That class and story was my first window into perception of the audience. I have never forgotten it, obviously.

Famous person...people who know me will laugh because I'm not religious in a conventional way. I don't subscribe to any particular religion though I've read the Bible, and have both read and studied most religions and philosophies out there. Honestly, I would like to meet Jesus and just hang out, talk to the man, and get a sense of him. I think it would be quite the conversation.

As for favorite authors, Roger Zelazny. It was his Nine Princes In Amber that blew me away as a kid and forever connected me to fantasy and science fiction. Sadly he died before I could get to some conference or symposium to listen to him speak or even meet him.

Either way, he started me down this path though he never knew it.

3/6/2025 08:19:37 am

Jesus is a unique character in all of history. Choosing him is bold. I love it!

Zelazny and many other authors from the last century have inspired people to write. I think the urge to write is nearly universal. Many try to write but get discouraged quickly because they don't understand the writing process. Most who attempt to write never finish the first book.

Your fans are glad you persevered in your writing. I am one of your fans.

New question.

Do you start a writing project using a typewriter, pen & paper or PC?

3/6/2025 08:49:06 am

Thanks Mark! That means a lot, especially considering you're not into horror.

A lot of projects start with the keyboard or a notebook. Honestly, almost every writing project I have starts with sticky notes 😁 I'm rarely at a computer when I get that story idea moment so I'll write the start and details on notes--a piece of paper, the back of a napkin or receipt. Once I was walking through a mall as an idea started whirring. Luckily I had a pen in my pocket but no paper. I spied someone else's store receipt laying on the floor and snatched it up to start scribbling notes...

3/6/2025 12:46:26 pm

I can only take so much gore before I reach my fill. The same with extreme violence and torture. What I read stays with me for a long time if the material creates strong emotions or makes me laugh a lot. Hearty laughing releases endorphins that make a person feel better than before.

Pen and paper is quite adequate when you are away from home and the office. I suppose the alternative could be dictating the inspiration into your phone. My phone is a lousy speller much of the time, I find myself correcting it frequently and if I don't check the message recorded by my phone, I regret it more often than not.

New question.

Have you ever thought about speaking to a college or high school writing class? Maybe your company would allow you the time off for such a community service event.

3/6/2025 01:44:38 pm

Funny you should ask...my workplace has been very supportive of my writing gig. Twice now, including last fall, our staff committee set up a book-talk so I could speak for an hour to anyone who was interested. I had a great time giving them my background, explaining my processes (as best I could), showing them what I was up to currently, and doing a reading.

I felt very comfortable speaking in front of people. Id love doing similar for students who were interested in writing.

3/6/2025 04:08:28 pm

That is certainly nice. Your company cares more about their employees than many other companies. How refreshing.

I think you have discovered one of the biggest secrets about public speaking. Speak in public only about things you are passionate about and have a lot of knowledge. The combination of knowledge and passion generates excitement in the speaker and the audience, everyone has a good time.

New question.

Have you thought about contacting a book club and offering your book to them or offering to speak to them?

3/6/2025 07:05:24 pm

I agree with you. I did speeches in college for classes and dreaded them, but as you said--when I'm "into it" I can talk, no problem. Now, I did a lot of prep for those talks and rehearsed some, but it was a subject I felt confident in and wanted to share with people. In the end, I received a great reception from coworkers and got a lot of great feedback. I had a coworker come up afterwards who ended up meeting for lunch because she wanted to get back into writing. That kind of response does wonders for your self confidence and makes you feel like you're connecting to people.

Concerning your question, I have not done that. I wouldn't have a problem, I just need to figure out the "whats" and "hows" of it, but I'd definitely be open to doing it.

I keep exploring and researching different ways to get the word out there so I will have to look into this too.

Thanks Mark.

3/7/2025 08:59:55 am

Speaking within your area of expertise makes all of the difference in the world. You will still be nervous, but you can channel that nervous energy into passion about your topic.

To find book clubs, I would start with bookstores and libraries. Some of them have writing groups also.

New question.

What are your thoughts about mentoring beginning writers?

3/7/2025 12:30:09 pm

Thanks Mark. I will check into book clubs. Appreciate it.

Mentoring. It can be a tricky rope to walk. I think it's one thing if you are an actual "teacher" but another altogether if you're just an author. Ive been asked to give feedback on works by other authors several times now.

When I do I always preface it with: "just to be clear this is just my opinion of your writing and you should take my suggestions as just one opinion."

Ive noticed their reactions to my feedback really depends on the person. Some have been very appreciative but others have said they were going to keep it the way it was or been quiet and nonreceptive thereafter. And that is their perogative.

I will say I can be honest. If a section doesn't work or is off, then I will say so and even offer multiple other avenues to solve a passage. Some people take that well and others do not.

Mentoring is not for the faint of heart but I feel if I'm not honest and up front, I'm not helping.

3/7/2025 01:50:10 pm

Sadly, some people are more interested in a pat on the back than an honest opinion. I am reminded of the clips of people who didn't make the cut on a show like America's Got Talent. Most contestants will take the "not at this time" graciously. There are always an entertaining few that think they are the hottest thing since streaming. When they are closer to a kid playing with their dad's 8mm camera.

Amazon may not have done us a favor by letting everyone publish a book. Some books are so bad. But so many others are wonderful.

New question.

Have you ever felt like giving up or taking an extended break from writing?

3/7/2025 04:05:21 pm

Agreed. If you want me to read, nod and tell you "good job" and you tell me up front...sure. Well, maybe not because then you're spending my time...

When people ask me to read and give feedback I jump in because I really, truly want to help them become the best writer than can be. It's not about my ego even one percentage point.

As to your question, yes. Early on before I got a single piece of fiction published. I'd written probably four novels and gotten absolutely nowhere with any of them. I got who knows how many rejections and one day I said "to hell with this!" and walked away.

I was sure it was a complete waste of my time. I didn't write for several weeks but then a story idea started nagging me. It wouldnt leave me alone and it's when I realized I was a writer for real. I didnt know if Id ever get published but I realized I had stories to write so I jumped back in.

I had some bites along the way and some carrots tossed my way but it was at least another 14 years before I got my first fiction publication.

I do sincerely live by the creed that you dont give up on your passion. Ever.

3/7/2025 06:20:29 pm

It feels good to help a fellow traveler in need. That was one of the things I liked about being a tinner, mentoring apprentices.

You have been bitten! You have it bad. You weren't bitten by Zombunny, thank God. You are definitely infected with writers disease. Lucky for your fans, there isn't a cure I am aware of. We are glad you persevered.

New question.

What books do you think every author should read, and why?

3/7/2025 11:11:40 pm

Writing has been a lifelong friend. I don't know how I could part ways with Him.

I suppose it depends on the genres you write in. For my sake, let's talk science fiction, fantasy and horror.

For fantasy, you've got to read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It's a great basis for all other fantasy novels. I read Le Morte D'Arthur, Beowulf and a lot of Norse mythology. All helpful in my writing toolbox. I also read the Iliad and the Odyssey, both setting the stage for heroic characters. Personally, I love Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series. But there are so many other good authors in the fantasy genre.

For science fiction, anything by Ray Bradbury, Asimov, Heinlein and my personal fav, Roger Zelazny (though he danced in both science fiction and fantasy--actually a lot of them did). The Amber Chronicles and The Changeling top my lists. I'm also adding Christopher Hinz and his Liege Killer novel. Excellent, if very dark sci-fi. My last favorite older sci-fi is John Steakley's Armor. A deep dive into the psychology of war.

Which leads into horror. I don't know how you could write horror without reading Lovecraft and Poe. Then there's also Algernon Blackwood and Ambrose Bierce. Those are the classical voices, and again there are more greats, but I don't feel like going on for hours :) I will give a nod to Uncle Stevie too--he breathed new life into the horror genre (I'm not sure who coined that term for him but I heard it once and it stuck with me).

I think you need to surround yourself with the "classics" in whatever genre you're into and then also read what's current. There are so many good authors it's hard to stay up on the latest greats and still make time to write, but I try to read regularly.

Mostly, I am trying to read other Indie authors because I think they need the support. AND, because they're not backed by a big publisher, I feel like Indie authors can leave the constraints of "expectation" behind that sometimes comes along with going into business with the big publishers and you get some really creative stories. They're truly free to write whatever moves them.

3/8/2025 01:06:37 pm

Three fabulous lists. You won't be surprised that science fiction and fantasy are my top two favorites for reading. Time travel and dragons are my favorite sub-genres in each.

You know that horror is not in my top 5 favorite genres to read. But I have read several of Poe's stories and Lovecraft's stories. The first time I read Lovecraft I was in awe of his use of the English language. I read several more in quick order. It was too much for me. I overdosed on his writing. I still recall a scene in one story about an old mill that called a large creature from the depths of the Earth that ate the mill.

Excellent point! Indie writers are much freer to write from the heart than those under contract to a traditional publisher.

New questions.

Do you write poetry?

What does poetry mean to you?

Why is poetry important?

3/8/2025 03:13:18 pm

Poetry is one of those writing forms that I just cannot get the hang of. The creative writing class I mentioned earlier, ended up focusing primarily on poetry and I tried my damnedest but almost all of my "poems" ended up being some sort of story.

I often feel like musical lyrics are audio poems and it seems like the same principle. I think poems get rid of all the wasteful words and just hit you with a very succinct vision: combinations of words that evoke primal feelings and images.

I think they-poems, are valuable and have power--as much as a story. I just don't know how to create one without adding all the connector words and ending up with a narrative :)

I admire poets who can craft with words that way, but I can't get there. I've chatted with a couple of people here who were into poetry and tried a few of my own, but alas, the story is where I feel confident and comfy.

3/8/2025 04:57:12 pm

I understand that. Poetry is a mystery to me also.

I have promoted poetry for several poets and I never know what to expect when I start reading. I am always surprised by the thoughts and feelings that well up within me. I enjoy the poetry also. I admire those who can make so much happen with so few words.

I was required to write poetry in different forms in high school. I passed but do not recall receiving any accolades from the teacher.

New questions.

Is there a genre you have secretly wanted to try your hand at, but haven’t?

What genre is it?

3/8/2025 05:50:13 pm

Same. I do not believe I was built to write poetry...I'm content with stories ;)

As for genres, no--I pretty much write whatever comes to mind. I love fantasy and it's a perfect backdrop for exploring horror, adventure, thriller, and even sci-fi if you want. I have been entrenched in horror but I do have a yen to get back to fantasy! I've got...five fantasy novels including a trilogy which haven't gotten published yet and I think they're good enough to find a home. Once Project Threshold has run its course I'm going to make a push to get those in book form!

3/8/2025 08:12:12 pm

We will leave the field of poetry for the poets.

Here is a poem I understand.

Roses are red, the MC's eyes are blue, you said they were hazel on page 52.

This fan is happy that you have several fantasy books in the wings. It is my second favorite genre. Sci-fi is first.

New question.

As a writer, is there something you need improvement in?

3/9/2025 01:02:25 pm

Hahahahaha...I like that kind of "poetry." My level too...limericks and the like.

My fantasy tends to go a little dark, kind of like Project Threshold. I get into the psychology of my MC's and why they do the things they do. I'm diverting from your initial question for a bit, but I've always been fascinated with humanity and why we behave the way we do.

I was a psychology major for a semester until I saw the level of statistics that weighs into the field and walked away. It bored me and I didn't want to wade into it, but actual psychology itself mesmerizes me. I get into the "whys" of my characters and especially heroes.

I grew up on comic books which were very two dimensional for the most part until the latter half of the 20th century. I loved when Frank Miller added that third dimension to Bruce Wayne, filling in the holes in why he became Batman and was forever bound by it.

It caused me to dive deep into "heroes" and I realized they don't necessarily do things out of altruism. Most are driven, many times in unhealthy ways as they try to cope with their own traumas and hardships to make sense of life.

My fantasy stories go down those roads. Collin is possibly the land of Cy's greatest hero, but people only see a fearless powerhouse who never hesitates to jump in and help other people. They don't see the inside, where he secretly hopes he's going to die every time he wades in for what he did. Fortunately, his quick reflexes and survival instincts kick in on his behalf. And his friends like Balor and Ran keep him in the game.

Sorry--spiraling off topic but I really love that MC for all kinds of reasons. I want his story to see book form.

Back to the actual question--sure. I've got tons of things to improve on. I am a pantser at heart and I always will be. However, there are times I think I could work in more foreshadowing and set things up better if I did more plotting of my novels. I've been trying to layout a framework, but it tends to run counter to my "programming" and I've had to go back in some of my stories and rework plotlines because I didn't figure out a character or backstory until halfway through a book.

And there are little things like grammar, wording, and so on. When I start writing, it's a flurry--I'm typing as fast as I can to get the story down as fast as possible--trying to keep up with the characters as things unfold. It often means an awful lot of going back in and straightening out wording, changing adjectives because I use the same one four times in two paragraphs and so on :)

Mechanics are always something to improve on. I consider myself average and I put all of my stories through lots of edits and other eyes to clean them up.

Eh--those are the beds we make I guess. I'm content I can create stories with depth and get deep in my characters' heads to make their actions and words fluid.

As a writer, I don't think you ever quit improving your skills. Even if you hit Uncle Stevie status, you need to keep pushing yourself.

3/9/2025 02:35:18 pm

We are alike in many ways. Psychology is fascinating until you hit the numbers, just like you said. I might catch a lot of flack for what I'm about to say. I think psychology is even less of a science than medicine. And medicine is more about gambling and playing the odds than actual science. Psychology uses numbers as window dressing to give their art the appearance of science. So many go into psychology to find a cure for their deepest secrets and fears. Seriously, some of the shrinks are quite messed up. We shouldn't be surprised because they are only human like the rest of us. They mean well usually. $6.00 and their good intentions will get you a cup of coffee these days. Getting off my soapbox, now.

The inner workings of characters are fascinating. One author told me she gives her characters secrets and those secrets come out sometimes and sometimes they don't. If the secrets are revealed she always keeps one secret even from the readers much less the other characters.

Here is a copy-and-paste link for a guest blog elsewhere on my website or you can hit the search box below. https://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/character-creation Rick is also a client. In this blog he describes a website he created to help authors create psychologically congruent characters. He uses multiple scales and offers examples from literature and movies. You might find it useful.

New question.

Have you ever needed to pattern characters after people you have known or met?

3/9/2025 02:58:22 pm

I tend to agree. It seems people who take that career path want to genuinely help people, but I question the methods too. Psychology seems too prone to prescribing medications instead of facing problems and the mind is a delicate place to begin with. I respect the premise behind it, but like you, I'm dubious :)

And thanks for the link. I have it cued up.

I took an online writing course early in my writing career and one of the best resources I got was a Character-Development-Questionnaire which was like, 20 questions long. I took it and expanded it to 76 questions and started using it for every Main Character (both protagonist and antagonist) I write about. I don't use it as often these days, but I think I used it so much in the beginning it almost feels like I naturally do it in my head for any MC's coming onto my pages.

I saved it to my own website which is free for anyone to download as a Word file: https://craiglcrawfordbooks.com/extra-stuff/

I know it's a big question and "thing" a lot of writers get asked, concerning characters. For my own self, I do not. Or at least not consciously :) I may have a trait or two that I will pull out--but often it is a single aspect. Like--for Zombunny. For Frank, the dad, I wanted a dad who was supportive of his kids (even when he thought Penny was a little "strange" in her tastes), and I probably modeled that on my own dad. My dad was a creative with music, and even though my brother nor I was very passionate about music, other than listening to it, he supported my forays into writing and horror.

For Penny's mom, who was definitely into horror and I assumed passed that along to Penny, I used my own mom as a template: she loved horror and it definitely passed along to me.

However, their appearance had nothing to do with either of my parents. I usually start with a character's name and then conjure up their appearance from there, imagining what my idea of a "Frank" or a "Sara" will look like in the story. And it will change from book to book. For Penny's brother Devon, well the name came first and it just sounded perfect for a boy teen who might be sarcastic and an eye roller and his appearance and manner followed suit from there.

I don't have any characters I could point to and say, yes that's my buddy, Jeff, or my wife or even myself. For me, character creation is more complex than that, and I want to know their backstories because it helps me down the road when characters are faced with choices and I need to know how they'll act or react.

3/9/2025 04:43:21 pm

Thanks for sharing the link. I hope our silent visitors take advantage of it.

One author told me how using family members in his book turned sour. At first, they were thrilled to be in the book. Then he had a character he had patterned after an aunt do something that she didn't like. She must have felt attacked because no amount of apology would heal that breach for a long time. Now, I tell authors to ensure no one recognizes themself or another family member.

New questions.

Have you ever gone on an organized writer's retreat?

What benefitted you the most from that time?

If you haven't been on a retreat like that what would entice you the most?

3/9/2025 05:40:22 pm

Yes, I think that's probably a real pitfall for an author. I'd never thought of that but I could see it happening really easily.

I never have gone on a writer's retreat. The closest I've come is going to several writer's conferences in Chicago :) Those were fun and I did get chances to talk to agents and other authors, but they did not really net me anything in the larger scheme other than getting small windows into what it's like to be an agent. Plus learning how other authors do things.

I like the idea of immersing yourself in the writing game for a length of time.

It would be cool to connect with other writers in similar genres. I think you'd get to talk beyond the basics while sequestering yourself away for a few days to just completely immerse in writing and it could be a very positive move for your writing and creativity.

However, for now--time and probably cost would keep me from attending one. I dance between enough things as it is. As of this moment I don't know what it would take to get me to go to one. Maybe if life slows down...

3/9/2025 07:35:38 pm

I have been to a few comic cons, conventions, and a few book fairs. They were a lot of fun each time, talking about books and writing. I handed out a lot of business cards and even got some business from the events.

Those events are not the same as a writers' retreat. I have been on several men's retreats with different churches and those were intense and allowed a person to focus on spiritual things which were quite invigorating. It's easy for me to transfer the concept from one type to another.

New question.

Have you attended a seminar or lecture to improve certain skills a self-publishing or indie writer needs to know?

3/9/2025 08:33:27 pm

Yes, I would guess retreats would take it to a whole new level. Who knows, maybe if I hit a wall some day perhaps I'll seek one out. I've got plenty of stories to keep me going and I'm constantly trying to push my writing skills now but never say never ;)

To answer your question, actually I do. I have the advantage of working at a business college on campus (I am always amazed at how life sometimes pushes you in the right directions without you ever being aware of it until much later). Just last week I participated in an online seminar on "Negotiating" and I have taken a few others related to business. These are the kinds of skills I am trying to learn and dig further into as my publishing efforts keep growing. There are always offerings and I take advantage of anything that comes along which I think will help me out at some point.

Especially these days with Indie authors having to be writer, publisher, author, cover designer, marketer and whatever other "ER's" are necessary for our kind, we have to take advantage of everything we can get our hands on to help ourselves along.

I learned a lot about the finesse of the "deal" last week. The most interesting thing to me, which I guess I sort of understood but not consciously, is that in a negotiation, what you're ideally looking for is a solution that is a win-win for both parties.

They used the example of buying a car but I'll use books here. In the publishing industry, if a publisher or even a movie studio or TV channel wants to buy the rights to your work, you need to understand and keep the idea in mind that for the long game, both parties have to come out ahead. The publisher/studio is offering to buy your work but they need to be able to make a profit on your stories. In return you need to make a profit on selling them.

Now there can be a lot of wiggle room, but at the same time, if the pub/studio feels like what you're asking will not allow them manageable profit, they have no reason to buy your stories. And if they lowball you, you've got no reason to give them up.

However, if you can realize both sides need to make money, you're not only going to cinch a deal, but you're also proving to this other entity that you respect their needs along with your own, which makes room for more deals down the road.

It made a lot of sense to me. And, like so many other things in life--you're not looking for a one-and-done kind of arrangement, but looking at the long game. Creating, building and maintaining relationships over time is really what good business is all about.

3/10/2025 07:58:32 am

The win-win is very important and can apply to any situation in life including marriage. Leaving meat on the bone for all parties is a good plan. You are right in thinking long term.

New question.

Are you a plot-driven writer or a character-driven writer?

3/10/2025 08:50:14 am

While it's usually the story plot which starts my writing, it's the characters and how they deal with tbe plot that's important. 😁

So I focus on the characters in the overriding plot.

3/10/2025 01:52:55 pm

The plot is how you frustrate your characters! You do a mighty fine job of that I will add.

Last question.

Do you use character sheets, timelines, maps or anything else to keep the reading smooth and avoid logical errors in your writing?

3/10/2025 06:17:31 pm

I have used character sheets--I played a lot of RPG's growing up, so making those for main characters was an easy go-to. I don't really anymore but yes, I have used them.

And I'm betraying my pantser code, but there are times where I use maps and even spreadsheets. For my fantasy trilogy--The Heroes of Cy, I created my own world and I drew out the map so that I could reference different places and keep track of where my heroes had been and were going.

For my YA sci-fi trilogy, I created a spreadsheet of the characters and antagonists because I had a lot of moving parts. I also drew timelines for my protagonists and antagonists because there's a lot of backstory and while I ended up not using a lot of it in book time, I needed it for reference points.

So, while I claim to boldly be a pantser, I'm probably growing toward more of a hybrid for novels. Things get complicated fast in novels!

3/10/2025 06:45:37 pm

Things can be complicated in a novel, no question. A series? The complexity can increase exponentially in a series. Character sheets, timelines and spreadsheets all seem like valuable tools to me. To quote a famous philosopher, " It's not exactly a code, it's more like suggestions or ideas." I hope I got that right. Do you know who said that?

Thank you, Craig. We have had a wonderful week chatting about writing and all that goes along with it. I am very grateful to help promote your book. Zombunny may be the cutest horror story ever written.

Until next time, keep on writing.

3/10/2025 07:58:14 pm

I do not know who said that, but it makes sense to me.

Thanks for the time, Mark! I always enjoy talking writing and everything else that goes along with it.

You are a gracious host!

Zombunny by Craig Crawford

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