Happy Rune’s Day!
Valentine’s Day is here! Whether you're spending it with loved ones, indulging in some well-deserved self-care, or curling up with a good book (the superior choice, obviously), I hope you find a little magic in the day. Got any fun plans? 💖
Now, settle in! I have a brand-new shop item to share, more writing tips for my fellow storytellers, Guardians timeline, and a surprise—Rune’s bonus chapter! 👀
Writing Corner ✍️
Last month, we talked about the magic of beginnings; how stories start, world-building, and crafting the Story Bones. This month, I want to dive into something just as essential: drafting!
I’ll share some of my favorite methods for organizing story details and how I go about outlining my books.
Story Bibles: Sacred Knowledge
If you're writing a series (or even a standalone with deep lore), a Story Bible is a game-changer. This is where I keep track of everything—character traits, world rules, magic systems, timelines—you name it. (Fun fact: I have a World Guide for the Land of Urn on my website! 👀)
Your Outline (or what I like to call the Story Spine) is the framework of your book. I usually brainstorm multiple possibilities before organizing them into three acts (sometimes four!). Outlines can be as detailed or as loose as you like—from full chapter breakdowns to simple bullet points mapping out the flow of your story.
📝 Story Spine: The Foundation of Your Novel
Story Premise:
What is the central conflict driving your story?
Character Arc:
Who are your main protagonist and antagonist? Even the side characters. What are their motivations, internal conflicts, and goals? How do they evolve by the end?
Setting:
Where does your story take place, and how does it impact the characters and plot?
📝 Outline: Breaking Your Story into Acts
ACT 1: Once Upon a Time
📌 Inciting Incident: The event that kicks off the main conflict.
This is where we introduce:
The main character and setting
Their problem and things that have to change
The antagonist or obstacle
The event that forces the protagonist to act
A series of events follows, leading to…
ACT 2: The Climax
📌 Turning Point: The conflict reaches its peak.
The stakes rise
The protagonist is fully committed to completing their goal
They fight or attempt to fix the problem (which either fails or gives a false sense of success)
They realize there is another goal they actually have to do
This all builds toward…
ACT 3: The Resolution
📌 The Full Circle Moment: The conflict is resolved.
The characters face the consequences of their choices
They grow, change, or fall (for better or worse)
The story ends with a resolution, whether it’s a happily ever after or a twist that sets up the next book (like a mean cliffhanger 😈)
But Beck… what if I hate Outlining?
Oh, my sweet darling, that means you’re a Pantser, like me. 😌
Plotter’s thrive on staying organized, especially with Outlines. While they are a great tool, I love writing by the seat of my pants. There’s something thrilling about letting my brain take the wheel, typing at full speed without knowing exactly what happens next.
“But you just told me to outline…”
Yes, yes, I did. Because while pantsing is fun, it also creates a LOT of work later when it comes time to structuring your story and keeping track of everything. Trust me. (Pantsing is all fun and games until you hit book four and realize you forgot what happened to a character’s horse. 😂 Poor Onyx kept jumping all over the place.)
So even if you prefer to wing it, having some structure in place will save your future self a world of pain.
Drafting: The Golden Rule
Once your outline is ready (or your rebellious, pantsing heart has at least a rough idea), it’s time to draft.
For some, drafting is a quick process. For others, it takes months or longer. Both are okay. Go at your own pace—but try to write consistently, even if it’s just a few sentences a day (even if you delete them later!).
One crucial tip: Do NOT stop to edit.
I know, it’s so tempting. You want to reread that last chapter and fix things, tweak sentences, perfect dialogue… but this can trap you in an endless cycle of polishing a book that isn’t even finished yet.
If you’re unsure about a detail (a name, a location, or even a research fact), leave yourself a note, highlight it, and move on. The goal is to get the draft written from start to finish without losing momentum while using your Outline as your map.
Seriously. Do. Not. Edit.
Once your draft is done—celebrate! 🎉 Take a break, step away from the manuscript for a few days (or weeks), and then return with fresh eyes. It will be messy. It will barely make sense. The writing will probably be terrible. That’s okay! Why?
Because now… the grueling work of editing begins. 🤩
That’s it for this month’s writing series! I hope this was helpful. Shall I share more on my personal drafting method and editing tips next? Let me know! 💖
Guardians of the Maiden Series 📚
I wanted to take a moment to clear up any confusion about the Guardians of the Maiden series and share more about the journey ahead. You know I always strive to be transparent with you, so I thought outlining my publishing plans might help set expectations!
From the very beginning, I knew this would be a seven-book series. (Fun fact: The original story was handwritten into ten thick spiral notebooks! 😱 That’s a lot of content—and an entire world still left to explore!)
Dyna’s journey is an epic quest spanning a full year (*as mentioned in Divine Blood) until she must return to North Star in time to confront the Shadow. As Dyna and her Guardians travel across the continent of Urn, each book highlights a different Guardian’s arc while still driving the main plot toward the final confrontation on Mount Ida.
📌 Book 1: Divine Blood → The Beginning
📌 Book 2: Bonded Fate → Dyna & the Bond
📌 Book 3: Shattered Souls → Cassiel & the Realms
📌 Book 4: Rising Dawn → Rawn & the Key
📌 Book 5: Wicked Storm → Lucenna & the Lunar Medallion
📌 Book 6: Title TBA → Zev & the Other
📌 Book 7: Title TBA → Von & Mount Ida
The journey is far from over, but the endgame is in sight!
Questions I’m Often Asked 💬
✨ When does the next book release?
I don’t have an official date yet, and honestly, I’m avoiding giving one from now on until we’re closer to release and I have a completed draft. I never want a repeat of the Rising Dawn fiasco again 😭. For now, I can say Wicked Storm is estimated for 2026.
✨ Will the rest of the books be long?
I would love to write shorter books for the sake of my sanity (🙃), but realistically? Yes, they’ll probably continue to be long. This is a high fantasy quest series with many characters, interwoven plots, and major stakes. While I don’t anticipate writing another tome like Shattered Souls, the journey ahead will span many pages.
Shop News: A Stunning King’s Bride Collector’s Pins! ✨
Alright, Guardians, I have something gorgeous to share! My newest shop item is officially on its way, and I couldn’t be more excited! Inspired by the legendary love of Jokull and Sunneva, these two exclusive enamel pins are nestled within a rose dome to represent their Beauty and the Beast fairytale.
☀️🌹 Day & Night King’s Bride Pins! 🌙💙
✨ 4” Enamel Pin
✨ Glittery pearl accents
✨ 3D layered pin-on-pin design
✨ Stained glass effect
✨ Back stamped with the quote: "Not all stories have good endings, but you were mine."
🛍 Preorders open April 18th on my website! Sign up to be notified.
📍 Preorder Pricing:
✨ 1 Pin (Day or Night): $69
✨ 2-Pin Set: $119
Which pin is your favorite?
A Sneak Peek: Chronicles of Urn Mini Boxes! 🎁
We’re still finalizing what will be included in the mini boxes, but I promised you a sneak peek—so here’s what we’re considering! Each box will be filled with collector’s items inspired by the worlds of King’s Kiss and King’s Bride.
👑💋 King’s Kiss Mini Box
🖤 Alternate King’s Kiss dust jacket with foil
🖤 Enamel replica of Rune’s shadow sword
🖤 Overlays with new art
🖤 Stained glass window bookmark
🖤 New shop item (wearable!)
🖤 Standies of Rune & Alora
👑❄️ King’s Bride Mini Box
🥀 Alternate King’s Bride dust jacket with foil
🥀 Enamel replica of Jokull’s scythe
🥀 Velvet print with new art
🥀 Stained glass window bookmark
🥀 New shop item
🥀 Standies of Jokull & Suneva
I may swap out an item or two before finalizing, but what do you think so far? 🤔 Anything you'd love to see included? Let me know before I lock in the final list!
🛍 Preorders open April 18th on my website!
A Special Surprise: Rune’s Bonus Chapter!
I couldn’t let you go without a little something extra! In honor of Valentine’s Day (A.K.A. Rune’s Day 😌), I’m sharing Shadow Daddy’s bonus chapter, which was originally featured in Cover-to-Cover’s King’s Bride special edition last year—because who doesn’t want more of our dark, brooding God of Shadows?
📖 Read It Here: Rune - The Reign of Shadows
Well, that’s it for February’s newsletter. Stay tuned for new art reveals coming next month!
As always, thank you for being here. Whether you’re reading, writing, or just along for the journey, I appreciate you more than words can say. Wishing you a magical month ahead!
Until next time, keep dreaming & scheming! ✨
xoxo ❤
Beck Michaels
P.S. Don’t forget—you can also preorder a signed copy of King’s Kiss now on my website! Includes extra goodies like an art print, bookmark, and sticker. 💖
King’s Kiss and King’s Bride Exclusive Edition by Bookish Signs
