Let's start with characters
4 days ago
– Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 11:11:12 AM
Hi everyone,
The new Tarot for Fiction Writers 101 Self-Paced class Kickstarter campaign launches Tuesday, October 13. This week I want to give you a peek at what's inside the class and how the lessons are formatted, so you can see if it's something that might benefit you.
First up is the module on characters. I'm starting with this one since characters are the heart of every book.
The course has nine modules on various aspects of working with tarot for creative projects. Module 5 is all about characters. Its lessons and exercises explore using tarot to develop a character's foundations, add nuance and refinement, explore your characters' shadows and personas, and use the Fool's Journey and archetypes to build character arcs that resonate with your readers.
If a beta reader has ever called a character flat or unrelatable, you know how frustrating that can be. The feedback says something's off, but you aren't always sure how to close the gap between what's on the page and what exists in your head.
This sample lesson from the course helps you with that process. Memorable characters combine universals, the feelings that make a character human, and specifics, the unexpected details that make them yours. Tarot works for both: the cards are full of universal experience, and a random draw pushes you past your first idea.
In the lesson, Fatima is an ultra-competent space marine, impressive on paper and hard to feel anything about. One draw of the Three of Cups opens up ideas like being the outsider on a friendly crew, or the only one the space cats don't love. None of it makes her less competent. All of it makes her easier to care about.
Preview lesson: Nuance & Refinement to Create Unforgettable Characters →
Other lessons in the character module have exercises building a police procedural villain and a cozy mystery heroine from scratch. It always delights me how the cards come together with character seeds and help round things out to create a protagonist or side character who feels real.
Thank you again for backing the books in 2024.
Stay tuned for details and a link to the Secret Tier with extra goodies just for previous backers. These are hidden from the campaign page, so look for a link on launch day.
If you check it out, I'd love to hear what you think.
Follow the campaign here to get notified at launch.
Take care,
Jessica
Here are some other Kickstarter campaigns to check out:
Bring Your Light: Two Cozy Fantasy Advent Calendars by Dawnsbrook Press
Two Collections of 25 Stories Each, Counting Down to Christmas. Cozy Fantasy, Romantic Stories, Magic Blizzards, and Maybe a Few Heroes
A Bard's Guide to Portal Hopping by Dianne Gardner
A Celtic Story of Love, Magic, and Wrong Turns. Six whimsical tales of a Celtic Fae chasing his muse through classic storybook lands.
Underground Encounters Paranormal Romance Special Editions by Lisa Carlisle
Underground Encounters 10th Anniversary Collector’s Editions. The complete eleven-book, steamy paranormal romance series in three stunning volumes. Gold-foiled hardcovers and custom edges are designed by D’arte Oriel.
