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Why Writers Don’t Need to Be Afraid of AI

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“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

from the Serenity Prayer

 

But whether you belong to a religion or believe in god (I’m agnostic), these are wise words. You can opt to recite it to the universe.

Why bring this up when talking about AI? Because AI’s existence and increasing usage belong firmly in the category of things you can’t change. You don’t have to like it, but you need to accept it.

Even if you are a creative professional. Even if AI might be threatening your job. Because wishing it away and spending your days pissed off won’t make it go away.

I didn’t see many editors and proofreaders protesting AI years ago because it made their jobs easier. As a writer who edits herself, I have been grateful for the free version of Grammarly (which is AI-powered) and similar products.

Why Writers Need AI-Based Editing Software

Should writers hire an editor for book manuscripts? Yes, if they can. Can freelance writers hire an editor before they submit their pitches or their articles to an editor? They can, but it’d be very expensive. Unless the editor is giving them an insane deal, they won’t have any money left from the money they made from their writing.

As a writer and ESL teacher, I’m confident in my proofreading and editing skills. I’m obsessed with the English language. Not all writers have to be. But it is certainly an advantage. Let’s face it; you need your work as close to flawless as possible.

No matter how good or careful we are, it’s human to miss things. We tend to see things as we think and not as they look on the page. Looking at the computer screen and your words for a long time, even with breaks, distorts your view.

A second pair of “eyes” is great to help lessen your load. Word’s spellchecker is good but insufficient. Grammarly (or your choice of software/app) definitely helps you create a cleaner version.

But guess what? It’s not human. (You have the option to hire humans through Grammarly, though.) So it doesn’t always catch your style, meaning, or context. You still have to go over its edited version yourself.

Your editor will be happy you provided them with clean copy, and they will only have to work on your piece’s message and whether your style fully matches the publication’s demands. Editors and proofreaders will always be in demand. (And no boss or manager will complain that you write clean copy either.)

Can writers edit their full-length manuscripts through AI-based software? Yes, they can.

Does It Mean (Book) Editors Will Be Out of a Job? 

The short answer? No. There are multiple types and levels of editing, and a writer can rarely be good at them all. But, and I can’t stress this enough, not all writers can afford editors. Sometimes, they want or need to get their work out there as soon as possible. Therefore, they make full use of AI

This doesn’t mean we don’t need or love our beta readers. We also fully appreciate our writer/editor friends who provide feedback. Don’t worry, the feedback-getting writer also provides feedback. No one gets taken advantage of. Everyone supports and gets supported in this system.

As the writer increases their income, they will opt to work with an editor. Trust me on this. Book editors will never be out of work.

Should Writers Be Afraid of Big, Bad AI? 

It was reported by the IMF that “almost 40 percent of global employment is exposed to AI.” But “exposed to” isn’t the same as to  “replaced by”. Being able to utilize AI will make you a more attractive candidate.

Whatever your industry, AI makes research easier. It cuts down the admin work. I use free AI as an assistant. But I’d hire a VA in a heartbeat if I could afford one. So VAs aren’t losing work. I would still not be working with a VA at this point, even if there were no AI.

What about Malicious AI Use?

Can AI be used maliciously? It can and it is. But so is Photoshop. So are links. Phone scammers are still at it. Social media imposters are doing their best to scam people. You can use pretty much any tech to commit a crime. You can also use tech to prevent crime.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to love AI, but getting familiar with it will make your life easier.

In addition to being an author, I teach ESL. I still have students. In addition to education and teaching experience, I have empathy, personal language learning experience, relevant anecdotes, and a sense of humor. I customize each lesson for the individual. AI hasn’t replaced me yet.

Stay calm and accept AI’s existence. You don’t have to use it, but imagine what you think about a person who doesn’t have a smartphone. In a couple of years, people who don’t use AI at all might face a similar reaction.

And if you are worried about being replaced, it doesn’t hurt to know what you can do to make yourself irreplaceable in your profession. Incidentally,that path includes learning how to make use of AI ethically.

P.S. I wrote and edited this post. Then I let Grammarly suggest things. Finally, I edited Grammarly’s version.

 

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How do you feel about AI? Let me know in the comments.

 

 

 

 

 

Newsletters for Writers: Why You Need One & How to Run It Successfully

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Note: This post contains affiliate links. Buying through them doesn’t cost you extra, but it does drip into my coffee fund. I only recommend stuff I use and like.

Not everyone needs a newsletter. But if you are a writer building an audience, you need one.

Social media doesn’t cut it. You never know what governments or algorithms will do.  You need a place you control to reach your potential and current customers.

While you might be lucky enough to live in a country where you don’t wake up to your favorite apps being banned, social media is still not the basket to keep all your eggs in. When I first started using Facebook, my friends saw all my posts. Now I celebrate if twenty people see it. Sure, you can make your social media posts as shareable as possible. But you’re still at the mercy of ever-changing algorithms. Not to mention, social media sites want you to pay to be seen. Hence, the amount of advertising options.

Don’t get me wrong. I like social media. In addition to IG, I’m on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok. But I have my own self-hosted WordPress blog (which you’re on right now) and a newsletter hosted via Kit (aff. link).

I’m a romcom novelist, a freelance writer, and blogger. If I need to switch newsletter or hosting services one day, I will still have my posts and contacts.

There is only one question to help you decide if you need a newsletter:

  • Are you selling a product or a service? This, of course, includes your books.

If the answer is yes, you need a newsletter. If you’re a blogger or an author, the answer is yes.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. There are many alternatives. However, you can get started for free or on the cheap and then upgrade/switch if you need to. You can keep it as basic or complicated as you want.

And what if you don’t want to?

Obviously, it’s your call. But do you really trust all your business to come from websites and apps where you are the product?

No? Great. Go start that newsletter. Even if everyone you know and their 3rd cousin has one.

How to Choose Which Newsletter Service

  • Price
  • Functions
  • Ease of Use
  • Monetization options

There are many options, and you need to take your budget, audience size, and functionality into consideration first.

People swear by Mailchimp and MailerLite. I tried both, and for the life of me I couldn’t figure out how to do certain things. I switched to Kit (formerly Convertkit). Kit (aff.link) offers a free plan if you have fewer than 10,000 subscribers.

I like Substack, but I’m a little offended they still don’t offer newsletter monetization options to Turkey. (Substack gets you paid via Stripe, which isn’t supported in Turkey.)

As in, you can charge for your newsletter if you want. On Substack, you can offer free and paid tiers. The problem? The pricier the tier, the more comprehensive the content. Check your workload, and whether you can use Stripe when you consider this route.

How to Create and Plan Content: Scheduling, Frequency, and The Writing Itself

I’m not going to tell you to be consistent. As someone with ADHD and several health problems, I find that advice annoying. It might not be hard for some people, but I find it almost impossible to stick to a strict, consistent schedule when it comes to posting on my website and sending this newsletter. Does this hurt my business? Probably.

But hear me out: I am on hundreds of newsletters from different niches: travel writing, general freelance writing, novel writing, self-publishing, Norwegian learning, personal development…. I have no clue which person sends a newsletter on which day. I barely recognize if it is a weekly newsletter, a biweekly, or a monthly one.

And it’s not because these people don’t have great content. They do. That’s why I’m semi-willingly drowning in emails.

But I think it’s a bit naïve to think people subscribe to only like 5 newsletters, yours will be one of them, and they will absolutely notice when you don’t send out an issue every month on Wednesday at noon. I mean, come on.

It’s certainly helpful if you can stick to a looser schedule like weekly or monthly. But it doesn’t matter that much if your fans get the newsletter on a *Tuesday or a *Saturday.

*The one caveat here is this: If you are good at analyzing data, then check your open rates. If people tend to open more on a Tuesday, for instance, or at a certain time of day, do send your newsletter at that specific time. Don’t fight the data.

But for those of us who are more overwhelmed, it’s better to have sent your next issue than not have sent it.

Analytics: What to Pay Attention to (Even If Your Brain Doesn’t Work That Way)

In the last two years of high school (in my country), students choose to be divided into these classes: verbal (language and social sciences), language/math, math/science, and foreign language.

While my brain is more verbal and foreign language, I am fonder of basic math and geometry than geography and history. I wanted to study Business Admin, and statistically speaking, I had a better chance of getting into a good college if I chose science/math.

Some of the classes pushed me. Some of them were stimulating and fun. I didn’t fully belong in the math/science class, but I never quite belonged to any of the other classes either.

Which is my long-winded way of saying it’s okay if your brain gives an error message every time you hear advice that includes concepts like split testing.

For the curious, split testing is when you try two different things (like headlines) with your audience. One half gets one, and you see which option works better.

And the overwhelmed writer who doesn’t have a VA (aka me) will think: Right, because I have so much time left after all the writing, editing, pitching, trying to get reviews, marketing my book…

I know.

Like I said, if you can test things, it’s beneficial and you should definitely do some.

If it hurts your brain to even think about more work, you should still absolutely look at these:

  • Who opens your emails and how often?
  • What’s your open rate? (What percentage of your audience opens your emails)
  • What’s your click rate? (What percentage of your audience clicks on your links)

This will give you an idea of what kind of content your audience prefers and how you should mention your books.

But some people will not open no matter what. So, decide on a time limit. Like 6 months. If your emails haven’t been opened in six months, it’s time to get that subscriber off your list.

A Newsletter Resources Rec for Writers

Start with Newsletter Ninja: How to Become an Author Mailing List Expert (aff link). She starts with basics and takes it to complicated, but it covers everything you need to know.

But don’t stop there. You can learn from any and all newsletters you get. Which subject lines drive you in? What makes you cringe? What lengths do you prefer? What is the frequency soft spot?

And when you have subscribers, ask them.

Also check out:

How to Write Newsletter Subject Lines

Newsletter Writing 101: The Dos and Don’ts

 

Why Should People Subscribe to You?

I’m not challenging you. I’m helping you brainstorm and feel motivated. Especially if you’re prone to overwhelm and impostor syndrome.

You write. You have things to say. Share with the world. Be you. And don’t forget to talk about your work and your why.

How to Market Your Newsletter

Argh, marketing!  The archenemy of many writers. You already hate marketing, and now you have another thing to market?

Unfortunately, yes. You have to talk about your newsletter so that people will know there is a newsletter. Mention it at the back of your books. Your goal is to keep in touch with your readers anyway.

If you’re guest posting, leave a link to your newsletter. Post it on social media. Connect with other authors and promote each other’s newsletters. Google how to market newsletters. Ask ChatGPT.

If you like my writing, you might enjoy hearing from me via email. I talk about blog updates, (writing) life, my books (aff.link), writing tips, and give fun TV/movie/book recs. You can subscribe here. See what I did?

Bottom line:

Running a newsletter is fun. It’s more work, but it’s enjoyable, rewarding work. If you try and hate it, either don’t do it, or outsource if you can afford it.

This is not like drinking enough water every day. Your health won’t be affected if you don’t do this. But you might be missing out on a lot of lovely things like new fans, happy readers, new friends, social interaction, more reviews, and more sales.

Let me know in the comments if you have a newsletter and what you talk about.

This is 40: 40 Life Lessons Learned in 40 Years

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I turned 40 in December. It took several months to finish this post because I can’t believe I turned 40. Like, what do you mean I’m not 25?And I hate winter. My productivity took a hit thanks to health issues and horrible weather.

But here we are. Some of the things I list might make you say “Duh!” Some might feel like a nice hug. Others, well…might be useful to varying degrees.

I haven’t learned all of these recently. But even the ones I sort of always knew proved themselves over and over. That’s why even the ones that might make you say “Thank you, Captain Obvious!” are still in here. And remember, what is obvious to you isn’t necessarily obvious to everyone.

While this is not a post just for writers, it does feature some writer-focused examples. But whatever the point, I hope you find it relatable, relevant, and helpful. (I’m working on a post that will be about and for writers, though.)

Here we go:

  1. Whatever your situation is, it’s not just you. This goes for good and bad.

Yes, the world is on fire. But there’s still plenty of good to go around. You just need to know where to look, and when to look away.

  1. Meeting new people and making new, good friends at any age is possible. You just might need to change tactics depending on your health, energy, chosen career path, and personality.

I’m extroverted. I like meeting new (decent) people. I like keeping in touch with my friends.

My oldest friends and I go back to middle school. I made some lovely friends during college. A meet-up group about entrepreneurship led to a close friendship. I reconnected with an old friend at a dance class.

I made four close writer friends on an international Facebook group for writers. Two of them turned out to live in my city (Istanbul!), and I met up with one while visiting New York.

The list goes on.

You’re not limited by the people you meet in school and at work, and your age doesn’t matter.

  1. Customization is key when wanting to change your habits.

There is no one-size-fits-all. Read many bestselling books by experts and failed to implement? You might need to read Gretchen Rubin’s The Four Tendencies (aff.link) and Better Than Before. Both are great books on habits and reshaping your life according to your personality.

  1. Whatever you like to read and watch, there are many more people who love the same thing or similar things. Even if it’s obscure or has a low rating. Or maybe it was massively popular before you grew up, and now every time (which is not often) you meet someone with the same taste, it feels like an awesome novelty.
  2. It’s okay to hate critically acclaimed things and love things that critically or commercially bombed. In the same vein, the rating of a movie/series/book doesn’t matter. How much you enjoyed it matters.

Forgive me cinema lovers for I have sinned. I haven’t seen The Godfather or Star Wars.

  1. Life is too short to hate-watch, hate-read, or doomscroll. Pivot to something you actually like. I’m not saying I don’t spend too much time staring at the screen. I’m working on it. But what I don’t do is engage with trolls or read posts where people are having existential dread.

A couple of those posts are fine – it shows you you’re not alone. But too many, and you’ll feel stuck and depressed. Don’t do it.

  1. Stay away from the news as much as you can. I repeat, take in the minimum amount that is necessary for your life and move on. Otherwise, you’ll be depressed, crazy, furious, or all three.
  2. What’s easy for you is not necessarily easy for others, and vice versa. And this is okay!
  3. If you can’t stop comparing yourself to other people, just compare to the right people in the right way.

This is especially sound advice if you’re looking for a role model or someone to inspire you. If you’ve always wanted to be an actress but fear you’ve aged out, you’ll not be motivated by Gwyneth Paltrow’s life. She was born into Hollywood.

Or if you are over 30 and live in Europe, read about Mads Mikkelsen’s life. Dude’s a critically acclaimed international star, speaks multiple languages and he was about 31 when he took up acting.

If you are a self-published author on a tight budget and it’s just you, you can’t compare yourself with indie mammoths who have money to burn and several assistants.

  1. Separating the art from the artist is a much better use of anyone’s time. But it is okay if you forever ditch an artist for what they did in their personal life. Just don’t expect everyone to do the same.

And let’s face it it’s much easier to pretend an artist doesn’t exist if their work never impacted you positively. Remember no one ever bought a book/album/movie ticket/painting/etc. because the artist was nice. We became fans because the work was our cup of tea.

I love rock music and refuse to think about any awful and/or illegal behavior rock many stars have engaged in. What am I going to do? Not listen to music?

Come on.

  1. Knowing how to find alternative solutions will increase your quality of life. This goes hand in hand with my customization tip (#3).
  2. If you need help with anything, there are experts who offer amazing free or reasonably-priced advice.
  3. You aren’t too old or too young to do most things.
  4. Time speeds up once you have the freedom to do the things you like.

I still can’t believe I’m 40. I know that in many ways it’s still very young. But I also remember being 25 very vividly. Where the hell did time go?

  1. It’s better to be single and happy than to be in a relationship and miserable.
  2. You don’t have to take sh*t from anyone in most cases. When you do have to stick around, find ways to accelerate your escape from the situation/people.
  3. Define your own success.
  4. You don’t have to accept any cultural norms. You can question, challenge, and take whatever is in line with your own values.

Obviously, it’s not okay to be a jerk. But just because your family or society believes in certain things, it doesn’t mean you have to live your life like that.

Appreciate how Scandinavians are big on personal space? Embrace it. Your friends love the hustle culture but you hate it? Slow down.

Your family wants grandchildren and you prefer cats? Go ahead.

At the same time, even if you come from a small family, but you want a huge family of your own and you have the resources? What are you waiting for?

You do you. It’s your life.

  1. You don’t hate all forms of exercise. There is something out there that you enjoy and that doesn’t feel like exercise.
  2. We all have harmful habits. The trick is to quit the ones that do the most harm or at least minimize them so that we can be healthy and happy longer.
  3. It’s okay to age however the hell you want. Naturally? Great. With outside help? Also, great.
  4. Chances are you don’t completely hate one storyline/trope/genre/niche completely when it comes to movies and books. You just haven’t found the one that works for you.

I don’t generally like mobsters or gangsters. One of my favorite shows? Peaky Blinders.

I didn’t know I liked sci-fi until Back to the Future.

  1. If you hate therapy, it’s because you haven’t found the right doctor.
  2. Your past doesn’t have to define who you are. But remember your accomplishments. They are the key to defeating impostor syndrome.
  3. Find at least two comedians you like. If someone’s jokes have you on the floor laughing, come back for more. I have a dark sense of humor, so I enjoy Ricky Gervais, Jim Jeffries, and Daniel Sloss.
  4. Your location might be holding you back.

Maybe the platform you want to write on doesn’t pay creators from your country yet. (It’s happened to me a lot.) Maybe you just don’t vibe with certain aspects of the culture, or the weather is not good for your health.

It’s hard and expensive to move. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the resources my character Janie does.

And maybe if a couple of setbacks were fixed, you’d be happy where you are. Keep an open (and creative mind) when it comes to finding solutions.

  1. If you decide to move, remember no country is perfect.

Some countries are better for your mental health and wallet than others. That said, you need to perform a decent SWOT (strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats) analysis if you’re looking to overhaul your life.

Move to Paris because you’ve been there and you love most things about it. And not because it looks fabulous on Emily in Paris.

If you’re looking to move to Istanbul, comment and ask me things. I’m a veteran.

  1. Most things aren’t inherently evil. It just depends on who is using it and why. This includes social media and AI.
  2. Sometimes there’s no one to vote for. But there’s usually someone to vote against.
  3. Most skills need repetition to master and maintain. If you give breaks, don’t be discouraged by the regression or stagnancy.
  4. It’s hard to freaking adult every day. It’s definitely just not you.
  5. Time management is a great skill, but don’t listen to (or look up to) anyone who says we all have the same 24 hours. There are 24 hours in a day, but:
  • commute
  • family responsibilities
  • health problems
  • work hours
  • traffic
  • personal finances and resources
  • dating needs and wants
  • and other life surprises

are different for everyone. Someone who is well-off and has no significant health issues should not give motivational speeches on time management unless they overcame extreme odds.

Most of the time, we all do the best we can.

  1. Our bodies are different. We all don’t need the same amount of sleep.

Some of us need more; some of us need less. Find out what your body and body function well on.

  1. You don’t need a gym to work out. But it’s great if you have a gym membership that you use.
  2. It’s okay to discover new music. It’s also more than okay if you still vibe with the same music you did when you were 14.
  3. Honesty isn’t always the best policy.

Do you really have to tell your boss her outfit sucks? Or that your friend looks tired? Come on. Think about the greater good – for you and them.

There is a reason the saying “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” exists.

  1. Go on that trip – if and when you can.

Notice how I didn’t just say go on that trip. Because, unlike some travel creators who mean well but generally just give advice to people who live in the States and have no health issues, I have a weaker passport, health considerations, and not a big budget. Moreover, most travel hacking tips don’t work for people outside the US.

Also, I’m not a backpacker or luxury traveler. I have nothing against luxury, I just can’t afford it most of the time. But I’m firmly mid-budget – as in I take advantage of hostels with private rooms and bathrooms as well as all-inclusive five-star resorts that can be caught at great prices if you book early enough.

Traveling is fun. But for some of us, there are more things to consider. So if you can, don’t delay the trip. It does wonders for your soul.

  1. Reading is awesome. It doesn’t matter how, what, where, and when you read.
  2. Depending on your work and mental state, sometimes multitasking can really help you out.
  3. Procrastination is often not laziness but a form of protest.

I procrastinate due to fear of failure, overwhelm, burnout, and frustration. It’s usually easier to get started on things once you figure out why you are resisting and figure out ways to make the tasks easier and smaller.

Bonus tip: It’s fun and easy to say no. Get used to the word.

P.S.: The comedy film This is 40 (aff.link) starring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann is a fun one to watch.

P.P.S.: This post contains affiliate links. It’s no extra cost to you, but if you buy through them, you’ll help me buy more coffee and write more.

The Magic of Great Ensemble Casts in Writing Through TV Series

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Beverly Hills 90210 cast. Let’s see if I can still remember the characters’ names… From left: Steve, Kelly, Andrea, Brandon, Brenda, Dylan, Donna, and David.

I love a good ensemble cast. When done well, you have multiple characters to root for and hate. And sometimes through the pages or episodes, these characters change. And so do your favorites.

Where does my ensemble love come from?

When I was a kid, I was hooked on the teen drama Beverly Hills 90210 (The original. Yes, I’m 40.)

And a little after that, I enjoyed Melrose Place: A fun soap with an interesting set of characters that have messy love lives in California.

It’s no wonder that I’m now mostly writing ensemble-cast novels featuring multiple POVs and beautiful people. And guess what? My romcom trilogy A Change Would Do You Good (aff.link) is set in San Diego, California. And while my debut novel Making A Difference (M.A.D.) (aff. link) is a standalone with fewer characters and plotlines, it still has a large cast.

I’m not the only one with a soft spot for an impressive ensemble. Let’s look at some popular TV series in different genres that audiences love and can’t resist watching again.

 

Lost: Adventure, drama, fantasy, sci-fi (2004-2010)

Characters from left: Charlie, Sun, Shannon, Sawyer, Jack, Boone, Hurley, Michael, and Kate.

I’ve just finished binging Lost, one of the most beloved adventure/fantasy shows of all time. And the show has a huge cast filled with talented actors.

When the Oceanic 815 flight crashes onto a remote island with no way to ask for help, it’s up to the passengers to come together to survive. However, such different personalities (most of who harbor secrets) will often clash, making it difficult to fight against the real enemies: the violent natives of the island, a smoke monster, and dangerous wild animals.

Here are the characters from season one with storylines on and off the island:

  • Sawyer: a grifter with a traumatic past. He has an attitude, hoards whatever he finds, and has no regard for anyone else. Or so it seems.
  • Jack: A successful neurosurgeon dealing with the death of his father and their tumultuous relationship. Not to mention, he feels responsible for the well-being of survivors.
  • Kate: The one with the biggest secret. A beautiful badass with a mind of her own.
  • Sayid: A former Iraqi intelligence officer and torturer who will be one of the biggest assets – as long as you don’t cross him.
  • Jin: A possessive and intense Korean husband who wants his wife Sun to keep to herself. They don’t speak English, and his “us and them” attitude pisses everyone off.
  • Sun: Sun loves Jin but is sick of his attitude. She’s not above going behind his back to do what needs to be done.
  • Hurley: A big guy who has had a series of bad luck and is now questioning whether he’s cursed.
  • Locke: Locke loves being on the island and he believes he’s destined to be there.
  • Charlie: A former rock star and a drug addict hiding the addiction part from fellow survivors
  • Claire: A young, single, very pregnant woman.
  • Michael and Walt: Michael is the father of 12-year-old Walt, and he has had to get custody after his ex died. He needs to learn how to be a father while getting to know his son and making sure they both survive the island.

While they are supporting characters, step-siblings Boone and Shannon affect the plot and the characters above in major ways.

As episodes and seasons go on, more important characters will join. Some of these characters will be killed off. But the cast remains huge.

You might not like all of the storylines or the seasons: But the writers knew how to hook you. There is no shortage of internal and external conflicts.

As a viewer, having a variety of options makes it more fun. As a writer, your creativity knows no bounds. It’s a win-win.

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Let’s take a look at some other wildly successful ensemble cast TV series in other genres.

Friends: Sitcom (1994-2004)

Characters from left: Chandler, Rachel, Ross, Monica, Joey, and Phoebe.

One of the most popular shows of all time, Friends features six different main characters in their mid-20s with their own set of quirks.

You have handsome actor Joey who is a bit stupid, but he’s an Einstein when it comes to picking up girls. He loves food, and he will not share it.

Rachel is a waitress learning to stand on her own feet after ditching her boring fiancé (and no longer able to receive help from her rich father) at the altar. She knows and loves fashion.

Ross is a paleontologist adjusting to life after his divorce – which happened because his wife discovered she was a lesbian.

Chandler is an anxious commitment-phobe, but he’s also afraid to die alone. He makes good money from his boring data/statistics job. He’s excellent at sarcasm, and he has the best jokes.

Despite her tragic past, Phoebe is a vibrant, quirky bohemian chick who plays the guitar for fun and works as a masseuse.

Monica, Ross’s sister and Rachel’s high school best friend, is a great chef. She’s also obsessively clean and highly competitive.

Chandler and Joey live together across Rachel and Monica. Ross has crushed on Rachel since high school.

The loves and lives of these six friends gave us 10 seasons through 235 episodes. Fans (including me) can’t get enough and rewatch the series again and again.

 

Gilmore Girls: Comedy, drama, romance (2000-2007)

Characters: Michelle, Babbette, Emily, Richard, Sookie, Luke, Lane, Lorelai, and Rory.

When Lorelai, the daughter of highly privileged Gilmore family, got pregnant at 16, she left her helicopter parents to raise her daughter Rory on her own. She started as a maid at an inn and worked her way up her way to hotel manager. In her small town of Stars Hollow, we witness her (mis)adventures and relationships with her neighbors, the handsome owner of Luke’s diner, town’s busybody mayor Taylor, the weird guy with a million jobs – aka Kirk -, Rory’s love interests, loveable but inappropriate Babette and Miss Patty, her best friend Sookie, Rory’s best friend Lane, receptionist Michel, and of course last but not least the OG Gilmores – her parents Emily and Richard Gilmore.

A popular show with a big cast often creates different “teams” in the fandom. To this day, some people hate Lorelai’s parenting and some love it. Some people can’t get enough of Emily Gilmore while some get PTSD from their own rocky relationships with their mothers. Who’s the best boyfriend of Rory? Is it Dean, Jess, or Logan? (I’m team Dean – before season 4 happened.)

While I have seen people who dislike Lorelai and can’t stand certain seasons where Rory is a brat, I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t adore Luke. (We don’t speak of mid-season 6 Luke. If you are wondering why, check out my post on the dreaded surprise child trope.)

Why do I mention all the fun disagreements among Gilmore Girls fans? Because that’s one of the biggest perks of creating (and consuming) a series with an ensemble cast. You’ve got tons to choose from.

 

The Vampire Diaries: Fantasy, horror, thriller, drama, romance (2009-2017)

Characters from left: Bonnie, Damon, Matt, Caroline, Tyler, Jeremy, Alaric, Elena, Enzo, and Stefan.

While based on the popular book series by L.J. Smith, the series wildly differs from the novels. And since I watched the series, I’ll be basing my ensemble opinions on it.

The Vampire Diaries starts as 100-something vampire Stefan Salvatore (who was turned when he was about 17) returns to his hometown of Mystic Falls to get to know Elena, a 17-year-old high schooler who lost her parents in a tragic accident about a year ago. (Why Stefan is interested in Elena will be revealed later). With his powers of mind control, Stefan easily enrolls in the high school and his charm and good looks make him instantly popular – much to the chagrin of Elena’s ex Matt – who is still in love with her. Matt and his best friend Tyler (who has unresolved anger issues) are further annoyed by the new kid as his strength and speed land him a spot on their football team. As Elena’s instantly drawn to Stefan, her best friend Caroline is jealous because all the boys seem to want Elena, while their other best friend Bonnie suspects she’s a witch.

But high school dynamics is the least of Stefan’s problems. While Stefan strictly feeds on animals, another vampire has arrived – who doesn’t mind leaving bodies behind. And while the mayor (Tyler’s dad) and the sheriff (Caroline’s mother) explain these bodies as vicious animal attacks, they know all about vampires – a secret they keep from their children and the rest of the town.

Spoiler alert:  Towards the end of the pilot episode, the violent vampire will reveal himself to be Damon, Stefan’s slightly older and equally gorgeous brother Damon, who is on a mission to make his sibling’s life hell.

More characters:

  • Elena and her fellow high schooler younger brother Jeremy live with their grad student aunt Jenna.
  • Tyler’s mother is a founding family member – meaning she knows about vampires.
  • Matt’s sister Vicky is friends with benefits with Jeremy. She’s also dating Tyler.
  • In episode 9 – spoiler alert – we’ll meet another important character: high school history teacher Alaric Saltzman who is secretly a vampire hunter, looking to avenge his dead wife.

 

While the show centers on the love triangle between three characters (Stefan/Elena/Damon), Caroline and Bonnie will have their storylines both directly and indirectly related to the trio. Tyler and Matt are both crucial love interests, friends and important characters in their own right. And then you have Alaric. I haven’t even started on the actual bad guys yet. (Damon will be a psycho asshole for a while but then he will switch to good guys.)

That’s a lot of characters. Keep in mind that this is a supernatural show with serial storylines and a different villain (or villain group) each season. Many characters will either die and/or change into something else. Some will come back, some will stay dead. Other important characters will join the cast. So The Vampire Diaries will keep its ensemble form until the very end.

During the first season, I liked a lot of the characters, but Stefan and Elena were my favorites. During the second season, we saw Tyler change into a solid, vulnerable person. From season 2, he was one of my favorites. I’ve always liked Alaric. I started liking Caroline after she “changed.”

When vampire Enzo first joined, he had my sympathy but he did annoy me to no end. Toward the end of season 7, he became one of my favorite characters. In fact, when the series was over, my favorite characters were Bonnie, Enzo, Tyler, and Alaric.

*

So there you go: Four wildly popular shows with ensemble casts.

As a viewer, it’s inevitable to find characters to root for, identify with, hate, and ship.

As a writer, you have immense creative freedom with character growth/regression, storylines, conflict, and even genres.

I realized this post would be too long if I covered books with ensemble casts here as well, so I’ll be talking about books with ensemble casts in part two.

What about you? Do you enjoy ensemble casts? Do you tend to write a big cast of characters? Let me know in the comments.

PS This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, it’s no extra cost to you, and it fuels my coffee fund. 

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