Alexandra Sokoloff has a book (and a class and a Substack blog) called Screenwriting Tricks for Authors. The first step in a new project is to create a master list of movies and books similar to yours and write down what elements of those books and movies that appeal to you.

I’ve done this exercise with each of the 18 books I’ve written over 3 pen names.

As part of my first assignment, I’ve written a discussion of my master list and thought I’d share it here because it helps to share.

My Master List: Fight club, The Sound of Music, Kristen Ashley books, JB Salsbury books, Priest by Sierra Simone book

I have used Alex’s methods from day one with my first book (Rogan), and I still have the same books on my Master List. None of my books sell all that great, but they sell better the more effort I put into making them marketable and competitive.

I’m currently revisiting my Master List, reading and watching movies before I start my 19th book, which will be a Bex Dane Navy SEAL Knight Security book about a promiscuous male with a fake dating trope with his brother’s girl. His name is Magnum and he has appeared in the first three books as a faithful brother in arms. Not so faithful to the women, but he spreads the love around the globe.

Back to the list:

My top two movies are Fight Club and The Sound of Music. Fight Club because I like mistaken identities, bad boys with good hearts, and fist fights over gun fights, and subliminal statements about society and oppression.

TSoM because I like virginal heroines with alpha male captains who tell her what to do and she puts him in his place while also submitting. “Yes, Captain.” (with a wink). This movie also contains the subliminal statements about oppression. “Out there is a woman who will never be a nun.”

My absolute favorite author is Kristen Ashley, and I usually choose one of her books to role model my hero after before I start writing. For this next book, I’m reading the whole River Rain series, but the truth is that it affects me so deeply, I get obsessed, I don’t sleep, and with it being Christmas season, I’m getting a little off-balance.

River Rain on Amazon

The reason I started writing in the first place was because my reading can become obsessive and stressful, making real life difficult. I enjoy being lost in a book too much and the real world is hard too, so I’m always juggling that. I just need to remember to channel my emotions into the book I’m writing and that usually creates some balance. I’ve been happily married with three sorta happy kids for 18 years so it’s working for us.

I’ve analyzed my love for Kristen Ashley extensively over the years too and the main reason I love her is she instantly draws you into that female character.

One of her books starts with “All I wanted was a burrito from Chipotle.” (Then her ex lover walks in while she’s waiting in line). All her books just grip me right away. It’s like crack.

She has complicated and colorful casts of characters who feel like friends, vulnerable alpha male leads, deep, deep wounds that the characters work out together, and unique intimacy in the sex scenes. I adore her even though she’s becoming quite eccentric as she gets older and moves more into chick lit. I guess I’m moving with her. I will pretty much follow her into the abyss at this point.

Another author I love is JB Salsbury and I have determined that I love the fact it really feels like the couple will never make it. It seems impossible until at least 80% sometimes. The way she keeps the tension until the end is just mesmerizing.
JB Salsbury on Amazon

Priest is the forbidden love book from the male POV where he is just absolutely insane for the female. He is so lost, he’s like a teenage puppy and he’s filthy about it. I love it. Priest on Amazon

I’d like to learn how to make my books more like the books and movies above. Friendly female characters, desperate males, incredible tension until the end.

My style is over the top alpha male borderline controversial kinky adventurous stuff! I tried changing it and it failed, so I’m leaning into it! I find when I take more risks and dive deeper into the side characters, the books sell better.

I’m still exploring my Master List for my next book so I will update when I have more, but the process is very emotional for me as I described above.

I haven’t landed on the one thing that I want to add to the next book yet (besides the tropes mentioned above), so I’m floundering right now, but I know it will come eventually, so I’ll keep working on it.

Thanks for reading this blog post. Follow for more updates on Magnum and the KS boys.

View Bex Dane’s books on Amazon

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