If you're writing a novel with supernatural characters, you have the hardest job in fiction in my mind. No, I'm not just saying that because I'm writing novels with supernatural characters either. It truly is hard to do.

When writing a romance novel or a sci fi novel or an adventure novel, you have somewhere to go. There are source books for romance, science texts for sci fi, and do you really need help on an adventure novel? There's books out there for the Chick Lit writer, for the contemporary fiction author, the mystery writer. But for the supernatural writer? Nothing.

When deciding to write about vampires, I had to turn to other books about vampires to find out what the traditional myths were. Thank goodness for the folklore section of my library. When researching werewolves, there was little to nothing serious out there. How about shapeshifters? Forget it.

If you're looking for help in creating the powers or special abilities of your supernatural character, you need to go on what you already know. To explain those abilities, try to be as real as you can.

My vampires have special abilities based on their DNA. Werewolves can only be men (but I'm going to be messing with that one later on). Shapeshifters come in two classes. What's the difference between a werewolf and a shapeshifter? You'll have to wait and see.

If you're interested in writing a book with supernatural characters, it doesn't hurt to read what other people have written with similar characters to your own. I've read the Twilight saga (many, many times), the Dark Hunter series, the Vampire Diaries, the Sookie Stackhouse Novels, and I've watched just about every vampire movie ever made. I also read a lot of manga like Millenium Snow and Vampire Knight. You have to do what you have to do.

Don't get discouraged when using characters that aren't human. Remember one powerful thing: If you can't find research material on it, then it probably doesn't exist yet. What's better than an original idea?

I talk about music entirely too much. But that's the best way for me to get into the mood to write. As I'm writing this, I'm listening to music. But there is another medium that I want to share with you that might actually help out. I'm hoping my own novels will one day be in this medium and my husband is of the mind to make that happen.

It's called Japanese animation and comic books, or anime and manga (If you read my personal blog, you already know about my infatuation with the medium). Last week my husband and I were watching Inuyasha from beginning to end (thank you Carrie for lending it to us). While watching it I found myself plotting fight scenes for Resurrection. It's amazing what you'll find when you watch something like that.

I've posted on inspiration recently, but I couldn't help but share this. I never would've thought about a fight scene the way I'm thinking about one if I hadn't been watching Inuyasha. The love triangle aspect of the anime makes me think. It's amazingly helpful.

Whatever helps you write, that's what you need to do. But don't be afraid to look in a place that's unexpected. And if you want to know what anime and manga is good, let me know. I have a list.