In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—"universal images that have existed since the remotest times." He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different … [Read more...] about Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Antihero
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How to Craft a Top-Notch Blurb
By Erica Converso This post contains affiliate links Your book is unique – unlike any other in the world. But the structure of a well-crafted blurb will not – and should not – be. A blurb is the copy on the back cover of a book or the sales webpage, explaining what the book is about, usually … [Read more...] about How to Craft a Top-Notch Blurb
Writing Flawed Characters Who Don’t Turn Readers Off
No one in the real world is perfect, and so characters shouldn't be either. To seem as real as you or me, they should have flaws and strengths, and these sides of their personality should line up with who they are, how they were raised, and reflect the experiences they've had to date, good and bad. … [Read more...] about Writing Flawed Characters Who Don’t Turn Readers Off
How to Create Mood Effectively in Your Fiction
By C. S. Lakin Every person or character, at any given time, is in a particular mood. Generally, mood is a person’s state of mind, but it’s more than that. Mood can also describe the disposition of a collective of people, a certain time in history, or the ether of a place. Regardless of what … [Read more...] about How to Create Mood Effectively in Your Fiction
Want to Show Your Character’s Pain? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
For the better part of two months, Becca and I have been exploring pain, and how to write about it in fiction. It's been enlightening for us, and we hope for you as well. So many ways to torture characters, who knew? (Well, we did. And you did. Pain is sort of our bread and butter, isn't … [Read more...] about Want to Show Your Character’s Pain? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Happy 8th Birthday, One Stop for Writers!
Let the good times roll...One Stop for Writers' BIRTHDAY WEEK is here! It's hard to believe Becca and I have been helping writers grow into confident storytellers at One Stop for Writers for EIGHT YEARS now. That's eight years of supporting writers as they plan, write, and deliver their books … [Read more...] about Happy 8th Birthday, One Stop for Writers!
Meet Our Resident Writing Coaches
I love being the Writers Helping Writers Blog Wizard…and am honored to work closely with the Resident Writing Coaches. They’re all talented, generous authors who share their wisdom to help take your writing to the next level. I've learned so much from them, and have a feeling you have, too! This … [Read more...] about Meet Our Resident Writing Coaches
Writing About Pain: Best Practices for Great Fiction
Are you enjoying this series on writing your character’s pain? That’s a weird and slightly sadistic statement—even more so when we say how much we’ve enjoyed writing about pain. But it's one of those things your character IS going to encounter; it’s not a matter of if, but when (and how often). So … [Read more...] about Writing About Pain: Best Practices for Great Fiction
Writing About Pain: Everyday Ways A Character Could Be Hurt
We’ve covered many aspects of pain so far in this experience, such as the different categories of pain and how to write the discomfort associated with minor, major, and invisible injuries. All of this is helpful for identifying the pain your character will be feeling and helping you write it … [Read more...] about Writing About Pain: Everyday Ways A Character Could Be Hurt
Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Whiskey Priest
In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—"universal images that have existed since the remotest times." He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different … [Read more...] about Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Whiskey Priest
Writing About Pain: Taking an Injury from Bad to Worse
When we put characters in dangerous or unfamiliar situations, they can get hurt, and when they do, things become harder to do. Injuries can mean reduced mobility, pain makes it difficult to think clearly, or something they must do (win a fight, escape a threat, or be independent, for example) may … [Read more...] about Writing About Pain: Taking an Injury from Bad to Worse
How To Write A Psychological Thriller Without Frying Your Own Brain
Writing A Psychological Thriller Whether you're a fan of the genre or looking to try your hand at writing one, a psychological thriller can be fun to both read AND write. But what goes into making these stories so captivating? A psychological thriller is a story that combines elements of … [Read more...] about How To Write A Psychological Thriller Without Frying Your Own Brain