Writers Helping Writers^®

Posts by Angela Ackerman

Three Ways The Setting Can Steer Your Story’s Plot

March 1, 2018

Three Ways The Setting Can Steer Your Story’s Plot

March 1, 2018

The setting is a powerful force. Not only does it evoke mood, create tension and conflict, allow you to share critical backstory in a non-dumpy way, and draw readers deeper…

Want Memorable Characters? Focus on the Little Things

February 22, 2018

Want Memorable Characters? Focus on the Little Things

February 22, 2018

I love building characters. In fact, “building” is apt, because for me, they come a piece at a time. A brick or two might lock into place as I wrestle…

Occupation Thesaurus: Personal Assistant to a Celebrity

February 17, 2018

Occupation Thesaurus: Personal Assistant to a Celebrity

February 17, 2018

Jobs are as important for our characters as they are for real people. A character’s career might be their dream job or one they’ve chosen due to necessity. In your…

Milestones that Provide a Valuable Opportunity to Look Back

February 11, 2018

Milestones that Provide a Valuable Opportunity to Look Back

February 11, 2018

So, funny story. In January, Becca and I hit 10 years of blogging. TEN YEARS. That’s a lot of time, but also not a lot of time, because we all…

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Funeral Director

February 10, 2018

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Funeral Director

February 10, 2018

Jobs are as important for our characters as they are for real people. A character’s career might be their dream job or one they’ve chosen due to necessity. In your…

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Taxidermist

February 3, 2018

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Taxidermist

February 3, 2018

Jobs are as important for our characters as they are for real people. A character’s career might be their dream job or one they’ve chosen due to necessity. In your…

Overcoming an Emotional Wound (Character Arc Help)

February 1, 2018

Overcoming an Emotional Wound (Character Arc Help)

February 1, 2018

Of all the pieces of backstory we should understand as authors, none are more important than our protagonist’s Emotional Wound. A powerful statement, but here’s why. Think about your own…

Stripping Down My Prose: Risking the Removal of Adjectives

January 25, 2018

Stripping Down My Prose: Risking the Removal of Adjectives

January 25, 2018

Happy to welcome Margaret McNellis to the blog today. She’s tried an interesting experiment with her writing to create stronger, tighter prose, so please read on! When I was a Masters…

Occupation Thesaurus: Animal Rescue Worker

January 21, 2018

Occupation Thesaurus: Animal Rescue Worker

January 21, 2018

Jobs are as important for our characters as they are for real people. A character’s career might be their dream job or one they’ve chosen due to necessity. In your…

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Deep Sea Diver

January 6, 2018

Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Deep Sea Diver

January 6, 2018

Jobs are as important for our characters as they are for real people. A character’s career might be their dream job or one they’ve chosen due to necessity. In your…