Writers Helping Writers^®

Posts by Becca Puglisi

Do Your Characters Have Agency?

July 13, 2023

Do Your Characters Have Agency?

July 13, 2023

Consider, if you will, a story about a woman who wants to gain esteem by winning an important legal case. Things are going along fine until she gets fired from…

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Free Spirit

July 8, 2023

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Free Spirit

July 8, 2023

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…

Overwhelmed with Revisions? Use This Roadmap to Stay On Course.

July 4, 2023

Overwhelmed with Revisions? Use This Roadmap to Stay On Course.

July 4, 2023

Is there a better feeling in the world than finishing a manuscript? Typing The End, gazing lovingly at the overall word count, and recognizing you’ve accomplished something that not many…

Character Type and Trope Thesaurus: The Chosen One

July 1, 2023

Character Type and Trope Thesaurus: The Chosen One

July 1, 2023

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…

Five Reasons to Identify Your Character’s Wounding Event

June 29, 2023

Five Reasons to Identify Your Character’s Wounding Event

June 29, 2023

As human beings, we’re all products of our past; good and bad, our experiences have formed us into who we are. The same should be true of our characters. One…

Positive Traits Can Have Drawbacks, and Flaws Aren’t All Bad

June 27, 2023

Positive Traits Can Have Drawbacks, and Flaws Aren’t All Bad

June 27, 2023

I was watching Gone with the Wind the other night—because, you know, it was on TV and I had four hours to kill. As a teen, this was the first “grown-up” book…

Phenomenal First Pages Contest

June 22, 2023

Phenomenal First Pages Contest

June 22, 2023

Hey, wonderful writerly people! It’s time for our monthly first-page critique contest ? This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the…

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Rebel Archetype

June 17, 2023

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Rebel Archetype

June 17, 2023

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…

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Orphan Archetype

June 10, 2023

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Orphan Archetype

June 10, 2023

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…

Using Talents and Skills to Reveal Hidden Layers

June 8, 2023

Using Talents and Skills to Reveal Hidden Layers

June 8, 2023

When you’re creating a well-rounded and realistic character, there are many factors to consider: their backstory, personality traits, fears, desires…the list goes on. Each is important because it plays a…