When writing a series, we need to adjust our writing techniques. Last year, we talked about the tricky balance of repeating information in a series from one book to another. We want to avoid giving readers a sense of déjà vu, but we also can’t assume that readers have read (or remember) previous … [Read more...] about Continuing a Series: Enticing Readers to Return
Blog
The Importance of Beginning a Book with Publishing End Goals in Mind
Liz Alterman is here to share the importance of knowing your publishing end goals for a book before you start writing it. Plus, she's giving away a query critique and an eBook to celebrate her newest release! When we sit down to write a book, it’s typically because we feel called to share a … [Read more...] about The Importance of Beginning a Book with Publishing End Goals in Mind
Three Strategies for Creating Progressively Escalating Complications
Unputdownable stories keep readers off balance, as one scene tips into another, and another, and the next. Each scene’s challenge demands a response, and each response spirals into fresh complications. But compelling stories don't pile on problems in random fashion. Complications flow organically … [Read more...] about Three Strategies for Creating Progressively Escalating Complications
Communication is the Key to Critique Partner Success
Author Accelerator Certified Coach Julie Artz shares great ways to get the most out of critiques. Here on Writers Helping Writers, you’ll find a lot of folks extolling the virtues of getting feedback on your writing through either a critique partner or a critique group. Joining a critique group … [Read more...] about Communication is the Key to Critique Partner Success
Refilling Your Creative Well with Artist Dates
Book Coach Monica Cox has some fresh ideas for refilling your creative well as a writer, so read on! As writers, we mine our experiences and observations, pour our emotions into words, and fill up the blank page with story. If we aren’t careful to replenish all that we exert in our writing, we … [Read more...] about Refilling Your Creative Well with Artist Dates
Character Secret Thesaurus: Making a Black Market Purchase
What secret is your character keeping? Why are they safeguarding it? What’s at stake if it’s discovered? Does it need to come out at some point, or should it remain hidden? This is some of the important information you need to know about your character’s secrets—and they will have secrets, … [Read more...] about Character Secret Thesaurus: Making a Black Market Purchase
Writing 101: Point of View Basics
Understanding point of view basics is essential for writing strong, emotionally resonant fiction, so this is a good topic to explore as part of our 101 series. The viewpoint you choose determines who tells the story, how much the reader knows, and how deeply they connect with the characters. … [Read more...] about Writing 101: Point of View Basics
Reading Like a Writer
We all know that as writers we should be reading a lot. It’s one of the best ways to learn the craft, and Stephen King’s quote on the topic is legendary: “If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write.” While it’s great to beat your annual Goodreads challenge, … [Read more...] about Reading Like a Writer
New Writing Resource: A Character Type & Trope Thesaurus + Save 25%
In 2024, Becca and I began exploring character tropes and archetypes with one goal in mind: to create a resource that helps writers better use tropes by providing each one's behaviors, strengths, flaws, tendencies, and more, so they could write characters with confidence. But we also wanted our … [Read more...] about New Writing Resource: A Character Type & Trope Thesaurus + Save 25%
Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Edition
Hey, wonderfulwriterly people! It’s time for Phenomenal First Pages, our monthly critique contest. So, if you need a bit of help with your first five pages, today's the day to enter for a chance to win professional feedback! (We've had past winners tell us they've found their dream editors … [Read more...] about Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Edition
Write a 5-Star Book 2
When I set out to write Book 2 in my Fountain series, I made the common mistake of thinking it would be easier than the first one, which took me more than four years to write. After all, I’d already created the world and gotten to know my characters inside and out. I knew what I wanted their next … [Read more...] about Write a 5-Star Book 2
Workshop: How to Write Compelling Inner Conflict with Angela Ackerman
Ready to dive into your character's internal struggle and put all that incredible gut-twisting conflict on the page? If so, don't miss this upcoming Zoom workshop on Saturday, May 24th, 11 AM Eastern Time. Registration is now closed. See you this Saturday! Inner Conflict: Writing About … [Read more...] about Workshop: How to Write Compelling Inner Conflict with Angela Ackerman