Want to win editorial feedback and take your story opening from good to great? Well, my writerly friend, you're in luck! It's time for our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest. In this draw, you can win... Editorial feedback on your first 10 pages This contest is closed. Please try … [Read more...] about Win Editorial Feedback on Your First 10 Pages
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How to Tell the Difference Between a Hook and Inciting Incident
Opening pages are notoriously hard to get right, especially in early drafts of your manuscript. I’ve read hundreds of opening chapters of novels in my work as a writing instructor and book coach and one of the most common issues I see comes down to a misunderstanding of the difference between two … [Read more...] about How to Tell the Difference Between a Hook and Inciting Incident
Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Embracing Responsibility
When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it's an automatic response or a learned go-to strategy, a mechanism helps them cope with the stress of the moment or escape the hurt of it. … [Read more...] about Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Embracing Responsibility
Celebrating 10 Years at One Stop for Writers!
Happy Birthday, One Stop for Writers! It's hard to believe, but One Stop for Writers® is officially TEN years old! When Becca and I built One Stop for Writers with Lee (the developer behind Scrivener for Windows), it was a significant departure from books and blogging. But we were on a … [Read more...] about Celebrating 10 Years at One Stop for Writers!
Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Self-Medicating
When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it's an automatic response or a learned go-to strategy, a mechanism helps them cope with the stress of the moment or escape the hurt of … [Read more...] about Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Self-Medicating
What Kind of Writing Monster Is Lurking in Your Brain?
You wouldn’t think a productive writer would have to worry about monsters. But sometimes, just when you’ve cleared your schedule, opened your laptop, and promised yourself you’ll finally get that chapter (or email or video) done, something cold and invisible slinks up behind you. Suddenly, you’re … [Read more...] about What Kind of Writing Monster Is Lurking in Your Brain?
Meet Our 2025 – 2026 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 2025 – 2026 Resident Writing Coaches
The Coping Mechanism Thesaurus is Coming!
Characters don’t always react to stress and threats in healthy ways--like real people, they lean on coping strategies they’ve developed to survive past trauma and avoid new pain. These dysfunctional coping mechanisms consist of behaviors and thought patterns designed to keep discomfort at bay. But … [Read more...] about The Coping Mechanism Thesaurus is Coming!
Writing 101: How to Find & Write Your Character’s Voice
Writing a strong and consistent character voice is one of the best ways to make your story stand out. A unique voice tailored to your character makes them feel real and more memorable to readers. But voice is tricky to get right. Too little attention to this important aspect of storytelling … [Read more...] about Writing 101: How to Find & Write Your Character’s Voice
How to Use Weather to Create Mood, Not Clichés
Are you afraid of using the weather in your writing? If so, you're not alone. After all, if not careful, weather description can be a minefield of clichés. The sunny, cloudless afternoon at the beach. The gloomy rainstorm at a funeral. Overdone setting and weather pairings can lie flat on the … [Read more...] about How to Use Weather to Create Mood, Not Clichés
Win Feedback on Your First 3 Pages & Blurb
Good news, wonderfulwriterly people…it’s time for our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest, where we help transform your story’s opening from good to great! If you need a bit of help with your opening, today's the day to enter for a chance to win professional feedback! … [Read more...] about Win Feedback on Your First 3 Pages & Blurb
How To Push Past The Fear of Never Getting Published
"What If No One Ever Publishes My Work?" If you're worried that no publisher will pick YOUR novel, you're not alone. This is a fear I'd venture 100% of authors have ... and of course, it may even come true. Most of us will have at least one book we query that does not sell! However, rejection … [Read more...] about How To Push Past The Fear of Never Getting Published