Writers Helping Writers^®

Resident Writing Coach

Use Awe to Spark Creativity

December 13, 2021

Awe is Integral to Creativity Unless you’re a full-time author, finding time and/or motivation to write can be challenging. So, finding time to boost your creativity at the expense of…

When Are You Ready for Professional Editing?

December 9, 2021

When Are You Ready for Professional Editing?

December 9, 2021

Many writers equate preparing for a professional edit with revision. We’ll cover a few revision tasks in this article, but revision is only half the battle. Preparing your manuscript is…

What’s Your Story’s Focus? Plot vs. Character Arcs

November 18, 2021

What’s Your Story’s Focus? Plot vs. Character Arcs

November 18, 2021

There are as many ways to tell a story as there are stories in existence. That means not all writing advice will be a good fit with the story we’re…

3 Simple Tricks to Immerse Your Reader In Your Story

November 9, 2021

3 Simple Tricks to Immerse Your Reader In Your Story

November 9, 2021

As writers, fusing our protagonist with the reader creates the ultimate reading experience. Teacher and writer John Gardener referred to this as “the fictional dream.” It’s a state the reader…

How to Showcase Your Character’s Unique Voice

November 4, 2021

How to Showcase Your Character’s Unique Voice

November 4, 2021

Almost every character should have their own voice—their distinctive way of communicating their worldview. To illustrate, here are three lines from Harry Potter that reveal Hermione’s, Ron’s, and Harry’s individual…

5 Ways Trauma Makes Your Character an Unreliable Narrator

October 30, 2021

5 Ways Trauma Makes Your Character an Unreliable Narrator

October 30, 2021

Trauma is defined as anything that’s overwhelming or unpleasant that causes long-term mental or emotional problems. It rewires the brain and causes disordered thinking. So, if you’re looking for a…

How to Tell If You’ve Found the Best Book Marketing Niche

October 28, 2021

How to Tell If You’ve Found the Best Book Marketing Niche

October 28, 2021

How can you tell if your book marketing niche is the right one? There are three signs to look for. But first, let’s review what we’re talking about. What is…

What Are Pinch Points and Where Do They Go?

October 26, 2021

What Are Pinch Points and Where Do They Go?

October 26, 2021

Once I learned structure and could visualize the pattern beneath my favorite novels, movies, and streaming series, I felt like I’d been handed the keys to a magical kingdom. Employing structure elevated…

Meet Our Newest Resident Writing Coaches

September 30, 2021

Meet Our Newest Resident Writing Coaches

September 30, 2021

It’s always exciting when fall comes around as it means a new season of the Resident Writing Coach program is about to start! We’ve had great fortune to have so…

How Much Do I Need To Describe My Character’s Appearance?

September 21, 2021

How Much Do I Need To Describe My Character’s Appearance?

September 21, 2021

How characters look is a much-discussed element of writing craft. So, just how much do we need to describe our character’s appearance? Obviously individual writers’ mileage may vary on this…