Writers Helping Writers^®

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Why You Deserve to Go on a Writing Retreat

June 17, 2025

Why You Deserve to Go on a Writing Retreat

June 17, 2025

So, You Want to Go on a Writing Retreat? A writing retreat is a designated period and space where writers gather to focus on their writing projects. Often such retreats take…

Continuing a Series: Enticing Readers to Return

June 10, 2025

Continuing a Series: Enticing Readers to Return

June 10, 2025

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.…

Three Strategies for Creating Progressively Escalating Complications

June 3, 2025

Three Strategies for Creating Progressively Escalating Complications

June 3, 2025

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.…

Reading Like a Writer

May 20, 2025

Reading Like a Writer

May 20, 2025

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…

Write a 5-Star Book 2

May 13, 2025

Write a 5-Star Book 2

May 13, 2025

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…

Writing Tips from a Neurodivergent Brain

May 6, 2025

Writing Tips from a Neurodivergent Brain

May 6, 2025

Last fall, when I wrote about writing a novel “scene by scene” as someone neurodivergent, I received a ton of interesting feedback. Most of it was a variation on these…

Before You Pay Thousands to Publish Your Book, Read This

May 1, 2025

Before You Pay Thousands to Publish Your Book, Read This

May 1, 2025

If you’re thinking about paying a company thousands of dollars to publish your book, please stop and read this first. I have a stern warning for you! My $5,000 Publishing…

Five Ways to Get Your Protagonist to Realize They’re the Problem

April 8, 2025

Five Ways to Get Your Protagonist to Realize They’re the Problem

April 8, 2025

We’ve all heard the writing advice that we need to throw rocks at our protagonists. More obstacles, more tough choices, and more loss test them and force them to grow…

I Tried a BookBub Featured Deal—Here’s What Happened

April 3, 2025

I Tried a BookBub Featured Deal—Here’s What Happened

April 3, 2025

I’d always heard that landing a Bookbub deal could really help with marketing your book. I’d tried a couple of times before with no luck. But recently, I submitted my…

How To Write A Likeable Character

March 18, 2025

How To Write A Likeable Character

March 18, 2025

Likeable characters can become the beating heart of your narrative. Readers root for them and stick with them throughout their journeys. But what exactly makes a character likeable? It’s not…