Writers Helping Writers^®

Setting Thesaurus Guides

Keep It Fresh: 10 Ways To Show Your Character’s Emotions

June 22, 2017

Keep It Fresh: 10 Ways To Show Your Character’s Emotions

June 22, 2017

Years ago, Becca and I grumbled about how our characters always expressed emotion the same way. My big thing? Frowning. Did my characters EVER know how to frown. They were…

Help Us Celebrate Our 200,000 Book Milestone

March 3, 2017

Help Us Celebrate Our 200,000 Book Milestone

March 3, 2017

Honestly, I don’t even know how to start this post–I am utterly lacking in the word department, which is pretty ironic for a writer, isn’t it? 200,000. Books. Sold. Back…

How Character Attributes and Flaws Work Within Character Arc

November 24, 2016

How Character Attributes and Flaws Work Within Character Arc

November 24, 2016

Like real people, characters have mixed personalities that contain both positive traits (attributes) and negative traits (flaws). Flaws are especially interesting as they develop when a person has experienced a…

How to Choose Settings that Have Emotional Impact

October 20, 2016

How to Choose Settings that Have Emotional Impact

October 20, 2016

Generic settings won’t cut it if you want readers to feel the story–instead, your locations need emotional impact as this immerses them better in the point-of-view character’s experience. Shared experiences…

The Swiss Army Knife of Storytellers Is the Setting

September 15, 2016

The Swiss Army Knife of Storytellers Is the Setting

September 15, 2016

Writing the Urban and Rural Setting Thesaurus books taught Becca and me something big: the Setting is the Swiss Army Knife of Storytelling. Yes, it’s the truth. Because your setting…

Creating Mood in a Scene Using Light and Shadow

August 22, 2016

Creating Mood in a Scene Using Light and Shadow

August 22, 2016

What’s one of the first things a person does to set the mood at home for a romantic evening? She turns down the lights. This simple adjustment is a big…

The Setting Thesaurus Is Here: Writers, Get Ready To Rock The Vault

June 12, 2016

The Setting Thesaurus Is Here: Writers, Get Ready To Rock The Vault

June 12, 2016

Cue the marching bands! At long last, The Setting Thesaurus is here. Split into two volumes, Urban and Rural, these books are the result of several years’ worth of traveling,…

Level Up Your Setting (and Story) by Thinking Outside the Box

May 31, 2016

Level Up Your Setting (and Story) by Thinking Outside the Box

May 31, 2016

Want to level up your setting and instantly pull readers deeper into your scenes? Start by thinking outside the box about where each moment takes place. The right setting does…

How To Turn Your Setting Into a Conflict-Rich Obstacle Course

May 18, 2016

How To Turn Your Setting Into a Conflict-Rich Obstacle Course

May 18, 2016

Every story element should pull its weight—including the setting, which is a built-in source of conflict just waiting to be used. A simple first-date picnic in the park? Cue the…

How to Write Unforgettable Settings: World Building

January 15, 2011

How to Write Unforgettable Settings: World Building

January 15, 2011

When it comes to unforgettable settings, we’ve touched on choosing the right setting, describing the setting, and maximizing the setting through various figures of speech and techniques. But what if…