Writers Helping Writers^®

Reader Interest

Use Literary Devices to Propel Readers Past Chapter Endings

July 16, 2026

Use Literary Devices to Propel Readers Past Chapter Endings

July 16, 2026

In my last post, I discussed why chapter endings can be tricky (because they provide a natural stopping point for readers) and how to counteract that. By using a variety…

Will Your Story Keep Readers Hooked?

July 2, 2026

Will Your Story Keep Readers Hooked?

July 2, 2026

I’m reading a novel right now. It started out okay, but somewhere around chapter five, I noticed I was skimming—just moving my eyes across the page as fast as I…

How to Take a Story from “Good” to Great

January 13, 2026

How to Take a Story from “Good” to Great

January 13, 2026

Self-publishing costs can add up, so one of the best ways to save money on editing is to take your story from good to great before bringing in an editor.…

Is Your Writing “Good Enough” to Publish?

November 11, 2025

Is Your Writing “Good Enough” to Publish?

November 11, 2025

I cringe at the title of this article, because we all know that writing is an art form, and there are thousands of ways to do it. Yet, I used…

How to Hook New Readers with a Novel-Based Workshop

June 19, 2025

How to Hook New Readers with a Novel-Based Workshop

June 19, 2025

I’ve presented a lot of workshops over the years, mostly based on the nonfiction books I’ve written for writers. I’ve always found it easy to create a workshop based on…

The Importance of Beginning a Book with Publishing End Goals in Mind

June 5, 2025

The Importance of Beginning a Book with Publishing End Goals in Mind

June 5, 2025

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…

How Authors Thrive in a World of AI-Generated Books

January 23, 2025

How Authors Thrive in a World of AI-Generated Books

January 23, 2025

The rise of AI-generated books is sparking concern among many. We all know the book market is huge, yet the speed at which new works are being added prompted Amazon…

How to Leverage Humanity to Outshine AI-Generated Books

January 16, 2025

How to Leverage Humanity to Outshine AI-Generated Books

January 16, 2025

AI is reshaping the book industry, and writers are polarized; some have integrated AI into their writing process while others refuse to. No matter which camp you align with I’m…

Why Writers Should Use Psychology In Their Storytelling

April 2, 2024

Why Writers Should Use Psychology In Their Storytelling

April 2, 2024

A writer’s job is to do one thing well: pull the reader in. Our words should act like a tractor beam, sucking them into our story’s world. We tap into…

Writing Flawed Characters Who Don’t Turn Readers Off

October 10, 2023

Writing Flawed Characters Who Don’t Turn Readers Off

October 10, 2023

No one in the real world is perfect, and so characters shouldn’t be either. To seem as real as you or me, they should have flaws and strengths, and these…