Writers Helping Writers^®

Revision and Editing

Story Feedback: Free and Paid Options for Writers

October 15, 2019

Story Feedback: Free and Paid Options for Writers

October 15, 2019

It’s a sad fact, but most writers don’t have a basement full of money, meaning we have to think carefully about where we spend our money and why. Investing in…

Writing Feedback: Should We Seek It Out?

September 26, 2019

Writing Feedback: Should We Seek It Out?

September 26, 2019

As most of you know, Becca and I have been writing and publishing for some time now. Many thing have changed in the industry, including how a book reaches the…

Motivation for Character Arc: A Different Approach

August 20, 2019

Motivation for Character Arc: A Different Approach

August 20, 2019

When it comes to discovering and writing about your character’s motivation, there are a dozen different methods. We can get there by any number of roads—most of which originate in…

When Telling, Not Showing, Emotion is the Right Choice

August 6, 2019

When Telling, Not Showing, Emotion is the Right Choice

August 6, 2019

Hi everyone! A past resident writing coach is visiting us with an excerpt on a new course she’s teaching on mastering emotions: C.S. Lakin. This post is a touch longer…

Digging Deep: The Psychology of a Layered Story

July 2, 2019

Digging Deep: The Psychology of a Layered Story

July 2, 2019

Humans like complexity: puzzles, questions, layers. It fascinates us. My guess it’s because there are so many complex systems in nature that our brain needs to navigate successfully. Ecosystems, weather…

Saggy Middle? Use Conflict to Nip and Tuck It

May 16, 2019

Saggy Middle? Use Conflict to Nip and Tuck It

May 16, 2019

When I get a new story idea, I fly into the start of it with as much gusto as a kid in a candy store. I’m filled with the buzz…

Three Ways Writers Tell, Not Show (And How You Can Fix Them)

March 7, 2019

Three Ways Writers Tell, Not Show (And How You Can Fix Them)

March 7, 2019

One of my favorite writing coaches is here with us to dish some helpful advice on Show and Tell. Please welcome Janice Hardy and read on… Show, don’t tell, is…

3 Signs It’s Time to Stop Editing That Manuscript

January 31, 2019

3 Signs It’s Time to Stop Editing That Manuscript

January 31, 2019

Today Kyle A. Massa from ProWritingAid is helping us with a problematic decision: knowing WHEN it’s time to stop editing a manuscript. Read on! When’s the right time to stop…

Beginnings and Backstory

December 4, 2018

Beginnings and Backstory

December 4, 2018

You will find writers who argue that there should be no backstory at all in your first chapters. Why not? Because, by definition, backstory is what has happened before your…

Context, Text, and Subtext: What They Are and How They Help Storytelling

November 13, 2018

Context, Text, and Subtext: What They Are and How They Help Storytelling

November 13, 2018

In writing tips, we talk about text a lot. But I feel like we don’t talk enough about context and subtext in this industry. Both are vital to good storytelling…