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Writing Help

Win Feedback on 10 Pages!

June 11, 2026

Want to win editorial feedback and take your storyfrom good to great? Well, my writerly friend, you’re in luck! It’s time for our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest. In this draw,…

How Universal Fears Pull Readers into the Story

June 4, 2026

How Universal Fears Pull Readers into the Story

June 4, 2026

No matter what genre you write or who your audience is, one thing is certain: Everyone experiences fear. It shapes how people think, the choices they make, and influences how…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Cultivating Trust

May 30, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Cultivating Trust

May 30, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

8+ Ways to Signal Your Character’s Fear to Readers

May 26, 2026

8+ Ways to Signal Your Character’s Fear to Readers

May 26, 2026

With no shortage of things that can trigger a character’s fear, learning how to show it becomes just as important to writers as plotting, character-building, and crafting a realistic story…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Visualization

May 23, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Visualization

May 23, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Fantasizing About Revenge

May 16, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Fantasizing About Revenge

May 16, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

Win Feedback on 5 pages!

May 14, 2026

Want to win editorial feedback and take your storyfrom good to great? Well, my writerly friend, you’re in luck! It’s time for our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest. In this draw,…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Living in the Past

May 9, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Living in the Past

May 9, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

Free Workshop: How to Write Fear That Feels Real

May 7, 2026

Free Workshop: How to Write Fear That Feels Real

May 7, 2026

Writing authentic fear reactions can be challenging—even when we understand our character well. Why? Because each character has their own personality, background, trauma, and triggers, meaning their fear response to…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Self-Care

May 2, 2026

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus Entry: Self-Care

May 2, 2026

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…