Writers Helping Writers^®

Writing Craft

After the First Draft: Revising Your Plot

July 27, 2023

After the First Draft: Revising Your Plot

July 27, 2023

Ok, writers. Raise your hand if you love revising. *crickets* Revision freaks a lot of people out because it can be overwhelming. When you start drafting, you’ve got this really…

Improve Your Storytelling in 5 Minutes

July 25, 2023

Improve Your Storytelling in 5 Minutes

July 25, 2023

What are writers chronically short on? Time. There never seems to be enough of it as we try to get the next book written, research our publishing options, keep up…

Character Type and Trope Thesaurus: Hopeless Romantic

July 22, 2023

Character Type and Trope Thesaurus: Hopeless Romantic

July 22, 2023

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic…

Phenomenal First Pages Contest

July 20, 2023

Phenomenal First Pages Contest

July 20, 2023

Hey, wonderful writerly people! It’s time for our monthly first-page critique contest ? This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the…

Keep Tensions High by NOT Resolving Your Character’s Relationship Conflict

July 18, 2023

Keep Tensions High by NOT Resolving Your Character’s Relationship Conflict

July 18, 2023

When it comes to story conflict, there are so many options to choose from. Power struggles, physical threats, moral dilemmas, failures, ticking clocks—they’re all great for ratcheting up tension, building…

Character Type and Trope Thesaurus: Grotesque

July 15, 2023

Character Type and Trope Thesaurus: Grotesque

July 15, 2023

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic…

Do Your Characters Have Agency?

July 13, 2023

Do Your Characters Have Agency?

July 13, 2023

Consider, if you will, a story about a woman who wants to gain esteem by winning an important legal case. Things are going along fine until she gets fired from…

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Free Spirit

July 8, 2023

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Free Spirit

July 8, 2023

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic…

Overwhelmed with Revisions? Use This Roadmap to Stay On Course.

July 4, 2023

Overwhelmed with Revisions? Use This Roadmap to Stay On Course.

July 4, 2023

Is there a better feeling in the world than finishing a manuscript? Typing The End, gazing lovingly at the overall word count, and recognizing you’ve accomplished something that not many…

Character Type and Trope Thesaurus: The Chosen One

July 1, 2023

Character Type and Trope Thesaurus: The Chosen One

July 1, 2023

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic…