Category Archives: Tools and Resources

3 Steps To Writing Diverse Characters

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Writing Coach

It’s official … Audiences have voted with their wallets and proved they WANT more diverse characters as standard. Novels lead the way, with breakout successes like Gone Girl and The Hate You Give making huge cultural impacts. Now the screenwriting … Continue reading →

Posted in Backstory, Buying Books, Character Arc, Characters, Cliches, Diversity, Emotion, Reader Feedback, Reader Interest, Reading, Resident Writing Coach, Stereotypes, Story Structure, Tools and Resources, Uncategorized, Writing Craft, Writing Lessons | 8 Comments

Mastering Show, Don’t Tell

Posted on December 5, 2019 by ANGELA ACKERMAN

We hear it over and over: Show, don’t tell. You can’t get away from this advice, not in writing workshops, at conferences, or heck, even when visiting this blog. Writers Helping Writers and the thesaurus work we do is all … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Characters, Mood and Atmosphere, One Stop For Writers, Revision and Editing, Setting, Show Don't Tell, Tools and Resources, Uncategorized, worldbuilding, Writing Craft, Writing Lessons | 12 Comments

Writing Feedback: Should We Seek It Out?

Posted on September 26, 2019 by ANGELA ACKERMAN

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 shelf. Thankfully the slush pile of doom is no longer … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Review, Character Arc, Characters, Critiquing & Critiques, Motivation, One Stop For Writers, Publishing and Self Publishing, Reader Feedback, Reader Interest, Reading, Revision and Editing, Show Don't Tell, Story Structure, Tools and Resources, Uncategorized, Writing Craft, Writing Groups | 4 Comments

When Telling, Not Showing, Emotion is the Right Choice

Posted on August 6, 2019 by ANGELA ACKERMAN

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 than usual but it will give you a good window … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Description, Dialogue, Emotion, Guest Post, Revision and Editing, Show Don't Tell, Tools and Resources, Uncategorized, Writing Craft, Writing Lessons | 11 Comments

One Stop for Writers Now Has a Free Trial!

Posted on July 19, 2019 by ANGELA ACKERMAN

Imagine it: You’re standing there, holding your book. The weight of it. The smoothness of the cover. How the pages flutter as you drag your thumb along their edges. A smile beams out of you. It’s happened–it’s really happened: you … Continue reading →

Posted in About Us, Focus, Goal Setting, One Stop For Writers, Show Don't Tell, Software and Services, Tools and Resources, Uncategorized, Writer's Attitude, Writing Craft, Writing Resources, Writing Time | 3 Comments

The Easiest Way to Plan Characters in a Series: Cloning (Yes, Really!)

Posted on June 27, 2019 by ANGELA ACKERMAN

This spring, Becca and I released two very important tools for writers… The Emotion Thesaurus 2nd edition (expanded by 55 entries) and a Character Builder Tool at One Stop for Writers. These two releases happened within days of each other, … Continue reading →

Posted in Backstory, Basic Human Needs, Character Arc, Character Flaws, Character Traits, Character Wound, Characters, Description, Emotion, Emotion Thesaurus Guide, High Stakes, One Stop For Writers, Series, Software and Services, Tools and Resources, Villains, Writing Craft, Writing Lessons | 2 Comments

5 Writing “Life Lessons” from an Empty Nester Author

Posted on June 13, 2019 by ANGELA ACKERMAN

Recently I entered a new life stage: the Empty Nester parent. My oldest son, following his younger brother’s lead, moved out a few weeks ago while my husband and I were in South America. Now, we’re back…and the house is … Continue reading →

Posted in About Us, Focus, Goal Setting, Motivational, Publishing and Self Publishing, The Business of Writing, Tools and Resources, Writer's Attitude, Writing Groups, Writing Lessons, Writing Resources | 18 Comments

5 Character Tools You Absolutely Need to Know

Posted on April 9, 2019 by ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela here, happy to welcome Savannah Cordova from Reedsy back to the blog, who has done some sleuthing to find some interesting tools that might help you with your characters, everything from those that help you play around with ideas … Continue reading →

Posted in Backstory, Character Arc, Character Traits, Characters, Experiments, Guest Post, Stereotypes, Tools and Resources, Uncategorized, Villains, Writing Craft, Writing Resources | 11 Comments

New Release: The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression (2nd Edition)!

Posted on February 19, 2019 by ANGELA ACKERMAN

Today’s the day: The Emotion Thesaurus (Second Edition) enters the world! Over the years, many of you have written to us about the impact our book has had on your writing. Whenever we hear that your editor is commenting on … Continue reading →

Posted in Contests, Emotion, Emotion Thesaurus Guide, Past Events, Tools and Resources, Uncategorized, Writing Craft, Writing Lessons, Writing Resources | 39 Comments

Top Gifts For Writers: 2018 Edition

Posted on December 6, 2018 by ANGELA ACKERMAN

It’s that time again! Shopping for people can be crazy-making, except when it comes to writers. Then it’s  a super fun time, because there are just so many neat, fun, thoughtful gifts we can pass on to our writing friends…or … Continue reading →

Posted in About Us, Buying Books, One Stop For Writers, Software and Services, Stocking Stuffers, Tools and Resources, Uncategorized, Writing Craft, Writing Resources | 1 Comment