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How Fear Takes Over a Character’s Body & Brain

November 12, 2026

How Fear Takes Over a Character’s Body & Brain

November 12, 2026

Fear is more than an emotion; it’s a built-in survival mechanism that alerts a person to danger, kicking off a chain reaction of automatic body responses. This reaction—a hammering heart…

Win Feedback on Your First 1500 Words

November 5, 2026

Win Feedback on Your First 1500 Words

November 5, 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,…

7 Techniques for Drawing Out Tension in Fear-Driven Scenes

October 29, 2026

7 Techniques for Drawing Out Tension in Fear-Driven Scenes

October 29, 2026

Fear is a strong emotion that creates tension in a scene, and that makes it a strong storytelling tool. When characters feel threatened—physically, emotionally, or psychologically—the stakes rise, survival instincts…

Meet Our Amazing New Blog Coordinator: Julie Glover

October 22, 2026

Meet Our Amazing New Blog Coordinator: Julie Glover

October 22, 2026

If there’s one thing authors know, it’s the value of help. We all wear hats–so many hats!–to match the roles of this job: writer, researcher, marketer, strategist, business manager, accountant,…

Using Character Tropes the Right Way

October 15, 2026

Using Character Tropes the Right Way

October 15, 2026

Character tropes get a bad rap. These familiar character types show up in stories everywhere, making them very recognizable. This makes some writers worry that using them will create clichés…

Why Flexibility Matters for Pantsers AND Plotters

October 13, 2026

Why Flexibility Matters for Pantsers AND Plotters

October 13, 2026

Most writers who consider themselves as either pantsers or plotters tend to believe they can only be one thing: This is just how I’m wired. Once a pantser, always a…

Win Feedback on Your First Five Pages!

October 8, 2026

Win Feedback on Your First Five Pages!

October 8, 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,…

Celebrating 11 Years at One Stop for Writers!

October 6, 2026

Celebrating 11 Years at One Stop for Writers!

October 6, 2026

Happy Birthday, One Stop for Writers! Eleven years ago, Becca and I launched One Stop for Writers® on a mission: to make the process of writing a book easier. We…

How to Return to a Manuscript After Taking a Break

October 1, 2026

How to Return to a Manuscript After Taking a Break

October 1, 2026

Every writer hits a point where they have to take a break from their manuscript. Whether your day job ramped up, the kids needed more attention, or someone’s health went…

Meet Our 2026-2027 Resident Writing Coaches!

September 29, 2026

Meet Our 2026-2027 Resident Writing Coaches!

September 29, 2026

It’s time for another season of our Resident Writing Coach Program, where we invite wicked-smart writing experts to share their wisdom and experience, helping you to grow your story skills,…