Writers Helping Writers^®

Characters

4 Tips for Successfully Writing Picture Books

August 6, 2026

4 Tips for Successfully Writing Picture Books

August 6, 2026

Did you know I cut my teeth writing picture books? Well, technically, my first attempt was a chapter book. I didn’t bother doing any research; as a first grade teacher,…

Strengthen Your Story by Throwing Rocks at Your Characters

July 30, 2026

Strengthen Your Story by Throwing Rocks at Your Characters

July 30, 2026

If there’s one thing we all know, it’s that life is stressful. Each day, we’re bombarded with obstacles, challenges, and upsets. We navigate what we can, go to bed, and…

Last Chance to Grab the Phobias & Triggers Mini Guide

July 28, 2026

Last Chance to Grab the Phobias & Triggers Mini Guide

July 28, 2026

Have you ever read a story where a phobia is a plot device for why a character can’t do something (say, travel by boat), or conveys comedic irony (a building…

How to Write Unique, Memorable Character Voices

July 7, 2026

How to Write Unique, Memorable Character Voices

July 7, 2026

Your character’s voice is the reader’s guide through your story. Readers hear your character in their head before they see them in their mind’s eye. A well-developed character voice stays…

How to Twist Office Romance Into Fresh Conflict

June 25, 2026

How to Twist Office Romance Into Fresh Conflict

June 25, 2026

Have you ever gone to a new restaurant, ordered a burger, and discovered it has some sort of luscious, zippy sauce that elevates the entire meal into the ecstasy zone?…

The Emotion Thesaurus is Amazon’s Daily Kindle Deal (1.49) + a Discount on Character Thesaurus eBooks

June 25, 2026

The Emotion Thesaurus is Amazon’s Daily Kindle Deal (1.49) + a Discount on Character Thesaurus eBooks

June 25, 2026

Great characters aren’t built from a single element. They’re shaped by emotions, personality traits, fears, past wounds, goals, and the roles they play in their world. That’s why our character-focused…

A Mother Lode of Resources on Character Fear

May 21, 2026

A Mother Lode of Resources on Character Fear

May 21, 2026

Writing The Fear Thesaurus taught us so much about the psychology of fear and how that translates for our characters. The difference between minor and deep fears, the role fear…

The Art of Withholding Information

May 19, 2026

The Art of Withholding Information

May 19, 2026

As authors we hold all the cards when it comes to how and when we reveal key information to our readers. Withholding certain details can create intrigue and set up…

The Fear Thesaurus Is Now Available Everywhere + a Giveaway!

May 12, 2026

The Fear Thesaurus Is Now Available Everywhere + a Giveaway!

May 12, 2026

Fear is more than just an emotion–it’s also a powerful internal warning system. When a threat is perceived, fear kicks in, alerting a character to possible danger so they can…

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…