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How Fear Shrinks Your Character’s World Over Time

March 19, 2026

How Fear Shrinks Your Character’s World Over Time

March 19, 2026

Fear is something we all experience, a psychological early warning system that alerts us to possible danger. When we encounter a situation that contains unknowns, fear kicks in. Even if…

How to Write Authentic Character Behavior

March 5, 2026

How to Write Authentic Character Behavior

March 5, 2026

Some stories stick with us more than others, and why? The characters. They feel so real. How they view life, the way they interact with others, the beliefs that steer…

The Fear Thesaurus Is Coming: A New Writing Guide for What Holds Characters Back

January 29, 2026

The Fear Thesaurus Is Coming: A New Writing Guide for What Holds Characters Back

January 29, 2026

Fear is more than an emotion; it is an underlying force that runs through every story element, including character development, plot, arc, conflict, and theme. It’s what draws readers in,…

Two Craft-Boosting Black Friday Deals for Writers

November 16, 2025

Two Craft-Boosting Black Friday Deals for Writers

November 16, 2025

The best thing about Black Friday sales is how creative folk can finally put themselves first, picking up affordable resources that will make a huge impact on their writing success.…

How To Use Dialogue for Backstory and Worldbuilding—Infodump-Free!

October 21, 2025

How To Use Dialogue for Backstory and Worldbuilding—Infodump-Free!

October 21, 2025

It’s an ongoing struggle for many of us: How do I share backstory and build my world without infodumping (and boring my readers)? One of my favorite—and sometimes overlooked—tools is…

How to Differentiate Stories from AI Slop

September 9, 2025

How to Differentiate Stories from AI Slop

September 9, 2025

Use Context to Deepen Our Writing From AI Slop For as long as I’ve been a writer, I’ve heard the advice, “Only write if you can’t not write.” The idea…

Write a 5-Star Book 2

May 13, 2025

Write a 5-Star Book 2

May 13, 2025

When I set out to write Book 2 in my Fountain series, I made the common mistake of thinking it would be easier than the first one, which took me…

Workshop: How to Write Compelling Inner Conflict with Angela Ackerman

May 9, 2025

Workshop: How to Write Compelling Inner Conflict with Angela Ackerman

May 9, 2025

Ready to dive into your character’s internal struggle and put all that incredible gut-twisting conflict on the page? If so, don’t miss this upcoming Zoom workshop on Saturday, May 24th,…

How to Avoid Flat Characters in Your Story

February 25, 2025

How to Avoid Flat Characters in Your Story

February 25, 2025

Has an editor or critique partner said, “Your character is flat” when offering feedback on your story? Or perhaps they worded it another way: “Your protagonist didn’t grab me,” or…

Making Nice Guys & Girls Realistically Flawed

January 30, 2025

Making Nice Guys & Girls Realistically Flawed

January 30, 2025

We’ve talked a lot around here about why characters need flaws. Those negative traits make characters relatable to readers, they contribute to their arc, and, oh, a whole bunch of…