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Backstory

How to Deliver Important Backstory Using the Setting

September 3, 2026

How to Deliver Important Backstory Using the Setting

September 3, 2026

Backstory is often maligned despite being vital to storytelling. For example, how many times have you heard someone say, “Backstory is bad, strip it from the scene!” or, “Backstory slows…

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…

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…

Fear Thesaurus Expansion at One Stop for Writers + Save 25%

May 5, 2026

Fear Thesaurus Expansion at One Stop for Writers + Save 25%

May 5, 2026

As many of you know, we recently released a new book – The Fear Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to What Holds Characters Back. This volume takes you into the dark…

The Fear Thesaurus Is Here! (Early Release at Writers Helping Writers)

April 15, 2026

The Fear Thesaurus Is Here! (Early Release at Writers Helping Writers)

April 15, 2026

Update: The Fear Thesaurus is now available everywhere books are sold!Find the links for these stores below or visit the official Fear Thesaurus page for more information on formats, retailer…

How Does Fear Play Into Character Arc (Part 2)

April 14, 2026

How Does Fear Play Into Character Arc (Part 2)

April 14, 2026

In last week’s post, we discussed fear’s role in character arc, as well as the backstory elements you should know about your character’s past. Their wounding event, the resulting fear…

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,…