Writers Helping Writers^®

Backstory

Character Introductions: Making the Right Impression

June 9, 2020

Character Introductions: Making the Right Impression

June 9, 2020

Many aspects of writing can be hard to get right, especially in our first draft. For just two examples: With our story beginning, we might struggle to find a good…

Character Building: How Much Planning Should I Do? (PART 1)

May 26, 2020

Character Building: How Much Planning Should I Do? (PART 1)

May 26, 2020

Not sure how much brainstorming needs to go into each character? You’re not alone. It’s a struggle for many, and unfortunately, there’s no single “right” answer. It really depends on…

What Is Emotional Context And Why Does Your Story Need It?

April 21, 2020

What Is Emotional Context And Why Does Your Story Need It?

April 21, 2020

Have you ever had an editor or critique partner say “go deeper”? And you throw up your hands and glare at the screen because you DID go deeper. Deep point…

Storytelling Decisions: What’s the Right Pace for Your Story?

March 10, 2020

Storytelling Decisions: What’s the Right Pace for Your Story?

March 10, 2020

As we learn to write, we often hear about the need to create a strong pace in our story. Many seem to think that a strong pace requires a fast…

How a Career Can Reveal Your Character’s Deeper Layers

February 29, 2020

How a Career Can Reveal Your Character’s Deeper Layers

February 29, 2020

Did you know that before Becca became an author and writing coach, she was a teacher? It’s true. And if you know her, you’re probably thinking, I can see that.…

3 Steps To Writing Diverse Characters

December 17, 2019

3 Steps To Writing Diverse Characters

December 17, 2019

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…

Identifying your Character’s Fatal Flaw

October 29, 2019

Identifying your Character’s Fatal Flaw

October 29, 2019

Good characters are often broken characters. They’ve been wounded, and the last thing they want is to be hurt in that particular way again, so they adopt new behaviors—emotional shielding—that are…

Introducing the Character Trait Boxed Set

October 22, 2019

Introducing the Character Trait Boxed Set

October 22, 2019

Full disclosure: Becca and I have been a bit sneaky this year. First, we decided that rather than tell everyone which thesaurus we would publish next we would surprise everyone,…

How Do You Know If Your Protagonist Is Strong Enough?

October 3, 2019

How Do You Know If Your Protagonist Is Strong Enough?

October 3, 2019

You can have an incredibly detailed world, adrenaline-spiking action and jaw-dropping plot twists, but unless the character in the driver’s seat is interesting, layered, and memorable, the story will pancake.…

Using Backward Design to Plan Your Story

September 5, 2019

Using Backward Design to Plan Your Story

September 5, 2019

Angelica Hartgers is here to show how planning your story backward may be a great technique if plotting is something you struggle with. “Begin with the end in mind.” -Stephen…