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Character Arc

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…

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…

Is Fear Weakening Your Story? 5 Mistakes to Check

April 7, 2026

Is Fear Weakening Your Story? 5 Mistakes to Check

April 7, 2026

Writing about your character’s fear can be tricky because it rarely sits out in the open where everyone can see it. Instead, fear is hidden, rationalized, or the character puts…

How Does Fear Play Into Character Arc? Part One

March 31, 2026

How Does Fear Play Into Character Arc? Part One

March 31, 2026

It’s hard to overstate the importance a character’s greatest fear plays in their life. As a key motivator, it informs decision-making, spawns new habits and tendencies, and pushes them to…

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…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Intellectualization

November 29, 2025

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Intellectualization

November 29, 2025

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Spending Time in Nature

November 22, 2025

Coping Mechanism Thesaurus: Spending Time in Nature

November 22, 2025

When a character suffers emotional pain, the brain’s response is to stop the discomfort, and often this results in a coping mechanism being deployed. Whether it’s an automatic response or…

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.…