Writers Helping Writers^®

Character Traits

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,…

The Easiest Way to Plan Characters in a Series: Cloning (Yes, Really!)

June 27, 2019

The Easiest Way to Plan Characters in a Series: Cloning (Yes, Really!)

June 27, 2019

This spring, Becca and I released two very important tools for writers… The Emotion Thesaurus 2nd edition (expanded by 55 entries) and a Character Builder Tool at One Stop for…

Contrasting and Condensing Characters: Two Sides to One Coin

May 21, 2019

Contrasting and Condensing Characters: Two Sides to One Coin

May 21, 2019

Good characterization is an enigma: it happens in the minutia, with the details we choose for our cast members, but it also happens on the macro level, with how we…

5 Character Tools You Absolutely Need to Know

April 9, 2019

5 Character Tools You Absolutely Need to Know

April 9, 2019

Angela here, happy to welcome Savannah Cordova from Reedsy who has done some sleuthing to find tools that might help you create your characters. Play around with ideas, or take…

Introducing One Stop for Writers’ Character Builder

February 14, 2019

Introducing One Stop for Writers’ Character Builder

February 14, 2019

If you’re like me, you get pretty serious about creating characters who leap off the page. That’s why you’re going to love this new character design tool. At One Stop…

The Key Components of a Compelling Character (According to Psychology)

January 23, 2019

The Key Components of a Compelling Character (According to Psychology)

January 23, 2019

We’re fascinated by our fellow humans. In fact, we have a profound desire to try and understand the thoughts and feelings bouncing around other people, the characters on TV…the hero…

Spy Novels: How to Nail The Character of an Espionage Hero

July 12, 2018

Spy Novels: How to Nail The Character of an Espionage Hero

July 12, 2018

Great treat for you today–Piper Bayard (of Bayard & Holmes) is digging into what an espionage character should look like. And she should know, because her co-author, Jay Holmes…well, read…

Build Character Empathy in Your First Few Pages

May 29, 2018

Build Character Empathy in Your First Few Pages

May 29, 2018

You may not be aware, but I’m kind of obsessed with first pages and chapters. They’re not the end-all-be-all for keeping your audience engaged, but it’s definitely true that if…

Deepening Character Complexity with the Help of Psychology

April 3, 2018

Deepening Character Complexity with the Help of Psychology

April 3, 2018

Psychologists will often conduct a case formulation when a client presents in our office. If we want to be part of the change the client is seeking, then we have…

Quieter Protagonists: 3 Ways to Help Them Steal the Stage

March 20, 2018

Quieter Protagonists: 3 Ways to Help Them Steal the Stage

March 20, 2018

While readers love to see larger-than-life characters with passion, take-charge attitudes, and heaps of boldness and daring, not every protagonist wears an extrovert skin. In fact, looking at real-life demographics…