Writers Helping Writers^®

Emotion

Using Vocal Cues to Show Hidden Emotion

March 31, 2022

Using Vocal Cues to Show Hidden Emotion

March 31, 2022

“My Precious” By Becca Puglisi Any Tolkien fans in the house? I remember, as a teen, reading The Hobbit by the fire on a rare cold evening in Florida. It became a…

Setting Description Mistakes that Weaken a Story

March 29, 2022

Setting Description Mistakes that Weaken a Story

March 29, 2022

When you think about the key elements of storytelling, characters and plot immediately come to mind, but what about the setting? Do you view it as 1) a vital story…

When to Kill a Character

February 22, 2022

Well, Valentine’s Day is in the rearview, so it’s time to move on to a less lovey-dovey topic: killing people. Fictional people, of course! Let’s face it, some of our…

Fear Thesaurus: Failure

February 19, 2022

Debilitating fears are a problem for everyone, an unfortunate part of the human experience. Whether they’re a result of learned behavior as a child, are related to a mental illness,…

Introducing…The Fear Thesaurus!

February 12, 2022

Introducing…The Fear Thesaurus!

February 12, 2022

Fear is an undeniable part of the human experience, for both real and fictional people. At its most basic, it warns our characters of potential danger and encourages them to…

Using Physical Pain to Show a Character’s Past Trauma

January 18, 2022

Using Physical Pain to Show a Character’s Past Trauma

January 18, 2022

There doesn’t seem to be much info out there to tell writers how to realistically capture emotions and trauma while still leaving room for plot, characterization, and genre tropes. The…

How Symbolism Adds Depth to a Story

December 7, 2021

How Symbolism Adds Depth to a Story

December 7, 2021

I think we all agree, stories need to be more than a character, goal, and a series of scenarios that keep the two apart. Reading isn’t a mechanical action after…

How to Show Emotion for Non-Viewpoint Characters

November 16, 2021

How to Show Emotion for Non-Viewpoint Characters

November 16, 2021

Those of you who are familiar with me know that Angela Ackerman and I talk a lot about emotion. A LOT. That’s because we believe that clearly conveying emotion—particularly that of…

5 Ways Trauma Makes Your Character an Unreliable Narrator

October 30, 2021

5 Ways Trauma Makes Your Character an Unreliable Narrator

October 30, 2021

Trauma is defined as anything that’s overwhelming or unpleasant that causes long-term mental or emotional problems. It rewires the brain and causes disordered thinking. So, if you’re looking for a…

Does Your Story Need More Conflict? Tap this Powerful Source

September 2, 2021

Does Your Story Need More Conflict? Tap this Powerful Source

September 2, 2021

Conflict is such a versatile storytelling element. Not only will obstacles, adversaries, and stressors keep tension high and readers focused, they also provide characters with valuable opportunities to prove themselves,…