Writers Helping Writers^®

Motivation

What Does It Mean To “Raise the Stakes”?

March 14, 2017

What Does It Mean To “Raise the Stakes”?

March 14, 2017

Last time I visited, we discussed how understanding the interconnectedness of our story elements can help us with revisions, and today we’re going to dig deeper into one of those…

Does Your Character Description Create A Powerful Image?

February 7, 2017

Does Your Character Description Create A Powerful Image?

February 7, 2017

Your job as a storyteller is to create IMAGES. This is true not just for screenwriters, but for anyone presenting a story to a reader or an audience. Whenever we…

Your Character’s Appearance: Make Each Detail Count

February 2, 2017

Your Character’s Appearance: Make Each Detail Count

February 2, 2017

Describing a character’s physical appearance is a tough job. Most writers either get into it and share every dimple, curl, and laugh line, or they sprinkle in just a few…

5 Things Psychology Can Teach Writers

January 19, 2017

5 Things Psychology Can Teach Writers

January 19, 2017

From our books, most of you know Becca and I love psychology. This is largely because the most captivating fiction pieces are those that closely mirror the real world, especially…

Tips for Weaving Romance into Your Novel

January 3, 2017

Tips for Weaving Romance into Your Novel

January 3, 2017

By C.S. Lakin Romance is a part of life, and so it should also play some part in our novels—if we intend for our characters to mirror real life. Even…

How Character Attributes and Flaws Work Within Character Arc

November 24, 2016

How Character Attributes and Flaws Work Within Character Arc

November 24, 2016

Like real people, characters have mixed personalities that contain both positive traits (attributes) and negative traits (flaws). Flaws are especially interesting as they develop when a person has experienced a…

Understanding Inner Conflict with Story Expert Michael Hauge

November 1, 2016

Understanding Inner Conflict with Story Expert Michael Hauge

November 1, 2016

All stories are built on a foundation of three basic components: character, desire, and conflict. A hero or protagonist desperately wants something, and must overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve…

How to Choose Settings that Have Emotional Impact

October 20, 2016

How to Choose Settings that Have Emotional Impact

October 20, 2016

Generic settings won’t cut it if you want readers to feel the story–instead, your locations need emotional impact as this immerses them better in the point-of-view character’s experience. Shared experiences…

Show Character Depth by Challenging Their Moral Beliefs

May 28, 2016

Show Character Depth by Challenging Their Moral Beliefs

May 28, 2016

When we start brainstorming a character, we usually focus on their traits—qualities, flaws, quirks, habits, likes, and dislikes. Then we dig deeper, building out their backstory: who influenced them, what…

How Your Character’s Failures Can Map A Route To Self-Growth

March 2, 2016

How Your Character’s Failures Can Map A Route To Self-Growth

March 2, 2016

Failure is one thing no one looks forward to nor wants to experience. It doesn’t feel good to work at something only to fail. When we fail, a knot of…