Writers Helping Writers^®

Characters

5 Ways to Approach Your Novel Like a Trial Lawyer

January 17, 2023

5 Ways to Approach Your Novel Like a Trial Lawyer

January 17, 2023

So much about good storytelling mirrors the way a lawyer might lay out the case for their client. Our job as writers is to select events and characters that reveal…

Writing Insecure Characters

January 12, 2023

Writing Insecure Characters

January 12, 2023

Angela Ackerman and I got our start telling anyone who was interested (and some who weren’t) what we’d learned about the importance of showing a character’s feelings. So I’ll start…

Writers, Have You Watched This Free Webinar on Reader Engagement?

December 20, 2022

Writers, Have You Watched This Free Webinar on Reader Engagement?

December 20, 2022

Hi lovely folks! We know that the clock is ticking down to the holidays, and it’s easy to lose track of everything, so Becca and I wanted to remind you…

How to Use Real Life to Inspire Your Fiction

December 15, 2022

How to Use Real Life to Inspire Your Fiction

December 15, 2022

The memoir section in any book shop is made of writers who have done outlandish, shocking or terrible things (or had them done to them). These books are popular because…

A Gift for You: Secrets to Engaging Readers (Webinar Recording)

December 8, 2022

A Gift for You: Secrets to Engaging Readers (Webinar Recording)

December 8, 2022

This time of year, we usually host a spectacular giveaway called Advent Calendar for Writers, and you may have noticed it’s missing this go-around. I’ll be honest – life’s been…

Writing Antagonists Readers Can’t Help But Like

December 1, 2022

Writing Antagonists Readers Can’t Help But Like

December 1, 2022

There’s a dirty little secret among many of us readers: well-written antagonists get our blood pumping. When a scene come along with them in it, well, we lean closer. Grin…

Game-Changing Creative Tools for New & Advanced Writers

November 25, 2022

Game-Changing Creative Tools for New & Advanced Writers

November 25, 2022

One thing that drives all writers is the desire to create a truly amazing story, one a reader can’t put down or forget. It’s why we’re always learning to deepen…

How to Uncover Your Character’s Inner Conflict

November 10, 2022

How to Uncover Your Character’s Inner Conflict

November 10, 2022

Conflict is a powerful element within the story and can be loosely categorized as either Outer (external) Conflict or Inner (internal) Conflict. The difference is that outer conflict is something…

The Role of Failure (and Conflict) in Character Arc

November 3, 2022

The Role of Failure (and Conflict) in Character Arc

November 3, 2022

The change arc. The process whereby, over the course of a story, the protagonist becomes aware of their weakness and evolves in whatever way is necessary for them to achieve…

Happy 7th Birthday, One Stop for Writers!

October 4, 2022

Happy 7th Birthday, One Stop for Writers!

October 4, 2022

It’s hard to believe another year has passed, but it’s birthday time again. One Stop for Writers is seven!Over the years, Becca and I have stuffed this web app with…