Writers Helping Writers^®

Writing Lessons

The Revision Circle: Does My Story Have Too Many Problems?

December 13, 2016

The Revision Circle: Does My Story Have Too Many Problems?

December 13, 2016

I’m so excited to join WHW as a Resident Writing Coach (because Angela and Becca are awesome—am I right?). *smile* If you’re not familiar with me, I’m Jami Gold, and…

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…

5 Visualization Techniques to Help Your Writing Craft

November 17, 2016

5 Visualization Techniques to Help Your Writing Craft

November 17, 2016

Happy to welcome high-performance coach and author Nina Amir and her brainstorming techniques. Plot. Scene. Character. Setting. Point of view. Theme. Literary devices. You’ve studied and practiced how to write…

Mastering Stylistic Tension

November 8, 2016

Mastering Stylistic Tension

November 8, 2016

One of the first things writers learn is to start a story with conflict. Some writers have bombs go off. Others start with a death. Or a break-up. But over…

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…

Finding Your Way Into Your Story

October 18, 2016

Finding Your Way Into Your Story

October 18, 2016

I recently avoided a workshop assignment that should have been completed in no more than an hour because I couldn’t find a way into my story. This workshop generates significant,…

New: A Resident Writing Coach Program

October 11, 2016

New: A Resident Writing Coach Program

October 11, 2016

Our mission, as you all know, is to help our visitors become stronger writers. And while we do our best to craft insightful posts week after week, we also believe…

The Swiss Army Knife of Storytellers Is the Setting

September 15, 2016

The Swiss Army Knife of Storytellers Is the Setting

September 15, 2016

Writing the Urban and Rural Setting Thesaurus books taught Becca and me something big: the Setting is the Swiss Army Knife of Storytelling. Yes, it’s the truth. Because your setting…

Hunting Down Plot Holes & Inconsistencies In a Story

September 13, 2016

Hunting Down Plot Holes & Inconsistencies In a Story

September 13, 2016

Please welcome author David Stafford as he’s tackling something we all wrestle with: Plot Holes and Descriptive Inconsistencies. Plot holes are disastrous,as are inconsistencies around characters and setting. These gaps…