A Closer Look at Our Show-Don't-Tell Database As some of you know, the heart of One Stop For Writers is our signature Descriptive Thesaurus Database. Visitors to this blog (and The Bookshelf Muse before it) have watched Becca and I create highly-sensory, real-life description lists for many … [Read more...] about One Stop For Writers’ Descriptive Thesaurus Database
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Unique Writing Resources: Helpful Checklists and Tip Sheets
Whether we plot or pants (or do something in between), the drafting stage is where we work to put core ideas onto the page. It's a lot of fun because creativity is cranked up and our imaginations are set loose! After all, we know we'll be back to improve everything later. Of course, it's … [Read more...] about Unique Writing Resources: Helpful Checklists and Tip Sheets
Why Is Your Character’s Emotional Wound So Important?
Emotional wounds hold incredible power, steering a hero’s motives, actions, and beliefs. They damage their sense of self worth, filter how they view the world, and dictate how they interact with other people, making it harder for them to achieve their goals. So what exactly is a wound? An … [Read more...] about Why Is Your Character’s Emotional Wound So Important?
Will Readers Find Your Protagonist Worthy?
There are many facets of a strong protagonist. And as we juggle the different pieces of characterization with the goal of building someone truly exceptional, one of the biggest jobs is to make sure readers connect to the protagonist, understand his or her goals, and most importantly, find them worth … [Read more...] about Will Readers Find Your Protagonist Worthy?
ONE STOP FOR WRITERS®
Becca and I are pleased to bring you another resource from Writers Helping Writers® One Stop For Writers® is a web app packed with unique tools and resources to save you time as you plan, research, and write. A powerhouse of writing information, One Stop is the permanent home for our … [Read more...] about ONE STOP FOR WRITERS®
The Connection Between Emotional Wounds and Basic Needs
As many of you may know, we have a new thesaurus, one that looks into a problematic (yet SO important) area: Emotional Wounds. It's somewhat intuitive to see how a traumatic event might spawn specific fears or cause flaws or attributes to form. What isn't quite so clear is the relationship between a … [Read more...] about The Connection Between Emotional Wounds and Basic Needs
Emotional Wounds Entry: Watching A Loved One Die
When you're writing a character, it's important to know why she is the way she is. Knowing her backstory is important to achieving this end, and one of the most impactful pieces of a character's backstory is her emotional wound. This negative experience from the past … [Read more...] about Emotional Wounds Entry: Watching A Loved One Die
How To Uncover Your Character’s Emotional Wound
To build a compelling character (and write them convincingly) we want to make them real as possible, and that means developing a backstory that lets us understand them on a deeper level. This brainstorming time allows us create their unique personality by seeing how the people and events of their … [Read more...] about How To Uncover Your Character’s Emotional Wound
Ways to Extract Information From Others
I am, frankly, in love with today's post. In every story, there comes a time when your character needs information that someone else has. So how does he go about getting it? The obvious method is to beat the crap out of the other guy. But what if your hero has a glass jaw or faints at the sight of … [Read more...] about Ways to Extract Information From Others
Talents and Skills Thesaurus: Enhanced Hearing
Choosing a talent or skill that fits with your character’s personality, lifestyle, and values can go a long way to helping them break free of the common stereotypes seen so often in fiction. This thesaurus will help you find the perfect quality or two that will show readers your character’s … [Read more...] about Talents and Skills Thesaurus: Enhanced Hearing
Talent and Skills Thesaurus: Psychokinesis
Choosing a talent or skill that fits with your character's personality, lifestyle, and values can go a long way to helping them break free of the common stereotypes seen so often in fiction. This thesaurus will help you find the perfect quality or two that will show readers your character's … [Read more...] about Talent and Skills Thesaurus: Psychokinesis
Talent and Skill Thesaurus: Enhanced Sense of Smell
Choosing a talent or skill that fits with your character's personality, lifestyle, and values can go a long way to helping them break free of the common stereotypes seen so often in fiction. This thesaurus will help you find the perfect quality or two that will show readers your character's … [Read more...] about Talent and Skill Thesaurus: Enhanced Sense of Smell