Angela Ackerman's Blog: Writers Helping Writers, page 10

How to Leverage Humanity to Outshine AI-Generated Books

AI is reshaping the book industry, and writers are polarized; some have integrated AI into their writing process while others refuse to. No matter which camp you align with I’m sure you share a growing concern: creatives are not the only ones publishing books. Thanks to AI tools, anyone with a keyboard can slap something together (sometimes ripping off the original), leading to a surge of AI-generated books.

Oh, but the books are bad. They don’t matter.

Are they all bad? And even if they are, will they remain that way? The hard reality is that it is the nature of AI to improve and refine, and so improve and refine it will. In the meantime, quality books become harder to find because this AI side hustle is picking up steam. Writers are beginning to worry about having to compete with AI-generated books.

So, is the board set against us–should we give up writing? Heck no! Instead, we write better books by leaning into our strengths and harnessing the one thing AI can���t compete with: being human. Here���s how.

1: Write about human experiences

AI absorbs knowledge about people and learns how to write scenes by training itself on works of fiction. But when it comes to the experience of being human, AI can only mimic. So, put your innate understanding of humanity onto the page. Let your own life experiences guide you in showing the rawness of vulnerability, the subtleties of emotion, and the profound depth of human needs in your characters. Be unafraid to go deep inside yourself. What questions keep you up at night? What thoughts and worries about the world weigh you down? Chances are, your readers have similar questions, so make them feel seen by weaving these into your story.

Consider the duality of life. On the surface, people present an ‘everyday’ version of themselves���their jobs, choices, routines, and social interactions. Yet beneath lies a more complex and private being, one who wrestles with questions of identity, purpose, and belonging. Write characters with this same hidden self, complete with unique doubts, fears, and unspoken dreams. Readers will feel drawn to them, and relate because this deeper, human side mirrors their own.

Another reason to double down on human elements in stories? As customer service bots, AI social profiles, generated videos, news, etc. become commonplace, the world starts to feel artificial. People will crave authenticity and you can give it to them.

2: Share your worldview, culture, identity, and lived truth

You are the subject matter expert in your lived experience, not AI, so consider how you can bring something special to a story. Whether it���s a window into your culture or religion, a worldview based on experiences or identity, or something else like a personal hardship, upbringing, or belief, readers recognize the authority behind a true-to-life portrayal.

AI can write generically about these things using information within its datasets, but only humans can capture a lived truth. So write characters and situations that are echoes of your own life. Bring readers in close so they experience things that come from first-hand knowledge.

3: Master your craft in areas best suited to showcase human elements

A misconception (long before AI) among some novice writers was that they didn’t need to learn how to write well because that was an editor’s job. This led to a painful lesson when reputable editors wouldn’t touch their manuscripts or the cost to do so was too high, causing them to seek cheaper options or a vanity press. Either way, the writer ended up with a poor-quality book.

Thankfully most writers understand that writing well means putting in the work. But some do treat AI like it’s a magic genie, and this laziness affects the quality of their stories. So keep learning your craft, especially in areas that help you showcase human elements readers are hardwired to connect to. For example:

1) Voice. Learn all there is to know about developing your author voice and creating authentic voices for your characters. Write characters who reveal their individuality through observations, actions, and decisions. This is where your story can stand out.

2) Description (especially the art of show, not tell). Being able to describe sensory details, use metaphor, symbolism, etc. to imply something deeper, and bring a character���s authentic emotions to the surface will draw readers in and convey authenticity in a way AI writing cannot.

3) Inner Conflict. A character���s personal struggles illustrate the complexity of being human in a powerful way. Sure, AI can rehash common problems, but only humans can draw from their experiences to create relatable internal battles. Learning how to write about internal conflict to accurately show a character’s clash of fears, desires, needs, duties, and beliefs is well worth the investment.

4) Character Arc. Study character arc and what it will specifically look like for a character. What personal epiphanies will help them move past old hurts and break free of fear? How have they been viewing life and themselves wrong? How must they change and grow to achieve a happier, more fulfilling life? What do the steps of self-examination, personal realizations, and renewed self-belief look like for them?

It may seem like a lot of questions, but the answers give you the knowledge you need to write an authentic journey of highs and lows that readers will connect to. Alternatively, you should know what failure, unfulfillment, and unhappiness will look like for a character because people never make good decisions all the time. Fear and making mistakes can chain them to failure, and if they can’t break free of it, you need to be able to show that, too.

5) Psychology. It may not seem like a traditional writing element, but it is. The more you understand how people think, feel, and behave and why, two incredible things happen. First, you���ll create more complex, authentic characters whose actions, choices, and decisions line up with who they are. Second, you’ll see how to weave elements about the character���s life, journey, and inner struggles in a way that resonates, encouraging readers to connect more deeply with the characters and your story. ��

If you’ve read any books in our Writers Helping Writers Thesaurus series, you know how much Becca and I focus on psychology and human emotion. This is why. AI will apply psychology too, but not like you and me because it only has clinical knowledge, not personal experience. And that makes a big difference!

4: Shake it up and experiment

AI likes to draw from character tropes, predictable plots, devices, and story patterns, so color outside the lines! Blend genres and story elements. Shatter stereotypes and twist tropes. Be original and bold as you write, and use craft to serve your vision of the story.

5: Embrace one of your greatest human strengths: adaptability

We enter this career path knowing it won’t be easy. But like our characters, we must find a way forward when things get hard. AI-generated books are causing problems for us, yes, but as they get better, so will we. Learning our craft and leveraging our human knowledge and experiences will help us distance ourselves from the generic stories others churn out.

Worried about the future of writing?

Let that go. You can’t control how AI is used but you can adapt how you write to compete with AI-generated books.

Include human elements. Use your story as a mirror to reflect the reader���s hidden self–their hopes and dreams, perspectives and questions. Leverage your humanity to outshine AI!

Remember, readers love to read and great stories will always be in demand!

The post How to Leverage Humanity to Outshine AI-Generated Books appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

How to Leverage Humanity to Outshine AI Books

AI is reshaping the book industry, and writers are polarized; some have integrated AI into their writing process while others refuse to. No matter which camp you align with I’m sure you share a growing concern: creatives are not the only ones publishing books. Thanks to AI tools, anyone with a keyboard can slap something together (sometimes ripping off the original), leading to a surge of AI-generated books.

Oh, but the books are bad. They don’t matter.

Are they all bad? And even if they are, will they remain that way? The hard reality is that it is the nature of AI to improve and refine, and so improve and refine it will. In the meantime, quality books become harder to find because this AI side hustle is picking up steam. Writers are beginning to worry about having to compete with AI-generated books.

So, is the board set against us–should we give up writing? Heck no! Instead, we write better books by leaning into our strengths and harnessing the one thing AI can���t compete with: being human. Here���s how.

1: Write about human experiences

AI absorbs knowledge about people and learns how to write scenes by training itself on works of fiction. But when it comes to the experience of being human, AI can only mimic. So, put your innate understanding of humanity onto the page. Let your own life experiences guide you in showing the rawness of vulnerability, the subtleties of emotion, and the profound depth of human needs in your characters. Be unafraid to go deep inside yourself. What questions keep you up at night? What thoughts and worries about the world weigh you down? Chances are, your readers have similar questions, so make them feel seen by weaving these into your story.

Consider the duality of life. On the surface, people present an ‘everyday’ version of themselves���their jobs, choices, routines, and social interactions. Yet beneath lies a more complex and private being, one who wrestles with questions of identity, purpose, and belonging. Write characters with this same hidden self, complete with unique doubts, fears, and unspoken dreams. Readers will feel drawn to them, and relate because this deeper, human side mirrors their own.

Another reason to double down on human elements in stories? As customer service bots, AI social profiles, generated videos, news, etc. become commonplace, the world starts to feel artificial. People will crave authenticity and you can give it to them.

2: Share your worldview, culture, identity, and lived truth

You are the subject matter expert in your lived experience, not AI, so consider how you can bring something special to a story. Whether it���s a window into your culture or religion, a worldview based on experiences or identity, or something else like a personal hardship, upbringing, or belief, readers recognize the authority behind a true-to-life portrayal.

AI can write generically about these things using information within its datasets, but only humans can capture a lived truth. So write characters and situations that are echoes of your own life. Bring readers in close so they experience things that come from first-hand knowledge.

3: Master your craft in areas best suited to showcase human elements

A misconception (long before AI) among some novice writers was that they didn’t need to learn how to write well because that was an editor’s job. This led to a painful lesson when reputable editors wouldn’t touch their manuscripts or the cost to do so was too high, causing them to seek cheaper options or a vanity press. Either way, the writer ended up with a poor-quality book.

Thankfully most writers understand that writing well means putting in the work. But some do treat AI like it’s a magic genie, and this laziness affects the quality of their stories. So keep learning your craft, especially in areas that help you showcase human elements readers are hardwired to connect to. For example:

1) Voice. Learn all there is to know about developing your author voice and creating authentic voices for your characters. Write characters who reveal their individuality through observations, actions, and decisions. This is where your story can stand out.

2) Description (especially the art of show, not tell). Being able to describe sensory details, use metaphor, symbolism, etc. to imply something deeper, and bring a character���s authentic emotions to the surface will draw readers in and convey authenticity in a way AI writing cannot.

3) Inner Conflict. A character���s personal struggles illustrate the complexity of being human in a powerful way. Sure, AI can rehash common problems, but only humans can draw from their experiences to create relatable internal battles. Learning how to write about internal conflict to accurately show a character’s clash of fears, desires, needs, duties, and beliefs is well worth the investment.

4) Character Arc. Study character arc and what it will specifically look like for a character. What personal epiphanies will help them move past old hurts and break free of fear? How have they been viewing life and themselves wrong? How must they change and grow to achieve a happier, more fulfilling life? What do the steps of self-examination, personal realizations, and renewed self-belief look like for them?

It may seem like a lot of questions, but the answers give you the knowledge you need to write an authentic journey of highs and lows that readers will connect to. Alternatively, you should know what failure, unfulfillment, and unhappiness will look like for a character because people never make good decisions all the time. Fear and making mistakes can chain them to failure, and if they can’t break free of it, you need to be able to show that, too.

4: Psychology. It may not seem like a traditional writing element, but it is. The more you understand how people think, feel, and behave and why, two incredible things happen. First, you���ll create more complex, authentic characters whose actions, choices, and decisions line up with who they are. Second, you’ll see how to weave elements about the character���s life, journey, and inner struggles in a way that resonates, encouraging readers to connect more deeply with the characters and your story.  

If you’ve read any books in our Writers Helping Writers Thesaurus series, you know how much Becca and I focus on psychology and human emotion. This is why. AI will apply psychology too, but not like you and me because it only has clinical knowledge, not personal experience. And that makes a big difference!

5: Experiment. AI likes to draw from character tropes, predictable plots, devices, and story patterns, so color outside the lines! Blend genres and story elements. Shatter stereotypes and twist tropes. Be original and bold as you write, and use craft to serve your vision of the story.

Finally, embrace one of your greatest human strengths: adaptability! We enter this career path knowing it won’t be easy. But like our characters, we must find a way forward when things get hard. AI-generated books are causing problems for us, yes, but as they get better, so will we. Learning our craft and leveraging our human knowledge and experiences will help us distance ourselves from the generic stories others churn out.

Worried about the future of writing?

Let that go. You can’t control how AI is used but you can adapt how you write to compete with AI-generated books.

Include human elements. Use your story as a mirror to reflect the reader���s hidden self–their hopes and dreams, perspectives and questions. Leverage your humanity to outshine AI!

Remember, readers love to read and great stories will always be in demand!

The post How to Leverage Humanity to Outshine AI Books appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

How to Write Intense Scenes That Captivate Readers

Writing intense scenes can be one of the most exciting parts of storytelling. Whether it���s a gripping fight, a romantic encounter that leaves hearts racing, or an emotional moment that hits readers hard, these scenes pull readers in and keep them hooked. But creating truly intense moments takes more than just throwing in action or dramatic emotions. It���s about pacing, sensory details, and staying true to your character.

Fight Scenes: Keep It Clear and High-Stakes

Fight scenes grab attention because they often mean danger or life-and-death moments. But too much focus on body movements or external conflict can make things feel off. To keep things gripping, focus on what���s at stake and how the characters internally react to the fight. Don���t overcomplicate things with unnecessary details���keep the action clear and immediate.

For example, instead of writing: John lunged forward with a feral scream, his fist flying crashing against Mark���s jaw with the force of a freight train. Blood sprayed like a crimson fountain, painting the air in a ghastly tableau.

Try: John lunged forward, his fist connecting with Mark���s jaw. Mark staggered back, tasting blood. He couldn���t afford to go down���not now.

The second version cuts the fluff and keeps readers focused on the action and its impact. By keeping the description tight and concentrating on the immediate stakes, you can make readers feel every hit and every moment of tension.

Romantic Scenes: Go for Subtlety and Sensory Details

When writing passionate scenes, it���s easy to slip into over-the-top territory. Instead, focus on the connection between characters and use sensory details to make it feel real. A well-written romantic scene doesn���t need to scream its intensity���it should evoke the tension and vulnerability in the moment.

You can show the tension and vulnerability through small gestures and understated emotions.

For example, instead of writing: Their lips met in a fiery explosion of desire, their hearts beating as one in the eternal dance of passion.

Try: She hesitated for a moment, her breath catching as his hand brushed her cheek. When their lips finally met, it was slow, tentative���as if neither was sure whether they were ready for the storm they were about to unleash.

This second version feels more genuine because it builds on the characters��� hesitation and the sensory experience. Readers don���t need grand declarations of passion���they need to feel the connection through small, meaningful details.

Emotional Scenes: Let Tension Build

Emotional moments work best when they���re given time to grow. Jumping straight into high emotions can feel jarring, so it���s important to let the tension simmer. Build up to those big emotional beats by showing small actions, bits of dialogue, and even silences.

For example, instead of writing: “You never loved me!” Sarah screamed, tears streaming down her face like rivers. “I gave you everything, and you threw it all away!”

Try: Sarah stood in the doorway, her hands trembling. “I don���t understand,” she said quietly. “I gave you everything. Was it not enough?”

By letting Sarah���s pain emerge gradually through her quiet words and trembling hands, the scene feels more authentic. Readers can sense the buildup of emotions without being hit over the head with melodrama.

Decision Scenes: Show the Inner Conflict

When characters have to make a tough call, the intensity comes from their internal struggle and the pressure of the situation. To capture this well, use short, sharp sentences and show the character���s thought process without over-explaining their feelings.

For example, instead of writing: David clutched his head, torn between two impossible choices. His mind screamed at him to act, but his heart was frozen in fear. “What do I do? What do I do?” he muttered, over and over.

Try: David stared at the two paths ahead. One meant safety. The other, everything he cared about. His hands clenched into fists. He didn���t have time to think���only to choose.

This version creates tension by focusing on David���s immediate dilemma and keeping the language direct. Readers can feel his urgency without being bogged down by too much internal monologue.

General Strategies for Writing Intense Scenes

Trust your readers to understand the emotions without spelling everything out. Instead of telling them how a character feels, show it through actions, dialogue, and reactions. Use strong verbs to convey action and emotion, and engage the senses to draw readers fully into the scene. Remember, not every moment has to be high-energy. Sometimes, quiet moments of reflection or tension make the intense parts stand out even more.

Intense scenes are all about keeping readers hooked and evoking emotion. Don���t be afraid to dive into the deeper layers of your character���just make sure it feels real and earned. By focusing on pacing, sensory details, and character reactions, you can create scenes that stick with readers long after they finish the story.

The post How to Write Intense Scenes That Captivate Readers appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Knowing About a Cover-Up

What secret is your character keeping? Why are they safeguarding it? What���s at stake if it���s discovered? Does it need to come out at some point, or should it remain hidden?

This is some of the important information you need to know about your character���s secrets���and they will have secrets, because everyone does. They���re thorny little time bombs composed of fear, deceit, stress, and conflict that, when detonated, threaten to destroy everything the character holds dear.

So, of course, you should assemble them. And we can���t wait to help.

This thesaurus provides brainstorming fodder for a host of secrets that could plague your character. Use it to explore possible secrets, their underlying causes, how they might play into the overall story, and how to realistically write a character who is hiding them���all while establishing reader empathy and interest.

For instance, let���s see what it might look like if your character���

Knows About a Cover-Up

ABOUT THIS SECRET: There are plenty of legitimate reasons for a character to hide their knowledge of a big cover-up. Fear of repercussions from powerful players or the law can make silence feel like the safest choice, even if it means ignoring their own moral compass or turning a blind eye to the fallout for others. Despite misgivings, their belief that revealing the cover-up will cause more harm than good can motivate them to keep this secret until circumstances dictate otherwise.

SPECIFIC��FEARS��THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: A Loved One Dying, Being Attacked, Being Labeled, Being Separated from Loved Ones, Being Taken Advantage of, Being Unsafe, Being Watched, Conflict, Death, Government, Letting Others Down, Losing Autonomy, Losing One���s Mind, Losing One���s Social Standing, Losing the Respect of Others, Not Being Believed, One���s Instincts Being Unreliable, Rejection, Trusting Others

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Experiencing strained relationships with partners or family members who notice their evasive behavior and secrecy
Being plagued with self-doubt (Did I really see that? Am I reading too much into things?), causing them to questions their instincts
Paranoia making them distrust everyone

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Distancing themselves from anyone or anything associated with the cover-up
Compartmentalizing their feelings about the cover-up to protect their mental health and avoid slip-ups
Destroying evidence of their involvement in or knowledge of the situation

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
Becoming paranoid about being followed, erasing digital footprints, or avoiding certain people or places
Drastically changing habits, relationships, or career paths to distance themselves from the incident
Avoiding people, businesses, or organizations they used to embrace

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE��
Being directly questioned by someone investigating the cover-up
Being scapegoated by an involved party or former ally
Realizing the disastrous extent of the fallout if the situation isn���t brought to light

Other Secret Thesaurus entries can be found here. Need More Descriptive Help?

While this thesaurus is still being developed, the rest of our descriptive collection (18 unique thesauri and growing) is accessible through the One Stop for Writers THESAURUS database.

If you like, swing by and check out the video walkthrough for this site, then give our Free Trial a spin.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Knowing About a Cover-Up appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

How to Find Your Writing Niche and Connect with the Right Readers

It���s not easy finding new readers these days.

The secret to drawing just the right readers your way might be finding your niche.

A niche isn’t just your genre���it’s the unique angle, theme, or audience focus that makes your writing distinct. It sets you apart and makes marketing feel natural rather than awkward.

Here���s why having a niche matters and how to get started finding yours.

Why Finding Your Niche is Critical

Many writers I���ve talked to don���t think they need a niche. If you���re selling a lot of books and finding it easy to market, then you probably don���t have to worry about it.

If you���re struggling to market your work, though, and you���re tired of creating ���buy my book��� posts, a niche might be just what you need.

1. It Helps You Stand Out

Both brick-and-mortar and online bookstores are crowded. Finding your niche helps prevent your voice from getting lost in the shuffle.

Instead of being a fantasy writer, imagine being known for your magical retellings of ancient myths or deeply emotional stories exploring family dynamics. A niche highlights what makes your work unique, making it easier for readers to find and remember you.

2. It Attracts the Right Readers

We all want everyone to like our books, but we know that’s unrealistic. We need to find those unique readers who will be big fans of our stories.

A clear niche helps you focus on readers who are most likely to love your work. The more specific you are, the more likely you will grab the right person’s attention.

For example, if you write cozy mysteries with a culinary twist, you’re more likely to attract readers who adore mysteries and cooking. These readers will enjoy your work and be more likely to recommend it to others.

3. It Simplifies Your Marketing

This may be the best benefit of having a niche.

Marketing books is challenging for writers. Most of us aren’t naturally inclined to be good marketers, and we often feel uncomfortable trying to sell our stuff.

A niche allows us to naturally communicate with readers about what we’re doing. When we talk about our niche, we can focus on what we’re passionate about, and that will be attractive to others interested in the same types of things.

When you know your niche, you always have something to talk about that aligns with your audience���s interests. That means you can stop struggling with what to post about today!

Common Misconceptions About Niches

Myth: A niche limits your creativity.

Truth: A niche actually frees you to focus and grow while still allowing room for future exploration.

Myth: You���ll lose potential readers by narrowing down.

Truth: You’ll gain loyal readers who are genuinely excited about your work and are more likely to support your career.

Myth: Your niche has to be permanent.

Truth: Your niche can evolve as you grow as a writer. Think of it as a foundation you can build on rather than a box to stay inside.

What Happens When You Don���t Have a Niche

When you don���t have a niche, you may fall into some of these traps:

Scattershot Marketing: Without a clear niche, your promotional efforts may feel inconsistent and fail to resonate with potential readers.Lack of Connection: Readers won���t know what to expect from you, making it harder to build a loyal fanbase.Missed Opportunities: Writers without a niche often fail to capitalize on the unique aspects of their work that could set them apart.How to Start Finding Your Niche: 3 Actionable Steps

If you���re convinced that you need a niche, your next question is probably, ���How do I find one that works for me?���

Here���s how you can get started.

1. What are you passionate about?

Start by asking yourself:

What topics or themes do I love exploring in my writing?What kinds of stories or ideas excite me the most?What feedback have I received about my writing strengths (e.g., dialogue, world-building, character development)?

Write down your answers and look for patterns. For example, if you notice a recurring interest in historical settings and strong female leads, your niche might involve feminist historical fiction. That���s only a start, though. You���ll want to go deeper, so continue with the next set of questions.

2. Define Your Ideal Reader

Think about the type of person who would love your work.

Who are they? (Consider their age, interests, and values.)What do they enjoy in stories? (Genre tropes, themes, or character types.)

For example, you might write for readers who love romance with witty banter and youthful, outcast-type protagonists. The clearer your vision of your audience, the easier it will be to connect with them.

Combine that with what you found above, and you may see that your niche might focus on historical romance with youthful, strong, feminist heroes.

3. Pinpoint What���s Unique About Your Stories

Let’s go a little further:

Is there something special about your story���s location or setting? (e.g., small-town charm, futuristic cities, or magical kingdoms.)What makes your characters stand out? (e.g., age, profession, personality, or cultural background.)Do your stories explore recurring themes or ideas? (e.g., redemption, resilience, or found family.)

By identifying these unique elements and combining them with what you found through the other questions above, you can craft a niche that highlights what’s truly distinctive about your work, making it irresistible to the right readers.

Need More Help?

Finding your niche is about aligning your passion and strengths with what readers are searching for. It usually takes time and reflection, but it can be a game-changer for your writing career.

Don���t worry if it doesn���t come together overnight. Your niche will evolve as you grow, and the more you write, the clearer it will become.

Start with the three steps above, and if you���re ready to dive deeper, check out my course, How to Identify Your Niche and Attract the Right Readers, for a proven formula to help you stand out and succeed. For a limited time, WHW readers get 20 percent off the total price with the code, ���WHWNiche��� at checkout!

Bonus: Free Worksheet

Want to start working on your niche today? Download my free Niche Discovery Worksheet and take the first step toward finding your unique focus!

The post How to Find Your Writing Niche and Connect with the Right Readers appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

How to Deepen a Story with Thematic Echoes

While shallow stories can be enjoyable, we often strive to add depth to our storytelling. Deeper stories can ���say��� more to readers, evoking more emotions and leaving a bigger impression.

We have many options for how we can deepen our stories, from creating layered characters or heartrending emotional journeys to exploring complex dilemmas. But a primary way of adding depth to our story is by using and expanding our story���s themes.

Themes are meant to communicate to readers by provoking them to consider a certain view of the world (such as what to value, believe, hope for, aim for, etc.), so themes inherently provide plenty of opportunities for us to say more to readers. Themes that interact on some level create even more depth, as they take a simplistic belief (���love is powerful���) and turn it into a more purposeful idea (���love is powerful when we learn to trust others���).

Today, let���s look at how we can set up themes that resonate with each other, and thus add up to a deeper story than possible with just a standalone theme.

Themes 101: What Creates a Theme?

First, we need to understand how our story can (and likely will) contain multiple themes. For that, we need to know what creates themes within our story and how the different aspects and elements of our story each contribute to the impression of ���what our story is about���:

Story Themes: What���s the premise of the story? Who���s supposed to win or lose���and why?Character Themes: How does the protagonist change over the course of the story? What do they learn?Plot Themes: During the plot���s turning points, what do the characters attempt? Do they succeed or fail���and why?Choices Themes: What choices are the characters making? Do the results match the Story or Character Themes (choices that agree with the themes should succeed and vice versa)?Villain Themes: Are the villain���s beliefs reinforced or disproved by plot events?How Will Our Story���s Themes Interact?

Obviously, with all those different sources of themes, our story will likely share multiple messages with readers (whether intended or not). Those messages can interact in various ways, as they could:

conflict with one another,each be independent (and essentially ignore each other),align despite being unrelated,echo similar ideas, orresonate with repetition and deeper similarities.How Can We Make Themes Work Together?

Let���s look at a few options for integrating multiple themes, from techniques that inherently result in the least resonance to those with the most:

Option #1: Multiple Independent Themes with No Connection

As long as the ideas from our story���s various themes don���t undercut each other, there���s nothing ���wrong��� with unrelated themes.

For example, a story could be about both justice and love. Perhaps the main plot focuses on the protagonist ensuring a killer is brought to justice, while a subplot focuses on the protagonist resolving a relationship issue.

While those themes don���t echo or resonate with each other, they also don���t specifically interfere with each other. They are simply each standalone themes, and for some stories, that approach works fine.

SPECIAL TIP FOR UNCONNECTED THEMES:
Watch Out for Conflicts

Avoid using multiple themes that conflict or interfere with each other, except for cases where an exploration of that conflict is part of the story���s premise.

For example, a theme about ���the value of friendship��� expressed through the protagonist relying on their friends would struggle to cooperate with a second theme of ���the value of rugged independence.��� Those themes undermine the messages of each other, so our storytelling would be weaker unless an aspect of the story focused on the protagonist deciding how to prioritize or embody each of those ideals. That exploration of the conflict would create a connection between the themes (pushing it into the Option #2 approach below).

Option #2: Multiple Independent Themes with Some Connection

Sometimes with unrelated themes, we can reference the ideas of one theme in the story elements that explore another theme.

As an example, given that same story idea from Option #1 above with the themes of justice and love, the ideas or lessons learned from one theme could inform the resolution of the story events of the other theme. With our above example, the protagonist���s desire for justice could carry over to be related to the relationship issue, such as if a too-strict adherence to justice prevents the protagonist from being sympathetic with their love interest. Or a lesson learned from the relationship could help the protagonist understand and track the killer, such as through stretching their empathy ���muscles.���

While the themes themselves in this Option #2 don���t connect directly, the story elements exploring each theme can overlap. Those overlaps can create echoes adding depth to the story, as the theme���s ideas are revisited in other circumstances, or as they examine the story world from unrelated-but-parallel perspectives.

Note that the examples above illustrate that the only difference between Options #1 and #2 is whether we choose to create overlapping references. In other words, virtually any Option #1 story could become an Option #2 story if we consciously make a few narrative tweaks, such as by having one theme���s ideas mentioned in another theme���s story elements or by having one theme inform the other, and so on.

Option #3: Multiple Somewhat-Related Themes

Some themes can be different-but-similar to other themes, exploring ideas along comparable or related lines.

For example, a story exploring the theme of love could also include themes of related ideas: trust/distrust, friendship, rejection, etc. (all touching on a character���s emotional journey with relationships). To go deeper into that example, a protagonist may experience relationship love in one aspect of the story, but a subplot may explore their pain of a parental rejection, or them learning to accept that rejection, or them learning to appreciate those who do love them despite that rejection.

A few other themes with somewhat-related ideas include:

survival / learning to trust yourselflove / learning to trust othersjustice / survivaljustice / oppression

In other words, themes with related (or opposite) ideas can often resonate with each other, as the lessons learned from one theme can often carry over and help in the exploration of the other theme. Or from a reader perspective, what the story says through these somewhat-related themes add together to create a bigger cohesive ���message��� or perspective, such as ���learning to trust yourself can help you survive.���

Option #4: Multiple Explorations of the Same Theme

Some stories allow us to explore a single theme idea from multiple perspectives or circumstances.

For example, a story about trust could explore that theme in various ways, as the plots/subplots and other story elements could all focus on the benefits of learning how to trust. Or a story about the power of love could explore romantic love, friendship love, sibling love, parental love, etc., all in different aspects of the story. Or a story with multiple protagonists could explore the theme of romantic love through each character���s relationship.

Final Thoughts: The Benefits of Connecting Themes

Note that Option #4 is not ���better��� than Options #2 or #3 for creating connections across the thematic elements of our story, especially as that style won���t work for most stories. The point is to identify our various themes and see what they have to say (if anything) about each other. While echoes and resonances may happen more automatically with Option #4, as long as we ensure that we create or emphasize those resonances with Options #2 or #3, all three of those approaches can work equally well for using thematic echoes to deepen our story.

That said, the unconnected themes of Option #1 can also work for our story just fine, depending on the story we���re trying to tell. However, those unconnected theme ideas are almost like the thematic version of episodic storytelling, as they don���t add together to create a bigger idea. Yet for some stories, that style is a good match for our storytelling goals.

In contrast, themes with some level of connection ��� whether Option #2, #3, or #4 ��� help the story feel not only deeper, but more epic, as the echoes and resonances weave on a single, common canvas to give readers the sense of a bigger story with more meaning. With Options #2, #3, and #4, the more we���re able to create those connections between the various themes of our story, the deeper and more layered our story will feel, as our story will ���say��� more to readers. *smile*

Have you thought about how stories contain multiple themes, and therefore how those themes interact may affect the sense of depth (or ���epicness���) of a story? Have you struggled to know how to make themes interact in helpful ways? Does this post give you ideas for working with themes? Do you have any questions about themes or how they can interact?

PRO TIP: Your characters��� traits, experiences, and personal biases will influence how they approach the story theme, so it���s important for you to know these driving factors in your cast members.

For this reason, we���ve structured the entries of One Stop for Writer���s Theme and Symbolism Thesaurus so you can explore these aspects for your characters and make smart decisions about their thematic statements. View an example here.

The post How to Deepen a Story with Thematic Echoes appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Deepening a Story with Thematic Echoes

While shallow stories can be enjoyable, we often strive to add depth to our storytelling. Deeper stories can ���say��� more to readers, evoking more emotions and leaving a bigger impression.

We have many options for how we can deepen our stories, from creating layered characters or heartrending emotional journeys to exploring complex dilemmas. But a primary way of adding depth to our story is by using and expanding our story���s themes.

Themes are meant to communicate to readers by provoking them to consider a certain view of the world (such as what to value, believe, hope for, aim for, etc.), so themes inherently provide plenty of opportunities for us to say more to readers. Themes that interact on some level create even more depth, as they take a simplistic belief (���love is powerful���) and turn it into a more purposeful idea (���love is powerful when we learn to trust others���).

Today, let���s look at how we can set up themes that resonate with each other, and thus add up to a deeper story than possible with just a standalone theme.

Themes 101: What Creates a Theme?

First, we need to understand how our story can (and likely will) contain multiple themes. For that, we need to know what creates themes within our story and how the different aspects and elements of our story each contribute to the impression of ���what our story is about���:

Story Themes: What���s the premise of the story? Who���s supposed to win or lose���and why?Character Themes: How does the protagonist change over the course of the story? What do they learn?Plot Themes: During the plot���s turning points, what do the characters attempt? Do they succeed or fail���and why?Choices Themes: What choices are the characters making? Do the results match the Story or Character Themes (choices that agree with the themes should succeed and vice versa)?Villain Themes: Are the villain���s beliefs reinforced or disproved by plot events?How Will Our Story���s Themes Interact?

Obviously, with all those different sources of themes, our story will likely share multiple messages with readers (whether intended or not). Those messages can interact in various ways, as they could:

conflict with one another,each be independent (and essentially ignore each other),align despite being unrelated,echo similar ideas, orresonate with repetition and deeper similarities.How Can We Make Themes Work Together?

Let���s look at a few options for integrating multiple themes, from techniques that inherently result in the least resonance to those with the most:

Option #1: Multiple Independent Themes with No Connection

As long as the ideas from our story���s various themes don���t undercut each other, there���s nothing ���wrong��� with unrelated themes.

For example, a story could be about both justice and love. Perhaps the main plot focuses on the protagonist ensuring a killer is brought to justice, while a subplot focuses on the protagonist resolving a relationship issue.

While those themes don���t echo or resonate with each other, they also don���t specifically interfere with each other. They are simply each standalone themes, and for some stories, that approach works fine.

SPECIAL TIP FOR UNCONNECTED THEMES:
Watch Out for Conflicts

Avoid using multiple themes that conflict or interfere with each other, except for cases where an exploration of that conflict is part of the story���s premise.

For example, a theme about ���the value of friendship��� expressed through the protagonist relying on their friends would struggle to cooperate with a second theme of ���the value of rugged independence.��� Those themes undermine the messages of each other, so our storytelling would be weaker unless an aspect of the story focused on the protagonist deciding how to prioritize or embody each of those ideals. That exploration of the conflict would create a connection between the themes (pushing it into the Option #2 approach below).

Option #2: Multiple Independent Themes with Some Connection

Sometimes with unrelated themes, we can reference the ideas of one theme in the story elements that explore another theme.

As an example, given that same story idea from Option #1 above with the themes of justice and love, the ideas or lessons learned from one theme could inform the resolution of the story events of the other theme. With our above example, the protagonist���s desire for justice could carry over to be related to the relationship issue, such as if a too-strict adherence to justice prevents the protagonist from being sympathetic with their love interest. Or a lesson learned from the relationship could help the protagonist understand and track the killer, such as through stretching their empathy ���muscles.���

While the themes themselves in this Option #2 don���t connect directly, the story elements exploring each theme can overlap. Those overlaps can create echoes adding depth to the story, as the theme���s ideas are revisited in other circumstances, or as they examine the story world from unrelated-but-parallel perspectives.

Note that the examples above illustrate that the only difference between Options #1 and #2 is whether we choose to create overlapping references. In other words, virtually any Option #1 story could become an Option #2 story if we consciously make a few narrative tweaks, such as by having one theme���s ideas mentioned in another theme���s story elements or by having one theme inform the other, and so on.

Option #3: Multiple Somewhat-Related Themes

Some themes can be different-but-similar to other themes, exploring ideas along comparable or related lines.

For example, a story exploring the theme of love could also include themes of related ideas: trust/distrust, friendship, rejection, etc. (all touching on a character���s emotional journey with relationships). To go deeper into that example, a protagonist may experience relationship love in one aspect of the story, but a subplot may explore their pain of a parental rejection, or them learning to accept that rejection, or them learning to appreciate those who do love them despite that rejection.

A few other themes with somewhat-related ideas include:

survival / learning to trust yourselflove / learning to trust othersjustice / survivaljustice / oppression

In other words, themes with related (or opposite) ideas can often resonate with each other, as the lessons learned from one theme can often carry over and help in the exploration of the other theme. Or from a reader perspective, what the story says through these somewhat-related themes add together to create a bigger cohesive ���message��� or perspective, such as ���learning to trust yourself can help you survive.���

Option #4: Multiple Explorations of the Same Theme

Some stories allow us to explore a single theme idea from multiple perspectives or circumstances.

For example, a story about trust could explore that theme in various ways, as the plots/subplots and other story elements could all focus on the benefits of learning how to trust. Or a story about the power of love could explore romantic love, friendship love, sibling love, parental love, etc., all in different aspects of the story. Or a story with multiple protagonists could explore the theme of romantic love through each character���s relationship.

Final Thoughts: The Benefits of Connecting Themes

Note that Option #4 is not ���better��� than Options #2 or #3 for creating connections across the thematic elements of our story, especially as that style won���t work for most stories. The point is to identify our various themes and see what they have to say (if anything) about each other. While echoes and resonances may happen more automatically with Option #4, as long as we ensure that we create or emphasize those resonances with Options #2 or #3, all three of those approaches can work equally well for using thematic echoes to deepen our story.

That said, the unconnected themes of Option #1 can also work for our story just fine, depending on the story we���re trying to tell. However, those unconnected theme ideas are almost like the thematic version of episodic storytelling, as they don���t add together to create a bigger idea. Yet for some stories, that style is a good match for our storytelling goals.

In contrast, themes with some level of connection ��� whether Option #2, #3, or #4 ��� help the story feel not only deeper, but more epic, as the echoes and resonances weave on a single, common canvas to give readers the sense of a bigger story with more meaning. With Options #2, #3, and #4, the more we���re able to create those connections between the various themes of our story, the deeper and more layered our story will feel, as our story will ���say��� more to readers. *smile*

Have you thought about how stories contain multiple themes, and therefore how those themes interact may affect the sense of depth (or ���epicness���) of a story? Have you struggled to know how to make themes interact in helpful ways? Does this post give you ideas for working with themes? Do you have any questions about themes or how they can interact?

PRO TIP: Your characters��� traits, experiences, and personal biases will influence how they approach the story theme, so it���s important for you to know these driving factors in your cast members.

For this reason, we���ve structured the entries of One Stop for Writer���s Theme and Symbolism Thesaurus so you can explore these aspects for your characters and make smart decisions about their thematic statements. View an example here.

The post Deepening a Story with Thematic Echoes appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Meet Our New Bookstore (& Save 50% off a Thesaurus!)

Welcome to 2025…and say hello to a brand new Writers Helping Writers�� bookstore!

Like many other authors, Becca and I have switched to a Shopify storefront so we can provide a better experience for everyone wanting to buy direct.

We’re excited to launch this store, both for the flexibility to eventually branch out with our offerings and the fact that it’s a vast improvement over the system we’ve wrangled with up until now.

But first, what does “Buy Direct” mean?

Buying direct means instead of purchasing a book from an etailer like Amazon, Kobo, or Apple (who take a big chunk of each sale) you buy straight from the author. When more of a book’s revenue lands in the author’s pocket, they’re more likely to make a livable wage…meaning the freedom to write more books, offer discounts, and more. It’s a win-win for the author and their readers.

But buying direct also means YOU GET MORE.

Buying Direct can better protect your books

A problem with buying a digital copy from someone like Amazon is they have control over that book file, not you. If it disappears from your Kindle library due to a glitch, syncing issue, or because they decided you did something wrong, getting it restored can be hard (or impossible). When you buy direct, our partner Bookfunnel always keeps your digital book safe and accessible. You own the book.

Buying Direct means early access

Our bookstore will allow us to offer new releases before they are available elsewhere. Often Becca and I have a new book in hand for weeks prior to a book launch but we have to wait for the official release date. Now, we can pop a new guide into our store when it’s ready and minimize waiting.

Buying Direct keeps you in the loop (and saves you $$$)

Right now our store is set up to offer digital formats (ebook and PDF), but print is coming! And we’re looking to expand to other things as well. If you sign up for store notifications we’ll pop a quick message into your inbox whenever a cost-saving bundle, special workshop, on-demand webinar, discount, or something else becomes available. (But that’s it–no ‘hard sell’ stuff. That’s not us.)

Ready to check the new WHW store out?

Take this celebratory discount code with you: WHWTHANKSYOU

This one-time code is a buy one, get the second ebook single at a 50% discount. You’ll see a place to enter the code when you checkout. (And a tippy tip: if you sign up for store notifications, you’ll get a bonus code that discounts your entire order a further 10%!) Add that second code at checkout to use both in the same order.

We’d also love your feedback. This is a simple store to start, and we have improvements in mind. But you guys are the pros here–you know what you want to see when buying a book, and you may have ideas on what will make this store better. If you’d like to leave us impressions or suggestions, zip over here. (It’s anonymous.) And thank you!

Don’t forget to redeem your buy one, get one code by January 15th, 2025, and happy writing!

The post Meet Our New Bookstore (& Save 50% off a Thesaurus!) appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Happy Holidays – Some Gifts for You

Angela, Becca and I hope you���re having an amazing holiday season full of family, friends, good food and special memories. We are so grateful for your visits, kind words of support, and trust in us. We love serving the writing community through this blog, One Stop for Writers, books, and teaching.

We���re tucking Writers Helping Writers in for a well-earned rest until 2025. But we want to make sure you have plenty to read during our break���so we���ll leave you with delicious recipes to try and helpful posts to browse.

Did You Get Your Stocking Stuffers?

*Polishing a manuscript
*Story stakes tracker

Thank you for making 2024 extra-special!

We can’t thank each of you enough for visiting, commenting, entering our contests, and being a special part of the Writers Helping Writers Family.

Huge thanks to our amazing Resident Writing Coaches, guest editors for contests, and guest posters. With your help, we’ve been able to share a huge variety of topics and some incredible prizes. We can’t wait to see what 2025 will bring for everyone.

Into Some Bite-Sized Learning Over the Holidays? Try These:

Writing Tools
Checklists and Tip Sheets
First Page Resources
Characters
Plot and Structure
Worldbuilding and Setting
Show-Don���t-Tell
Other Story Elements (including theme and symbolism, point of view, voice, pacing, dialogue, etc.)
Revisions and Editing
Creativity & Mindset
Business of Writing
Resident Writing Coach posts

We���re Each Gifting a
Favorite Recipe to You

We can���t wait to find out what you think of some of our favorite recipes! You���re welcome to share some of your own, too. It���s always fun to test out new recipes.

Angela���s Recipe Becca’s Recipe Mindy’s Recipe

This came out amazing! Next time, I’ll make it with full candied cherries up top instead of the fruit mix.

Paying it Forward

One of my favorite things about Angela and Becca is how much they do to help others. They���ve always had a��pay-it-forward��mentality, which is why this site is loaded with free tools, downloads, and resources. But helping beyond the writing community is something they believe in as well. Each year they select a specific charity (or two) and donate a portion of their book revenue to it. For more information on this year���s recipient, see��this blog post.

Here���s the 2024 Recipient

This is only possible through your generosity, so know when you buy books, subscribe to One Stop for Writers, or attend a workshop, you are an important link in the chain. Thank you for helping to make the world a better place!

Happy holidays!

The post Happy Holidays – Some Gifts for You appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Phenomenal First Pages Contest

Hey, wonderful
writerly people!

It���s time for Phenomenal First Pages, our monthly critique contest. So, if you need a bit of help with your first page, today’s the day to enter for a chance to win professional feedback! (We’ve had past winners tell us they’ve found their dream editors through this contest, and even ended up with offers of representation!)

Entering is easy. All you need to do is leave your contact information on this entry form (or click the graphic below). If you are a winner, we’ll notify you and explain how to send us your first page.

Contest DetailsThis is a 24-hour contest, so enter ASAP.Make sure your contact information on the entry form is correct. Three winners will be drawn. We will email you if you win and let you know how to submit your first page. Please have your first page ready in case your name is selected. Format it with 1-inch margins, double-spaced, and 12pt Times New Roman font. All genres are welcome except erotica.Sign Up for Notifications!

If you���d like to be notified about our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest, subscribe to blog notifications in this sidebar. 

Good luck, everyone. We can’t wait to see who wins!

PS: To amp up your first page, grab our  First Pages checklist from One Stop for Writers. For more help with story opening elements, visit this Mother Lode of First Page Resources.

The post Phenomenal First Pages Contest appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.