Angela Ackerman's Blog: Writers Helping Writers, page 11

Three Ways a Talent or Skill Can Set Your Character Apart From the Rest

Your Characters’ Skills

Memorable characters often have skills or talents that set them apart … but these abilities need to serve a purpose in the story.

So, how do we know whether we are writing a character with a completely random skill, or one that will make them three-dimensional and compelling?

Why Skills Are Essential to Characterization

In the 2020s, nuanced and layered characterization is a non-negotiable. This means a character’s skills contribute to their depth, relatability and memorability.

As an example, for the past few decades female leads are frequently exceptional archers, especially in movies and TV. Characters such as Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games), Susan Pevensie (The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe) and Kate Bishop (Marvel’s Hawkeye) all demonstrate their exceptional skills in this way.

The best stories link a character’s abilities to the plot, making their skills feel integral and part of that storyworld:

Katniss Everdeen is an archer out of necessity. She hunts for food for her family, plus she sells carcasses and skins as well. This is not allowed, which means she is risking her freedom to do it. This skill will be integral when she is in the arena. ��Susan Pevensie arrives in the fantasy world of Narnia. Here, there is little technology and modern equipment or weapons, such as guns. This means a bow and arrow is an obvious choice to help defend herself and her friends. She is also known for being a ‘straight arrow’, so it is good for her characterization, too.��Kate Bishop is the proteg�� of Clint Barton, AKA Hawkeye from�� The Avengers . His story revolves around him being an exceptional archer himself. He will mentor Kate, the very first female Hawkeye in the comics so that she too, takes the archer crown.��

These characters and their plotting arcs demonstrate how character and plotting are inextricably linked, which means their skills are too. The last thing we want to do is make such a skillset feel random or pointless.

Linking Skills to Plot

Plot and characterization should be linked. This is because a main character has a need, goal or want. In going for that need, goal or want, that character will go through many different events. That’s plot and character, interlinked.

In turn, this means a character’s abilities should help advance the story. Whilst stories can technically be anything, this can generally happen three ways:

i) Solving Problems

A character’s skillset should help them deal with whatever the plot throws their way. In crime fiction, a police officer or detective – like Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple – will break down all the clues. This character will do this according to their experiences, training and innate abilities.

ii) Conflict Creation

In contrast, losing skills can create obstacles or tension for a character. Marvel’s Doctor Strange loses his hands in a car crash, so learns the mystic arts instead. By facing adversity like this, Doctor Strange becomes a hero. We can do this lots of different ways. To illustrate, in a reimagination of his story, the What If? animated TV series asked: What If Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?

iii) Symbolic Resonance

In the blockbuster movie Gravity, Doctor Ryan Stone must deal with extreme adversity in space to get back to Earth. As a trained astronaut, she has many skills to help her do this. She must fight space debris, fires, lack of oxygen, cold and lack of power.

Ryan must also fight herself, because she’s not sure whether she wants to survive. All her colleagues are dead, plus her daughter died back on Earth. Through the narrative, she decides she WILL survive and get back to earth … or die trying.

Whilst most of us will never go into space, there’s a strong symbolic resonance for the audience here. All of us will have faced adversity of some kind in our lives. Seeing Ryan fight so hard, using her skills to get out of trouble, can be very inspiring for those viewers going through hard times themselves.

Making Skills Believable

Authenticity is also super-important to modern readers. This means research is key, especially when it comes to specialized skills. It’s always obvious when a writer does not understand what they are writing about!

Many characters have to gain skills as the story progresses. This is particularly obvious in transformative arcs like The Hero’s Journey, where a character has to do ‘zero to hero’. The protagonist must train and learn how to wield their power – supernatural or literal – against a villain AKA ‘The Big Bad’.

But sometimes ‘everyday’ skills have to be under the spotlight, too. I don’t have a driving license and haven’t had a formal driving lesson in more than twenty years. However, characters in my novels frequently drive (because most adults do). This means I always research where everything is in a car and remind myself how it works.

In writing crime fiction, my characters may break into and/or steal cars as well. In the case of one novel, one character had to do this with a broken arm. I am a big fan of what I call ‘deep research’, so I broke into my husband’s car using only one hand to see if it worked. It did! (Of course, this didn’t stop one reviewer claiming this was ‘impossible’! But you can’t win ’em all, plus doing that research means peace of mind as I know it IS possible).

Last Points

Whatever it is, a character’s skillset needs to feel integral, authentic and real. We can achieve this by linking their skills to the plot and ensuring we do our research. Next time you write, ask yourself: does your character���s skill truly serve your story?

Good Luck! Would you like to learn more about adding talents and skills to your stories?

Hop over to One Stop for Writers to check out the Talents & Skills Thesaurus (plus tons of other helpful description collections and writing resources).

The post Three Ways a Talent or Skill Can Set Your Character Apart From the Rest appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Three Ways A Talent or Skill Can Set Your Character Apart From The Rest

Your Characters’ Skills

Memorable characters often have skills or talents that set them apart … but these abilities need to serve a purpose in the story.

So, how do we know whether we are writing a character with a completely random skill, or one that will make them three-dimensional and compelling?

Why Skills Are Essential to Characterization

In the 2020s, nuanced and layered characterization is a non-negotiable. This means a character’s skills contribute to their depth, relatability and memorability.

As an example, for the past few decades female leads are frequently exceptional archers, especially in movies and TV. Characters such as Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games), Susan Pevensie (The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe) and Kate Bishop (Marvel’s Hawkeye) all demonstrate their exceptional skills in this way.

The best stories link a character’s abilities to the plot, making their skills feel integral and part of that storyworld:

Katniss Everdeen is an archer out of necessity. She hunts for food for her family, plus she sells carcasses and skins as well. This is not allowed, which means she is risking her freedom to do it. This skill will be integral when she is in the arena. ��Susan Pevensie arrives in the fantasy world of Narnia. Here, there is little technology and modern equipment or weapons, such as guns. This means a bow and arrow is an obvious choice to help defend herself and her friends. She is also known for being a ‘straight arrow’, so it is good for her characterization, too.��Kate Bishop is the proteg�� of Clint Barton, AKA Hawkeye from�� The Avengers . His story revolves around him being an exceptional archer himself. He will mentor Kate, the very first female Hawkeye in the comics so that she too, takes the archer crown.��

These characters and their plotting arcs demonstrate how character and plotting are inextricably linked, which means their skills are too. The last thing we want to do is make such a skillset feel random or pointless.

Linking Skills to Plot

Plot and characterization should be linked. This is because a main character has a need, goal or want. In going for that need, goal or want, that character will go through many different events. That’s plot and character, interlinked.

In turn, this means a character’s abilities should help advance the story. Whilst stories can technically be anything, this can generally happen three ways:

i) Solving Problems

A character’s skillset should help them deal with whatever the plot throws their way. In crime fiction, a police officer or detective – like Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple – will break down all the clues. This character will do this according to their experiences, training and innate abilities.

ii) Conflict Creation

In contrast, losing skills can create obstacles or tension for a character. Marvel’s Doctor Strange loses his hands in a car crash, so learns the mystic arts instead. By facing adversity like this, Doctor Strange becomes a hero. We can do this lots of different ways. To illustrate, in a reimagination of his story, the What If? animated TV series asked: What If Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?

iii) Symbolic Resonance

In the blockbuster movie Gravity, Doctor Ryan Stone must deal with extreme adversity in space to get back to Earth. As a trained astronaut, she has many skills to help her do this. She must fight space debris, fires, lack of oxygen, cold and lack of power.

Ryan must also fight herself, because she’s not sure whether she wants to survive. All her colleagues are dead, plus her daughter died back on Earth. Through the narrative, she decides she WILL survive and get back to earth … or die trying.

Whilst most of us will never go into space, there’s a strong symbolic resonance for the audience here. All of us will have faced adversity of some kind in our lives. Seeing Ryan fight so hard, using her skills to get out of trouble, can be very inspiring for those viewers going through hard times themselves.

Making Skills Believable

Authenticity is also super-important to modern readers. This means research is key, especially when it comes to specialized skills. It’s always obvious when a writer does not understand what they are writing about!

Many characters have to gain skills as the story progresses. This is particularly obvious in transformative arcs like The Hero’s Journey, where a character has to do ‘zero to hero’. The protagonist must train and learn how to wield their power – supernatural or literal – against a villain AKA ‘The Big Bad’.

But sometimes ‘everyday’ skills have to be under the spotlight, too. I don’t have a driving license and haven’t had a formal driving lesson in more than twenty years. However, characters in my novels frequently drive (because most adults do). This means I always research where everything is in a car and remind myself how it works.

In writing crime fiction, my characters may break into and/or steal cars as well. In the case of one novel, one character had to do this with a broken arm. I am a big fan of what I call ‘deep research’, so I broke into my husband’s car using only one hand to see if it worked. It did! (Of course, this didn’t stop one reviewer claiming this was ‘impossible’! But you can’t win ’em all, plus doing that research means peace of mind as I know it IS possible).

Last Points

Whatever it is, a character’s skillset needs to feel integral, authentic and real. We can achieve this by linking their skills to the plot and ensuring we do our research. Next time you write, ask yourself: does your character���s skill truly serve your story?

Good Luck! Would you like to learn more about adding talents and skills to your stories?

Hop over to One Stop for Writers to check out the Talents & Skills Thesaurus (plus tons of other helpful description collections and writing resources).

The post Three Ways A Talent or Skill Can Set Your Character Apart From The Rest appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Being Pregnant

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.

Maybe your character is…

Pregnant

ABOUT THIS SECRET: While a pregnancy is often cause for celebration, a character who becomes pregnant accidentally or under adverse circumstances���as the result of an affair or a rape, without a partner���s support, or even against her own wishes���might be desperate to keep it a secret. She might struggle with fear or shame, not only about the pregnancy itself but also by what could follow if the news gets out.

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Becoming a Parent, Being a Burden to Others, Being Capable of Harm, Being Judged, Being Unable to Achieve a Dream, Change, Humiliation, Losing Autonomy, Losing Financial Security, Losing the Respect of Others, One’s Genetics, Regret, Relational Commitment, Repeating a Cycle of Abuse

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Having to avoid close friends and family (because they���re the most likely to notice something has changed)
Losing access to the people who would offer advice and support; having to go through the situation alone
Not being able to pursue desired career opportunities
Being consumed by guilt and shame (for being pregnant to begin with, from constantly lying to loved ones, etc.)

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Wearing baggy clothes
Running the tap in the bathroom to mask signs of morning sickness
Embracing future plans that would be difficult for a pregnant person (scuba diving, extensive travel, etc.)
Not making pregnancy-related plans (buying maternity clothing, taking prenatal vitamins, etc.)

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
Gaining weight
Giving up smoking or alcohol
A pregnancy test being found in the garbage
The character suddenly wanting a commitment from her partner

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE 
Having to change clothes in front of others (in a locker room, hotel room, etc.)
Canceling a big event that will take place after the baby is born (one that will be hard or impossible to attend with a baby)
Developing a pregnancy-related condition that requires bedrest or hospitalization
Sharing the secret with someone who proves to be untrustworthy (the boyfriend, a close friend, a family member, etc.)

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: Being Pregnant appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

The Ripple Effect: How to Weave Plot with Character

Actions have consequences���that���s what makes a story tick. A story begins when events around a character push them into action. Those actions create new situations, and those situations push the character into even tougher choices. Watching this chain reaction unfold is what keeps readers glued to the pages.

When we call a story “entertaining,” we���re really talking about something deeper: the chance to step into someone else���s experience. We want to understand their choices and see how their decisions mirror our own journey.

We���re not reading strictly to find out what happens, but neither are we reading only to understand why. Instead, we���re fascinated by the ripple effect of how one dynamic feeds the other.

A satisfying story does two things at once. It sweeps us into an absorbing plot while simultaneously easing us into the vicarious experience of a character���s inner transformation. Plot events shape the character���s options, and their choices then create new situations���a self-perpetuating cycle of action and reaction that creates the story.

Are stories plot-based, or are they character-based? The answer is yes.
Story is the synthesis of both. Plot shapes characters, and characters drive plot. Stories draw their power from the interplay between the two.

Here���s how plot and character organically wind together in classic Western storytelling, act by act.

Act 1: Welcome to the Ordinary WorldKey Concepts

Act 1: The first quarter of the story

Plot Keywords: status quo, the normal world, the ordinary world

Character Keywords: disunity, inauthenticity

The story opens on a character living in disunity and inauthenticity, although they don���t realize that yet. Something about their life is lacking, internally or externally or both.

The first act introduces the character, builds the story world and its time, place, and rules, and plants the seeds of change. This sets the chain of action and reaction that drives everything to come, creating the plot that the character will spend the rest of the story pursuing and wrestling with.

Act 1: This act is a story about how inauthenticity and disunity arrive in this character���s life.

Turning Point 1 (end of Act 1): This is how the character resolves to fix the problem created by inauthenticity or disunity.

Act 2: The Easy Way OutKey Concepts

Act 2: The second quarter of the story from 25% to 50%; in three-act structure, this is the first half of Act 2, the part before the midpoint

Plot Keywords: reactive response, the easy way

Character Keywords: deconstruction

The character steps into this quarter of the story ready to tackle their problem, but they’re going about it all wrong. They’re reacting to their new reality without truly understanding it, chasing solutions that look promising but won’t really work. They’re still operating from old patterns and incomplete understanding.

This initial approach begins to crumble as they discover the problem runs deeper than they thought. Their responses slowly deconstruct their familiar worldview, forcing them to question what they believe about themselves and their situation.

Act 2: This act is a story about how the character reactively responds to the problem.

TP2 (end of Act 2���the midpoint): This is the moment the character realizes their reactive response isn’t working. The problem has grown more complex than they imagined, their old worldviews are deconstructing piece by piece, and they must find a new path forward.

Act 3: The Hard RoadKey Concepts

Act 3: The third quarter of the story from 50% to 75%; in three-act structure, this is the second half of Act 2, the part after the midpoint

Plot Keywords: proactive progress, the hard way

Character Keywords: reconstruction

The character enters this act with a new understanding: It’s time to stop reacting and time to start acting. They begin approaching their problem head-on, using newfound tools or information or wisdom, but success doesn’t come easily. The obstacles they face grow to match their increasing capacity.

As they make proactive progress toward their goal, they gradually reconstruct a new worldview to replace what was torn down. But this reconstruction comes at a cost���each step forward requires more from them than the last.

Act 3: This act is a story about how the character makes proactive progress toward solving their problem.

TP3 (end of Act 3): This is the moment when the character’s proactive approach seems to fail despite everything they’ve learned. Though they’ve been reconstructing a stronger sense of self, they hit what appears to be an insurmountable obstacle or dead end.

Act 4: Bringing It All TogetherKey Concepts

Act 4: The final quarter of the story, from 75% to the end

Plot Keywords: final push, climax, resolution

Character Keywords: synthesis, unity, authenticity

This is where all threads converge. The character faces their goal and whatever stands in their way, and now they’re armed with something new: authenticity. The climactic breakthrough isn’t just about solving the external problem���it’s about achieving unity between who they are and who they need to be.

Act 4: This act is a story about how the character achieves synthesis, finding their authentic self and moving forward with a new sense of unity.

Climax: This is the moment when the character’s newfound authenticity or unity enables them to solve their problem in a way that would have been impossible before their transformation.

Finding Your Story���s Flow

Each story finds its own rhythm within the cycle of these four acts. Stray too far from their natural flow, though, and the story loses its power. A weak setup leaves readers adrift; without real struggle, victory rings false.

What matters isn’t following a rigid structure but creating a transformative journey. Readers come to witness your character’s evolution from disunity to unity���this is what lingers in their minds long after the final page.

The post The Ripple Effect: How to Weave Plot with Character appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Stocking Stuffers for Writers Gift #2 Is Here!

Good news! Your Secret Santa (Godzilla) has dropped another writerly gift into your stocking.

(And, if you missed the first gift he left for you, no problem. Just click through to this link to find Gift #1.)
We hope you enjoy it!

Ready to see what he’s left in your stocking?
Click the image below to collect your gift:

Also, I have to warn you:
Godzilla’s been reading again.

You know what this means–another book review. Lord help us. Here it is . . .

Godzilla Reviews The Occupation Thesaurus

As the all-powerful Godzilla, I have a unique perspective on occupations���after all, “Kaiju” isn’t your typical 9-to-5. But I tell you, as a reader, nothing causes me to incinerate a book faster than a character with a job that seems ‘slapped on.’

Like my relentless obliteration of enemies who threaten the natural balance, any true-to-life character is gonna spend a lot of time working, so of course their chosen job should fit their identity and circumstances. A well-thought-out choice gives a character depth, so steer clear of jobs that feel cliche, act as a plot device, or come across as a character quirk.

The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers has helpful breakdowns of different job types, making it easy to find matches for the character���s skills, personality, moral code, or even a passion–like my passion for using atomic breath and destruction to keep puny humans and inferior titans in line.

A big problem with this book? While it covers an impressive range of possible occupations and shows how this characterizing detail can generate radioactive story conflict and mess up even the strongest relationship, WHERE was the entry on Kaiju? What, a city-stomping behemoth isn���t GOOD ENOUGH to profile as a career in this guide? Sure, there is only one Godzilla. But you ask me, laying waste to buildings, destroying battleships with a fist, and body-slamming monsters into oblivion should be the dream job of every character!

~Godzilla

Well, there you have it. Godzilla’s review of The Occupation Thesaurus. Um…thanks, I guess?

If you’re looking for a Christmas Gift…

The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers dives into the type of work your character does…and how this important choice will give your story depth and meaning.

A character���s job is powerful, allowing you to convey a lot of characterization about them in a single punch: traits, skills, priorities, and more. Yet, many writers don’t think much about their character’s occupation���or worse, they pick something randomly, and miss out on what that job can reveal.

Researching specific careers takes time, so we’ve done the work for you. Part how-to, part brainstorming tool, this guide showcases over 120 jobs and breaks each down so you can find the perfect match and write about it with authority. 

More about this book
View the list of job profiles
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (4.8/5 Stars)

We hope you find gift #2 helpful, and keep your eyes peeled for the next Stocking Stuffer and *sigh* probably more Godzilla book reviews.

Angela, Becca, & Mindy

Happy writing, everyone!

Stocking Stuffer #1 can be found here.

The post Stocking Stuffers for Writers Gift #2 Is Here! appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Pursuing Your Passion and Paying It Forward

I feel so fortunate to be working in this industry. Running my own business, despite the headaches it brings���say, around tax time *twitch*���gives me so much freedom. I also get personal satisfaction from knowing I’m doing something really hard and am stretching myself to learn new things all the time.

But one of the best things about being a writer is all the ways I get to give back. Angela and I are fairly intentional about this, and one of things we decided early on was we wanted to donate some of our proceeds to deserving charities and nonprofits. You can see a list of past recipients here.

This year, we were excited to watch the professional evolution of one of our writer friends. Talk about doing hard stuff and stretching! After 13 years in publishing, Shayla Hale (formerly Shayla Raquel) put away her pen to start Crime & Compassion Inc., a nonprofit that advocates for the incarcerated. She runs a podcast now, as well as teaching fiction writing at a women’s prison in Oklahoma.

Her story, and what she’s doing now, is so interesting and inspiring that we wanted to share some of it with you. Read on to learn more about how Shayla parlayed a love of literature into a ministry to the incarcerated.

Shayla, tell us more about your work with the women at the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center.

Crime & Compassion Inc. offers an advanced fiction writing class called the Writers Guild, aptly named by the MBCC students themselves. There are 15 students in the class, and we meet twice a month in the chapel to learn all about novel writing.

To complete the class, the student must write, rewrite, and publish a full-length novel. And let me tell you: these women are working nonstop on their books. They are super dedicated, always grateful, and ridiculously talented. One student, who is a co-facilitator for our class, will be publishing her novel soon, as she just finished it and is going through the rewriting process.

The novels will be self-published under their names, and the students will own the rights to their books, as they should. These women encourage each other and give feedback too. It’s a community they have built, and I cannot wait to offer more classes (as we have a waiting list). 

What prompted you to shift from writing and publishing fiction to creating and running a nonprofit?

I’ve been saying for a while now, “I left the publishing industry so I could come back in a whole different light.”

I’ve known since 2020 that I wanted to launch Crime & Compassion���a podcast that tells the stories of those who were written off. I enjoyed two years (2018���2020) as a volunteer chaplain at Oklahoma County Jail, which played a big role in my heart’s desire to work with the incarcerated. But when I worked on author Shari Bower’s memoir, Before They Executed Him: A Wife’s Story of Death Row, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that the only thing I wanted to do with my life was reach the incarcerated.

My lifelong dream was to become an author, an editor, a speaker. I wanted nothing but the publishing world���and I had it. I loved my company, which I ran for 14 years. But a dream job is not the same as a life scripture. I’m so grateful that I got to enjoy my dream job, but my life scripture of working with and for the incarcerated is more important to me than anything else.

So . . . I sold off my assets and launched C&C this year. Though it did launch as a podcast, I’ve often reminded supporters that C&C is an umbrella with many facets beneath it. The podcast was just one element to the mission of C&C���I knew things would fall in place and make sense if I just started. It took no time at all for a class to be dropped in my lap in the best way possible, and boy am I a sucker for baptism by fire! It worked out beautifully.

I recently hired Oklahoma Nonprofit Solutions to handle my 501(c)3 filing with the IRS. The C&C board of directors includes Shari Bower’s daughter, a former Texas death row chaplain, a formerly incarcerated soldier who wrote a memoir about his time in Fort Leavenworth, a therapist with a big heart for these women, and my closest friend. Go team!

What���s one thing you wish people knew about the women you work with?

There are a hundred things I wish people knew about the incredible women I work with; it’s very difficult to choose just one thing because I want everyone to know how talented, generous, and kind these women are. But . . . I wish people could truly comprehend the unbelievable role that trauma plays in someone’s life before they commit a crime.

The minute you try to discuss trauma and incarceration, you’re often met with, “It’s not an excuse to do what they did!” I want to see people soften their hearts and grasp that no one is excusing the crime by discussing the trauma���they’re educating you on why the person made the choice they did. With that education comes more compassion, more understanding. And isn’t that really all they’re asking���to show compassion when no one else does? You can either be the person who turns your nose up at the incarcerated, who forgets about them, or you can be someone different, someone who sees the need and reaches out to offer hope.

From this short interview, I’m sure you can see why we chose Crime and Compassion as our 2024 charity. It’s so important to find our purpose and be able to pass along the blessings we’ve received, and Shayla is doing that in a big way.

So if you’re seeking for purpose, I’d encourage you to keep looking. Keep trying new things���especially the hard stuff. If you know what you need to do but haven’t pulled the trigger, ask yourself Why Not? What roadblocks are in your way? Consider making 2025 the year you make a plan and start moving toward that finish line.

If you’d like to learn more about Crime and Compassion (including donation information, if you feel inclined), the following links are a good starting point.

SubstackSubstack subscription/donation TikTokInstagramThreadsPinterestYouTubeFacebook

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Stocking Stuffers for Writers Is Back (and so Is Godzilla)

December is here, andthat means Godzilla’s Stocking Stuffers for Writers is back! Now, you might be thinking, isn’t it early to give holiday gifts? And WHY is Godzilla my Secret Santa?

Great questions!

Well, you might not know this, but Godzilla guards Angela’s Christmas tree. He takes his job seriously, but a guy gets pretty bored up there so he likes to read, too.

Unfortunately, he’s SUPER PICKY ABOUT BOOKS and threatened to smash down the tree if Becca and I didn’t hand over writerly stocking stuffers to help writers craft more amazing stories. And do Stocking Stuffers for Writers was born.

Want to see what Stocking Stuffer Godzilla has for you today? Collect your gift by clicking the image below!

Also, Godzilla wants to share his latest read with you.

As you can see, he’s got one of ours. In fact…he’s reviewed it. I’m a little afraid to post it here but he’s insisting–aggressively–so I better. So, um, here it is:

Godzilla’s Book Review:

As the mighty Godzilla, I know a thing or two about causing chaos and destruction. So, when I found The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility on the bookshelf, I was fired up. Yeahhh stress! Makes you mad and you snash things. Books need more smashing in them.

I liked how this guide digs into common states and conditions���like pain, exhaustion, scrutiny and danger���that make it hard for characters to stay in control of their emotions. That���s great! When they lose it, they make big mistakes. Maybe they set a city on fire or something. Amplifiers also make it nearly impossible to hide their emotions. Ha! Puny humans. Only the great Godzilla can hide emotion!

What I didn’t like? Well, as a monster who enjoys destroying buildings and stomping on adversaries, I couldn’t help but notice a lack of guidance on showing the sheer joy of mass destruction. Where were the tips on capturing the exhilaration of toppling skyscrapers and sending people running for their lives? More focus on violence and chaos would have taken this book up a notch.

~Godzilla

Well, there you have it. Godzilla’s review.
Um…thanks, I guess?

If you’re looking for a Christmas Gift…

The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer���s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility takes writers through the disruptive world of amplifiers���specific states or conditions that make it difficult for a character to emotionally self-regulate, setting them up for poor judgment and (hopefully) colossal mistakes they���ll have to fix and learn from.

Part how-to, part brainstorming tool, this expanded edition explores 52 unique amplifiers, such as pain, hunger, competition, arousal, and more.

More about this book
View the list of amplifiers covered
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (4.9/5 Stars)

We hope you find today’s Stocking Stuffer gift helpful, and keep your eyes peeled for the next Stocking Stuffer to drop (and probably more Gozilla book reviews).

Happy writing, everyone!

Angela, Becca, & Mindy

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Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Is Safeguarding Someone’s Secret

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.

Maybe your character is…

Is Safeguarding Someone’s Secret

ABOUT THIS SECRET
Sometimes characters are secret-keeper for others, either because they have been asked to, or the character learned something by accident and has chosen not to share it. They could have many reasons for doing so, including a desire to respect the other person���s privacy, protect them from harm, or not wanting to become personally involved in something that could bring them unwanted scrutiny, risk, or danger.

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Abandonment, Being Attacked, Being Capable of Harm, Being Labeled, Being Responsible for Others, Being Taken Advantage of, Being Unsafe, Conflict, Letting Others Down, Losing Autonomy, Losing One’s Social Standing, Putting Oneself out There, Relational Commitment

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Struggling with having to lie to protect the secret
Having to take risks to help the person avoid exposure
Experiencing anxiety or fear over what to do (if the secret is dangerous or harmful)
The secret shattering a close relationship (over knowing what they did) and mourning that loss

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Shutting down gossip that involves the person and/or what is being hidden
Watching for threats (nosy people making connections, etc.) that could endanger the secret
Steering the conversation away from anything that might lead to discovery
Using misinformation, false rumors, or lies to keep people from learning the truth

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
Being caught in a lie
Not attending an event the character was expected to but cannot due to the secret
Emotional volatility around the party at fault (e.g., being unable to rein in anger and judgment around the abusive partner of a friend who is keeping her bruises a secret)

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE 
Wanting to offer advice but knowing doing so will alert people involved
Wanting to warn someone when that person is unaware the character knows their secret
If suspicions are raised and the danger increases for the character
When keeping the secret means crossing a moral line

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.

Our Black Friday Sale is still on!

Save 35% on One Stop for Writer’s 6-Month plan!

Say goodbye to writer���s block, telling, and frustration. One Stop for Writers supports you at every step as you plan, write, and revise, so only your best writing makes it to the page.

Use the code BLACKFRIDAY24 to unlock a 35% discount for our 6-month plan. This sale runs until December 1st, 2024.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Is Safeguarding Someone’s Secret appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Get a Killer Writing Toolkit This Black Friday

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Hi friends, just a quick post to share our Black Friday Deal at One Stop for Writers. Every week we hear from writers using our tools, and we know they are helping writers craft incredible fiction and keep writer’s block at bay.

We’d love to see you have One Stop in your creative toolkit, especially those of you who use our thesaurus books because we have a massive THESAURUS at the site containing 18 thesaurus topics, including a new one on RELATIONSHIPS. Feel free to check out a few of the entries: RIVALS, IN-LAWS, and PROTAGONIST AND CRUSH.

The THESAURUS database is only one of many tools that help you write stronger fiction. Use the entire site as you plan, draft, and revise, and when you need help, the Storyteller’s Roadmap guides you through the process of writing a book. It’s like having a story coach right at your keyboard.

Your All-In-One Toolbox

SHOW-DON���T-TELL DESCRIPTION DATABASE
CHARACTER BUILDER
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TIMELINE TOOL
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If you’ve been looking for a tool to support you at every step and stage and help show you how to focus your ideas into stronger concepts and write characters who draw readers in, I hope you’ll check One Stop for Writers out.

Save 35% on the 6-Month Plan

Activate this one-time code:

BLACKFRIDAY24

And save 35% when you select the 6-month plan.

To use this code:

Sign up or sign in.Choose the 6-month subscription and add the code. Once activated via the button, the 35% discount will show onscreen.Add your payment method, check the Terms box, and then hit the subscribe button.

New to One Stop for Writers? Join Becca for a quick tour to see how our resources and tools can help you reach your creative goals.

The post Get a Killer Writing Toolkit This Black Friday appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Hiding a Sexual Relationship

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.

Maybe your character is…

Hiding a Sexual Relationship

ABOUT THIS SECRET
In general, characters don���t discuss who they���re intimate with, but occasionally it becomes a guarded secret as discovery could mean difficult or painful consequences. An age gap, being from different societal classes, a forbidden pairing due to a feud, danger, or a taboo might all be reasons others would condemn and seek to end this relationship. This entry covers scenarios where the characters involved are happy with these encounters and wish them to continue.

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: A Secret Being Revealed, Abandonment, Being Attacked, Being Judged, Being Labelled, Being Separated from Loved Ones, Being Unsafe, Humiliation, Letting Others Down, Losing Autonomy, Losing One’s Social Standing, Losing the Respect of Others, Never Finding Happiness, Persecution

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Creating distance in important relationships to avoid accidental discovery
Carrying the weight of guilt (if the character knows this secret will hurt others)
Being unable to talk about something that brings joy
Stress over telling lies, manufacturing excuses, and courting the danger of discovery

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Arranging meetups for times when other people are busy or absent
Having an activity near the partner���s location to have a legitimate reason for being there
Cultivating trust with others to allow for freedom of movement
Following a protocol (going out when the family is asleep, avoiding the same hotel, etc.)

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
An observer overhearing a conversation, especially one that contains suggestive innuendo
Being caught somewhere the character shouldn���t be
Being caught purchasing a gift intended for the partner
Losing track of time often, causing others to notice a pattern of absences

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE 
Increased scrutiny of the character
Being caught in a lie
Being discovered half-dressed or in bed together
Parental expectations that it���s time to ���settle down with someone���

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. It’s also Black Friday season, meaning you can grab a One Stop for Writers 6-Month subscription for a steal:

Best Deal of the Year:
Save 35%

Say goodbye to writer���s block, telling, and frustration. One Stop for Writers supports you at every step as you plan, write, and revise, so only your best writing makes it to the page.

Use the code BLACKFRIDAY24 to unlock a 35% discount for our 6-month plan. This sale runs until December 1st, 2024.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Hiding a Sexual Relationship appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.