Angela Ackerman's Blog: Writers Helping Writers, page 13

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

The post Stocking Stuffers for Writers Is Back (and so Is Godzilla) appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

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
CHARACTER ARC BLUEPRINT
TIMELINE TOOL
STORY AND SCENE MAPS
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IDEA GENERATOR
TEMPLATES AND WORKSHEETS
THE STORYTELLER���S ROADMAP
INSIGHTFUL CRAFT TUTORIALS, TIP SHEETS & MORE

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.

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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.

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Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Synopsis Edition

Hey, wonderful
writerly people!

It���s time for Phenomenal First Pages, our monthly critique contest. This is a special synopsis edition! So, if you need a bit of help with your synopsis, 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 synopsis.

Contest DetailsThis is a 24-hour contest, so enter ASAP.Make sure your contact information on the entry form is correct. Five winners will be drawn. We will email you if you win and let you know how to submit your synopsis (up to 1500 words). Please have your synopsis ready in case your name is selected. Format it with��1-inch margins, 12pt Times New Roman font.��All genres are welcome. The editor you’ll be working with:Julie Artz

Julie Artz has spent the past decade helping writers like you slay their doubt demons and get their novels and memoirs reader-ready. She���s worked with both award-winning and newer authors across the publishing spectrum from Big Five to small and university presses to indie and hybrid. She is an Author Accelerator-certified Founding Book Coach, a sought-after speaker and writing instructor, and a regular contributor to Jane Friedman and Writers Helping Writers, and a regular instructor for AuthorsPublish, IWWG, and more. Her work as a Pitch Wars and Teen Pit mentor, a former SCBWI Regional Advisor (WWA), and her memberships in The EFA, the WFWA, AWP, and the Authors Guild keep her industry knowledge sharp. A consummate social and environmental justice minded story geek, Julie lives in by an enchanted stream in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, two strong-willed teenagers (when they���re not off at university!), and two naughty furry familiars. She���s built a thriving book coaching business based on her values, her editing chops, and her knowledge of story. 

Julie���s stories have been published in Crow Toes Weekly, the Sirens Benefit Anthology Villains & Vengeance, and the speculative anthology Beyond the Latch and Lever. Subscribe to Julie���s weekly newsletter, Wyrd Words Weekly, or connect with her below:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Substack 

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 polish up your synopsis, check out this amazing post from Julie Artz.

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Five Fears of Writers (and How to Defeat Them)

When I first started working on this post, I thought, only five? But as I compiled my worst writer nightmares, I realized they do fall under five general headings.

Fear of Wasted Time

Anyone who has either written a novel or been in the querying trenches understands this one all too well. Nothing moves quickly. Not the novel itself, which takes numerous revisions before it starts to sound readable, and not the querying process. Agents and publishers can easily take six months or longer to get back to you���if they ever do. And in the end, you can spend years writing, polishing and sending out a novel, all to receive��� nothing. No advance, no publication, no interest.

But has it really been a waste of time? If you���re only focused on the result, then yes, it can look as though years of work + no published novel at the end (unless you self-publish) = a waste of time. But if you shift your focus to the process, suddenly everything looks different. Writing is, and always will be, a learning process. Every novel you write is destined to teach you something new. It should. If it doesn���t, that means you���re working according to a formula and repeating the same book over and over���and not moving forward.

The learning curve for novel writing is much steeper than most people realize. A lot of my clients are stunned to learn that two or three drafts aren���t enough to produce a publishable novel. Not even close. These writers are even more shocked to hear that many well-known authors throw work out and start over. No one would ever have such unrealistic expectations about learning to play the violin. Why should writing a novel be any different?

Here���s the thing: if you���re only doing this for the results, you���re in for a rough ride. If you don���t love the process���if the process isn���t the reason you write in the first place���then I highly recommend you do something else. The process is everything. The results are gravy.

Fear of Failure

Related to the fear of wasted time is the fear of failure.

What if I���m not good enough?What if I���ll never be anything more than ordinary/mediocre/average?

No one starts out being good enough. And once again, cue the violins. Imagine you���re embarking on a lifelong dream to learn how to play that wretched instrument. How long do you think it will take to get good at it? I wasn���t sure myself, so I asked Reddit. The consensus seems to be: years. Maybe as many as ten, and then you���ll be decent���though not great���depending on how much work you���ve sunk into it.

Talent plays a surprisingly small role in this process. What���s key? Hard work and dedication. As with any skill, the people who make it look easy are the ones who���ve put in all the work.

In her wonderful book, The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp exposes this myth of talent when she talks about both Mozart and Baryshnikov.

According to her, Mozart said, ���People err who think my art comes easily to me. I assure you��� nobody has devoted so much thought to composition as I. There is not a famous master whose music I have not industriously studied through many times.���

And Baryshnikov, even after he was the most admired dancer in the world, was still the hardest worker. Always.

You want to be better than ordinary, average, mediocre? You want to vanquish the fear of failure? Then get to work. Study the novels of great writers. Figure out what they���ve done and how. Practice. Swallow your pride. Get feedback and listen to it. Be prepared to throw work in the garbage. Learn. Read. Work harder.

This is the process. There is no other.

Fear of Humiliation

Let���s say you do work hard and get published. Don���t worry, success comes with its own set of fears.

I write (among other things) historical fiction. When my first novel came out, I was terrified that some history buff would come along and find errors in my work. Luckily, that fear had been motivating me for some time, so it caused me to be ridiculously meticulous about my work. Not only did I read numerous books, I also hired an expert to double-check my manuscript and used several beta readers who���d lived through the experience of East Germany.

Then I planned ahead for the dreaded experience of public speaking by taking every opportunity to get up on stage: going to open mics to read my work aloud, volunteering to introduce other writers���anything to rid myself of the fear of speaking to a crowd. It can be done.

Fear of Judgment

This is another one that might follow on the heels of success: what if people are offended by what I write?

Yes, your parent/spouse/whomever might be upset by your book. If you���re writing directly about someone you know and you���re worried they���re going to be offended, you have three choices: don���t do it, ask them first and get their approval, or tell it slant and deny deny deny.

Regardless, once the work is out there, you can���t control people���s reactions to it. You have to be okay with that���or else consider using a pseudonym.

Bad reviews are an offshoot of this fear���and some of them will be bad. Again, that���s out of your control. All you can do is write the best book you can���and then steer clear of the reviews.

Fear of the Blank Page/Screen

Part of dismantling this fear involves not believing in it in the first place. Part involves understanding that writer���s block is not really a fear of not being able to write; it���s a fear of not being able to get it right the first time (i.e., what if I���m wasting my time?).

Perfectionism is the enemy of productivity. First drafts aren���t meant to be perfect. They���re meant to be finished. It might be helpful to think of your first draft as an exploratory draft. I���ve also heard people call it the barf draft, but that might be a little too colorful for some folks. The point is, the first draft is all about figuring out what your story looks like. It involves trying things, taking chances, getting to know your characters. There���s no right or wrong here.

If you���re still worried that when tomorrow comes, you won���t be able to get started, try Hemingway���s trick of leaving off the day���s work in the middle of a sentence. Personally, I reread the previous day���s work to give myself a running start.

Any writer who is paying attention to the world around them and doing a lot of reading shouldn���t worry about running out of ideas. Ideas are everywhere. All you have to do is write them down. Keep an ideas file. Eavesdrop on conversations. Be an observer of human nature. Read���both within and outside your genre.

In Conclusion

Most of us are afraid of the same things���and most of these fears are within our control. When we expose them to the light and then deconstruct them, we see that in reality, there is nothing to fear��� except hard work, that���s scary.

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2024 Black Friday Deals for Writers

It’s time for our favorite round-up: Black Friday Deals for Writers! We love finding ways to save you money because we all need to know how to stretch a dollar in this industry.

Investing in the right tools can help with success, so hopefully you can take advantage of some of these current and upcoming deals (including a sweet little discount from us).

Writing, Editing, Publishing & Marketing Deals

Publisher Rocket ($30 off Publisher Rocket + a Free Course)

Your book deserves to be read! Join other authors using Publisher Rocket to sell more books by optimizing keywords, categories, and ad campaigns. This deal runs from November 28th to December 3rd.

ProWritingAid Annual & Lifetime Subscriptions (Save 50%)

ProWritingAid is the essential toolkit for storytellers, helping you to craft your story and bring it to life. Real-time feedback and in-depth analysis will show you how to strengthen your story, give your characters depth, add impetus to your plot and so much more. This deal runs from Nov 18 – Dec 3rd.

Fictionary Storyteller (or Bundled with Storyteller Live) 40% off

Fictionary’s StoryTeller Software and Live Courses offer a comprehensive process to improve story structure, pacing, character development, and settings. StoryTeller Software: Visualize your plot, identify key story arc scenes, and ensure a satisfying resolution. StoryTeller Premium with Fictionary Live!: Enjoy unlimited writing courses, live instruction, weekly editing tasks, and personalized feedback. Save 40% on subscriptions between Nov 18- Dec 12th.

Novlr Writing Software (30% off any subscription)

Novlr is the first writer-owned creative writing workspace that lets you focus on what’s most important; your words. The smart design is distraction-free, writing streaks and goals keep you motivated, the advanced analytics provide insights into your best writing times, and automatic cloud syncing keeps your work safe. Ready to be more productive? Use the code BLACKFRIDAY24 to save on all subscriptions until December 31st.

Write | Publish | Sell (40% off Instagram for Authors Course)

���Instagram for Authors is a power-packed course providing authors with the tools they need to successfully use Instagram to market and grow their author platforms. Save 40% by using the code 40OFFIGBF at checkout until December 2nd.

K.M.Weiland’s Products for Writers (Save 25%)

Save 25% off K.M. Weiland’s popular writing resources, including her books on plot, character, and story structure. Take it a step further with interactive workbooks (including the Outlining Your Novel Workbook software), and the Creating Character Arcs and the Shadow Archetypes courses. Her Archetypal Character Guided Meditations can also help you dive into your characters’ minds and dream up new story ideas. Deal valid November 18th – December 2nd.

BookFunnel Mid-List & Bestseller Plans (Save $50)

The fundamental tool for your author business, BookFunnel delivers reader magnets, delivers direct sales ebooks & audiobooks, and helps authors reach new customers through group promos and author swaps. Take advantage of our best-in-the-industry support and take $50 off an annual subscription to our Mid-List Author and Bestseller Author plans from November 25th to December 2nd.

Atticus Software (Free Course with Purchase)

Transform your writing journey with Atticus.io���the all-in-one powerhouse for book writing and formatting. Forget juggling multiple tools; Atticus brings you a sleek, intuitive platform that takes you from draft to publish-ready masterpiece effortlessly. Get a free Publishing for Indie Authors course with each purchase between November 28th and December 2nd.

Getcovers (25% off cover design packages)

On a tight budget for a book launch? Getcovers is a book cover design company that provides book cover design packages for a shockingly low price – just $10-$35, depending on the package you choose. Use the code BLACKDEALS at checkout from November 25th to December 2nd.

Book Brush Social Media Management (2 bonus months with a 6-month plan)

Your schedule is jam-packed and Book Brush services can help lighten your load with your choice of two all-inclusive social media plans: Meta Plan: We���ll manage your Instagram and Facebook, creating eye-catching graphics and reels to build a strong, branded presence in the author niche and keep your fans engaged. Video Plan: We���ll produce 15 custom reels each month for your TikTok and YouTube channels, tailored to capture your unique style and audience. Get this 8 for 6 deal by booking a consultation call by Dec 6th.

Shut Up and Write the Book by Jenna Moreci
(.99 ebook sale at Amazon)

Shut Up and Write the Book is a step-by-step guide to crafting a novel from your first spark of an idea to the final edit. Enjoy bestselling author Jenna Moreci���s no-nonsense guidance and saucy sarcasm as she walks you through every step of the writing process. Grab it on Amazon for $.99 from November 27th to December 2nd. (affiliate link)

Novel Factory Software (Save 30%)

The Novel Factory app is designed to help writers turn their ideas into fully developed, captivating novels. With powerful planning tools, in-app guidance, and a simple, intuitive design, it���s everything you need to bring your story to life���from first draft to final edit. Save 30% on an annual plan with code BLACKRIDAY2024 between November 18 to December 2nd.

Last but not least, a story support tool that helps you write friction that stands out from the rest:

One Stop for Writers 6-Month Plan (Save 35%)

Ready for a game-changer? Look no further than One Stop for Writers, your ultimate storytelling companion. Designed by story experts Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi, these groundbreaking tools help you craft characters with true depth, devise fresh plots, and construct immersive worlds that your readers won’t want to leave.

Your One Stop Toolkit includes:

SHOW-DON’T-TELL DESCRIPTION DATABASE (Containing 18 Thesauruses)
CHARACTER BUILDER
CHARACTER ARC BLUEPRINT
TIMELINE TOOL
STORY AND SCENE MAPS
WORLDBUILDING SURVEYS
IDEA GENERATOR
TEMPLATES AND WORKSHEETS
THE STORYTELLER’S ROADMAP
INSIGHTFUL CRAFT TUTORIALS, TIP SHEETS & MORE

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.

We hope you find a few things on this list that help you on your journey. Happy writing & saving!

The post 2024 Black Friday Deals for Writers appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

The Building Blocks of a Synopsis

By Julie Artz

A writer once told me they���d created their query list specifically to avoid agents who asked writers for a synopsis because writing one was harder than getting a whole novel reader-ready. I laughed at the time, but since then I���ve encountered a lot of fear and trepidation about writing a synopsis, especially as the move toward Query Manager has made asking for a synopsis common practice. But the synopsis is a powerful tool to assess story structure via the convergence of plot arc and character arc, so creating one that is accurate not only makes your pitch package stronger, but it can help you better understand your story and know when it���s truly ready for readers.

So what even is a synopsis? James Scott Bell has some great information about what a synopsis is and what it���s for in his post, Synopsis Writing Made Easy. But essentially, it���s a 2-3 page snapshot of your plot and how it moves your main character(s) through their change arc. This is exactly why I ask all my clients to write a synopsis as part of their planning and/or revision process���because, as Michelle Barker described in her post, The Dreaded Synopsis, doing so will help you identify story-level problems before you send your novel out into the world. That���s exactly why agents and editors ask for one: they can assess quickly whether your story hangs together well enough for them to take the time to read the pages.

So let���s walk through the building blocks of the synopsis! I���ve also created this handy downloadable workbook to help you work through the process step-by-step.

The Four Essential Questions

The first building-block of your synopsis (and your story as a whole) is what I call the four essential questions. These big-picture questions are the foundation of your synopsis and your story:

What is the main character���s story goal? What do they really want?What is the external plot? What does the main character do to try to achieve that goal and what obstacles stand in their way?What is at stake if they do not achieve that goal? What are they risking or what might they lose?What is their internal arc? How do the events of the plot change the main character over the course of the story as they work to achieve their goal?

These four questions may seem simple, but if you can���t answer them in a few sentences each, your story may be too complicated. If you can���t answer them at all, you may have a weakness in plot, character, motivation/goal, or stakes that needs to be addressed at the manuscript level before you pitch.

The Key Turning-Point Scenes

Once you have a big-picture idea of what your plot, character, and stakes are all about, you can identify the key turning-point scenes that move your main character through their change arc in pursuit of their story goal. 

Opening Scene: Poses a question to hook the reader.Inciting Incident: A scene that sets the plot in motion.Midpoint: The moment that changes everything for the main character.All is Lost Moment: A major plot setback for the main character and her gang.Dark Night of the Soul: Something goes very wrong in the character���s internal arc, often related to or as a result of what happens in the All is Lost moment.Climax: The events of the All is Lost and Dark Night force the main character to dig deep and learn whatever it is they needed to learn so they can save the day in the final (metaphorical or actual) battle.Resolution: And now that the main character has achieved some version of their story goal at the climax, they live happily ever after.

Weave these key turning-point scenes into the answers to the four essential questions above to create an outline for your synopsis. Try to keep this under 500 words because we still have a few more pieces to add.

The Connective Tissue

If you write out a sentence or two for each of the key turning-point scenes above, the overall narrative might not make sense without some additional connective tissue. The good news is that you���ve got room: submission guidelines can vary from 500-1500 words or more, so I generally recommend shooting for a 750 word synopsis.

The connective tissue can be things like introducing subplots and side characters. Stick to no more than five named characters in the synopsis if possible and focus on the main ones like love interests, antagonists, best friends, or sidekicks that have a major role in the action of the story. A good rule of thumb is that these are the folks who are there at the climax!

Depending on your genre, the connective tissue might also include mystery elements, red herrings, and breadcrumb trails, world-building elements like cultural norms and power structures that create obstacles for your main character, and moments in the story that raise the stakes or complicate the plot.

Note that connective tissue does not include backstory or a great deal of world-building. It also doesn���t include voice or dialogue. That said, you do want your synopsis to give a sense of tone and atmosphere appropriate for your chosen genre. This can also help the agent or editor determine if this is primarily a plot-driven or character-driven story (either is fine, but readers will have preferences on that score).

If Your Synopsis Exposes a Story Problem

So you���ve written out the answers to the four essential questions, woven them in with the Seven Key Scenes, and added the connective tissue that makes sense for your story. But one of your key scenes or four essential questions feels a little weak. This might mean there���s a big-picture problem with your story. If that happens to you, don���t despair���you���ve discovered a fixable issue before you sent this to your dream agent or editor and that���s a very good thing.

For a deeper dive into story structure, check out these helpful articles on Writers Helping Writers:

Story Not Behaving? Try Going Deeper into StructureAdapting Story Structure for Any ProjectStory Structure as a Fractal

If you���ve read all these posts, downloaded my Synopsis Step-by-Step Workbook, and are still feeling really stuck, watch this space on November 21 for a chance to win a synopsis consult from yours truly���we can figure out a solution together!

Julie Artz has spent the past decade helping writers like you slay their doubt demons and get their novels and memoirs reader-ready. She’s worked with both award-winning and newer authors across the publishing spectrum from Big Five to small and university presses to indie and hybrid. She is an Author Accelerator-certified Founding Book Coach, a sought-after speaker and writing instructor, and a regular contributor to Jane Friedman and Writers Helping Writers, and a regular instructor for AuthorsPublish, IWWG, and more. Her work as a Pitch Wars and Teen Pit mentor, a former SCBWI Regional Advisor (WWA), and her memberships in The EFA, the WFWA, AWP, and the Authors Guild keep her industry knowledge sharp. A consummate social and environmental justice minded story geek, Julie lives in by an enchanted stream in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, two strong-willed teenagers (when they���re not off at university!), and two naughty furry familiars. She���s built a thriving book coaching business based on her values, her editing chops, and her knowledge of story. 

Julie���s stories have been published in Crow Toes Weekly, the Sirens Benefit Anthology Villains & Vengeance, and the speculative anthology Beyond the Latch and Lever. Subscribe to Julie���s weekly newsletter, Wyrd Words Weekly, or connect with her below:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Substack 

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Four Things That Make Your Writing Boring (and how to fix them!)

Why is it that some books get gobbled up by readers, and others don���t? It���s easy to get stuck in a revision cycle when you aren���t sure if a scene is working, so you rewrite it, and rewrite it again, and again, going by gut feel, and not knowing if you���re making your book better, or worse. If this has happened to you, you���re not alone.

Often, writers focus on ���fixing��� their writing by correcting spelling and grammar, or by trying to optimize sentence structure. And while all those things are important (you don���t want your reader tripping over errors), if you focus in on this too soon, you���ll run the risk of missing the bigger picture���Is your writing interesting?

Now, before you comment below to say that interesting is in the eye of the beholder, let me be specific. I can guarantee that the idea for your book is interesting, and that there are readers in the world that will agree with you. After all, you���ve spent hundreds, possibly thousands of hours on your writing already. You���re reading this article. You���re doing the work because your idea is good enough to keep you interested.

But if those beautiful ideas in your mind are falling flat on your pages, your reader will get bored. Luckily, it���s entirely fixable.

If you have the following four issues in your writing, it will stop readers from seeing what you���re hoping to say with your writing. Fix them if you want your book to make the maximum impact that it can.

Problem #1: Using Writing Clich��s

Clich��s are phrases or situations that are so overused that they become an eye roll for readers. I���m not talking about these phrases (although you should avoid them too, in favor of fresher ideas!). But Writing Clich��s are situations that are so overused they will be a snore for your readers, and believe it or not, can mark your writing as amateur for editors, agents, or publishers who���ve worked in the industry for a while. Some examples include:

Starting a scene with a character waking upEnding a scene with a character falling asleep, or everything fading to blackA character looking in a mirror to describe themselves

Now, before you freak out, because you���re like, But Suzy, I have all of these clich��s in my pages. Why didn���t I know this? Let me explain.

There is absolutely nothing technically wrong with these situations, and there���s no way that you could know they���ve overused. Why? Because these tired bits of writing usually get edited out of books before they���re published, so you won���t see them in many books on the shelf of your local bookstore.

But they are very common in first drafts. Why? They are simply the easiest way for a writer to start or end a scene, or to show readers what a Point of View (POV) character looks like. Because of this, thousands of writers come to write scenes in a similar way, writing the first thing that comes to mind. If you have these problems in your book���s draft, you���re in good company. But the easiest way to write something is not often the most effective way to engage readers.

Luckily, these problems are easy to fix, and you don���t even have to rewrite your whole scene to do it.

If your character wakes up at the beginning of a scene? Simply eliminate the sentences where they wake up, starting the scene a few moments later, when your character is already awake.If your character falls asleep, passes out, or is knocked unconscious at the end of your scene? End it just before.If your POV character looks themselves up and down in a mirror to describe what they look like? Instead, get creative with how you share a few details about their appearance when we first meet them. We don���t need it all at once. Instead, aim for 2-3 details you can share, the more specific, the more effective they will be.  Is there something they like or dislike about their appearance? Share that. Do they share a hair color or nose shape with a family member who���s also in the book? Share that. And share these details sooner rather than later. Giving a description of what your character looks like in Chapter 5 is frustrating to the reader, because it will undoubtedly be different than they���d imagined. Slip it into the opening pages.   Problem #2: ���Draining the Well Dry���

One of the toughest things for writers to learn is how to smoothly manage the passage of time in their story. Like in Problem #1 above, where writers have naturally gravitated to the path of least resistance, they end up describing everything that happens to a character during each day, zooming in on conversations, watching them eat, drink, or go about their day. The problem with this is that it���s unfocused, and can feel rambling. You as the writer may need all this information to get your timeline straight, but don���t make the mistake of including it all in your scenes, because it���ll take forever for your reader to wade through. 

Unless this minutia directly relates to the message you���re trying to convey with your book, skip it. We probably don���t need to watch your character brush their teeth, for example. If your book is contemporary, readers will assume that they did. If you���ve got scenes like these, take a step back and consider which moments readers really need to witness to get a feel for what your character is going through. Being able to make these decisions is where your writing skill comes in. Cut the rest by ending the scene or chapter earlier, with a scene break, then taking us to the next important moment in the next chapter or scene.

Problem #3: Writing Exhaustive Dialogue

In my opinion, some of the worst advice out there for writers (although it���s very commonly passed along) is this: To learn to write dialogue well, sit in a coffee shop and eavesdrop. Write down phrases as you hear them, then use them in your writing to make your dialogue more realistic.

Uh��� no. Why? Because if you���re not careful, you���ll end up with pages of this drivel, and you���ll put your reader to sleep.

Consider this exchange, which might happen in an everyday coffee shop:

���Hi, I���m Rob.���

���Sorry, did you say Bob?���

���No, Rob.���

���Oh, sorry. Nice to meet you, Rob. I���m Larry.���

���Nice to meet you too, Larry. I���ve never been to this coffee shop, have you?���

���No, I haven���t.���

Are you sleeping after reading that? I almost fell asleep writing it. Dialogue in books doesn���t have to accurately reflect how we speak in real life, unless you���re ironically trying to show how pedantic it can be, as in a comedy series like The Office, where they slow down everyday office occurrences to poke fun. In most books, aim for dialogue that sparkles a little brighter than the mundane conversations people have.

Ask yourself, Which moments will help the reader see my characters in action?  What they are thinking or feeling as the conversation is happening, that will move your story forward?

There are many problems with the example dialogue above, but here are some guidelines to start with:

Skip introductions or summarize instead of making us wade through them whenever possible. A simple, The man introduced himself as Rob, would be just fine here.Eliminate prompting dialogue. This is where one character asks a question (���did you say Bob?���), or prompts another character to repeat themselves. Watch for this in your dialogue, and collapse it down to eliminate the feeling of redundancy.Problem #4: Not Enough Exciting Showing Details in Your Scenes

Implementing each of the tips above will inevitably reduce the word count in your scenes, and that doesn���t always feel great, when you���ve fought hard to get the words down and watched your book grow. But be ruthless, eliminating boring elements that will stop your reader from getting hooked on your story, because this reduced word count will give you breathing room to add in details that will really make your writing pop.

Every scene in your book should have a balance of showing, and telling. Drawing out important moments by sharing a specific showing detail or two will always draw readers in, making your story come to life for them.

Not sure what I mean by showing, or telling? You can get more information on that here.

Click here for a wealth of show-don’t-tell resources!

Making Your Writing Exciting for Readers

Eliminating the boring writing habits listed above will increase your book���s impact on your reader, making them stay up late into the night to finish your pages, fall in love with your story, and share it with their friends.

Not sure if you���ve developed some boring writing habits along the way? Get a writing assessment! Until Black Friday, I���m offering an introductory Writing Assessment, where I���ll evaluate a sample of your writing and coach you where to focus to make your writing as impactful to your reader as it can be. Get details at www.suzyvadori.com/10pagereview

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