Angela Ackerman's Blog: Writers Helping Writers, page 23

The Secret To a Compelling Author Bio

Goodbye to Boring Bios

Are you struggling to write the perfect author bio for your book, social media or website? Then this post is for you! Say goodbye to boring bios and hello to a profile that truly reflects who you are as a writer.

Let’s dive in and unlock the power of an unforgettable author bio … Let’s go!

Why Is an Author Bio Important?

At grass roots level, an author bio is a brief summary of who you are and what you do as a writer. It may seem like just another piece of information to include on your book cover or website, but it holds much more significance than that.

In fact, it can be one of the most powerful tools in your writing career. As writers, our words are our brand. Our readers want to know more about the writer behind the stories they love. An author bio provides them with that insight!

A good author bio gives readers a glimpse into our background, interests, and accomplishments that have shaped us as writers. But why else is an author bio so important? Let’s delve deeper … A good bio:

Establishes credibility and trustworthinessConnects with readers on a personal levelProvides context for our workActs as a promotional toolUseful for our blogs, social media or other sites like LinkedIn or AmazonTip #1: Highlight your accomplishments and credentials

As a writer, it can be daunting to condense one’s entire writing career or creative journey into a short author bio. Our author bio is often the first introduction readers have to us and our writing, so it’s crucial to make a strong impression.

One effective way to make your author bio compelling is by highlighting your accomplishments and credentials. This step involves showcasing any notable achievements or milestones in your writing career as well as mentioning relevant educational background or experience.

Here are some examples of impressive accomplishments that you could consider including in your author bio:

Published WorksAwards and RecognitionsBestseller StatusSpeaking EngagementsSuccessful Book LaunchesMedia FeaturesPositive Reviews from professionals in your genre

Remember, the key is to only include accomplishments that are relevant to your writing career and demonstrate your skills. Including too many vague or unrelated achievements can dilute the impact of those that truly matter. Choose a few of your most impressive accomplishments and highlight them with specific details, rather than listing out every single one.

Tip #2: Add a Personal Touch and Show Your Personality

Your author bio is the perfect opportunity to showcase your unique voice and personality. It’s not just a dry list of credentials, but a chance for readers to get to know you on a deeper level.

Adding a personal touch to your bio can make it more engaging and memorable for potential readers … but don’t go overboard, because that might make you seem obnoxious or hard to work with. The whole point of your bio is to get your name out there in GOOD way!  

Want to see an example of a more light-hearted bio? Then check out MY INSTAGRAM AUTHOR BIO.

Tip #3: Keep it concise and relevant

When it comes to writing your author bio, one of the most important tips to keep in mind is to make sure it is concise and relevant. As writers, we often have a lot to say about ourselves and our work, but it’s important to remember that a long and rambling bio can quickly lose the attention of readers.

So how do you balance providing enough information while keeping your bio short and sweet? First up, start by identifying what information is essential for your audience to know about you. 

Next, think about what makes you stand out as a writer. What sets you apart from others in your field?

If you want to see a bio that focuses only on professional accomplishments, check out MINE HERE ON LINKEDIN.

By the Way …

Again – as tempting as it may be to list everything in your author bio, try not to overwhelm readers with too much detail! Instead, select a few key accomplishments that demonstrate your expertise and credibility as an author. And don’t forget ��� always keep these accomplishments relevant to those reading your bio.

Remember that brevity does not mean sacrificing quality. Your bio should still be well-written and professionally presented. Use complete sentences and proper grammar. Avoid slang or overly casual language unless it aligns with your brand or writing style.

BONUS: How Long Should an Author Bio Be?

When it comes to creating a compelling author bio, one crucial aspect that writers often overlook is word count. Many authors either provide too little information or go overboard and include excessive details. However, finding the right balance and sticking to an appropriate length can have a significant impact on how readers perceive you as an author.

So, what is the ideal length for an author bio? If on social media, you may have only a few characters to play with, so limit yourself to how much space you are given. Simple as that!  

In other places, you will have more space. While there isn’t a set standard, most experts recommend keeping it concise and between 100-200 words. This may seem like a small word count, but it’s enough to convey your essential information without losing the reader’s interest.

One of the main reasons for keeping your author bio short is that it allows you to focus on highlighting only the most relevant details about yourself. Remember, readers are more interested in learning about your writing achievements and background rather than your personal life story.

Last Points

So, when crafting your author bio keep in mind …

Brevity is keyDon’t sacrifice important information in the process!Stick to 100-200 wordsMake every word countFocus on highlighting writing achievements andAlso any relevant background

Concentrate on the above and you’ll create a compelling author bio that will captivate readers and leave a lasting impression.

Good Luck!��

The post The Secret To a Compelling Author Bio appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Adrenaline Junkie

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes���”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different archetypes to come up with interesting new versions. The result is a sizable pool of character tropes that we see from one story to another.

Archetypes and tropes are popular storytelling elements because of their familiarity. Upon seeing them, readers know immediately who they’re dealing with and what role the nerd, dark lord, femme fatale, or monster hunter will play. As authors, we need to recognize the commonalities for each trope so we can write them in a recognizable way and create a rudimentary sketch for any character we want to create.

But when it comes to characters, no one wants just a sketch; we want a vibrant and striking cast full of color, depth, and contrast. Diving deeper into character creation is especially important when starting with tropes because the blessing of their familiarity is also a curse; without differentiation, the characters begin to look the same from story to story.

But no more. The Character Type and Trope Thesaurus allows you to outline the foundational elements of each trope while also exploring how to individualize them. In this way, you’ll be able to use historically tried-and-true character types to create a cast for your story that is anything but traditional.

DESCRIPTION: This character is driven by a need for stimulation and excitement. The more intense or dangerous the situation is, the more likely they are to participate.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Ethan Hunt (Mission Impossible), Han Solo (Star Wars: A New Hope), James Bond (the Ian Fleming series), Odysseus (The Odyssey), Maverick (Top Gun)

COMMON STRENGTHS: Adaptable, Adventurous, Alert, Bold, Confident, Courageous, Creative, Curious, Decisive, Focused, Imaginative, Independent, Industrious, Inspirational, Intelligent, Observant, Passionate, Perceptive, Persistent, Quirky, Resourceful, Spontaneous, Spunky, Uninhibited

COMMON WEAKNESSES: Addictive, Cocky, Impatient, Impulsive, Irresponsible, Macho, Mischievous, Obsessive, Rebellious, Reckless, Self-Destructive, Stubborn

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES
Seeking out risky activities
Looking for excitement
Believing anything is possible
Competitiveness
Being highly independent
Underestimating danger
Spontaneity
Believing the rules don’t apply to them���e.g., bad things happen to other people, not them
Impulsivity
Struggling with organization, finances, time management, and other detail-oriented tasks

SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM
Scenarios where there are many rules to be followed
Situations that require conformity (such as working in the military or a bureaucracy)
Living in suburbia and being stuck in a 9 to 5 desk job
Being forced to work with a group

TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO���
Has an unconventional skill or hobby, such as dancing or studying philosophy
Likes to be part of a group
Has an atypical trait: Inflexible, cooperative, insecure, indecisive, whiny, needy, meticulous, etc.

CLICH��S TO BE AWARE OF
The thrill-seeker who is the only one in the group who never gets shot or wounded
An adrenaline junkie who’s always on and never needs any downtime
A thrill-seeker who isn’t afraid of anything

Other Type and Trope Thesaurus entries can be found here.

Need More Descriptive Help?

While this thesaurus is still being developed, the rest of our descriptive collection (16 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, and then give our Free Trial a spin.

The post Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Adrenaline Junkie appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus (May 2024 Release)

We’re adding to our Thesaurus family!

It’s been a while since our last book as we needed to recalibrate our release schedule from fall to spring (resulting in a year gap), but now we’re back in the thesaurus-making saddle. May 13th is coming fast, so it’s time to dish some details about our next writing guide!

First up…the cover!

As this is an upgraded second edition and companion to The Emotion Thesaurus, we wanted the style of the books to match. This book is now a true thesaurus, packed with incredible help to showcase your character’s emotional state and help readers feel closer to your characters. More on that in a minute.

Next, the back jacket.

THE EMOTION AMPLIFIER THESAURUS:
A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility

STRESS YOUR CHARACTERS TO THEIR LIMITS 

Characters who are in control of their emotions rarely slip up, which makes for boring reading. To avoid that pitfall, channel your dark side and introduce stress that will make it harder for them to think clearly. Your weapon of choice? An amplifier. Pain, arousal, dehydration���conditions and states like these make it difficult for a character to emotionally self-regulate, setting them up for overreactions, misjudgments, and (hopefully) colossal mistakes they���ll have to fix and learn from. 

Inside The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus, you���ll find: 

A deep dive into cognitive and emotional dissonance and how psychological discomfort steers a character���s reasoning and impacts their ability to make decisionsInformation on emotional stress as a trigger for self-awareness and personal growth, which makes amplifiers powerful levers to help steer story structure and character arcLists of body language cues, internal sensations, thoughts, and other descriptives to show the effects of more than 50 amplifiersBrainstorming help on how to use each amplifier to generate tension and complication, apply everyday pressure, and make a character emotionally volatileFifty-two bonus writing tips to help you wield amplifiers with skill and precision, taking your scenes from good to great

Push your characters. Give them no quarter. Use physical, cognitive, and psychological strain to force them to face their mistakes, acknowledge their true feelings, and work through the contradictions at the heart of every inner struggle. 

How is this book a “companion” to The Emotion Thesaurus?

When we were building the original Emotion Thesaurus, writers would ask us to cover specific emotions only some were not feelings at all, rather more states of being that had the ability to disrupt and amplify whatever the character was feeling. So, we created a quick mini booklet in the same style as The Emotion Thesaurus for 15 states like Boredom, Pain, and Stress. Now, that mini-guide has been expanded to over 50 states and conditions that will challenge your character’s ability to control their emotions, and it is packed with knowledge on how to use them to create bigger emotional moments that readers will feel part of.

I have the original ebooklet. How is this guide different?

Great question! Our original Emotion Amplifier ebooklet (45 pages) was a bare-bones guide, intended to provide quick help for describing common states like pain, illness, hunger, etc. that are often mistaken for emotions. It contained a brief how-to and 15 entries. This second edition (XXX pages) is a true deep dive into this storytelling element to show you exactly just how powerful amplifiers are. This guide shows you how to use them to destabilize a character’s emotions, generate conflict, support story structure, and most importantly, bring readers inside your character’s emotional experience using common human struggles and internal turmoil. We’ve expanded the thesaurus to cover over 50 amplifiers, and for the first time ever, each entry has three pages of brainstorming material, not two. Because emotion amplifiers are so versatile and perfect for unlocking a character’s psychological state to create intimacy with readers, we couldn’t contain our lists to two pages.

Will there be a preorder?

Sorry, no. We’ve tried a preorder in the past, but a certain online store made a mess of it (costing us hundreds of sales), so we’d rather not have that happen again. But if you’d like a notification as soon as the book is out, add your email here.

Are you giving out ARCs?

We do have 50 digital ARCs and as we do at every launch, draw names from our lovely Street Team who have expressed a desire to review the book whether they win an Arc or purchase the book. If you know you’ll be reviewing this guide one way or they other and would be interested in joining our Street Team, sign up here. We’ll draw the ARC winners in April.

Do you have a Street Team? Can I help?

Yes, yes, and YES! If you want to join our Street Team, you can sign up here (and thank you!). We would love to have your help. Plus, being on the inside of a book launch means you can apply what we do to your own book launch strategy. Win-win!

Can I access The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus at One Stop for Writers?

Yes! If you’d like to take a look at the list of amplifiers, you can find the Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus here. (If you’d like to poke around & view this powerful THESAURUS DATABASE in full, we recommend starting a 2-week free trial.)

Did we miss a question? If so, please ask, and we’ll be happy to answer!

Thanks so much for always supporting us. May 13th will be here soon, and we can’t wait. We hope this book is everything you need and more!

Click here to be notified when this book releases.

The post The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus (May 2024 Release) appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Continuing a Series: Is This Info Too Repetitive?

We���ve probably seen advice warning that any time our story revisits information, we risk the idea feeling repetitive or redundant to readers if we���re not careful. Not surprisingly, the same risk can apply even across books in a series.

Yet when we write a book series, we usually need to repeat some information from book to book. Depending on the type of series, we might need to repeat character introduction or worldbuilding information, or we might need to touch on events from previous books, and so on. So how can we avoid the repetitive/redundant risk when presenting information in a book series?

Series 101: Types of Series

To understand our options for how to handle repeating information, we first need to determine the type of series we���re writing. In general, books are designated a series because they share at least one element:

Shared Setting: These series take place in the same ���world��� but each feature different point-of-view (POV) characters. The characters of book two may or may not have been introduced in book one. The events of book two may or may not be dependent on the events of book one.Shared Character(s): These series feature the same POV character(s). The events of book two may or may not be dependent on the events of book one.Shared Story Arc: These series follow a story arc over several book installments. Each book usually features at least some of the same characters. Sometimes a story will end with a cliffhanger to be resolved in the next book. These books need to be read in order.Which Category Best Fits Our Series?

We need to determine which category best fits our series, as the writing techniques that work best for handling repeated information vary for different types of series. For example, when series books are standalone, we use different techniques than when the books must be read in a certain order.

What if the books can make sense out of order but are connected enough to make events of one book affect the next book?

In this case, the series usually has less focus on the overall Shared Story Arc than the other shared elements, so the standalone techniques of the Shared Character or Shared Setting categories will likely be the most helpful to us. However, it���s also possible that that our series may change category near the end.

Some series can be read in any order until the last book(s), when the minor Shared Story Arc threads referenced throughout the series grow in importance to create a series-level story. For these series, to get the most out of the final book, readers should be familiar with the rest of the series first. In this situation, we can use the Shared Character/Setting techniques in the earlier books, and then when that Shared Story Arc finally takes over as the main focus of the book, we can change to use the Shared Story Arc techniques in the later book(s). We should just let readers know that they���ll get the most out of the last book(s) if they read the other books first.

Want to learn the Techniques for Series Based on Shared Setting
or the Techniques for Series Based on Shared Character?
Check out Jami���s companion post!

Techniques for Series Based on Shared Story Arc

The most important aspect of Shared Story Arc series is that if we intend to write the books with an assumption that readers have read previous books, we need to include that information in our marketing materials. For example, our book description/back-cover blurb should mention that this is book number-whatever in our series, and readers should start at the beginning of the series.

So if readers will read the books in a certain order, does that mean we shouldn���t bother repeating information at all? Unlikely.

Even within a single book, we still need to give readers hints about small details they may have forgotten since the earlier reference. For example, we might mention how a minor character is related to the story if they haven���t been on the page for several chapters, such as using a tag like ���her brother.��� (She couldn���t go to George for help, as her brother still hadn���t forgiven her for the last catastrophe.)

With a series, there���s usually months or years between the releases of our series��� books, or even if we release the series in a bundle, readers might not binge them all at once. So just like our techniques within a single book, we often need to find ways to trigger readers��� memory of earlier information.

Assuming we���ve let readers know that it���s essential to start the series at the beginning, we can focus on repeating a minimal amount of information with these 3 techniques���

#1: Use Just Enough Information to Trigger Readers��� Memory

In standalone series, we need to share enough information to get new readers up to speed, and that means re-introducing characters, the story world, and treating previous events as backstory. However, in story-arc series, we can shortcut a lot of repeated information by sharing just enough to trigger readers��� memory.

For example, rather than re-establishing why our protagonist is estranged from their family, we might just allude to the fact that they���re estranged from them. Or rather than sharing paragraphs of explanation to introduce main characters or the setting/story world, we might just state aspects of characters and the story world as facts and avoid the feeling of a re-introduction. In other words, focus on facts not explanations.

This memory-triggering process may look like one of these options, depending on the importance of the details:

a short tag: her office nemesis,a sentence: She���d still never forgiven her coworker for stealing her idea, ora paragraph: She���d still never forgiven her coworker for stealing her idea. In fact, the more she���d thought about Andrew���s undeserved raise and promotion, the more upset she���d gotten. Soon, though, her plan for revenge would have its day.

The more important a fact, such as a major aspect of the story, the more strongly we should trigger readers��� memory with essential details in case they can���t remember. Do readers need to know the protagonist is traumatized by her father���s death in the previous book? Share how that trauma is affecting her currently, and thus include the fact of the death event along the way, much as how we���d treat any backstory.

If we need more than a paragraph or two to share the necessary details of important information with returning readers, we can try the next suggestion to avoid repeating ourselves too much.

#2: Use Different Circumstances to Mention Repeated Information

For important information, we need to ensure that readers remember enough that they���ll understand events. When our story requires us to repeat more than a condensed paragraph of information, we can avoid the feeling of too much repetition by changing the circumstances of our reveal.

For example, if we initially revealed the information in a shocking twist, a follow-up book may remind readers of the information via:

a dialogue exchange,a different character bringing it up,internal monologue,an exploration of the aftereffects,a traumatic flashback, orbeing part of a conflict, etc.

Different techniques will fit best with different storytelling styles. The point is to change the circumstances so we���re forced to use different words, phrases, and descriptions to reduce the sense of d��j�� vu.

#3: Focus on How the Information Has Changed

In addition, we can emphasize how any repeated information has changed over the story���s arc. Or if the information itself hasn���t changed, we can bring it up by mentioning how characters have changed their perspective about it.

For example, we may explore how the POV character feels about it, how skilled they are at dealing with it, how they plan on taking advantage of it, etc. Revisiting the repeated information with some type of update can be a great way to ensure the repetition isn���t redundant, as readers are learning something new.

Final Thoughts about Avoiding Repetition in Series

With the right writing techniques, we can avoid���or at least minimize���the issue of readers feeling a sense of d��j�� vu as we repeat information in our series. When we find ways to change the information or how we deliver that information, we ensure readers are learning something new or seeing the information through a different perspective, and that gives them a reason to keep reading. *smile*

Want to learn techniques for Shared Setting or Shared Character series? Visit my companion post!

Have you written a series and struggled with how to revisit information? Can you think of any other techniques we can use to avoid a sense of repetition or redundancy? Do you have any questions about these techniques or how to approach repeating information in a series?

The post Continuing a Series: Is This Info Too Repetitive? appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Matriarch

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes���”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different archetypes to come up with interesting new versions. The result is a sizable pool of character tropes that we see from one story to another.

Archetypes and tropes are popular storytelling elements because of their familiarity. Upon seeing them, readers know immediately who they’re dealing with and what role the nerd, dark lord, femme fatale, or monster hunter will play. As authors, we need to recognize the commonalities for each trope so we can write them in a recognizable way and create a rudimentary sketch for any character we want to create.

But when it comes to characters, no one wants just a sketch; we want a vibrant and striking cast full of color, depth, and contrast. Diving deeper into character creation is especially important when starting with tropes because the blessing of their familiarity is also a curse; without differentiation, the characters begin to look the same from story to story.

But no more. The Character Type and Trope Thesaurus allows you to outline the foundational elements of each trope while also exploring how to individualize them. In this way, you’ll be able to use historically tried-and-true character types to create a cast for your story that is anything but traditional.

DESCRIPTION: A female elder who rules over her family, tribe, or clan.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Catelyn Stark (A Song of Ice and Fire), Lady Jessica (Dune), Mother Abagail (The Stand), Madea Simmons (the Madea franchise), Abuela Alma (Encanto)

COMMON STRENGTHS: Adaptable, Ambitious, Analytical, Bold, Calm, Cautious, Confident, Decisive, Disciplined, Discreet, Focused, Inspirational, Just, Loyal, Nurturing, Organized, Persuasive, Protective, Resourceful, Responsible, Traditional, Wise

COMMON WEAKNESSES: Confrontational, Controlling, Cowardly, Fanatical, Humorless, Inflexible, Manipulative, Obsessive, Oversensitive, Paranoid, Perfectionist, Pushy

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES
Being a wise guide and counselor
Teaching her family about moral standards
Taking care of the needs of her family
Knowing what she believes and standing firm on those ideals
Making important decisions for her family
Being able to make hard choices that are best for the group
Not being afraid to take risks
Clinging too tightly to her beliefs and not listening to other points of view
Seeking to hold onto her power rather than consider changes that should be made
Being unwilling to ask for help when she needs it

SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM
A family conflict that makes it difficult for her to maintain objectivity
A family member rejecting the matriarch’s vision or leadership and striking out on their own
An external threat that must be overcome, such as an epidemic or war

TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO���
Is an authoritarian traditionalist instead of a wise and nurturing counselor
Loves to meddle in the personal lives of her family and friends
Is blind to deep personal flaws, such as being manipulative or closed-minded
Has an atypical trait: Timid, Playful, Callous, Violent, Sleazy, Quirky, etc.

CLICH��S TO BE AWARE OF
The all-knowing wise woman without obvious personal flaws who doesn’t grow or change in the story
A self-sacrificing giving tree whose only purpose is to serve her people

Other Type and Trope Thesaurus entries can be found here.

Need More Descriptive Help?

While this thesaurus is still being developed, the rest of our descriptive collection (16 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, and then give our Free Trial a spin.

The post Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Matriarch appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

8 Steps from Amateur to Pro Writer

Every author starts out as a hobbyist. We write as kids, for fun. As we get older, we write when we have free time or the fit takes us. For many, that���s as far as it goes, and there���s value in that.

But for others, over time, our writing passion grows. Chances are, if you���re reading this blog, you’re looking to take the next step and become a professional author. Here are 8 changes you should make, in no certain order, to level up your writing to pro status.

1. Make Writing a Priority

This one is kind of a no-brainer, but it���s hard to do because we have other responsibilities and activities that are important. Paying the bills (working a day job). Parenting. Developing friendships. Bingeing Stranger Things for the third (fourth?) time.

Life is busy, full of non-negotiable duties and fun stuff that steal our time. But the truth is, we make time for what���s important to us.

Pros prioritize writing. This requires a reshuffling of our To Do list. It may mean jettisoning some things completely. Because only when writing is a priority will it get the time and attention needed to take you to the next level.

2. Practice Patience

The fact that you���re reading this post shows that you recognize the importance of honing your craft and acquiring new skills. Research, learning, application���these all take time.

But once you decide to pursue writing as a career, there���s a natural temptation to escalate the process. After all, this isn���t like other jobs; no one���s monitoring your progress and deciding when you can take the next step. There���s no hierarchical ladder that must be climbed. It���s just you, your computer, and the Publish button.

Patience is a defining characteristic of professionals because they recognize that becoming really good at something doesn’t happen over night. They know that positioning themselves for success takes time. So don���t just focus on the end result of publishing the book or hitting a certain sales milestone. Dedicate yourself to growth and improvement. Respect the journey, and resist the urge to skip steps along the way.

3. Seek Out Criticism (and Be Able to Take It)

I’ve got an eighth-grade son who loves music. He plays multiple instruments but is focused mostly now on the bass clarinet. Recently, he entered a Solo and Ensemble competition, where students perform a piece of music for a professional adjudicator and are given a grade of Superior, Excellent, Good, etc.

I sat in on his performance and was able to listen to the judge���s feedback. I thought Dominic had done very well, so I was surprised to hear the judge offer so much criticism. I kind of wanted to punch her.

Walking out, I said to D that he���d unfortunately pulled a tough judge, and we would just hope for the best. I got my second surprise of the day when my son said he was happy to have gotten this adjudicator because her helpful feedback was going to make him a better player.

Sure, the score mattered (he got a Superior, by the way), but D recognized that if he wanted to become a premier player, he needed to improve his areas of weakness. And he couldn���t see what those weaknesses were. None of us really can. It takes other people to point them out.

If you want to become better as an author, you have to get helpful feedback. Critique partners and beta readers, writing coaches and editors���there are so many knowledgeable people in the industry who can help with this. But they won’t come to you. To become a superior writer, you���ve got to seek them out and be willing to take their feedback.

4. Become a Perpetual Learner

Becoming a pro takes time because there���s always more to learn. New writing methods and techniques, emerging technologies and software (A.I., anyone?). Marketing, bookkeeping, business strategies . . . Pros know that writing, as a career, is always in flux. If you go into it with the mindset of a lifelong learner, you���ll be able to adjust and won���t get steamrolled when things change.

5. Approach Writing as a Business

This is one of the toughest mindset shifts to make because we love the writing so much. We have this image of ourselves as successful authors, sitting in our office typing or scribbling away day after day. And while I would argue that writing is the most important thing, there’s so much more to becoming a pro.

To get there, we have to view writing as a business. Yes, success requires researching and drafting and revising. But it���s also setting up a bank account and ordering checks, filing annual taxes, building a brand, marketing our products, hiring people to do the things we can���t or don���t want to do, creating and maintaining a website, figuring out which distributors to use to sell your books and familiarizing yourself with their platforms���

Oi.

It can be overwhelming because we don���t want to do all that stuff. We. Just. Want. To. Write. Can���t we just write?

Well . . . no. Professional writers do plenty of writing, but they���re also building a business. And all the other stuff is part of that.

This goes back to #4. Broaden your mind and accept this fact: to be a professional, you will have to learn all the things. You don���t have to become an expert; just look at me doing Angela���s and my finances (/shrieks). It���s not easy. It���s definitely not natural, and sometimes it���s not pretty, but I do it because it has to be done. Embrace the lifelong journey of learning these tasks (or learning to outsource them), and you���re on your way to being a pro.

6. Learn to Set (and Meet) Deadlines [image error]

Have you heard the (very uplifting) saying that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions? Well, so is the road to becoming a professional author. Intentions won���t get you there. Once we prioritize our writing, we have to set goals. And goals need deadlines because without them, it���s easy to get sidetracked. Setting reasonable timelines for your objectives (and sticking to them) will increase your efficiency and help you get more done in less time.

This tip may seem obvious, because many writers are used to setting goals and deadlines for their writing (1,000 words per day, 3 day per week, complete the first draft in 6 months, etc.). But deadlines can also streamline other parts of the process to keep you on a professional track.

Continuing DevelopmentRead 2 craft books this yearAttend a conference next springTake a course on story structurePlanning a NovelLimit planning and researching to 3 monthsSchedule an interview with XYZ expert before January 10thPublishingQuery 2 agents each week in the month of AugustResearch formatters and hire one (3 weeks total)BusinessSet up a corporation or other business by the end of Q2Find software or a service to track book sales (February)Create a storefront at your site for direct sales (2024)MarketingDraft the back cover copy this weekDecide on a launch event for the next book (summer of 2024)Experiment with Amazon keywords in April and JulyApproach 4 podcasters about being a guest on their show (3 months prior to launch)

Setting deadlines for our objectives is crucial. Need help with the goals themselves? We’ve got some posts for you on Writing a Business Plan and Creating a Publication Deadline for Your Next Book.

7. Value Collaboration Over Competition

I don���t know why this is, but we tend to view other people in our space as rivals. We have to be better than them, outdo them, and���Heaven forbid���don���t help them because they’re our competition!

But professional writers realize they don���t corner the market on talent and savvy. The people in their industry who are killing it? Pros want to work with them instead of against them. So pros seek to share knowledge, funnel customers to other writers��� helpful resources, offer to help with someone else���s book launch, promote their course, etc.

Why? Well, because it���s nice to help our fellow humans, and kindness has a pretty good ROI.

But pros also know they have a lot to learn (again, with Point #4���I’m seeing a pattern here). Partnering with the people who have done all the things and are doing them well can shorten their own learning curve. They also know that while they could do the job alone, it���s easier, more efficient, and typically more enjoyable to do it with others.

8. Build Resiliency

Look, those of us who’ve been writing any amount of time know it’s a tough gig. Feedback from critique partners and editors is never what we want it to be. Rejections are more common than acceptances. We get stuck creatively. Other people are writing up a storm or improving by leaps and bounds, and we feel like we���ll never be any good . . .

Sometimes professional writing feels like a middle-school dodgeball game. You’re just getting hammered.

When you get knocked down���by discouragement, industry changes, the jerky internal editor, whatever���keep getting up. Call a writing buddy to commiserate, then get back to work. Take your dog for a walk, then get back to work. Get some coffee, a pink drink, or a jumbo-sized bag of chocolate, then get back to work.

Because even though you haven’t achieved your goals yet, you’re a pro now. And pros are in it for the long haul.

Before You Go. . .

Have you signed up for the Storygarden Summit?

We’re partnering with other industry experts to bring you a garden full of bookish help, taking you through the process of outlining, editing, publishing, and selling.

On Day 2, I’ll take you through a treasure trove of first-page tips so your story’s opening hooks agents, editors, and readers from the get-go!

This summit is very affordable – $5/pay-what-you-can. It runs from March 19th to the 22nd, and you’ll see some top-notch speakers.

Browse the schedule to get an idea of what topics will be covered.

I hope to see you in my First Pages session on March 20th at 4 PM EDT. Hinty-hint, I might have some sweet discounts for our books and One Stop for Writers subscriptions for you!

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Breathing Life into Characters

Picture a protagonist who stumbles upon a mysterious artifact but shows no curiosity, or a group of friends who sit down separately at the summit of a hike under a breathtaking sunset, without a moment of communal awe.

Keeping your characters engaged with the story keeps readers engaged with it, too. Whenever something significant happens in the story, readers expect the characters to sit up, notice, and process its impact at some level.

The plot���s unfolding impact on the characters lends an organic quality to the storytelling. The characters��� reactions and their attempts to derive meaning from the events around them make the story seem kinetic, vital, living.

This meaning can���t be adequately conveyed by exposition; that would be ���telling,��� not ���showing.��� Instead, giving readers direct access to the context allows them to discover the meaning for themselves. This means exposing your characters��� interpretive process���their emotions, thoughts, and reflections about what’s happening around them.

Read more: 3 action-reaction misfires that flatten your writing

Writing Strategy: The Progress Report

Think of folding character interiority into a passage to create a ���progress report,��� showing the character���s ongoing impressions of what they know and feel so far while the action is still unfolding.

���Simply recognize that there will be a number of sharp twists and small setbacks during the conflict portion of the scene,��� writes Jack M. Bickham in Scene & Structure, ���and your viewpoint character will experience each of these turns as a stimulus; before he replies in most cases you the author have the option going into his brief internalization concerning what was just said or done. It is in these internalizations that you can remind the reader what���s at stake, and how things seem to be going in the opinion of the viewpoint character.���

When it seems time to check in with your viewpoint character���s sense of how things are progressing, ask yourself these questions:

How does the character think things are going so far?Are they closing in on their short-term and long-term goals, or are they losing ground?What���s their mindset when they ponder their goals: anticipation, hope, determination, trepidation, gloom?Building the Stream of Perspective

Progress checks don���t need to be purely analytical. Action beats also help convey a character���s emotions and show how they���re adapting to what���s unfolding.

Say the boss has just marched into the room with the announcement ���All of that data is out of date.��� You may be tempted to give your poor protagonist an action beat like Jason sighed.

Although that sigh is clich��d and a bit flat���a sigh alone doesn���t tell readers whether Jason is dejected, pissed, or what���your instinct to put a reaction right there is spot on. That���s where readers expect your protagonist���s reaction. That���s where readers want to see how the announcement matters to Jason.

So infuse that action beat with thought to turn it into a statement of intention: As the room exploded with protests, Jason tossed his useless notepad into the trash and groped in the bottom drawer for his whiskey flask. 9:36 p.m.���this was going to be a butt-burner of a night. Now readers know the protagonist���s state of mind: While everyone else is still carping over the problem, Jason���s already bracing himself to correct it. This progress check tells readers what he thinks is important at this point and what he���s planning to do next.

Progress checks like this are the connective tissue that sweeps a story from one point to the next. Keep this burbling stream of perspective turned on throughout every scene.

Opening New Avenues

At their most effective, progress checks serve as more than mere acknowledgments. They���re often insights of some sort, showing the character���s first glimmer of potential solutions.

Uncovering new consequencesUnderstanding another characterGrasping a problemFathoming the story world

Read more: The link between character thought and credibility

Don���t Wait to React

A major influx of realizations and new information for the viewpoint character often signals that it���s time for a dedicated reflection sequence or scene���but that doesn���t imply you should reserve all emotions, reactions, and thoughts solely for post-action review sessions.

Thought constitutes the most narratively significant part of your viewpoint character���s perspective. It offers readers the sense of an unfolding, real-time experience.

Lengthy passages of dialogue or action without enough interiority leave readers locked outside the character���s frame of reference. When thought is saved exclusively for a post-action analysis, it often comes across more like a narrator���s explanation than spontaneous character experience. Inner life that���s tacked on in flabby lumps after the action or dialogue is over can feel forced.

So stay in touch with the characters��� reactions on every page ���sometimes every paragraph. Keep the spigot of your viewpoint character���s interior analysis flowing. Infuse every page with their opinionated judgments and personal perspective about virtually everything they encounter.

Crafting effective character reactions that move the story forward is an art. Taking the time to unlock your character���s perspective, however, makes the story moving and memorable.

The post Breathing Life into Characters appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Don���t Make These 10 Self-Publishing Mistakes – Part 2

By Sarah Kolb-Williams

In part one, we looked at a few production mistakes new authors can make. Today, we���ll focus on mistakes to avoid while finalizing your files and publishing your book.

6. Skipping the Ebook

If you love holding printed books, you might assume your readers feel the same way. But if you���re considering skipping an ebook entirely, think again.

A 2022 report by the Pew Research Center revealed that nearly one in ten readers read exclusively ebooks. That may be just a slice of the pie, but shouldn���t your book be available to everyone?

Publishing a Kindle version of your book with KDP gives you other important benefits:

You can list your ebook on Kindle Unlimited.With two sets of keywords and categories to work with, you can double your optimization potential (more on that later).Amazon reviews for one format automatically transfer to the other.

You���ve worked hard on your manuscript. You���ve gone through multiple rounds of revisions. You���ve had your book designed, edited, and proofread (right?). For most authors, it makes sense to maximize that time, money, and energy by releasing multiple formats.

7. Not Owning Your ISBNs

If you publish through KDP, you have the option to use a free ISBN. But should you?

If you���re only ever planning to publish on Amazon, and if spending $250 for two ISBNs���one each for your print book and ebook���is a financial burden, go ahead and use KDP���s free ISBNs. But understand that other distributors can���t use those ISBNs, and Amazon (not you) will be listed as the publisher on record.

If you later decide to ���publish wide��� with other retailers, you���ll need to create a whole new edition. At the very least, this means a new cover, a new copyright page���and a new ISBN for each format. Suddenly, that ���free��� ISBN has cost you a lot of time, money, and frustration, and you ended up having to buy your own anyway. To keep your distribution options flexible, buy your own ISBNs to begin with.

(Pro tip: If you even suspect that you���ll publish another book or format, grab a block of ten ISBNs from Bowker for $295 right off the bat. Three hundred bucks isn���t nothing, but it���s not much more than the cost of two individual ISBNs, and you���ll be covered for up to eight more formats, editions, or titles.)

8. Failing to Optimize

Optimizing your sales description may sound intimidating, but it���s easier than you might think���and it can mean the difference between online success and total oblivion.

For book listings, optimization comes down to three key elements:

good keywordsgood categoriesgood metadata

So what makes a keyword ���good���? The sweet spot here is finding terms that are appropriate for your book and have a high search volume but a low use volume. In other words, lots of people are using them to search for books like yours, but they aren���t finding much. That���s where your book comes in!

What makes a category ���good���? Same principle: categories that are appropriate for your book, but that don���t have so much competition that you���ll never have a shot at climbing the ranks.

What makes metadata ���good���? This means you���re filling the back end of your book listings with information that accurately describes your book and makes sense to anyone looking for books like yours.

Many authors simply fill in the fields marked ���required��� and leave the rest blank, but that doesn���t help them get discovered. Look for opportunities to add all the useful information you can when you set up your book listings, and you���ll give your book the best shot at being found by your ideal readers.

9. Not Understanding Book Distribution

Here���s the hard truth: with nearly 11,000 books published every day, seeing your book on the shelves of stores like Barnes & Noble just isn���t the reality for most independent authors. Before you decide on a distribution plan, be realistic about your goals.

Even if you can get them interested, most corporate retailers will expect to order your book through standard channels at a wholesale discount of 55%. They���ll also expect the ability to return unsold copies of your book. That discount can seriously cut into your margins, and a mess of unexpected returns can wreak havoc on your accounting.

But think about it: today, many readers shop primarily online for books. For most new authors, the best distribution strategy is meeting those readers right where they are: online. If you���re focused solely on online sales to individual consumers, there���s no reason to set a steep discount or make your book returnable.

The good news is that you can always change your discount and return status later. For now, consider your current goals, and plan your distribution accordingly. Remember, they���re your goals and no one else���s.

(Pro tip: Check that the trim size you���re interested in is compatible with your chosen distribution plan before you start working with a book designer.)

10. Skipping the Post-Publishing Tasks

Publishing your book might feel like crossing the finish line, but in many ways, the race is only just beginning.

After you celebrate (and turn your computer off for a while and get some well-deserved sleep), here are a few extra steps to consider:

Sign up for Author Central through your KDP account and create your Author Page. (This is also the place to add any editorial endorsements your book has received.)If you haven���t already, set up an author website with a book page, about page, and newsletter sign-up form.Consider ads to increase your sales. Many distribution and social media platforms offer ad packages to increase visibility and encourage readers to buy your book.If you decide to purchase ads, track your numbers carefully to find the right spend amount and ensure the cost of your ads is worth the ROI. (ScribeCount and Publishwide are two low-cost options that can make this task easier.)Don���t stretch yourself too thin on social media. To begin with, focus on the networks you���re most comfortable with, show up consistently, and don���t post only about your book.Sign up for HARO (Help A Reporter Out). Many reporters and bloggers use HARO to find experts to interview about topics they���re writing about. You could be one of them!Try using Google Alerts, Giga Alert, or another web monitoring tool so you know when your name or book title is mentioned.

Self-publishing on your own can be intimidating, but it doesn���t need to be. Avoid these mistakes, and you���ll be off to a successful and enjoyable publishing journey that leaves you with the flexibility to control your author career.

Do you have any self-publishing questions?

Sarah Kolb-Williams has been a freelance editor and writer for over fifteen years. She is currently lead editor at Spoonbridge Press, a small publishing services company she cofounded to help independent authors navigate the confusing world of self-publishing. When she���s not working with independent authors, she���s relaxing with her family, enjoying the local live music scene, or tracking down the spiciest food she can find.

The post Don���t Make These 10 Self-Publishing Mistakes – Part 2 appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Writers, A New Thesaurus Guide Is On The Way!

What’s better than being able to say a new book is coming soon? Sharing that it has close ties to The Emotion Thesaurus, of course!

Emotion is HUGE in storytelling, so we’re circling back to bring you The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility.

If the topic of emotion amplifiers sounds familiar, it may be. Many years ago we created an ebooklet under this name as a companion to The Emotion Thesaurus. It covered 15 states often mistaken for emotions (boredom, stress, hunger, etc.) because they strain a character, making it easier for them to lose control of their emotions.

Did your heartbeat just pick up a little? Because when someone loses control, bad things happen. They lash out, say the one thing they shouldn’t, burn bridges. They act rashly, make mistakes, and create a mess of problems for themselves. Ah, music to a writer’s ears!

But emotion amplifiers do a lot more than destabilize emotions, and there are more than just fifteen, so we knew at some point we would circle back and create a proper guide for you. We can’t wait for you to see it!

We Need Your Help!

Launching a book is a big task and one we need help with. We’re putting together our Street Team and would love for you to share this ride with us!

A Street Team can lend a hand in a variety of ways. They might…Help us build excitement for the book before the releaseShare book graphics, blog posts, and other things we create around the book so writers know this resource is comingRead The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus and provide an honest review (we have 50 arcs to distribute)Lend us their blog for a day at launch and put up a post written by usUse their social platforms to help us find writers who will find the book helpfulPoint their writing audience to our launch event so they can enter the giveawayBe in our corner and provide help in whatever way they can!The Advantages…

If you enjoy being an insider, you’ll get the first look at the cover and have a front row seat to our launch strategy, which can be helpful to you as you release your own book. You’ll see how to communicate with a street team so you can build your own, too. We also give out 50 digital arcs, so you may be one of the first to read and use this guide!

Being part of the Street Team doesn’t mean a mountain of work, either. We try to make it as easy to help as possible. We also respect your inbox. When you sign up, you can let us know what you are interested in helping with, and we’ll make sure you don’t see emails about other things.

Our release date is May 13th. If you think you can spare a bit of time (and your platform) to help, sign up here.

Thank you!

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Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Newcomer

In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes���”universal images that have existed since the remotest times.” He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different archetypes to come up with interesting new versions. The result is a sizable pool of character tropes that we see from one story to another.

Archetypes and tropes are popular storytelling elements because of their familiarity. Upon seeing them, readers know immediately who they’re dealing with and what role the nerd, dark lord, femme fatale, or monster hunter will play. As authors, we need to recognize the commonalities for each trope so we can write them in a recognizable way and create a rudimentary sketch for any character we want to create.

But when it comes to characters, no one wants just a sketch; we want a vibrant and striking cast full of color, depth, and contrast. Diving deeper into character creation is especially important when starting with tropes because the blessing of their familiarity is also a curse; without differentiation, the characters begin to look the same from story to story.

But no more. The Character Type and Trope Thesaurus allows you to outline the foundational elements of each trope while also exploring how to individualize them. In this way, you’ll be able to use historically tried-and-true character types to create a cast for your story that is anything but traditional.

DESCRIPTION: This character is new (in town, at work, to school, etc.) and has to learn the rules for fitting in. The newcomer is frequently used as a narrative device to introduce the reader to the world and explain its various aspects in an organic manner.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Bella Swan (Twilight), Claire Fraser (Outlander), Dorothy Gale (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), Robert Langdon (The Da Vinci Code), Thomas (The Maze Runner trilogy)

COMMON STRENGTHS: Alert, Cautious, Courteous, Curious, Diplomatic, Independent, Innocent, Introverted, Objective, Observant, Patient, Pensive, Private, Resourceful, Responsible, Sensible

COMMON WEAKNESSES: Apathetic, Childish, Evasive, Gullible, Ignorant, Insecure, Needy, Nervous, Suspicious, Timid, Withdrawn, Worrywart

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES
Having a fresh perspective
Being curious about their surroundings
Not knowing or understanding the rules of the new environment
Standing back and observing rather than jumping right into things
Adaptability; learning quickly
Noticing everything; being highly observant
Keeping to themselves until they get the lay of the land
Na��vet��
Being an easy target due to their innocence or lack of knowledge
Trying (and failing) to understand the new world through the perspective of their old world

SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM
Meeting someone new and not knowing if they’re a friend or foe
Facing hostility and rejection simply because of their outsider status
Being expected to meet certain standards before they’ve developed the skills needed to do so
Getting lost in the new environment

TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO���
Has a hidden agenda for entering the new environment
Has extraordinary skills that are of no use to them in the new world
Is an unreliable narrator who is prone to memory lapses, deception, or selective disclosure of information
Has an atypical trait: Confrontational, Rowdy, Know-It-All, Confident, etc.

CLICH��S TO BE AWARE OF
The intern who must master the skills they’ll need to be successful in the industry
The “chosen one” newcomer who is the only person who can solve the the new world’s problems

Other Type and Trope Thesaurus entries can be found here.

Need More Descriptive Help?

While this thesaurus is still being developed, the rest of our descriptive collection (16 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, and then give our Free Trial a spin.

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