Angela Ackerman's Blog: Writers Helping Writers, page 25

The Character Trait Boxed Set Is On Sale

Usually on Saturday, we share a new thesaurus entry, but, well…we had a bit of a family dust-up here at Writers Helping Writers that we need to address. You see, at the start of December, we put our single ebook titles on sale for a week so people could add any missing volumes they needed and save money doing it.

We were happy. Writers were happy. But because we left one thesaurus out of that sale, our Character Trait Boxed Set was definitely not happy.

So, we’re rectifying our transgression by having a special sale just for our digital box set. Until the end of December, you can grab it for only $7.99.

What is the Character Trait Boxed Set?

In a nutshell, we combined the bestselling Negative Trait and Positive Trait Thesaurus guides and embedded hyperlinks in each entry so you can move between connected flaws and attributes. This means it’s easier to build memorable characters and write their actions, behaviors, and attitudes as you can access over 200 personality traits without having to swap out ebooks.

If I already have the Positive Trait and Negative Trait books, do I need this one?

The same material from those two books are in this boxed set, so if you have those, and don’t mind switching volumes when you want to go from positive attributes to character flaws, you don’t need this book. But if you’d like the ease of use of having everything together and cross-referenced, you might want to pick it up to have on hand.

Where can I find out more?

This boxed set is available through the Writers Helping Writers bookstore. Whatever type of reader you have, we have the book file you need. If you prefer the PDF format, we have that too

Visit the description page for the Positive Trait volume
Visit the description page for the Negative Trait volume
Buy this boxed set (mobi, epub, PDF) for $7.99

Sale ends Dec 31, 2023.

This boxed set makes a great gift if you need a little something for a writer friend, too.

The post The Character Trait Boxed Set Is On Sale appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Phenomenal First Pages Contest

Hey, wonderful
writerly people!

It���s time for Phenomenal First Pages, our monthly critique contest. So, if you need a bit of help with your first page, today’s the day to enter for a chance to win professional feedback!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strong Character Relationships: From Friendships to Romance

As a romance author, I���ve learned how to portray deep romantic relationships between my characters, focusing on techniques to make the relationship believable, healthy, and something readers will root for. Believe it or not, some of those same techniques can also help us portray strong friendships in our stories.

Let���s dig in… How can we show our readers a relationship���a friendship or more���that���s relatable and makes them believe the characters are close?

Introducing: Identities vs. Essences

For years, I���ve been a big fan of Michael Hauge���s approach to characters, and regular readers here will recognize the concepts he explores within Angela and Becca���s advice, such as Backstory Wounds and Fears. In that video linked above, Michael Hauge gives a quick overview of:

How those wounds and fear elements create our character���s Identity, the persona/mask they���ve created to protect themselves from being terrified.How courageously overcoming those emotional obstacles allows our character to reach their potential, their Essence.

(If you���re unfamiliar with these Identity and Essence concepts or you���d rather read than watch a video, check out my post on showing our character���s internal journey for a full explanation.)

Basically, when our characters emotionally retreat, they���re fearfully hiding behind their protective Identity. However, that emotional armor usually prevents them from meeting their needs, internal goals, and/or longings.

On the other hand, when our characters take an emotional risk despite those wounds or fears, they���re stepping into their Essence. That step can also bring them closer to reaching those needs, goals, or longings.

Character Essences: The Key to Strong Relationships

Showing our character taking risks (especially those that require our character to be emotionally vulnerable) gives readers a glimpse into who they have potential to become, their true self. A character who���s willing to be vulnerable and risk-taking not only seems more heroic, but also more relatable. Readers may better understand what prompts their motivations, decisions, and actions���and thus feel a stronger connection to them.

Not surprisingly, just as readers can feel closer to characters who have shown their Essence, the same applies to relationships between characters. An Essence-to-Essence connection can be key to portraying a strong relationship.

Character Essences: Connecting in Romantic Relationships

In romance stories, if we want readers to trust and believe in the relationship, we need to show what the characters see in each other (beyond just the physical aspect of attraction). What makes them a good match?

To portray a deeper romantic relationship, we need readers to see the characters connecting on an Essence-to-Essence level:

How do they fill in each other���s weaknesses?How do they build up each other���s strengths?How are they a better person with the other around?

In addition, in many romances, the love interest will recognize the other���s potential before the character does. In other words, the characters see through each other���s masks before they���ve even grown enough to risk taking them off.

For example, a hero who believes themselves unworthy of love might push others away in a gruff way. Their love interest can comment on their prickliness, teasing them about thinking themselves unlovable, which challenges the hero to rethink their Identity. If this observation comes before any deep sharing of fears between the characters, readers will believe the love interest is able to see the real potential of the hero, creating a sense of an Essence-to-Essence connection.

Most importantly, to portray a deep, healthy, believable relationship, that Essence-to-Essence connection should show the characters accepting and loving the other for who they really are.

Character Essences: Connecting in Friendships

A similar idea applies to friendships, ���bromances,��� and other close relationships between characters. If we want readers to believe that characters are close, we need to show an Essence-to-Essence connection between them, where readers see them being ���real��� or genuine with each other in some way. And most importantly, the characters must be shown to accept and care about each other for who they really are.

For example, to create a sense of a close relationship when one character is vulnerable with another, sharing fears or revealing wounds, etc., we can show the other character responding:

in a supportive way,in a confrontational way, but make it clear the confrontation is done out of love, orin a non-supportive way, but make it clear the other character still sees and cares about the vulnerable character���s true self, and so on���

All those options (and others we may think of) show that the characters know each other on a deep level. Even if there���s conflict between them, readers can understand that the debate comes from the other character wanting what���s best for the vulnerable character, or especially in male friendships, that the characters��� ability to give each other grief and still be friends shows how close they are.

On the other hand, to create a sense of a close relationship when one character emotionally retreats from the other, such as being fake or putting on their ���mask,��� we can show the other character:

calling them out on their b.s., orbeing supportive and understanding about why they might need to retreat for a bit, orrelieving the character���s discomfort (such as by changing the subject), and so on���

Those options (or others we may think of) show a level of insight between the characters that can only come from a history of genuine interactions. So just like with the ���unlovable��� hero example in the romance section above, even though the character isn���t revealing their Essence in the moment, the other character still sees the real person.

Likewise, we can portray their connection with many of the same tools used in romance relationships. For example, romance readers love banter. In friendships, that banter may come across more like giving each other grief or teasing. They may share inside jokes, personal knowledge, common interests, protectiveness, rituals, or other things that show a history between them.

Final Thoughts about Portraying Relationships

An Essence-to-Essence connection doesn���t mean that the characters are always, 100% being genuine with each other. As with real-world relationships, the two-way street of a character relationship doesn���t need to be equal all the time.

Sometimes one character will be more reticent than the other, etc., or their behavior may be more teasing than supportive, and that���s okay. The point is to portray the relationship in a way that demonstrates that the characters can see each other���s real selves, even when the surface isn���t clear, and that they care about and accept those inner selves for who they really are. *smile*

Want an example of a bromance from the Disney+ show Loki season 2? Visit my companion post!

Were you familiar with Michael Hauge���s Identity vs. Essence concepts? Had you thought about the similarities in how we might portray relationships, from friends to romantic? Do you have any questions about Identity, Essence, or how we can use this technique to make readers believe in close relationships?

The post Strong Character Relationships: From Friendships to Romance appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Free Gifts for Writers!

In the writing community, we look out for one another, and with everyone feeling the pinch this year financially, Becca, Mindy, and I wanted to showcase free gifts for writers as our annual Holiday Round-up!

Below is a list of useful free things
for writers. Enjoy!

Crafting Unforgettable Characters (free ebook)

Storytelling superhero K.M. Weiland will help you get started on character-building, steering you to brainstorm the details that really matter.

And this gift contains a bonus – when you sign up to collect this ebook, you also get a bunch of other freebies, too. (I won’t tell you what they are, because surprises are fun.) Enjoy!

Three Mini Masterclasses (free course)

Whether you write novels or screenplays, Lucy Hay of Bang2Write has three terrific foundational courses to help you with your story concept, structure, and characters.

Don’t pass up this chance to get her insight as a screenwriting pro, author, and coach for free!

A Show, Don���t Tell Pro Pack (free PDF)

We���ve put together a PDF containing a sample entry from all of our writing guides, plus helpful tips and links to some of our best show-don���t-tell articles. This is a great tool for when you need ideas for the story.

If you know someone who struggles with description, this will get them thinking differently about what they should describe and why. Brainstorming at its best!

Manuscript Prep Guide (free PDF)

Are you getting ready to polish and format your manuscript and submit it to editors and agents? Editor and Coach Lisa Poisso has a terrific downloadable guide to ensure your MS looks professional.

Wishing you success on the submission road!

Creating an Unputdownable Book (free mini masterclass)

You want to write a story that engages readers, and Suzy Vadori is the one who can show you how.

Don’t miss Suzy’s free masterclass where she dishes a ton of secrets and strategies that will keep your readers flipping pages.

Elevate Your Storytelling 4-Pack (free brainstorming PDFs)

This year Becca and I built four powerful brainstorming tools that target important areas in fiction: Conflict, Personality, Mood, and Reader Engagement.

These will help you brainstorm ways to strengthen your storytelling and hack your reader’s brain so they can’t help but be drawn deeper into the story!

Love your fellow writers? Share this post!

These are all items that every writer can benefit from, so once you’ve finished browsing and downloading all these terrific freebies, be sure to share this link with your writer friends and groups, along with a note thanking them for being part of your writing journey.

And on that note, THANK YOU for being part of ours!

Angela, Becca & Mindy

The post Free Gifts for Writers! appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Stocking Stuffers for Writers: Gift #4 Is Here!

It’s time for our last Stocking Stuffers for Writers post, meaning we’ve dropped one final early holiday gift in your stocking, and all you have to do is pick it up! (This one will help you brainstorm ways to generate mood in your scenes!)

But what if you’ve only just heard about this?
Can you go back and claim earlier gifts?

Heck, yes!
Stocking Stuffer #1 can be found here and ties into character emotion
Stocking Stuffer #2 can be found here and is all about resolving story conflict
Stocking Stuffer #3 can be found here and will help you build stronger antagonists

To open stocking stuffer #4,
click the image below:

And along with this little gift, there’s something else, too…

Our ebooks are on sale:
$3.99 each (all stores)

THIS SALE ENDS TODAY, so snag any digital book singles you might be missing, and if you’re feeling extra frisky-fine, pick up an early holiday gift for that oh-so-special critique partner who helped you fix that plot hole or added depth to your character. At $3.99, this thank-you gift will make your wallet happy, too.

You can find links to your preferred bookstore here, or if you are interested in a PDF, you can get that directly from us at the same low price. (Note, our Character Trait bundle is not included in this sale.)

New to the Writers Helping Writers
thesaurus collection?

If you’ve not yet delved inside one of our half-guide, half-brainstorming list thesaurus books, let us formally introduce you to this trio of bestsellers:
(affiliate links)

The Urban Setting Thesaurus is the key to creating stronger, more powerful descriptions through the use of multi-sensory details that will draw readers in and enhance the story. Discover how to choose the right locations for your scenes, how the setting can be used to characterize, reveal backstory, and provide triggers that can amplify character emotions and drive behavior.

More about this book
View the list of urban locations
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews ( 10 00+)

The Rural Setting Thesaurus has over 100 settings and plenty of how-to help on using figurative language to create vivid imagery and symbolic meaning. It also includes lessons on using the setting to steer plot, provide conflict through story-specific challenges, and influence emotions through mood.

More about this book
View the list of rural & personal locations
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (1025+)

We hope you find today’s Stocking Stuffer gift helpful, and that our week-long discount on ebooks helps you save a bit.

Happy writing, everyone!

Angela, Becca, & Mindy

The post Stocking Stuffers for Writers: Gift #4 Is Here! appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Stocking Stuffers for Writers: Gift #3 Is Here!

It’s time for another Stocking Stuffers for Writers post, meaning we’ve dropped another early holiday gift in your stocking, and all you have to do is pick it up! (This one will help you create stronger & more interesting antagonists!)

But what if you’ve only just heard about this?
Can you go back and claim earlier gifts?

Heck, yes!
Stocking Stuffer #1 can be found here and ties into character emotion
Stocking Stuffer #2 can be found here and is all about resolving story conflict

To open stocking stuffer #3,
click the image below:

And along with this little gift, there’s something else, too…

Our ebooks are on sale:
$3.99 each (all stores)

This sale only lasts until December 7th, so snag any digital book singles you might be missing, and if you’re feeling extra frisky-fine, pick up an early holiday gift for that oh-so-special critique partner who helped you fix that plot hole or added depth to your character. At $3.99, this thank-you gift will make your wallet happy, too.

You can find links to your preferred bookstore here, or if you are interested in a PDF, you can get that directly from us at the same low price. (Note, our Character Trait bundle is not included in this sale.)

New to the Writers Helping Writers
thesaurus collection?

If you’ve not yet delved inside one of our half-guide, half-brainstorming list thesaurus books, let us formally introduce you to this trio of bestsellers:
(affiliate links)

The Positive Trait Thesaurus helps you create characters readers will connect to. Dive into 100 personality traits that showcase your character’s strengths, identity, and other qualities that can set them up for success. (Don’t forget your darker characters. They need positive traits, too!)

More about this book
View the list of positive attributes
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (1 1 00+)

The Negative Trait Thesaurus helps you design your character’s darker half–flaws that trip them up, cause problems in relationships, and hold them back from happiness and success. Along with the Positive Trait guidebook, you’ll build balanced, realistic characters who feel like they’ve stepped out of the real world.

More about this book
View the list of personality flaws
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (1750+)

The Occupation Thesaurus dives into one of the best details for revealing characterization through show, don’t tell: the character’s work. Find the perfect job that will seed hints with readers about the character’s personality, skills, interests, priorities, beliefs, fears, and more.

More about this book
View the list of occupations
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (860+)

We hope you find today’s Stocking Stuffer gift helpful, and that our week-long discount on ebooks helps you save a bit. privileged

Happy writing, everyone!

Angela, Becca, & Mindy

The post Stocking Stuffers for Writers: Gift #3 Is Here! appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Stocking Stuffers for Writers: Gift #2 Is Here

It’s time for another Stocking Stuffers for Writers post, meaning we’ve dropped another early holiday gift in your stocking, and all you have to do is pick it up! (This one is all about resolving conflict!)

But what if you’ve only just heard about this? Can you go back and claim earlier gifts?

Heck, yes! THIS ONE ties into character emotion, so don’t miss it!

To open today’s stocking stuffer,
click the image below:

And along with this little gift, there’s something else, too…

Our ebooks are on sale:
$3.99 each (all stores)

This sale only lasts a week, so snag any digital book singles you might be missing, and if you’re feeling extra frisky-fine, pick up an early holiday gift for that oh-so-special critique partner who helped you fix that plot hole or added depth to your character. At $3.99, this thank-you gift will make your wallet happy, too.

You can find links to your preferred bookstore here, or if you are interested in a PDF, you can get that directly from us at the same low price. (Note, our Character Trait bundle is not included in this sale.)

New to the Writers Helping Writers
thesaurus collection?

If you’ve not yet delved inside one of our half-guide, half-brainstorming list thesaurus books, let us formally introduce you to this pair of bestsellers:
(affiliate links)

The Conflict Thesaurus Volume 1 (Gold) will help you activate the power of conflict in your story, showing you how to design meaningful problems and challenges to push characters out of their comfort zones and toward a path of growth and change.

More about this book
View the list of conflict scenarios
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (1100+)

The Conflict Thesaurus Volume 2 (Silver) shows how conflict is the golden thread that binds plot to arc, providing the complications, setbacks, and derailments that make the character���s inner and outer journeys dynamic. With 100+ additional conflict scenarios in this volume, brainstorming the perfect danger, power struggle, or threat to deepen your story is easy.

More about this book
View the list of conflict scenarios
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (320+)

We hope you find today’s Stocking Stuffer gift helpful, and that our week-long discount on ebooks helps you save a bit.

Happy writing, everyone!

Angela, Becca, & Mindy

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

Stuff Your Stocking at Writers Helping Writers: Gift #1

December is here, can you believe it? And we’re so glad because it means we can finally announce something fun – Stocking Stuffers for Writers!

Is it early to be giving out holiday gifts? Maybe. But it’s fun, too. So, for the next seven days, every post will have a stocking stuffer, a downloadable item to help you write fantastic fiction. (This one will help you brainstorm story events that will make readers feel more connected to your characters!)

Ready for your first stocking stuffer?
Click the image below:

And along with this little gift, there’s something else, too…

Our ebooks are on sale:
$3.99 each (all stores)

This sale only lasts a week, so snag any digital book singles you might be missing, and if you’re feeling extra frisky-fine, pick up an early holiday gift for that oh-so-special critique partner who helped you fix that plot hole or added depth to your character. At $3.99, this thank-you gift will make your wallet happy, too.

You can find links to your preferred bookstore here, or if you are interested in a PDF, you can get that directly from us at the same low price. (Note, our Character Trait bundle is not included in this sale.)

New to the Writers Helping Writers
thesaurus collection?

If you’ve not yet delved inside one of our half-guide, half-brainstorming list thesaurus books, let us formally introduce you to this pair of bestsellers:
(affiliate links)

The Emotion Thesaurus can help you strengthen each emotional moment by helping you brainstorm authentic responses and reactions that fit your character.

More about this book
View the list of emotions covered
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (3600+)

The Emotional Wound Thesaurus makes character building easier by showing how painful experiences can shape who a person becomes and steer how they’ll behave. With a deeper understanding of your character’s specific past pain, you’ll know what motivates them, what they fear, and the types of struggles they’ll have in the story. Readers love characters with true depth!

More about this book
View the list of emotional wounds covered
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (2000+)

We hope you find today’s Stocking Stuffer gift helpful, and that our week-long discount on ebooks helps you save a bit.

Happy writing, everyone!

Angela, Becca, & Mindy

The post Stuff Your Stocking at Writers Helping Writers: Gift #1 appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Stuff Your Stocking at Writers Helping Writers!

December is here, can you believe it? And we’re so glad because it means we can finally announce something fun – Stocking Stuffers for Writers!

Is it early to be giving out holiday gifts? Maybe. But it’s fun, too. So, for the next seven days, every post will have a stocking stuffer, a downloadable item to help you write fantastic fiction.

Ready for today’s stocking stuffer?
Click the image below:

And along with this little gift, there’s something else, too…

Our ebooks are on sale:
$3.99 each (all stores)

This sale only lasts a week, so snag any digital book singles you might be missing, and if you’re feeling extra frisky-fine, pick up an early holiday gift for that oh-so-special critique partner who helped you fix that plot hole or added depth to your character. At $3.99, this thank-you gift will make your wallet happy, too.

You can find links to your preferred bookstore here, or if you are interested in a PDF, you can get that directly from us at the same low price. (Note, our Character Trait bundle is not included in this sale.)

New to the Writers Helping Writers
thesaurus collection?

If you’ve not yet delved inside one of our half-guide, half-brainstorming list thesaurus books, let us formally introduce you to this pair of bestsellers:
(affiliate links)

The Emotion Thesaurus can help you strengthen each emotional moment by helping you brainstorm authentic responses and reactions that fit your character.

More about this book
View the list of emotions covered
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (3600+)

The Emotional Wound Thesaurus makes character building easier by showing how painful experiences can shape who a person becomes and steer how they’ll behave. With a deeper understanding of your character’s specific past pain, you’ll know what motivates them, what they fear, and the types of struggles they’ll have in the story. Readers love characters with true depth!

More about this book
View the list of emotional wounds covered
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (2000+)

We hope you find today’s Stocking Stuffer gift helpful, and that our week-long discount on ebooks helps you save a bit.

Happy writing, everyone!

Angela, Becca, & Mindy

The post Stuff Your Stocking at Writers Helping Writers! appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Is Your Writing Ready for Readers?

Why it’s hard to judge your own writing

Writing is a unique profession because people find their way to it from so many different careers. Sure, there are those who complete an English degree in school before penning their first book, but there are many more who cut their teeth in other careers before answering the call to write ��� some as a hobby, and many others who hope to make writing books their full-time gig. Writing on the surface seems like such an approachable art form. Heck, if you can read, you can write, right? 

But there is much more to writing a book than good grammar and spelling. Even if you bring strong writing skills with you from another career, tackling writing a full book can be daunting. Fears creep in. Writers I work with always have the same question. 

���Is my writing good enough?���  

Over the years, and working with thousands of writers, I���ve realized the real question writers want to know is: 

���Will readers get my story?���

Note: Even if you, the writer, tell the world you���re writing this book for yourself, and you convince yourself that you don���t care if anyone ever reads it, or appreciates it ��� most writers I meet have these secret wishes

That their work will be found, read, loved, and shared. That their book will take on a life of its own and catch on like wildfire. 

Many writers are tempted to skip the steps needed to get their books to the level of readiness needed to reach these goals, because when you read your own writing, it reads like your awesome idea playing out in your own mind. To understand how that clouds a writer���s judgment, let���s compare becoming a competent writer to mastering other art forms.       

What if you decided to become a painter?

If you decided to share your message with a painting, instead of in a book, could you sit down and replicate the Mona Lisa without ever having picked up a paintbrush? I know I couldn���t. The Mona Lisa attempt I could make on my first try would look more like a stick figure or a semi-smiling emoji with a bad haircut. I���ve never trained as an artist, so I wouldn���t expect my first try to be expert level.��

What if you were asked to dance?

Or, let���s say you get invited to dance as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker on stage tonight. Could you do that dance justice, even if you���ve trained as a dancer but were only shown the choreography this afternoon? I took ballet for years as a kid (though never got to the Sugar Plum Fairy level) and you wouldn���t catch me up on that stage, because I���d trip, I���d fall, and probably forget the steps more than once. If you���d paid to watch my performance, you���d probably throw tomatoes at the stage.

It���s obvious that you can���t become a proficient painter or dancer overnight, without any training or practice. The same is true of writing, but with one difference that makes it easy to think you can. Reading back your own writing relies on imagination. And because you love your book���s idea, and know what you hope your reader will feel, your brain fills in all this extra information as you read, even when it���s not actually on the page. So you experience the Mona Lisa you set out to write, even though what���s on your page may only be stick figures.

If your book gets published at this stage, readers may give your rendition of the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy a lousy one star review, instead of rating it the 5 star performance you experience in your mind when you read your own work.

Don���t be discouraged, though.  I can guarantee your idea is good enough to get a 5 star review from your ideal reader. It���s kept you going, you finished your draft. And readers will love it too, if you take the time to learn the skills needed to let them see the Mona Lisa you dreamed up.

How can you get some distance from your own writing, so that you can find the stick figures and turn them into masterpieces?

��Get External Feedback

Skip friends and family for this step. They love you and have heard all about your writing dreams. They are proud of all the work you���ve put in and will read your work with rose colored glasses, giving you rave reviews. They might even see the Mona Lisa. Instead:

Work with a Critique Partner. These wonderful writers will give you the feedback you need on your book, usually in exchange for feedback on their writing.Hire an Editor or Book Coach that specializes in the kind of book you���re writing. Investing in a professional���s time to help you level up your writing is an important step to make sure your book doesn���t fall flat.Get feedback from Beta Readers. Ask readers who love books like yours for their reactions. Their feedback might just be the key you need to take your book to 5 star status.

Set aside time and energy to learn the writing skills that will make your book sing��.

Don���t buy into the myth that writers are born with talent, or not. If your first draft isn���t ready to publish? That���s normal. Expected, even. Know that in writing, just like other forms of art, or when learning a new profession, there are skills to learn, and you are capable of learning them.

If you���re reading this on the Writers Helping Writers��� blog, you���ve come to the right place to learn and practice the skills you need to make your book worthy of a standing ovation.

Not sure if your writing is at the stick figure or Mona Lisa stage?

I���ve developed this fun quiz, which will show you whether your writing is ready for readers, and give you some next steps to tackle if it���s not.

The world needs YOUR story. Making sure you���ve given yourself the skills to write it in a way that readers will read, love, and share it with others will be worth the effort, so dig in and learn from as many community members as you can while you���re here. 

Happy Writing!

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