Angela Ackerman's Blog: Writers Helping Writers, page 27

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!

The post Is Your Writing Ready for Readers? appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Five Elements of Relationship Plotlines

Whether you are writing romance, adventure, fantasy, or mystery, nearly every well-told story has a relationship plotline. Unfortunately, though, entertaining banter or fiery arguments alone aren���t enough to sustain that plotline. Your characters may be love interests, friends, neighbors, allies, rivals, or even enemies, but regardless, they should work off the same basic storytelling principles. They should have a relationship arc, and they should have the proper relationship plot elements in play.

Relationship Arcs

Just as a character arc is about how a character grows or changes through a story, a relationship arc is about how a relationship grows or changes through a story. And at the most basic level, there are only four arcs that can happen: positive change, negative change, positive steadfast, negative steadfast.

Positive Change: The characters start distant, and one or both may even distrust or dislike the other, but they end close, growing in trust and respect. Examples: Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, Sulley and Boo in Monsters Inc.

Negative Change: The characters start close, with trust and respect, but end distant with distrust or dislike. Examples: Anakin and Obi-Wan in Revenge of the Sith, Katniss and Gale in Mockingjay.

Positive Steadfast: The characters start close, and while they may struggle through the middle, ultimately end close. Often their trust, respect, and commitment grow by degree. Examples: Frodo and Sam in The Lord of the Rings, Shrek and Fiona in Shrek 2.

Negative Steadfast: The characters start distant, with one or both perhaps even distrusting or disliking the other. While they may possibly get close through the middle, they ultimately end distant, often increasing in distrust or dislike. Examples: Estella and the Baroness in Cruella, Winston and Julia in 1984.

You can get more detailed and complex with any of these arcs, and there is room for variation, but these work for any relationship: friends, coworkers, couples, rivals, or enemies. You can check out Angela and Becca���s relationship thesaurus for ideas on specifics.

Relationship Plot Elements

Once you have an idea of the relationship arc, you want to make sure you have the proper plot elements for the journey. My primary principles of plot are goal, antagonist, conflict, and consequences. Because it can be tricky to see how these show up in relationship plotlines, we���ll go through each.

Goal

At the most basic level, in a relationship, there are only three goals: draw closer, grow apart, or maintain the relationship as is.

While other plotlines may influence the relationship plotline, think of the relationship itself and ask: Does my character want to be closer to or more distant from this person? Or does my character want to maintain the relationship as is? That is the relationship goal. And it���s okay if each person in the relationship has a different one. It���s also okay if the goal changes through the story���just make sure there is a goal in play.

Antagonist

The antagonist is a form of opposition���it���s something in the way of the goal. What is keeping your character from having that goal? For relationships, this may come from three different places.

External: Something outside the relationship is interfering with the goal. A powerful father may be determined to keep the lovers apart.

Within the relationship: Each participant has a different goal, such as one person wanting to get close, and the other wanting to create distance. They may also have personal differences that get in the way.

Internal: Something inside one or both characters is interfering with the goal. Internal conflict, such as a fear of rejection, is creating obstacles.

You can have more than one relationship antagonist, and it may change through the story. It does not need to be the same as the main antagonist of the external plotline.

Conflict

Having a relationship goal and antagonist doesn���t amount to much if they aren���t creating conflict. The character should be striving for the goal and the antagonist should be opposing it (directly or indirectly). Just wishing for better circumstances isn���t enough. There needs to be a struggle, with no easy, foreseeable resolution.

How the characters address the conflict will create the arc. As the characters overcome, or are overcome by, the obstacles, they will grow closer or further apart.

Consequences

Conflict without consequences is just cleverly disguised filler. Make sure to lay out the stakes and ramifications. What do these characters have to gain (and/or lose) in overcoming the conflict? What do they have to lose (and/or gain) in being overcome by the conflict?

It���s best if the consequences of the relationship plotline bleed into other plotlines. A common example is that the protagonist can���t succeed in the external plotline, unless she resolves the conflict of the relationship plotline.

With these elements, you���ll craft stronger relationship plots, for whatever relationship you���re writing. For more on the topic, check out my series on it.

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Character Type & Trope Thesaurus Entry: Bad Influence

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 compromises others and leads them down the wrong path. They could be villainous, deliberately attempting to misguide others, or may be the friend who’s always getting people into trouble.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES: Grima Wormtongue (the Lord of the Rings series), Scarlett O’Hara (Gone with the Wind), Amy Dunne (Gone Girl), Faith LeHane (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

COMMON STRENGTHS: Adaptable, Adventurous, Ambitious, Analytical, Bold, Charming, Creative, Decisive, Focused, Independent, Industrious, Intelligent, Observant, Persistent, Persuasive, Resourceful

COMMON WEAKNESSES: Controlling, Devious, Dishonest, Hypocritical, Impatient, Impulsive, Irresponsible, Jealous, Manipulative, Melodramatic, Mischievous, Pushy, Rebellious, Reckless, Selfish, Spoiled, Stubborn, Uncooperative

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES
Manipulating and controlling others
Having a charismatic presence
Breaking social norms
Advocating for and taking shortcuts
Using bribes to entice others to their way of thinking
Encouraging risky or destructive behaviors
Shifting blame to others
Being cunning
Identifying threats or risks before they become a problem
Homing in on others’ weaknesses
Knowing how to exploit others’ desires to their own advantage

SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM
Being confronted by someone they’ve wronged and having to deal with the consequences
Encountering a cunning rival and having to up their game to outmaneuver them
Becoming friends with a positive role model who seeks to make the character better

TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO���
Is being manipulated into manipulating others by a behind-the-scenes puppet master
Isn’t overtly trying to be a bad influence

CLICH��S TO BE AWARE OF
The rebellious teen with a tragic backstory leading others astray with their flagrant disregard for the rules.
The heartless seductress who uses her beauty and charm to manipulate men for personal gain.

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 Entry: Bad Influence appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

We Are Grateful

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates! Today is the perfect time to share what we’re grateful for…even if you aren’t celebrating Thanksgiving.

I’m incredibly grateful for the supportive writing community, my agent, everyone associated with Writers Helping Writers (Angela, Becca, our Resident Writing Coaches…and all of you)! I’m also thankful for my family, rescue dog, friends, good health, and much more.

Here’s what Becca and Angela are grateful for.

Becca Puglisi: As my children grow up and I can see a new stage in life moving steadily closer, I become more and more thankful for my family. I’m also incredibly grateful to God for, well, everything, but specifically for bringing Angela and me together. In my early years, I never envisioned this second career and couldn’t have forecast our success, and so much of it is because of our partnership. Honorable mentions in the gratitude department go to lifelong friends, good books, cookies, Starbucks’ pink drinks, cooler weather, Christmas trees, 80s music, and every single person who has purchased��one of our books or told their writer friends about it.

Angela Ackerman: My gratitude goes toward the writing community: a vast wonderful ecosystem of talented individuals that I get to work with, help, and learn from! I feel so blessed to do what I do, and am honored by the trust people place in me, and their constant encouragement and support. Writers are the best!

Here’s what several of our Resident Writing Coaches are grateful for.

Lucy V. Hay: I’m British, so we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving BUT I always think it’s important to practice gratitude throughout the year, so why not now? I find myself truly grateful for the abundance of love and support from my family and friends. The beauty of nature and its ability to bring calm and inspiration to my soul fills me with gratitude. As a cancer survivor, I also express sincere thankfulness for good health, as it enables me to embrace life to the fullest and pursue my passions. 

Lisa Poisso: I’m grateful for writers who trust me to lead them into the liminal spaces behind and between their pages. Midwifing a story is truly a privilege and an honor���thank you!

Suzy Vadori: I am eternally grateful for all the Inspired Writers that share their writing journeys with me, and for experiencing their joy when they get their stories out into the world. Readers need every writer’s stories, and in the coming year, I’m recommitting to helping as many writers as possible get their messages into the hands of readers.

Sue Coletta: I’m thankful for my amazing readers who never fail to overwhelm me with their heartfelt letters of gratitude for writing books that touched their lives. Many bring me to tears. I’m so blessed. I am also thankful for the countless writer friends, who inspire me daily, and for my family who (almost) never complains about my long hours spent behind the keyboard. 

September C. Fawkes: I’m thankful for health, freedom, creativity, and loved ones. I’m grateful for the two little dogs that give me puppy kisses every day, the autumn leaves I get to crunch on the walking trail by the river, and that feeling you get when you’ve just finished writing the perfect scene . . . Well, perfect until your editor looks at it. 

Michelle Barker: I suffered a mild concussion this summer that turned into a prolonged ordeal until a close friend pressed Sarah Polley’s memoir,��Run Towards the Danger,��into my hands and told me to read the last chapter. Books can be life-changing���this one was. I’m thankful for that, and for being completely better.

Colleen M. Story: My family is healthy and well, as am I, and that���s huge. I���m grateful for my writing coaching clients, the network of writers who support Writing and Wellness, and everyone at Writers Helping Writers for their amazing dedication to the writing community. Outside of the writing world, I���m grateful to my music students and colleagues, my dog Storm and cat Rikki, and for being able to live in and enjoy the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Here���s wishing everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday. 

What are you grateful for?

We often take a lot for granted. Think of good things in your life (both large and small) and celebrate them. You can share them with us below, jot them in a journal or put them on sticky notes by your writing place.

This is the start of the holiday season…and we hope it will be a wonderful one for you.

Pssst: I’m also grateful for amazing Black Friday sales! Here’s a post full of great writing related discounts…including 40% off One Stop for Writers.

The post We Are Grateful appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Finding Your Voice as a Writer

          When I first started writing fiction, I desperately wanted to be Margaret Atwood. I read several of her novels and, consciously or not (probably consciously), my writing voice started coming out a lot like hers���only minus the talent and the authenticity because��� (wait for it) I���m not Margaret Atwood. I didn���t sell a single short story.

          Many years later I decided to write a thing (it was sort of a prose poem but really, it defied genre) completely as ���me.��� It turned out quirky, funny (if you share my sense of humor, that is), and weird���rather like someone I know. When I finished it, I thought, well, that was fun. Maybe no one will buy it, but who cares? It sold to the first magazine I sent it to and was later anthologized.

Too much has been made of the process of finding your voice as a writer, and I think it gets us into trouble. We believe it���s something that it���s not and then we make it way more complicated than it needs to be.

Contrary to what you might think, voice is not just a way of talking or sounding. It���s a way of being in the world. And how do we ���be��� except the way we already are?

We never have to think about finding our voice as a person. Our voice is everything about us; it���s who we are, how we see the world. Why would that be any different on paper than it is in real life? When we put pressure on ourselves to ���find our voice,��� whatever we end up finding becomes more like a persona, a disguise, and then it���s not our voice anymore. It���s fake.

The process is a lot like dating. When we try too hard to be something we���re not, it might work for a little while and then it just���won���t. Because it won���t feel authentic.

Listen to any interview with Margaret Atwood and you���ll notice she sounds in person exactly the way she does on the page. Same with Stephen King. They���re not making up some new entity who they suddenly become on paper. Even though they���ve both created numerous convincing and authentic characters who are completely diverse from each other, we can still identify an Atwood or King novel by voice alone. Why? Because the essential personality of the author shines through those characters. How could it not? They created them.

But is it bad or wrong to copy other writers when you���re just starting out?

Actually, no. It can be a great way to get started���almost like a nudge that coaxes your true voice out.

Another exercise worth trying is to choose your absolute favorite novel and copy it out by hand. I���m not suggesting plagiarism or even mimicry. Instead, this can be an effective learning tool. I once wrote out the first hundred pages of All the Light We Cannot See and was amazed by what I picked up that I���d missed in two readings of the novel. Writing it out by hand allows you to see firsthand how the magic has been created.

But when it comes to finding your voice, the main thing you need to do is stop putting up roadblocks and instead allow the process to happen.

How do you do that? Here are a few ideas.Ask yourself: who are your favorite authors? What genres do you like to read? Explore what it is about them that appeals to you. Chances are there are some elements common to all of them.Try Natalie Goldberg���s exercises in Writing Down the Bones of keeping the hand moving while you write. What this does is silence your inner critic. If you���re busy writing, they can���t get a word in edgewise, nattering that you should be writing X rather than the Y that you want to write, or telling you that you���re no good or the work isn���t coming out the way it���s supposed to.Try Ray Bradbury���s idea in Zen in the Art of Writing of keeping word lists to discover your loves, your hates, your obsessions and fears. This was his way of finding his voice as a writer���which really amounted to nailing down who he was as a person. It might work for you.

Flannery O���Connor wrote: ���The writer can choose what he writes about but he cannot choose what he is able to make live.��� What we are able to make live is directly related to who we are and what we love. If what you love is cowboys and westerns, then chances are when you write about them, your voice will sing.

People used to ask Stephen King why he was ���wasting��� his talent writing horror. Why? Because horror is what he loves. And what exactly has been wasted? He is arguably the best horror writer in the world. If he had ignored his obsessions and tried to be a literary writer, there���s a fair chance he would not have been as successful as he is.

If you want to find your voice as a writer, just be yourself on the page. There���s nobody more suited to the task.

Check out these additional posts about voice!
How Do You Find Your Narrator���s Voice?
Character Voice Versus Author Voice

The post Finding Your Voice as a Writer appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Phenomenal First Pages Contest

Hey, wonderful writerly people! It���s time for our monthly critique contest.

PLEASE NOTE: We’ve changed our process for entering this contest.

If you’d like a chance to win feedback, use this link or click the graphic below to reach our ENTRY FORM:

ENTRY FORM

When you enter by form, double check that your email is correct so I’ll be able to contact you if I draw your name. (If I can’t reach you, you’ll have to forfeit your win.)

Contest GuidelinesComments will NOT enter you in this contest. To enter, fill out this contest form. (One entry per person.)

Have your first page ready to go. 1-inch margins, double-spaced, and 12pt Times New Roman font. 

Three lucky winners will receive feedback from me on any genre except erotica. This contest only runs for 24 hours, so enter by form ASAP.

We use Random.org to draw three winners, and will post the names in the comments tomorrow morning. If you win, I’ll be in touch!

If you���d like to be notified about our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest, consider subscribing to our blog (see the right-hand sidebar). 

I can’t wait to see who the winners will be.

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

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

Top Black Friday Deals for Writers

The economy is tough right now – inflation is high, and everyone needs to stretch their dollars further, including writers. Black Friday is an excellent time to get what we need to succeed and save.

To save you time, we’ve rounded up some of the best deals we’ve found,
including one from us!

Check Out These Deals: Writing, Editing, Publishing & Marketing ProWritingAid (Save 50%)

Save up to 50% on select packages so ProWritingAid can give you clear, easy steps to improve your writing so you can write, edit, and share your stories with confidence. ProWritingAid’s real-time feedback and in-depth reports offer world-class grammar, style and consistency checking. Strengthen your prose, improve clarity, and have more time to write. This deal runs from Nov 13 – 29th.

Novel Factory (Save 30%)

Save 30% on annual licenses for the Novel Factory writing software which includes character development tools, plot templates, target tracking and so much more. Developed by award-winning author, Katja Kaine, the software includes a wealth of writing advice, which helps new writers master the craft and more established writers hone and perfect their skills. Use the code BLACKFRIDAY2023 by November 24th to grab this deal.

Fictionary Storyteller & Storyteller Live (Save 40%)

Fictionary���s groundbreaking software and expert guidance give you the tools and support you need to write an unforgettable story. With StoryTeller Developmental Editing Software, you’ll generate a story arc that allows you to see how your structure, characters, plot, and setting compares to best-in-class. With StoryTeller Premium + Fictionary Live! Guided Editing Program, subscribers also get personalised guidance from Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Instructors. It���s a surefire way to get your manuscript over the finish line. Save 40% on monthly and annual subscriptions between Nov 15 – Nov 24.

FirstEditing Services (Save 21%)

FirstEditing’s professional editors correct and perfect every word so you can publish your manuscript confidently and successfully. You get an expert editor in your genre to personally edit your writing, revise your syntax, and advise you on how to develop and structurally strengthen your writing. Save 21% off any professional editing service including Certified Structural Editing, Book Coaching, and more between November 25th and December 1st.

Novlr Writing Software (Save $50)

Novlr is the first writer-owned creative writing workspace that lets you focus on what’s most important- your words. Our smart design is distraction-free, writing streaks and goals keep you motivated, advanced analytics provide insights into your best writing times, and automatic cloud syncing keeps your work safe. You will be more productive on Novlr. Save $50 on an annual subscription with the code BLACKFRIDAY23 until December 31st.

Write | Publish | Sell ($10 Bundle)

We’re celebrating 10 years in the business of supporting authors with a bundle of 4 of our most popular book marketing workshops for ONLY $10 with the code BLACKFRIDAY. Grab this deal by November 30th.

PublishDrive (3 Months Free)

Easily self-publish ebooks online, audiobooks, and print books to thousands of stores worldwide with PublishDrive. New Customers can subscribe to our annual plan, and get 12 months of service for the price of 9 (three months free). Grab this deal by December 31st.

SelfPubCon Access Pass (Save 50%)

Enjoy 50% off a six-month or lifetime access to content from the Self-Publishing Advice Conference (provided by the Alliance of Independent Authors) with discount code BLACKFRIDAY23. Grab this deal by November 30th.

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

Save 25% off K.M. Weiland’s popular writing books and put her expert guidance on plot, character, and story structure to work. Her interactive workbooks (including the Outlining Your Novel Workbook software) can turn your knowledge into practical skills, and you can dive deep into character development with the Creating Character Arcs Course. Katie also has Archetypal Character Guided Meditations to help you delve into your characters’ minds and dream up new story ideas. Grab this deal by Nov 27th.

Publisher Rocket (Free Course)

Get their Kindlepreneur Keywords and Categories Course free with the purchase of Publisher Rocket, a powerful tool to help you determine the best keywords for your book. This deal runs from November 21st to November 29th.

BookFunnel Author Service (Save $50)

BookFunnel is the premier software service for authors. Whether it���s delivering your reader magnet or ARCs, finding great ways to promote and swap books with other authors, or doing direct sales and Kickstarter fulfillment, BookFunnel is the essential tool for your author business. Save $50 on the mid-list or higher yearly plan until November 30th.

Atticus Software (Free Course)

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 course with every purchase of Atticus: Publishing for Indie Authors between November 22nd and November 27th.

Scribophile Premium (Save 30%)

Scribophile is one of the web’s largest online writing communities and workshops. Writers of all skill levels join to make friends, finish their novels, help each other improve, take writing classes, and meet beta readers. Save 30% off a premium membership until November 30th.

Sacha Black’s Courses & Books (Save 30%)

Save 30% with the code BLACKFRIDAY30 and improve your prose, characters or storytelling! Join rebel author, podcaster, and bestselling author Sacha Black for her Villains Masterclass and the Anatomy of Prose: The Senses course, or save on her catalog of writing guides between November 30th and December 3rd.

Shut Up and Write the Book ($2.99 Deal)

Save on Shut Up and Write the Book, a step-by-step guide to crafting your novel from plan to print, written by award-winning author and YouTube sensation, Jenna Moreci. Grab it on Amazon for $2.99 from November 24th to December 1st.

Saving the best for last: story support tools to help you write your BEST book!

One Stop for Writers (Save 40%)

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 will help you craft characters with true depth, invent fresh and captivating plots, and construct immersive worlds that your readers won’t want to leave:

SHOW-DON’T-TELL DESCRIPTION DATABASE
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 as you plan, write, and revise.

One Stop for Writers supports you at every step so only your best writing makes it to the page.

Use the code BF2023 to unlock a
40% discount on our 6-month plan.

(Deal ends November 27th.)

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

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