Angela Ackerman's Blog: Writers Helping Writers, page 9

Book Structure for Disorganized Writers

A while back, I shared a post at WHW about Scene Writing, and why it���s such a valuable tool for writers (especially those like me, whose brains get easily overwhelmed by details). This post also shares my tricks for keeping a story organized even if you have a disorganized brain or process.

A Word About Writing Process���Adapt everything you learn to your own unique brain

Like underpants, writing process is personal. You’ll find out what fits YOU the best by trying it on for size. At the end of the day, the only writing process you need to embrace is the one that allows you to finish your stories.

It took me a long time to figure out that I couldn���t write linearly like all my friends. I had to find the process that worked for my brain. My brain needed stories to be in tiny pieces.

My old life:

(That’s the life of creating unfinished stories that taunted me.)

Whenever I’d get stuck, I’d stop. I’d stare at the page, clean my kitchen drawers, come back to the page and stare some more. Sometimes there was crying. Almost always, after a few weeks, I’d berate myself for being a hack, give up and start another story.

My new life:

Now I just pick a new scene and write it and the pantser half of my brain works the problems out. Most important, this method lets me keep writing. That immersion is what keeps most writers engaged with their story.

How does ���process��� work for a new writer?

The problem for most new writers is they don���t know what works for them yet. There���s a lot of trial and error when you���re new.

You���ll have to ask (and answer) questions like:

Am I a plotter or a pantser?A linear writer, or an out-of-order writer?Am I more productive in the morning or at night?Do I like to use 3-Act Structure or the W-Plot?

A lot of what you try as a new writer won���t work for you. That���s okay ��� keep trying things out until you are able to produce a finished story. You might not even love the first story or two, but you���ll still be proud you finished it.

A View of My ���Scene-Focused��� Process

The abbreviated description of my process is that I���m a Plantser and a Story Quilter. That means I plot a little, I free write a bit, and I piece the story together scene-by-scene.

What does that look like in practice?

1. I start by making a list of all the scenes I know.

Like many writers, each book usually starts with an idea or a scene that comes into my head fully formed. I write that scene to get it out of my head and onto the page. I keep writing until all the initial scenes are out of my head.

Usually, there are between 5-10 scenes that come with the initial idea. When I���m lucky, this list includes some key turning points of the story.

2. I make folders for all those scenes in Scrivener.

That folder list is key for me. It means when I sit down to write, I have a list of places I can go in the story. Sometimes something will come to me all Pantser-like and I make a folder for that one too.

3. I try to brainstorm early.

Near the beginning of the process, I bat some ���what if���s��� around with my writing peeps and decide on the overriding theme for the book and the internal and external conflicts for the main characters. I might be wrong, but it gives me a place to start.

Note: Scrivener has places for characters and research. For me, they���re part of my at-a-glance folder list over in the left sidebar. I can click on them to add, or when I need a refresher on a character for a scene.

4. Sometimes I get lucky.

During #3 above, sometimes the turning points make themselves known. I���ll often share the story with someone I trust, and ask if they see any major logic holes. If I���m lucky, they find one! Finding logic holes early, before I���ve done a ton of work, makes me way less cranky later in the process.

5. I keep writing until I���m out of scenes.

Sometimes that means I���m actually done with the book, and sometimes that means I have to beg some nice writing friends to do a manuscript swap. This step is usually when I begin the Second Draft work, which means using all those cool plotting and polishing tips that Plotters use on their first draft.

My Top 3 Tips for Getting Unstuck

Despite our best intentions, we all get stuck sometimes. OneStop for Writers is a great place to start when you get stuck. These smaller steps help me, too.

1. Change locations.

Typically, the act of moving to a new writing space can jiggle up some writing inspiration. This can be from your desk to the couch, from inside to outside, or from the library to a favorite restaurant or coffeehouse.

2. Use a digital timer.

I tend to use my cooking timer. When I don���t want to write, my deal with myself is I have to do at least 30 minutes of work on my fiction.

We can do anything for half an hour, right?

While it doesn’t sound like a lot, it really makes a difference. If I’m not digging the writing that day, I know “I only have to do this crap for 30 minutes.” If things are going well, I���m likely to go way longer than 30 minutes.

3. I print a list of all the scenes I know in table form.

This trick requires a printer and scissors, and I���m known to do it when I���m getting to the end of a book. Margie Lawson gave me this brilliant idea, and it works when I have difficult scenes that I don���t want to write. You could also handwrite your to-do list and make a game out of it.

I print the table of all those scene prompts and cut it up until each scene is on its own slip of paper.I find a pretty container and I put all the slips of paper into it.Every time I sit down to write those final scenes, I randomly choose one from the container until they���re all gone.

Margie is so smart.

Why Scene-Focused Writing Is a Great Organization Method for Me.

The first major advantage is that I rarely get stuck.

Everything is visible to me at a glance. I just pick a scene from my to-be-written list of scenes (aka: my Scrivener folders/documents) and get writing. Eventually all of them will get written.

Here���s an example

A starting scene list for a made-up romance novel:

Initial MeetingScene in the Coffee ShopJob interview at the clinicReunion with SisterFight about parents��� funeralFirst look at sister���s houseDiscovery of parent���s will in the garageFlesh out mom���s mental illnessConfront sister about secrets

The second major advantage (for me) is that I can see the story structure visually, without getting overwhelmed.

As I write those early scenes and begin seeing the bigger picture, I start making more folders. Every so often in the process, I���ll move those folders around, so they feel more logical.

Scenes and turning points will move into a logical three-act structure, which organically shows me plot holes. I can color code scenes (folders or documents) in Scrivener if I want to make unwritten scenes stand out more, which is great for an at-a-glance to-do list.

In a Word document, I can���t see the structure at a glance, and it stresses me out. I feel like I don���t know where to start or where I���m going. I lose scenes. It���s easy for me to get overwhelmed, and then the writing isn���t so fun anymore.

An example of my Scrivener folder list further in the process:

Act I

Amanda and Archer meeting in CoffeehouseAmanda���s job interview at clinicAmanda chats with Unknown character about Disliking ArcherDay 1 at Clinic WHERE ARCHER WORKS

Act II

Need a scene with heroine���s BFF ��� Topic TBDReunion with SisterFight about parents��� funeralFirst look at sister���s houseFind excuse for social occasion with sisterTalk with Archer in Clinic KitchenDiscovery of parent���s will in the garageFlesh out mom���s mental illnessDate with Archer at pubConfront sister about secretsAll is Lost Moment

Act III

EndingFinal Thoughts

Whether you���re innately disorganized like me or a detailed plotter, finishing a book is a big task. There are a lot of moving parts to be organized. Scrivener is my tool of choice, but I have friends who do things differently and stay organized.

I���ve seen great books organized all these ways:

Using a notebook and writing by hand with Post-its and dividersUsing Word documents with headings or Master/Sub DocumentsUsing software like Plottr and ProWritingAidCreating folders on the computer and saving each chapter as a documentWriting the book in a single Word or GoogleDoc file

Figuring out your writing process and how to keep your stories organized are two of the most important things you will ever learn as a writer. I���m wishing you a smooth journey!

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Character Secret Thesaurus: Concealing a Sexual Identity

What secret is your character keeping? Why are they safeguarding it? What���s at stake if it���s discovered? Does it need to come out at some point, or should it remain hidden?

This is some of the important information you need to know about your character���s secrets���and they will have secrets, because everyone does. They���re thorny little time bombs composed of fear, deceit, stress, and conflict that, when detonated, threaten to destroy everything the character holds dear.

So, of course, you should assemble them. And we can���t wait to help.

This thesaurus provides brainstorming fodder for a host of secrets that could plague your character. Use it to explore possible secrets, their underlying causes, how they might play into the overall story, and how to realistically write a character who is hiding them���all while establishing reader empathy and interest.

For instance, let���s see what it might look like if your character���

Is Concealing Their Sexual Identity

ABOUT THIS SECRET: A character concealing their sexual identity is living a double life, caught between the fear of exposure and the risk of immeasurable personal loss. But coming out could mean losing their support network, family, or sense of safety, making it a secret many will go to great lengths to protect.

SPECIFIC��FEARS��THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Abandonment, Becoming What One Hates, Being Attacked, Being Judged, Being Labeled, Being Separated from Loved Ones, Being Unsafe, Betrayal, Change, Conditional Love, Conflict, Death, Discrimination, Humiliation, Isolation, Letting Others Down, Losing Financial Security, Losing One���s Social Standing, Losing the Respect of Others, Not Fitting in, Persecution, Putting Oneself out There, Rejection, Trusting Others

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Feeling inhibited in relationships, especially romantic ones
Letting a potential soulmate go so the secret remains hidden
Feeling as though no one truly knows or understands them
Feeling undesirable because they���re hiding who they are

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Dating a partner they���re not attracted to or are incompatible with to keep up appearances
Lying about current or past relationships to align with their perceived orientation
Deliberately avoiding LGBTQ+ spaces or conversational topics
Avoiding people they fear may disapprove of their orientation

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
Going to a bar or club that caters to a different sexual identity
Consuming media that caters to a different sexual identity
Roleplaying romantic connections with partners who attract them in safe scenarios (e.g., video games, bedroom games, etc.)
Developing emotionally intense relationships with people they���re actually attracted to

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE��
Feeling sexually attracted to someone who returns the feelings
Feeling unsatisfied in a long-term romantic relationship
Being highly visible in their social standing so their life is intensely scrutinized
Engaging in a secret romance with someone they���re attracted to

Other Secret Thesaurus entries can be found here. Need More Descriptive Help?

While this thesaurus is still being developed, the rest of our descriptive collection (18 unique thesauri and growing) is accessible through the One Stop for Writers THESAURUS database.

If you like, swing by and check out the video walkthrough for this site, then give our Free Trial a spin.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus: Concealing a Sexual Identity appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

Making Nice Guys & Girls Realistically Flawed

We���ve talked a lot around here about why characters need flaws. Those negative traits make characters relatable to readers, they contribute to their arc, and, oh, a whole bunch of other things. Flaws are especially important for any character navigating a change arc, where their weaknesses are keeping them from success and growth is necessary for them to realize the need for change.

Most of the time, creating flawed characters isn���t too hard. But it���s more difficult for certain kinds of characters than others���particularly if you���re writing a character defined by kindness or niceness. This is the nice guy/girl trope, and while it can work for a protagonist, it���s most often reserved for secondary characters, such as a friend, ally, or love interest.

The nice guy or girl is defined as being a decent, kind, and morally upright character who tends to make good decisions. That makes the question of flaws more challenging because this person, by definition, is good. It���s their defining trait, what readers should associate with them. The key to making to make this kind of character realistically flawed while still maintaining their defining goodness is to be careful which negative traits you give them.

Pick Forgivable Flaws

Not all weaknesses are viewed as equal; some are more accepted than others and are easier for readers to ignore or write off. If your nice guy character is prejudiced, violent, or cruel���those flaws are strong and could easily override their positive qualities to the point that readers will no longer see the character as good. So consider weaknesses that are less extreme and more acceptable, as we see with the following nice guys and girls:

The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Esmerelda’s kindheartedness and empathy are offset by her na��vet��. This is often a sign of weakness, but it makes her vulnerable and often goes along with her positives, making it an easy one to overlook.Pride and Prejudice: Charles Bingley lacks assertiveness, letting his sisters and Mr. Darcy influence him and override his own desires.Birdbox: Olympia, by her own admission, is too soft, and you know straight off that she���s not going to make it. (Extra points for the backstory in this movie that lays the foundation for her flaw.)Frozen: Olaf is so friendly and eager to help, no one really notices that he���s not so bright.The Bear: Pete, the main character���s brother-in-law (whose niceness is a welcome change in this dysfunctional family) is a little too nice. His attempts to help make him look awkward and not very capable and show that he has no clue how to work within the family.Show How the Flaw Creates Vulnerability

Vulnerability is the primary driver for reader empathy, because when you can show that a character is vulnerable, readers soften toward them. And when their flaw is the thing putting them at risk, readers tend to focus their antagonism more on the trait and less on the character.

Know (and Show) the Why

Why is your character disorganized or impulsive or a worrywart? Where does their flaw come from? There���s a reason people are the way they are. Many factors can play into flaw development, including

Negative influencers, bad role models, and abusive caregivers.Emotional wounds and painful memories.Unjust/unfair experiences.Negative life lessons.Environmental exposures (such as growing up in a dangerous neighborhood and developing certain flaws that aid in survival).

PSST: The One Stop for Writers��� Character Builder helps you explore these and other factors that contribute to the development of authentic and well-rounded characters.

Delve into their backstory to see which flaws make sense and where they might have come from. Then you can give readers a plausible and heart-tugging reason for the character���s unattractive trait���something outside of their control that has made them the way they are. Readers will overlook even a really unpopular trait if they see it���s the result of the character being hurt, wounded, or influenced in some way.

One of my favorite examples of this is Melvin Udall from the movie As Good as It Gets. (Okay, so he���s not a nice guy; he���s a total jerk. But the vulnerability principal applies to flaws in all kinds of characters.) Abrasive, prejudiced, selfish���you dislike Melvin on sight. But then you see that his behavior is the result of an untreated mental health condition that has left him isolated and alone. He actually craves community, but his off-putting flaws make it impossible for him to connect with anyone. And suddenly, you���re rooting for him. You want him to be and do better.

Showing the ���why��� also ensures that the negative trait you���ve chosen makes sense for the character. It wasn���t picked off a list and just plugged into their story���which is good, since that���s not how traits form. It developed like real-life flaws do, from past experiences, wounding events, and influencers. So make sure you know where the flaw came from, and be sure to show that to readers.

This post is a response to a question from one of our readers, which I originally replied to via a quick video in one of our newsletters. If you have writing- or industry-related questions you���d like us to answer,  we���d love to address them . And to receive our occasional newsletter that contains answers to these questions along with other helpful writing advice, sign up  here .

The post Making Nice Guys & Girls Realistically Flawed 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! (We’ve had past winners tell us they’ve found their dream editors through this contest, and even ended up with offers of representation!)

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

Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Having an Addiction

What secret is your character keeping? Why are they safeguarding it? What���s at stake if it���s discovered? Does it need to come out at some point, or should it remain hidden?

This is some of the important information you need to know about your character���s secrets���and they will have secrets, because everyone does. They���re thorny little time bombs composed of fear, deceit, stress, and conflict that, when detonated, threaten to destroy everything the character holds dear.

So, of course, you should assemble them. And we can���t wait to help.

This thesaurus provides brainstorming fodder for a host of secrets that could plague your character. Use it to explore possible secrets, their underlying causes, how they might play into the overall story, and how to realistically write a character who is hiding them���all while establishing reader empathy and interest.

For instance, let���s see what it might look like if your character���

Has an Addiction

ABOUT THIS SECRET: When the subject of addiction is broached, substance abuse springs immediately to mind. But many addictions are just extreme forms of habits that are acceptable in moderation, such as shopping, gaming, eating, working, and exercising. Your character might start innocently as a social drinker, for example, until a life event propels that behavior out of control. Because there is shame associated with addictions, a character may go to great lengths to hide the truth of their condition from others.

SPECIFIC��FEARS��THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Abandonment, Being Capable of Harm, Becoming What One Hates, Being Judged, Being Labeled, Being Separated from Loved Ones, Conditional Love, Criticism, Humiliation, Isolation, Letting Others Down, Losing Autonomy, Losing One’s Social Standing, Losing the Respect of Others, Not Being in Control, One’s Body Becoming a Prison, Rejection

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Functioning sub-optimally at work
Being a less-than-competent parent
Struggling financially because of the addiction
Living below their potential

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Using cash or secret credit cards to fund their addiction
Masking odors with perfumes, soaps, or mouthwash
Making light of the addiction as nothing serious, just ���harmless fun���
Lying frequently (about where they���ve been, what they���ve been doing, etc.)

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
Drifting away from old friends and hanging out with new ones who frequently engage in the addictive behavior
Being cagey or vague when answering questions about what they���re up to
The character becoming irritable and/or having wild mood swings
Receiving odd phone calls or calls at odd hours
Work habits or standards becoming sloppy

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE��
Failing a drug test at work
Realizing that they���re becoming a danger to themselves and/or others
Owing money to unforgiving people

Other Secret Thesaurus entries can be found here. Need More Descriptive Help?

While this thesaurus is still being developed, the rest of our descriptive collection (18 unique thesauri and growing) is accessible through the One Stop for Writers THESAURUS database.

If you like, swing by and check out the video walkthrough for this site, then give our Free Trial a spin.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Having an Addiction appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS��.

How Authors Thrive in a World of AI-Generated Books

The rise of AI-generated books is sparking concern among many. We all know the book market is huge, yet the speed at which new works are being added prompted Amazon to place a ‘3 books per day’ upload limit. I think we all agree that’s more than a little worrying.

It’s frustrating, too. Vying for a reader’s attention has always been challenging, but this new competition has some authors fearing it will soon become too hard (and expensive) to grab the reader’s attention. Dread rises in the form of a question: in this widening sea of books, what are my chances of being found and read?

It’s easy to give over to anger and depression when things change, especially when it feels unfair and unjust. But as authors have always done, we must use our emotions to fuel transformation.

The board has changed. It’s time to change with it.

We’ve weathered disruptions in the book industry before, and while AI is reshaping all industries, as people, one of our biggest strengths is our ability to adapt. Marketing will become more challenging for authors, but we can use our human edge to come out on top. It’s time for us to push ourselves and leverage our strengths, showing readers we have much more to offer them than machines.

Let’s talk about how we do it.

1. Write an amazing book.

Seems sort of obvious, right? Sure, but the real message here is that AI books will only get better in time, so we must continue widening the gap. Readers will have many choices on what to read so our books should be exceptional. To date, many authors have focused on volume to make a living, but moving forward, writing better books will become as important (if not more).

Amazing books in the age of AI should contain something else, too: emotion, insight, and depth rooted in human experience. This is something that machines can’t replicate (although they will try). As humans, we understand how isolating life can be when we experience certain things that stir deep emotions, struggles, insecurities, and vulnerabilities. Who better than us to create authentic characters that our readers can truly relate to and connect with? (Read: How to Leverage Humanity in Stories to Outshine AI.)

2. Embrace authenticity, building trust and connection.

AI isn’t only impacting the book industry–it’s everywhere, with readers being as exposed to it as us. AI curates searches at Google, chatbots claim the bottom right corner of every website. Meta AI bots piss everyone off with their uncanny ability to ignore hate speech but flag that cute picture of someone’s cat as harmful and inappropriate.

Fake social profiles. AI-generated images everywhere.
Every third ad is a new AI tool or service.

It’s the gold rush of AI, but guess what follows? Saturation. People get sick of all things manufactured, simulated, and fake. It’s early still, but a looming saturation is coming. Authors should be ready because, in an increasingly artificial world, people will crave one thing above all else: Authenticity. They will be drawn to human presences, voices, and interactions.

This is an incredible opportunity for authors. By recognizing the universal need for authenticity and connection, they can draw their potential readers in by being someone who shares their human side!

Go deeper with your interactions with readers. Think about points of common ground: What experiences do you and your readers share? Which of your thoughts and perceptions will resonate, making them feel seen and heard? How can you share anecdotes, ideas, sparks of humor, and bits of your personal life alongside discussions about your creative work? What topics and themes in your book suggest areas of common interest? Start some conversations.

It might take practice, but being open and authentic can turn readers into lifelong fans…of you. These relationships are incredible–knowing people are in our corner sustains us when life gets hard. Too, not only will devout readers look forward to the next book, but they’ll want others to discover your books, too.

3. Create a “clubhouse” for your readers.

Adding to the point above, I have always believed marketing is about relationships, not sales. We build strong relationships by caring about others, making them feel valued, and giving them something they need. When this is done right, sales follow naturally.

It’s great to use social media as a way to find potential readers and connect with them, but trying to be everywhere at once is overwhelming. People can become fatigued by social media too. This is why thinking about creating a meeting spot away from the noise of the online world can be a great way to forge meaningful bonds with readers.

Your “clubhouse” can be anything that works for you: an online community or group, a personal newsletter or Substack, a private forum attached to your site, etc. Whatever your clubhouse looks like, don’t bombard folks with promotion. These people aren’t dollar signs and trust me, AI will be targeting them everywhere, trying to sell, sell, sell. So be different. Focus on the relationship: share content they’ll like, ask and answer questions. If you’re communicating through a newsletter, be the person they are always happy to hear from! Your clubhouse should make people feel seen, cared about, and valued.

4. Think we, not me.

As the fight over a reader’s attention heats up even further, we may think we need to isolate ourselves from other authors because they are our competition. Not so. Human authors are our allies.

No matter how well you write or how big your audience is, you only have a sliver of the potential reading audience. Authors with similar books also have loyal readers, and many are different from your own. Collaborating with authors who write similar, high-quality books can be a win for you both as you’ll each reach new people.

Collaboration is about more than sharing audiences���it���s about creating a sense of camaraderie. Readers will notice and appreciate authors who prioritize relationships over sales pitches. Too, every author has unique experiences, ideas, knowledge, and connections. Joining forces with other authors and sharing what you each know means less trial and error.

5. Educate yourself and watch for scams.

Whenever there’s a disruption, people look for opportunities to monetize whatever has changed. Part of thriving as an author will be staying informed and watching for profiteers selling “easy solutions.”

Self-publishing created a ramp-up in vanity presses, predatory promotional and editing services, and low-skill freelancers looking to bleed authors of their cash. This era of AI will be the same.

If you need AI solutions for marketing, research before investing in courses, ad services, or tools. Look to trusted industry leaders like Jane Friedman, David Gaughran, or the Alliance of Independent Authors for guidance. Don’t fall for pressure tactics, FOMO, or fear-based marketing. And remember, if someone is selling something that seems too good to be true, it probably is.

One area to be especially cautious of is Ads. As the book market becomes increasingly huge, pay-to-play platforms (Meta, Amazon, etc.) are the real winners as people run ads (or more ads) to gain visibility. Likely we’ll see a rise in ���Ad experts��� pitching their company to run your ads or use their AI tools and platform solutions. Some may be a good investment. Others will drain your pockets. Investigate and talk to other authors. Make sure the ROI is clear.

6. Decide how (and if) you’ll use AI as an author.

AI is a threat and a tool. Creatives (and folks in other industries who had their content scraped without content) are rightfully upset about AI. But it’s here to stay so we will all need to eventually decide if (and how) we’ll use it. This is a moral question and a practical one.

You may decide that while you’re morally opposed to using it to write, you use AI solutions to help you with other tasks–researching, marketing, time management, whatever. Or you are a firm no. But whether you use it or not, it’s important to understand how others are incorporating it, and the impacts this may have on our business.

The Key to Thriving:
Using Your Humanity

AI may be here to stay, but so are authors. We can’t control AI’s disruption over our industry, only how we respond. By focusing on what makes us uniquely human, we can create stories that resonate far more deeply than AI-generated books. Best of all, by simply being ourselves, we can forge genuine connections with readers and fulfill a universal longing for authenticity���an ironic consequence of the rise of AI.

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Backstory Balancing Act

How to handle a character���s backstory is a universal struggle for all of us writers. How much should we include? How long should a flashback be? When is it okay to give a character���s backstory? Is backstory even necessary?

As an editor, I���ve seen it all. Books that start with a long flashback, books that don���t provide the reader enough footing in a character���s past, and books that nail the balance of keeping the front story moving while sprinkling in backstory.

First, the undeniable truth: Whether we like it or not, backstory is necessary. Otherwise, that inherent feeling that your character needs whatever you have planned in the front story isn���t there, spurning your reader on to find out if this story will help them be okay. Backstory is the battery pack that fuels your novel, giving it purpose.

The good news is that you only need to develop that which is relevant to whatever made the character not okay in the first place.

Long-Form Flashback

Crafting the origin scene is virtually a must in order to establish exactly what happened in the past and to explore the misbelief (also known as the wound or baggage) your character has. In knowing the character���s trauma and how it���s shaped them, you���ve given yourself a road map for what your front story needs to undo.

After that, it���s helpful to develop a few relevant memories that might help your character reach aha moments within the front story. Events that they look back on with new eyes and that afford them perspective shifts as your front story progresses. These might be past incidents that seemed one way at the time. But now, thanks to your front-story plot, the character sees them for what they actually were. The fear they once had is noticeably diminished, earning them inner growth and change.

Shorter Flashbacks

Let���s talk about developing your character���s backstory through shorter flashbacks, even within single sentences. Rather than presenting the reader with fully-developed memories, you might break the flashbacks you develop into digestible chunks that could be scattered throughout your story.

How to Choose the Form and Length of Flashbacks

It helps to think of the depth of the trauma as proportionate to how long you wait to share backstory and how much of it you share. In other words, if the trauma is deep and awful for your character, we will need time to be readied for its reveal, just as the character needs time to confront it. And then, when it comes, you might need to give it breathing room through what���s more of a flashback scene. Things like being held captive, losing a loved one, making a deadly mistake, or witnessing a violent act warrant may fall into this category.

But if the trauma is something less dramatic (a best friend moving away or losing a sentimental object, for example), it���s likely not necessary to wait to share the past, nor should it earn tons of page time. In fact, waiting to share this sort of backstory or doing so in long form will likely backfire because the reader will gauge that withholding and pontificating weren���t necessary for something on that level. It may even feel melodramatic at that point.

No matter your backstory reveal form, whether it be long-form or short bursts of memory, it helps to tap into your left brain. Something I always encourage clients to do is to scene track. This exercise not only helps you outline your novel���s scenes in a bare-bones way, it allows you to keep your eye on all those plates novel writing asks you to spin. Using this task to monitor backstory reveal can be truly helpful to ensure you���re on the right track.

Some Final Backstory Tips

It���s largely advised not to include lengthy flashback until something like 10% or beyond in your novel. The reader needs time to slip into the flow of your front story. If we���re asking the reader to orient themselves in the front story and then to step away to backstory too much or too frequently, the reader can���t settle comfortably into your more current timeline.

Look within your front story for little seeds to generate one-line backstory hints. If your character was in an awful car wreck in the past, maybe you���re showing their hand trembling as they reach for the car door. Hence, a backstory clue is born and you keep the front story moving. Maybe they were robbed by someone wearing a red knit cap in the past. Within your front story, we see your character take a different route to work after someone with a red knit cap appears ahead on the sidewalk. Boom���an interesting clue emerges, pointing to the past. You can use details in the current timeline as springboards for hints of the past based upon how your character reacts when encountering them.

Keep flashbacks as tight as you possibly can. We���ve all been in stop-and-go traffic. Each time you weave backstory in, it���s akin to hitting the brakes on a lovely car ride. The energy of your front story wobbles and the reader starts asking, ���Are we there yet?��� They itch to get back to the current timeline.

Show, don���t tell. And yes, this rule applies to flashback. The more you evoke what it was like for your character to be in that pivotal moment way back when, the more your reader feels like you���ve transported them to the past.

What backstory methods have you used successfully in your own writing? Are there stories you feel achieve the balance of backstory?

Happy writing!
Marissa

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Character Secret Thesaurus Entry: Pursuing a Personal Goal

What secret is your character keeping? Why are they safeguarding it? What���s at stake if it���s discovered? Does it need to come out at some point, or should it remain hidden?

This is some of the important information you need to know about your character���s secrets���and they will have secrets, because everyone does. They���re thorny little time bombs composed of fear, deceit, stress, and conflict that, when detonated, threaten to destroy everything the character holds dear.

So, of course, you should assemble them. And we can���t wait to help.

This thesaurus provides brainstorming fodder for a host of secrets that could plague your character. Use it to explore possible secrets, their underlying causes, how they might play into the overall story, and how to realistically write a character who is hiding them���all while establishing reader empathy and interest.

For instance, let���s see what it might look like if your character���

Pursuing a Personal Goal

ABOUT THIS SECRET: People are mostly above-board about their goals���unless what they���re pursuing won���t be accepted by others or the character has misgivings. Examples include working toward a certain career, converting to a different religion, locating birth parents, or working toward something others think is a waste of time. Note that while the goal itself may not be negative, the character���s fears (of ridicule, failure, judgment, or disappointing others) may drive them to secrecy.

SPECIFIC��FEARS��THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Being Judged, Being Unable to Achieve a Dream, Competition, Conditional Love, Conflict, Criticism, Discrimination, Failure, Humiliation, Letting Others Down, Losing the Respect of Others, Putting Oneself Out There, Rejection

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Not getting encouragement when its needed
Not having the benefit of useful advice from others who have achieved the goal
Struggling to bear the financial burden alone

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Deleting their search history
Keeping supplies around that make it look like they haven���t deviated from their stated plans (textbooks, receipts, wardrobe choices, etc.)
Confiding in one supportive person so they have an outlet and someone to bounce ideas off of

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
A family member or roommate opening a delivery package (thinking it���s something they ordered) and finding a suspicious purchase
Developing a new friend group consisting of people who all share the same passion or interest
Showing persistent interest in something they���ve never been interested in before
Becoming visibly uncomfortable when the topic of the goal comes up

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE��
Someone arriving home unexpectedly while they���re working on their goal
A financial change that requires the character to ask for financial help to achieve the goal
Needing to temporarily relocate (for training, to take a class, for an apprenticeship, etc.)

Other Secret Thesaurus entries can be found��here. Need More Descriptive Help?

While this thesaurus is still being developed, the rest of our descriptive collection (18 unique thesauri and growing) is accessible through the One Stop for Writers THESAURUS database.

If you like, swing by and check out the video walkthrough for this site, then give our Free Trial a spin.

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How Writers Can Stay Hopeful in a Tough Publishing Climate

By Eleanor Hecks

Many writers are all too familiar with rejection. You pour your heart and soul into a piece, imagining how it might sound to readers, only to face the crushing reality of a ���no��� in response.

For writers, the publishing world can feel like an endless uphill battle paved with setbacks and self-doubt. It is enough to make even the most steadfast question whether it is all worth it.

The truth is that hope is what keeps you going. While rejection is part of the process, so is resilience, and learning how to maintain that resilience is key to flourishing as a writer.

1. Develop Resilience Through Practice

Resilience takes time to build. Yet, you can cultivate the grit needed to prosper as a writer through consistent practice and willingness to push your boundaries.

Set Small, Achievable Goals

One effective way to develop resilience is by setting goals. These could be as simple as writing 500 words daily, completing one short story a month or submitting to a handful of publications each quarter. Small goals create a feeling of accomplishment, helping you maintain momentum even when larger milestones feel far away.

Over time, these efforts build perseverance and teach you to push forward in the face of setbacks. By celebrating these small victories, you remind yourself that progress is happening.

Experiment With New Styles or Genres

Consider stepping outside your creative comfort zone. Experimenting with a new genre, style or format can be a powerful way to reignite your passion for writing. Try your hand at screenwriting or explore creative nonfiction ��� these experiments make the process of writing feel fresh and exciting again. Even if the results are far from perfect, trying something new can help you develop confidence in your ability to adapt.

2. Gain Peace and Mental Clarity

With constant noise and rejection in the publishing world, finding moments of peace and clarity can feel like a lifeline. They are essential because they quiet doubts, clear mental clutter and create space for creativity. Whether through mindfulness or age-old traditions, these strategies can restore balance and keep optimism alive.

Finding Solace in Nature

Sometimes, the best way to clear your mind is to step away from the page and into the great outdoors. Take it from Al Roker ��� the beloved journalist and Today Show weatherman ��� who finds peace by walking along the lake. On his walks, he prays, meditates and allows the rhythmic sounds of nature to help him process life���s challenges.

This simple but profound activity of reconnecting with the natural world can offer renewal, helping you return to writing with fresh eyes and a calmer spirit.

Cultivate a Positive Mindset

Rejection can cloud your vision, making it hard to focus on the progress you have made. However, building and maintaining a positive mindset enables you to reframe those feelings.

Instead of seeing rejection as a stop sign, think of it as a detour leading you to refine your craft and find the right audience. Practicing gratitude journaling helps you reflect on the wins and reminds you of the joy that writing brings.

Engaging in Labyrinth Prayer

Labyrinth prayer is an ancient practice which promotes peace and introspection. Walking a labyrinth’s purposeful, winding path mirrors life���s journey, offering a chance to reflect and release burdens. As you walk, you can focus on a word or phrase to center your thoughts and open yourself to creativity.

3. Build a Support System

Writing may feel like a solitary pursuit, but surrounding yourself with a community of fellow writers can make all the difference.

Online or local writing groups offer a space to share struggles, celebrate wins and exchange constructive feedback. Hearing others��� stories of persistence can inspire you to keep going, even when the odds feel stacked against you.

4. Reframe Rejection with Growth

Rejection is an inevitable part of any writer���s journey that can feel like a dead end. Rather than viewing it as a failure, consider it an opportunity to grow.

Every ���no��� you receive can share some insight. Many of the world���s most successful authors ��� including Stephen King and J.K. Rowling ��� faced repeated rejections before finding the right publisher. Therefore, persistence is key.

Use rejection as a stepping stone by implementing the following:Extract the lesson: If feedback is available, read it carefully and objectively. Identify areas where you can improve and incorporate that into your next draft.Celebrate the effort: A rejection means you dared to put yourself out there ��� a feat in itself. Celebrate the progress you have made by submitting your work.Diversify your submission: Avoid pinning all your hopes on one opportunity. Submit to multiple outlets or publishers to increase your chances of success.Keep a rejection journal: Track your submissions and rejections. Over time, this can help you see patterns, measure growth and remind yourself how far you have come.Holding Onto Hope and Moving On

The publishing world may feel overwhelming, but hope keeps writers going. To keep that optimism flowing through you, use practices to help you get through the ups and downs with grace and determination.

Every rejection, challenge and moment of doubt is a step toward honing your craft and finding your place in the literary world. So, keep creating and trust that your voice will find its audience.

Eleanor Hecks is Editor in Chief at��Designerly Magazine, as well as a freelance writer who���s passionate about helping other writers of all genres grow their following and community. You can find her work featured on publications such as IndependentPublishing.com and Self-Publishing Review, or connect with her on��LinkedIn��to keep up with her latest work.

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How to Leverage Humanity to Outshine AI-Generated Books

AI is reshaping the book industry, and writers are polarized; some have integrated AI into their writing process while others refuse to. No matter which camp you align with I’m sure you share a growing concern: creatives are not the only ones publishing books. Thanks to AI tools, anyone with a keyboard can slap something together (sometimes ripping off the original), leading to a surge of AI-generated books.

Oh, but the books are bad. They don’t matter.

Are they all bad? And even if they are, will they remain that way? The hard reality is that it is the nature of AI to improve and refine, and so improve and refine it will. In the meantime, quality books become harder to find because this AI side hustle is picking up steam. Writers are beginning to worry about having to compete with AI-generated books.

So, is the board set against us–should we give up writing? Heck no! Instead, we write better books by leaning into our strengths and harnessing the one thing AI can���t compete with: being human. Here���s how.

1: Write about human experiences

AI absorbs knowledge about people and learns how to write scenes by training itself on works of fiction. But when it comes to the experience of being human, AI can only mimic. So, put your innate understanding of humanity onto the page. Let your own life experiences guide you in showing the rawness of vulnerability, the subtleties of emotion, and the profound depth of human needs in your characters. Be unafraid to go deep inside yourself. What questions keep you up at night? What thoughts and worries about the world weigh you down? Chances are, your readers have similar questions, so make them feel seen by weaving these into your story.

Consider the duality of life. On the surface, people present an ‘everyday’ version of themselves���their jobs, choices, routines, and social interactions. Yet beneath lies a more complex and private being, one who wrestles with questions of identity, purpose, and belonging. Write characters with this same hidden self, complete with unique doubts, fears, and unspoken dreams. Readers will feel drawn to them, and relate because this deeper, human side mirrors their own.

Another reason to double down on human elements in stories? As customer service bots, AI social profiles, generated videos, news, etc. become commonplace, the world starts to feel artificial. People will crave authenticity and you can give it to them.

2: Share your worldview, culture, identity, and lived truth

You are the subject matter expert in your lived experience, not AI, so consider how you can bring something special to a story. Whether it���s a window into your culture or religion, a worldview based on experiences or identity, or something else like a personal hardship, upbringing, or belief, readers recognize the authority behind a true-to-life portrayal.

AI can write generically about these things using information within its datasets, but only humans can capture a lived truth. So write characters and situations that are echoes of your own life. Bring readers in close so they experience things that come from first-hand knowledge.

3: Master your craft in areas best suited to showcase human elements

A misconception (long before AI) among some novice writers was that they didn’t need to learn how to write well because that was an editor’s job. This led to a painful lesson when reputable editors wouldn’t touch their manuscripts or the cost to do so was too high, causing them to seek cheaper options or a vanity press. Either way, the writer ended up with a poor-quality book.

Thankfully most writers understand that writing well means putting in the work. But some do treat AI like it’s a magic genie, and this laziness affects the quality of their stories. So keep learning your craft, especially in areas that help you showcase human elements readers are hardwired to connect to. For example:

1) Voice. Learn all there is to know about developing your author voice and creating authentic voices for your characters. Write characters who reveal their individuality through observations, actions, and decisions. This is where your story can stand out.

2) Description (especially the art of show, not tell). Being able to describe sensory details, use metaphor, symbolism, etc. to imply something deeper, and bring a character���s authentic emotions to the surface will draw readers in and convey authenticity in a way AI writing cannot.

3) Inner Conflict. A character���s personal struggles illustrate the complexity of being human in a powerful way. Sure, AI can rehash common problems, but only humans can draw from their experiences to create relatable internal battles. Learning how to write about internal conflict to accurately show a character’s clash of fears, desires, needs, duties, and beliefs is well worth the investment.

4) Character Arc. Study character arc and what it will specifically look like for a character. What personal epiphanies will help them move past old hurts and break free of fear? How have they been viewing life and themselves wrong? How must they change and grow to achieve a happier, more fulfilling life? What do the steps of self-examination, personal realizations, and renewed self-belief look like for them?

It may seem like a lot of questions, but the answers give you the knowledge you need to write an authentic journey of highs and lows that readers will connect to. Alternatively, you should know what failure, unfulfillment, and unhappiness will look like for a character because people never make good decisions all the time. Fear and making mistakes can chain them to failure, and if they can’t break free of it, you need to be able to show that, too.

5) Psychology. It may not seem like a traditional writing element, but it is. The more you understand how people think, feel, and behave and why, two incredible things happen. First, you���ll create more complex, authentic characters whose actions, choices, and decisions line up with who they are. Second, you’ll see how to weave elements about the character���s life, journey, and inner struggles in a way that resonates, encouraging readers to connect more deeply with the characters and your story. ��

If you’ve read any books in our Writers Helping Writers Thesaurus series, you know how much Becca and I focus on psychology and human emotion. This is why. AI will apply psychology too, but not like you and me because it only has clinical knowledge, not personal experience. And that makes a big difference!

4: Shake it up and experiment

AI likes to draw from character tropes, predictable plots, devices, and story patterns, so color outside the lines! Blend genres and story elements. Shatter stereotypes and twist tropes. Be original and bold as you write, and use craft to serve your vision of the story.

5: Embrace one of your greatest human strengths: adaptability

We enter this career path knowing it won’t be easy. But like our characters, we must find a way forward when things get hard. AI-generated books are causing problems for us, yes, but as they get better, so will we. Learning our craft and leveraging our human knowledge and experiences will help us distance ourselves from the generic stories others churn out.

Worried about the future of writing?

Let that go. You can’t control how AI is used but you can adapt how you write to compete with AI-generated books.

Include human elements. Use your story as a mirror to reflect the reader���s hidden self–their hopes and dreams, perspectives and questions. Leverage your humanity to outshine AI!

Remember, readers love to read and great stories will always be in demand!

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