Using Beat Sheets to Slant Your Memoir’s Scenes | Jane Friedman
Today’s post is by writer and editor Lisa Cooper Ellison. Most memoirs involve some kind of loss—a…
Pay Attention to the Obsessive Workings of Your Mind | Jane Friedman
Photo by Ian Noble on Unsplash Today’s post is by author and editor Lynn Schmeidler (@lynnschmeidler)….
From Lead to Gold: The Alchemy of Character Arc With Carl Jung
Storytelling is a mystical crucible. Just as the ancient alchemists sought the transformation of base metals…
Writing the Other: 4 Not So Easy (But Doable!) Steps | Jane Friedman
Photo by Agence Olloweb on Unsplash Today’s post is by author and book coach Samantha Cameron. Most…
Checklist for Beginning Your Story: Introducing Your Characters
Hello, everyone, and welcome! Today, we’re going to be talking about beginnings and specifically about how…
How and Where to Build Your Literary Community | Jane Friedman
Photo by Andraz Lazic on Unsplash Today’s post is by writer Star Wuerdemann. In 2015, I attended…
Going After the Widest Audience Possible: Q&A with Award-Winning Author Jami Fairleigh | Jane Friedman
For years now, the Indie Author Project has made an effort to find the best self-published…
The Case for Pursuing a Traditional Publishing Deal Without an Agent | Jane Friedman
Today’s post is by author Amy L. Bernstein. Securing the services of a literary agent has long…
Announcing the Shadow Archetypes Course! (+Giveaway)
Get ready, because I’ve got something exciting to share with you! This winter, I’ve been working…
3 Elements That Make Historical Romance Successful | Jane Friedman
Today’s post is by author and book coach Susanne Dunlap. Saying that romance is a genre the…
Emotional Intimacy Between Characters Isn’t Just for Romance Novels | Jane Friedman
Photo by Viktor Talashuk on Unsplash Today’s post is by romance author and book coach Trisha Jenn…
Workshopper Beware: Navigating the Risky Waters of Writing Classes and Retreats | Jane Friedman
Today’s post is by author and book coach Andromeda Romano-Lax (@romanolax). Several years ago, I attended…
6 Tips to Write Deeply Emotional Fiction
In the tumultuous sea of storytelling, where the tides of emotion ebb and flow, writers get…
Substack Is Both Great and Terrible for Authors | Jane Friedman
I have been trying to convince writers of the value of a consistent email newsletter for…
Tropes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly | Jane Friedman
Photo by Daisa TJ Today’s post is by romance author and book coach Trisha Jenn Loehr (@trishajennreads). Tropes…
Author Platform Follows the Work | Jane Friedman
Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash Today’s post is by writer Mirella Stoyanova (@mirellastoyanova). Note from…
How to Use Antagonists in Your Story: The Right Way and the Wrong Way
How to use antagonists in your story is a critical skill that can either elevate or…
Scene, Summary, Postcard: 3 Types of Scenes in Commercial, Upmarket, and Literary Fiction | Jane Friedman
Photo by freestocks on Unsplash Today’s post is by author, book coach, and developmental editor Lidija…
When—and Why—Reveals Don’t Work | Jane Friedman
Photo by George Milton Today’s post is by editor Tiffany Yates Martin (@FoxPrintEd). Every story is a mystery,…
Set Up the Perfect Online Press Kit | Jane Friedman
Photo by cocarinne Today’s post is by author and website designer Camilla Monk. How’s your press kit…
A Writer’s Comprehensive Guide to Backstory
Hello, welcome to Everything You Need to Know About Backstory! I’m K.M. Weiland, and you are…
Structure: The Safety Net for Your Memoir | Jane Friedman
Today’s post is by writer and editor Lisa Cooper Ellison. A few weeks ago, I geeked…
3 Ways to Experiment with Memoir Structure to Improve Your Narrative Arc | Jane Friedman
Today’s post is by writer and editor Lisa Cooper Ellison. Most memoir first drafts consist of stories writers…
What Taylor Swift’s Vault Tracks Can Teach You About Not Killing Your Darlings | Jane Friedman
Today’s post is by writer and editor Sarah Welch. I write a lot about killing your…
12 Places to Find a Beta Reader (Updated)
“Where can I find a beta reader or critique partner?” Without doubt, that’s the second most…
Burned Out on the Business of Writing? 6 Insights to Rediscover Joy and Passion
In the ever-evolving landscape of the writing profession, where deadlines loom large and market trends shift…
5 Reasons Marketing Is Hard for Writers
Say the word “marketing” to a group of writers, and you’re likely to elicit a groan….
Writing Multiple Plotlines: Everything You Need to Know
Note From KMW: Hello and welcome to today’s post, in which I am trying something a…
7 Tips to Craft Compelling Character Motivation in Fiction
From KMW: As “the lie that tells the truth,” fiction only works when it is able to…
Lessons From 2023: 5 Reflections on “Flat Arc” Periods
Welcome to 2024! And welcome to what has become a yearly tradition here at Helping Writers…