Welcome to 2025…and say hello to a brand new Writers Helping Writers® bookstore!

Like many other authors, Becca and I have switched to a Shopify storefront so we can provide a better experience for everyone wanting to buy direct.

We’re excited about this upgraded storefront, both for the flexibility to eventually branch out to offer things beyond books –workshops, on-demand webinars, packets, etc.– and the fact that it is a vast improvement over the system we’ve had to use to date.

But first, what does “Buy Direct” mean?

Buying direct means instead of purchasing a book from an etailer like Amazon, Kobo, or Apple (who take a big chunk of each sale) you buy from the author’s website. This helps the author because when more book revenue lands in their pocket, they’re closer to making a livable wage. And when they do, it gives them the freedom to write more books, offer discounts, and more. So buying direct is a win-win for the author and readers.

But buying direct also has other benefits, like…

Buying Direct can better protect your books

A problem with buying a digital copy from someone like Amazon is they have control over that book file, not you. If it disappears from your Kindle library due to a glitch, syncing issue, or because they decided you did something wrong, getting it restored can be hard (or impossible). When you buy a digital book from our store, our partner Bookfunnel always keeps your book safe and accessible. You own the book.

Buying Direct means early access

Our bookstore will allow us to offer new releases before they are available elsewhere. Often Becca and I have a new book in hand for weeks prior to a book launch but we have to wait for the official release date. Now, we can pop a new guide into our store when it’s ready and minimize waiting.

Buying Direct keeps you in the loop (and saves you $$$)

Right now our store is set up to offer digital formats (ebook and PDF), but print is coming! And we’re looking to expand to other things as well. If you sign up for store notifications we’ll pop a quick message into your inbox whenever a cost-saving bundle, special workshop, on-demand webinar, discount, or something else becomes available. (But that’s it–no ‘hard sell’ stuff. That’s not us.)

Buying direct is a great way to support an author you care about, and Becca and I want to thank you for considering our Writers Helping Writers Bookstore when you’re looking for writing help. Thank you!

So, ready to check out our new store?

Visit the link above and take this celebratory discount code with you: WHWTHANKSYOU

This one-time code is a buy one, get the second ebook single at a 50% discount. You’ll see a place to enter the code when you checkout. (And a tippy tip: if you sign up for store notifications, you’ll get a bonus code that discounts your entire order a further 10%!) Add that second code at checkout to use both in the same order.

We’d also love your feedback. We’re just getting stared and have improvements in mind, but you guys are the pros here. You know what you need to see when deciding to buy a book, and we’d love your ideas on what might make this store better. If you’d like to leave us impressions or suggestions, zip over here. (It’s anonymous.) And thank you!

Don’t forget to redeem your buy one, get one code by January 15th, 2025, and happy writing!

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Meet Our New Bookstore (& Save 50% off a Thesaurus!) appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Good news! Your Secret Santa (Godzilla) has dropped another writerly gift into your stocking.

(And, if you missed the first gift he left for you, no problem. Just click through to this link to find Gift #1.)
We hope you enjoy it!

Ready to see what he’s left in your stocking?
Click the image below to collect your gift:

Also, I have to warn you:
Godzilla’s been reading again.

You know what this means–another book review. Lord help us. Here it is . . .

Godzilla Reviews The Occupation Thesaurus

As the all-powerful Godzilla, I have a unique perspective on occupations—after all, “Kaiju” isn’t your typical 9-to-5. But I tell you, as a reader, nothing causes me to incinerate a book faster than a character with a job that seems ‘slapped on.’

Like my relentless obliteration of enemies who threaten the natural balance, any true-to-life character is gonna spend a lot of time working, so of course their chosen job should fit their identity and circumstances. A well-thought-out choice gives a character depth, so steer clear of jobs that feel cliche, act as a plot device, or come across as a character quirk.

The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers has helpful breakdowns of different job types, making it easy to find matches for the character’s skills, personality, moral code, or even a passion–like my passion for using atomic breath and destruction to keep puny humans and inferior titans in line.

A big problem with this book? While it covers an impressive range of possible occupations and shows how this characterizing detail can generate radioactive story conflict and mess up even the strongest relationship, WHERE was the entry on Kaiju? What, a city-stomping behemoth isn’t GOOD ENOUGH to profile as a career in this guide? Sure, there is only one Godzilla. But you ask me, laying waste to buildings, destroying battleships with a fist, and body-slamming monsters into oblivion should be the dream job of every character!

~Godzilla

Well, there you have it. Godzilla’s review of The Occupation Thesaurus. Um…thanks, I guess?

If you’re looking for a Christmas Gift…

The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers dives into the type of work your character does…and how this important choice will give your story depth and meaning.

A character’s job is powerful, allowing you to convey a lot of characterization about them in a single punch: traits, skills, priorities, and more. Yet, many writers don’t think much about their character’s occupation—or worse, they pick something randomly, and miss out on what that job can reveal.

Researching specific careers takes time, so we’ve done the work for you. Part how-to, part brainstorming tool, this guide showcases over 120 jobs and breaks each down so you can find the perfect match and write about it with authority. 

More about this book
View the list of job profiles
Buy the book
Read Amazon reviews (4.8/5 Stars)

We hope you find gift #2 helpful, and wishing you a lovely holiday season!

Angela, Becca, & Mindy

Happy writing, everyone!

Stocking Stuffer #1 can be found here.

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

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

It’s time for our favorite round-up: Black Friday Deals for Writers! We love finding ways to save you money because we all need to know how to stretch a dollar in this industry.

Investing in the right tools can help with success, so hopefully you can take advantage of some of these current and upcoming deals (including a sweet little discount from us).

Writing, Editing, Publishing & Marketing Deals

Publisher Rocket ($30 off Publisher Rocket + a Free Course)

Your book deserves to be read! Join other authors using Publisher Rocket to sell more books by optimizing keywords, categories, and ad campaigns. This deal runs from November 28th to December 3rd.

ProWritingAid Annual & Lifetime Subscriptions (Save 50%)

ProWritingAid is the essential toolkit for storytellers, helping you to craft your story and bring it to life. Real-time feedback and in-depth analysis will show you how to strengthen your story, give your characters depth, add impetus to your plot and so much more. This deal runs from Nov 18 – Dec 3rd.

Fictionary Storyteller (or Bundled with Storyteller Live) 40% off

Fictionary’s StoryTeller Software and Live Courses offer a comprehensive process to improve story structure, pacing, character development, and settings. StoryTeller Software: Visualize your plot, identify key story arc scenes, and ensure a satisfying resolution. StoryTeller Premium with Fictionary Live!: Enjoy unlimited writing courses, live instruction, weekly editing tasks, and personalized feedback. Save 40% on subscriptions between Nov 18- Dec 12th.

Novlr Writing Software (30% off any subscription)

Novlr is the first writer-owned creative writing workspace that lets you focus on what’s most important; your words. The smart design is distraction-free, writing streaks and goals keep you motivated, the advanced analytics provide insights into your best writing times, and automatic cloud syncing keeps your work safe. Ready to be more productive? Use the code BLACKFRIDAY24 to save on all subscriptions until December 31st.

Write | Publish | Sell (40% off Instagram for Authors Course)

​Instagram for Authors is a power-packed course providing authors with the tools they need to successfully use Instagram to market and grow their author platforms. Save 40% by using the code 40OFFIGBF at checkout until December 2nd.

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

Save 25% off K.M. Weiland’s popular writing resources, including her books on plot, character, and story structure. Take it a step further with interactive workbooks (including the Outlining Your Novel Workbook software), and the Creating Character Arcs and the Shadow Archetypes courses. Her Archetypal Character Guided Meditations can also help you dive into your characters’ minds and dream up new story ideas. Deal valid November 18th – December 2nd.

BookFunnel Mid-List & Bestseller Plans (Save $50)

The fundamental tool for your author business, BookFunnel delivers reader magnets, delivers direct sales ebooks & audiobooks, and helps authors reach new customers through group promos and author swaps. Take advantage of our best-in-the-industry support and take $50 off an annual subscription to our Mid-List Author and Bestseller Author plans from November 25th to December 2nd.

Atticus Software (Free Course with Purchase)

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 Publishing for Indie Authors course with each purchase between November 28th and December 2nd.

Getcovers (25% off cover design packages)

On a tight budget for a book launch? Getcovers is a book cover design company that provides book cover design packages for a shockingly low price – just $10-$35, depending on the package you choose. Use the code BLACKDEALS at checkout from November 25th to December 2nd.

Book Brush Social Media Management (2 bonus months with a 6-month plan)

Your schedule is jam-packed and Book Brush services can help lighten your load with your choice of two all-inclusive social media plans: Meta Plan: We’ll manage your Instagram and Facebook, creating eye-catching graphics and reels to build a strong, branded presence in the author niche and keep your fans engaged. Video Plan: We’ll produce 15 custom reels each month for your TikTok and YouTube channels, tailored to capture your unique style and audience. Get this 8 for 6 deal by booking a consultation call by Dec 6th.

Shut Up and Write the Book by Jenna Moreci
(.99 ebook sale at Amazon)

Shut Up and Write the Book is a step-by-step guide to crafting a novel from your first spark of an idea to the final edit. Enjoy bestselling author Jenna Moreci’s no-nonsense guidance and saucy sarcasm as she walks you through every step of the writing process. Grab it on Amazon for $.99 from November 27th to December 2nd. (affiliate link)

Novel Factory Software (Save 30%)

The Novel Factory app is designed to help writers turn their ideas into fully developed, captivating novels. With powerful planning tools, in-app guidance, and a simple, intuitive design, it’s everything you need to bring your story to life—from first draft to final edit. Save 30% on an annual plan with code BLACKRIDAY2024 between November 18 to December 2nd.

Last but not least, a story support tool that helps you write friction that stands out from the rest:

One Stop for Writers 6-Month Plan (Save 35%)

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 help you craft characters with true depth, devise fresh plots, and construct immersive worlds that your readers won’t want to leave.

Your One Stop Toolkit includes:

SHOW-DON’T-TELL DESCRIPTION DATABASE (Containing 18 Thesauruses)
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. One Stop for Writers supports you at every step as you plan, write, and revise, so only your best writing makes it to the page. Use the code BLACKFRIDAY24 to unlock a 35% discount for our 6-month plan.

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

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post 2024 Black Friday Deals for Writers appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

No matter what genre you write, your characters–and their relationships–are the heart of a story. In fact, relationships help us explore our characters’ most meaningful layers while providing readers with the context they need to understand why each character thinks and acts the way they do.

Think about how we all behave in the real world. This looks a bit different depending on who is around, right? It’s no different for a character. Their decisions and choices will be shaped by the type of bond they have with someone. Is the relationship close, or not? Healthy or dysfunctional? Do they play a positive role (a friend, ally, or supporter) or does it run along the lines of something darker, like a rival, enemy, or detractor?

A character’s best and worst qualities may be on display at different times in a relationship, but even better, the type of connection your character has to someone will allow you to seed juicy, show-not-tell clues in your story about their motivations, insecurities, fears, needs, and vulnerabilities.

Relationships come in all shapes and sizes, so Becca and I have built a thesaurus of different common types so you can write them with authority. You can find it at One Stop for Writers, as part of our enormous show-don’t-tell THESAURUS.

The Relationship Thesaurus will help you brainstorm character interactions that feel true to life so you can write them into the story. You’ll also find plenty of ideas on how each relationship can develop your characters and further the plot.

If you’d like a peek at this thesaurus, visit these entries at One Stop for Writers: RIVALS, IN-LAWS, and PROTAGONIST AND CRUSH.

If this is the first time you’ve heard about our THESAURUS Database at One Stop for Writers, think of it like our books on steroids. We’ve released 10 thesaurus books to date, but at One Stop for Writers, the database has 18 thesaurus topics…so far.

Speaking of One Stop for Writers, Don’t Forget…

It’s our birthday!

One Stop for Writers is turning 9 this week, and we’re celebrating with a nice 25% discount on any plan.

If you like, grab this code:

HAPPY9

And follow the instructions below to redeem this discount!

To use this code:

1. Sign up or sign in.
2. Choose any paid subscription (1-month, 6-month, or 12-months) and add this code: HAPPY9 to the coupon box.
3. Once activated via the button, a one-time 25% discount will apply onscreen.
4. Add your payment method, check the Terms box, and then hit the subscribe button.

New to One Stop for Writers? Join Becca for a quick tour to see how our resources and tools can help you reach your creative goals.

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post A Description Database for Character Relationships appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

One Stop for Writers‘ BIRTHDAY WEEK is here!

Nine years ago, Becca and I stepped outside our world of book-making and opened the doors of One Stop for Writers, a site filled with one of a kind tools and resources to make writing easier. Year by year, the toolbox at One Stop for Writers has grown and we’ve had the pleasure of helping writers all over the world. We love being part of other writers’ journeys!

25% off all plans

To celebrate NINE YEARS, we’ve cooked up a discount. Whether you’re new to One Stop for Writers or you’ve been using it since the very beginning, grab this code to access our arsenal of tools for less:

HAPPY9

To use this code:

1. Sign up or sign in.
2. Choose any paid subscription (1-month, 6-month, or 12-months) and add this code: HAPPY9 to the coupon box.
3. Once activated via the button, a one-time 25% discount will apply onscreen.
4. Add your payment method, check the Terms box, and then hit the subscribe button.

And that’s it!

Get ready to put the largest show-don’t-tell database available to writers & the rest of our incredible storytelling tools to work!

New to One Stop?

If you’re not familiar with One Stop for Writers, join Becca for a virtual tour. She’ll show you how using the right tools will help you write stronger fiction faster.

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Happy 9th Birthday, One Stop for Writers (Save 25%) appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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

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

What is the Character Trait Boxed Set?

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

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

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

Where can I find out more?

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

Visit the description page for the Positive Trait volume
Visit the description page for the Negative Trait volume

Sale ends Dec 31, 2023.

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

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

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

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

Below is a list of terrific freebies for writers. Enjoy!

Note: for some of these, you need to sign up for an email list.

Crafting Unforgettable Characters (free ebook)

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

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

Three Mini Masterclasses (free course)

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

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

A Show, Don’t Tell Pro Pack (free PDF)

We’ve put together a PDF containing a sample entry from all of our bestselling thesaurus writing guides, then added helpful tips and links to some of our best show-don’t-tell articles. This PDF is a great idea generator if you get stuck or need inspiration, and gives you an instant idea of how to improve your story using show, don’t tell.

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

Manuscript Prep Guide (free PDF)

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

Wishing you success on the submission road!

Creating an Unputdownable Book (free mini masterclass)

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

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

Elevate Your Storytelling 4-Pack (free brainstorming PDFs)

As an early Stocking Stuffer, Becca and I built four powerful brainstorming tools that each target an important area in fiction: Conflict, Personality, Mood, and Reader Engagement.

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

Love your fellow writers? Share this post!

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

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

Angela, Becca & Mindy

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

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

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Top Black Friday Deals for Writers appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

The iconic NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge has many of you rolling up your sleeves to pound out a novel. Becca and I love this event because it is a great time to become explore deep level ideas, experiment, and show ourselves we are absolutely capable of putting a novel-length story on the page.

NaNoWriMo is something you should make your own. Want to try a new genre? Go for it. Are you a plotter who would like to try pantsing (or the opposite)? Go for it! Maybe you want to channel an alter ego author voice, have an out-of-the box story premise you want to write, or you just need to get that next book done. Whatever it is, NaNo is a great time to blast out words and have fun doing it.

Writing a novel in a month also means telling your inner editor to take a holiday. He or she can go bug Elon Musk for a month – lots to criticize on the X front, after all. November is for you and your creativity alone, a pressure-free time to not worry about getting every word right as you draft.

We want this to be a terrific experience for everyone, so we’ve put together tips to help you smash out the words during NaNoWriMo:

1) Set yourself up for success before you write.

This is such an important step no matter what time of year it is, we’ve written an entire post about this! But there’s added pressure when it comes to NaNoWriMo because you’re attempting a draft a novel in a single month. If you haven’t yet done so, set up your space so you have what you need, talk to family members on how to respect your writing time, and click the link above to put yourself in a great place to draft.

2) Find an accountability partner.

NaNoWriMo is easier (and more fun) with friends, so find other writers who will be taking the challenge. Stay in touch so you can cheer each other on, have someone to turn to when you need help, and even meet up for writing sprints (in the real world, through Zoom, or over social media). NaNoWriMo makes this super easy–you can set up a group, join a group, find locals in your area who are doing the challenge, etc. If you belong to a writer’s organization, see who is taking the challenge and set up a group for you. If you participate on a writing forum, Facebook group, or something else, see who is doing NaNo and suggest you all exchange info to stay connected. Stay in touch, share your progress, support each other so everyone finishes November on a high note!

3) Know enough about your story to feel comfortable writing it.

This may look different for everyone, depending on your planning preferences, but planning a bit is essential. Whatever makes you comfortable, do. If you like to full-out outline and do character profiles, do! If you only need a few ideas to run with, great. But know what you need to be comfortable to start and keep writing. It can also be helpful to know your first scene well, so you have a strong first writing session. Highly recommended: the Storyteller’s Roadmap, and downloading the Story Planning Checklist. (Then, after planning, move on to the Writing Track of the Roadmap. You’ll find the Code Red section invaluable.)

4) End each session with an incomplete sentence.

This one sounds strange, but starting a new line with that damned blinking cursor can be paralyzing for some. If you know what the sentence is in full, but you leave it half-finished when you stop for the day, you immediately have something to write the next time you sit down, and muscle memory takes over. It can also be good to think on the next scene you want to write in between sessions so you have an easier time picking up again.

5) Keep sources of inspiration on speed dial.

There may be times you hit a lull and need ideas. (Totally okay, this happens.) Taking a bit of a break instead of trying to force words might help, so know what tends to make you feel creative and excited to write. Would you like to doodle a bit as you listen to music? Re-watch an old favorite Netflix movie that always leaves you with a rush to create? Bake something, or go for a walk? Maybe for you, inspiration hits in the shower. Whatever activity will help you work through story problems and recharge your creativity, give that a try.

6) If you don’t know what to write next, skip ahead.

Sometimes we hit a wall and feel pressure because the next scene is a big blank. We don’t know how the protagonist is going to get the magic dagger from their enemy, or what circumstances will ensure our romantic couple end up at the same ski resort. Guess what? It’s okay. Just think ahead to when that story problem is solved: the protagonist has the dagger. The couple run into each other at a ski lesson. Whatever “next scene” you can see clearly in your mind, start writing that scene.

Leave a note before you start reminding yourself what is missing <Jeff has to trick Lida into giving up the knife> or <Brand and Deena somehow both end up at the same ski resort>. Your brain will work on the skipped portion of the story in the background, and let you know how a leads to b. When it happens, you can go back and fill in the blanks.

7) Don’t be afraid to go off script.

A challenge like NaNoWriMo is meant to free your imagination, so even if you tend to plot and write to an outline, if your characters are taking things in a different direction, or your gut is telling you to deviate from the plan, you might want to give the story room to change. Add a mark you can find again using search like <<>> to note where you are deviating from the plan. Let the story unfold, and see where it goes. There is no wasted effort here, and you may find the new direction has you excited to write forward. Or you might decide the tangent isn’t for you. No worries! Add another <<>> and restart the story from where you deviated. The words still count toward the total and you can delete them later in revisions.

8) Don’t let doubt creep in.

It’s not easy to turn off the part of our mind that worries about quality, and sometimes our Internal Editor shows up despite our efforts to banish him. If he starts tsking over what you’re writing, do not listen. Every first draft is clay we must begin to shape if it is to evolve into the beautiful story we know it can become.

So, if the Internal Editor shows up, banish him to a room where this guy is waiting:

Imagine the resulting screams, smile, and keep writing.

9) Reward yourself.

Writing so many words while managing everything else in your life isn’t easy, and will require sacrifice. So make sure to reward yourself along the way, not just at the end of the challenge. Think about small things you love that you can promise yourself at certain points. You could set milestones to your word count, but maybe for you, writing 5 days in a row is a victory, or sticking to an internal promise of starting and finishing that rough chapter is the goal. Reward yourself in ways that motivate you to keep going.

10) Remember, you can’t really “fail” NaNoWriMo.

Even if you don’t hit 50K, or you decide to quit at a certain point because something comes up or you aren’t feeling the story, you had the courage to start, and to try! That’s a win, as is every word you did write!

No effort is ever a waste. Taking on this challenge is also a way to learn more about yourself and what does and doesn’t work for you. These are all lessons that will help you moving forward.

Becca and I are cheering you on! If you need any help at all, check out these three links

The Ultimate Prep Guide for NaNoWriMo (Plotters & Pantsers)
The Novelist’s Triage Center (Get Unstuck & Finish Your Book)
The Writer’s Secret Weapon Page

Go forth and be awesome–you’ve got this!

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post NaNoWriMo: Top Tips for Smashing Out 50K appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Let the good times roll…
One Stop for Writers‘ BIRTHDAY WEEK is here!

It’s hard to believe Becca and I have been helping writers grow into confident storytellers at One Stop for Writers for EIGHT YEARS now. That’s eight years of supporting writers as they plan, write, and deliver their books into the hands of excited readers. Eight years of watching creatives all over the world go from pre-published to published. What an incredible ride! Thank you so much for letting us join your journey.

Save 25% On All One Stop for Writers Plans

Eight years is worth celebrating, so here’s a sweet birthday discount for anyone wanting a war chest of storytelling tools to support them as they plan, write, and revise:

EIGHTYEARS

To use this code:

1. Sign up or sign in.
2. Choose any paid subscription (1-month, 6-month, or 12-months) and add this code: EIGHTYEARS to the coupon box.
3. Once activated, this one-time 25% discount will apply onscreen.
4. Add your payment method, check the Terms box, and then hit the subscribe button.

And that’s it! All of One Stop for Writers’ resources, including the incredible descriptive THESAURUS, are now part of your storyteller’s toolkit.

New to One Stop?

If you’re not familiar with One Stop for Writers, join Becca for a virtual tour. She’ll show you exactly how this site is going to help you write stronger fiction faster:

Planning your NaNoWriMo Novel?

If you’re gearing up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) now’s a great time to start building your characters, plotting your story, and creating your world. The Storyteller’s Roadmap will guide you step-by-step to the tools and resources you need.

Once November hits, you’ll love having non-stop ideas on what to write using our Show-Don’t-Tell Database, too. Thanks for helping us celebrate our birthday, and happy writing!

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Happy 8th Birthday, One Stop for Writers! appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

What are writers chronically short on? Time.

There never seems to be enough of it as we try to get the next book written, research our publishing options, keep up with marketing, work on our platform, etc., and that doesn’t even factor in what’s happening in other areas of our life. And as we juggle, the one thing that can help us succeed more than anything else is often neglected: education to help us improve our storytelling skills.

Introducing Mini-Lessons

You guys know Becca and I have a lot to say about description and how showing the right things in the right way means readers are pulled in and will care deeply about characters and what’s happening in their lives. We’ve written books on many description elements and have even more of these in our THESAURUS database at One Stop for Writers.

This summer, Becca and I have recorded a mini lesson for each of our thesauruses, helping you better understand that story element, what its superpower is in your story, and how to activate that detail through description.

Each video takes you through a thesaurus in the One Stop for Writers database, but you don’t need to be a subscriber to benefit from these lessons or use our thesauruses (although they are very helpful for brainstorming). But if you are someone who uses them, this will broaden your understanding so you get even more value from each brainstorming list.

Bite-sized learning is a perfect match for busy writers

Life can be hectic, making it hard to carve out big blocks of time for learning. With these videos, you need about 5 (ish) minutes. Totally doable! Whether you want to learn how to describe a character’s emotions, activate the power of your scene’s setting, or understand character motivation better so plotting becomes easier, a helpful mini-lesson is waiting for you.

Here’s the playlist, or choose the topic you’d like to know more about below.

Happy writing and learning!

Grow Your Skills with Becca & Angela

How to Describe a Character’s Appearance

How Emotional Trauma Affects Characters & Their Arc

How to Use a Character’s Fears in Storytelling

How to Create a Character Readers Will Love

How to Give a Character Flaws that Will Hold Them Back

How the Right Setting Details Make a Scene More Powerful

How to Create a Memorable Character Using a Talent or Skill

How to Show What Your Character Is Feeling

How to Use Conflict to Power up Your Story

How to Write Your Theme and Use Effective Symbolism in Fiction

How to Use the Weather to Build Mood and Generate Conflict

How to Find the Right Job for a Character

How to Bring Readers Into a Story Using Textures

How to Create Vivid Description Using Colors and Patterns

How Describing an Object’s Shape the Right Way Strengthens the Story

How to Build Strong Characters & Arcs

How to Amplify Your Character’s Emotional State

Need more help as you plan, write, and revise? Join us at One Stop!

ANGELA ACKERMAN

Angela is a writing coach, international speaker, and bestselling author who loves to travel, teach, empower writers, and pay-it-forward. She also is a founder of One Stop For Writers, a portal to powerful, innovative tools to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Improve Your Storytelling in 5 Minutes appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

By Erica Converso

Free. It’s a wonderful word, isn’t it? A limited budget shouldn’t prevent you from becoming the best writer you can be. And if you use the resources available in your community – and outside it on the vast expanse of the internet – you’ll find that the possibilities for finding story inspiration and guidance are limitless.

So where should you start? Well, as a former librarian I may be biased, but I’d like to recommend your local library. Of course, this doesn’t seem like particularly original advice – everyone knows you can borrow books for free from your local library. But I’ll bet you don’t know just how many books – and other materials like movies, music, magazines, and more – you have at your fingertips.

Do Your Research with Databases

Check your library’s website to find out which databases they offer. My local library has Creativebug, which teaches you various craft projects. Want your character to develop a knitting hobby? Watch a few videos, and you can both learn how. Or Bluebird, offering to teach you any of 163 different languages. Knowing a subject deeply can add a level of authenticity to your characters and plots that a quick internet search just can’t match.

There are digital versions of traditional encyclopedias like Britannica, and newspaper subscriptions through ProQuest, giving you access to news not only across the country, but also across time. If you plan to set your work in a bygone era, primary sources are only the press of a button away. Don’t have a computer or printer? Your library has you covered there too! While the specific databases your library has available will vary, many have similar services to the ones listed above.

Get A Wide Variety of Inspiration Via Worldcat

Maybe you’re not quite ready to write yet, and want to settle in with a good book to enthuse your Muse. Wander through your library or ask a librarian for a recommendation. Grab a grammar guide to brush up on your writing basics. Or, if you know which book you want, see where it is available. For this, I recommend Worldcat.org – the premier resource for finding which books are in which libraries.

Worldcat.org helps you find which libraries carry which books – even if they’re rare, translated, or long out of print! Once, I even sent an e-mail to a library in Australia to ask about a particular rare book Worldcat informed me they had, A Ruler of Princes, by Baroness Orczy, published in 1909. The library was kind enough to send me scans of the table of contents and first pages, enough for me to determine that it was an Australian edition of a favorite book I’d already read.

Many libraries now belong to consortiums that link them with other libraries in the area. So if your library doesn’t have a book, you can inter-loan it from another. In some cases, libraries can even reach out across the state for an older, rarer book or, if it can’t be transported, to help you set up an appointment to view the book in its home library. And in many states, being a resident with valid ID entitles you to a library card for some of the bigger city libraries. For example, even though the New York Public Library only has branches within New York City, any resident of the state can get a card. Even if you don’t visit, you still have access to the vast collection of digital resources they have available.

Free Books for Everyone

That brings me to my last major set of resources: free e-books and audiobooks. Many libraries have access to Overdrive, the main digital distributor for libraries. Overdrive, and its companion app Libby, offer e-books, audiobooks, online magazines, and even some streaming video. You can borrow a book for a period of weeks, and read it online or on your e-reader, tablet, or phone. Many titles can even be read through your favorite app, such as Kindle or Apple iBooks.

If your library doesn’t have a title, you can use the web portal to request it, and your library may purchase it if there is enough demand. Some libraries also have alternate or additional e-book distributors, such as Freading, Hoopla, and Tumblebooks. This is a great way to study other authors’ styles or dive deep into a new genre without struggling to haul home a bagful of books.

Outside of the library, you can also use Project Gutenberg to download works that are out of copyright – also known as being in the public domain. In the United States, that’s works published in or before 1927. Project Gutenberg has domains in various countries, so look for yours to find the works that are available for your country. These books aren’t just great to read, though; they can also be wonderful jumping off points for new stories. Want to write more about Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy? As characters in the public domain, you can do just as you please.

I could go on all day about the resources available all over the internet to teach, motivate, and inspire you, but this is a great starting point. Also, I dare you to go to the library and come out without something to read – I never could manage it!

While you’re enjoying all of this fabulous and absolutely free content, we’d love to know what some of your favorite ways to use your local libraries as a writer are. Let us know in the comments!

Here’s a Writers Helping Writers post full of additional FREE resources
to power up your writing. Enjoy!

Erica Converso, author of the Five Stones Pentalogy, (affiliate link) loves chocolate, animals, anime, musicals, and lots and lots of books – though not necessarily in that order. In addition to her writing, she has also been a research and emerging technologies librarian. Check out Erica’s blog for more free resources!

As an editor, she aims to improve and polish your work to a professional level, while also teaching you to hone your craft and learn from previous mistakes. With every piece she edits, she sees the author as both client and student. She believes every manuscript presents an opportunity to grow as a writer, and a good editor should teach you about your strengths and weaknesses so that you can return to your writing more confident in your skills. Visit her website astrioncreative.com for more information on her books and editing and coaching services.

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The post Free Resources for Writers appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.