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 Given up a Child

ABOUT THIS SECRET: Whether a character puts a baby up for adoption, surrenders their own parental rights, or even abandons their child, giving them up won’t be an easy decision. Regardless of their reasons, guilt and heartbreak often follow, along with judgment from others, making this act a burden your character might prefer to carry alone.

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Becoming a Parent, Being Capable of Harm, Being Judged, Being Labeled, Being Responsible for Others, Being Unable to Achieve a Dream, Criticism, Failure, Letting Others Down, Losing the Respect of Others, Never Finding Happiness, One’s Instincts Being Unreliable, Regret, Repeating a Cycle of Abuse

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Regretting their decision and living with terrible guilt
Constantly wondering where they child is and how they are, preventing the character from living in the moment
Shying away from opportunities that require the character to be responsible for others
The character believing that they are a certain way and embracing associated flaws (incapable, irresponsible, unreliable, unable to commit or follow through, etc.)

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Never mentioning the child
Pretending that the child died
Hiding all photographs of the child
Getting rid of anything that belonged to the child (clothes, toys, keepsakes, etc.)

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
The character having a visible emotional reaction when the subject of children comes up
Avoiding playgrounds, nursery schools, and other areas associated with children
Shunning family gatherings

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE 
People who knew the character when she was pregnant asking about the baby
An old friend surfacing who knows about the child
Someone from the adoptive family reaching out unexpectedly
The child’s birth record or medical records surfacing

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.

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus: Giving Up a Child appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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 Living Under a Curse

ABOUT THIS SECRET: Depending on the kind of story you’re writing, curses might be an unknown in the character’s world or an essential part of the fictional landscape. But any unwelcome change inflicted on them by an outside source will be something they fear, whether it affects their physical appearance, mental capabilities, giftedness, or something else.

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: A Loved One Dying, Being a Burden to Others, Being Attacked, Being Judged, Being Labeled, Being Pitied, Being Taken Advantage of, Being Unable to Achieve a Dream, Discrimination, Humiliation, Isolation, Losing One’s Social Standing, Losing the Respect of Others, Never Finding Happiness, Not Being Believed, Persecution, Rejection

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Generalized apathy from believing they’re doomed no matter what they do
Being overwhelmed by anxiety, fear, or depression due to uncertainty about the curse
Becoming risk-averse
The curse becoming part of the character’s identity

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Following a routine that keeps the curse hidden
Making logical excuses for why bad things seem to follow them around
Medicating to keep the curse from taking over
Talking a big game about not believing in magic, witchcraft, or superstition

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
Engaging in bizarre rituals
Refusing to speak a certain name, handle a certain object, or visit a location
Consulting a practitioner of the dark arts
Being able to do things other people can’t do

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE 
The curse manifesting itself in the presence of someone else
The curse causing repeated and noticeable trouble in the character’s life
Someone taking an interest in the character that increases scrutiny

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.

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus: Living Under a Curse appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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!)

This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar).

Two winners will receive feedback on their first 10 pages!

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 Details

• This is a 24-hour contest, so enter ASAP.
• Make sure your contact information on the entry form is correct.
• Two winners will be drawn. We will email you if you win and let you know how to submit your first 10 pages.
• Please have your pages ready in case your name is selected. Format with 1-inch margins, double-spaced, and 12pt Times New Roman font. 
• You’ll need to supply a synopsis (a rough one is fine) so Stuart has context for his feedback.

The editor you’ll be working with:

Stuart Wakefield

With 26 years of experience in theatre, broadcast media, and coaching, I’ve developed a deep love of character and what drives them. My coaching style is warm, thoughtful, and practical—I believe writing a book can be hard sometimes, but more often than not, it should be fun.

As an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, I specialize in story development, with a particular focus on character backstory and emotional depth. I’ve helped writers develop powerful, satisfying stories that hold up to editorial scrutiny—and two of my clients have books coming out this year.

I hold an MA in Professional Writing, and my most recent novel, Behind the Seams, reached the semifinals of the BookLife Fiction Prize Contest, scoring 10/10 in every category. I’ve also been commissioned to write a play, and my first TV show—based around celebrity characters—is available to stream online.

Grab my free ebook on emotional resilience for writers and learn more about my services at: https://www.thebookcoach.co/

I’m also the host of the podcast Master Fiction Writing, where I explore the craft of storytelling with writers, editors, and creatives from all walks of life.

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.

MINDY ALYSE WEISS

Mindy loves giving back to the writing community. She’s a founding member and Administrator on the From the Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors blog, an SCBWI volunteer, and host of the PBParty chats, New Draft Challenge & Critique Train, and annual contest. She writes middle grade novels and picture books filled with humor, heart, and hope and is represented by Joyce Sweeney.

The post Phenomenal First Pages Contest – Guest Editor Edition appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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 Hiding the Truth about their Family

ABOUT THIS SECRET: Families can be the source of many dark secrets: criminal activity (drugs, trafficking, terrorism), a cover-up, incest or abuse, nefarious ancestors, or something else. A character with these kinds of skeletons in the closet might feel obliged to keep them secret to protect the family name, avoid prosecution, achieve certain goals, or keep loved ones safe.

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Becoming What One Hates, Being Attacked, Being Judged, Being Labeled, Being Returned to an Abusive Environment, Being Separated from Loved Ones, Being Unable to Achieve a Dream, Being Unsafe, Being Watched, Betrayal, Conditional Love, Humiliation, Isolation, Letting Others Down, Losing Autonomy, Losing One’s Social Standing, Losing the Respect of Others, Not Being Believed, Persecution, Rejection, Repeating a Cycle of Abuse

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Taking on the sins of the family as their own and being burdened with guilt and shame
Struggling with internal dissonance because they want to protect the family but they also want to be honest
Isolating themselves to avoid humiliation
Feeling like they can’t trust anyone

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Lying about the family business
Pretending a particular relative is dead or lives far away
Misdirecting people who wander too close to the truth
Constantly monitoring family members who know the truth to be sure they’re keeping things quiet

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
The family’s activities (or history) making the news
The character becoming agitated when pressed for information about the family
Frequent fights behind closed doors with relatives
Relatives having different stories about the family’s history or certain events

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE 
Having to attend a family gathering
A love interest wanting to meet the character’s family
A journalist becoming interested in the family
Incriminating evidence being aired

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.

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus: Hiding the Truth about Family appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

When it comes to generating conflict, your character’s personality can help ensure that sparks fly, especially when their traits clash with someone else’s.

When people grate on one another their interactions become filled with misunderstandings, power struggles, one-upmanship, and impatience. Whether allies, enemies, or something in between, contrasting viewpoints and attitudes sharpen dialogue, and if tempers flare too far, friction can become all-out conflict.

And guess what–we want these escalations to happen! They keep relationships from getting stale, add plot complications, and keep the pace moving. So bring on those clashes, problems, and fallout, I say. Let characters get under each other’s skin. When people get along, it sucks the tension out of your story faster than a three hundred year old vampire enjoying a human buffet.

There are many ways to create friction– characters could have opposing goals, be competing for the same thing, or have opposite ideas about the path forward. These setups can all work, but only if they don’t come off like a plot device. For readers to see friction as natural, not manufactured, it needs to come from within the characters. An easy way to do this is to let their opposing personalities do the work.

Leaning into Opposites

The low-hanging fruit of clashing personalities is to play with opposites. Methodical and impulsive. Proper and flamboyant. Perfectionistic and lazy. These combinations can be fun to write while juicing interactions with friction. To find trait combos that will cause natural friction, check out these lists from the Positive Trait Thesaurus and the Negative Trait Thesaurus.

Is your character an obsessive rule follower afraid to step outside his comfort zone? Have him be swept up in friendship with someone spontaneous and a bit rebellious. Or is a coworker stealing the credit for your protagonist’s hard work, but she won’t speak up for herself? Pair her with a new cubicle-mate who has confidence in spades and a vengeful streak that ensures all wrongs will be put right.

Opposite traits can be negative, positive, or one of each. It’s all up to you. And, with a bit of extra thought, opposing traits can serve an even deeper purpose: to spotlight a character flaw that’s holding your protagonist back.

Introduce a Character Foil

A character foil is someone whose traits contrast with the protagonist’s, either in big, obvious ways or through a few key differences. This contrast helps readers see how the protagonist is navigating life differently, and maybe it’s not going so well for them.

When a foil character exhibits traits the protagonist lacks (but needs), it creates a mirror moment. The protagonist starts to see their flaws more clearly, and that realization can become a turning point in their character arc. If they want to move forward, something has to change.

Double Down on the Same Trait

Another method is to give two characters the same trait: controlling and controlling, manipulative and manipulative, idealistic x 2. Positive or toxic, characters with identical traits tend to cause the relationship pot to boil, and soon, the battle royale for dominance is on.

Clashing Traits Don’t Always Mean Fireworks

Sometimes writers get a bit too excited over creating relationship tension, as it can lead to some spectacular clashes. Realistically, though, friction is more about getting under each other’s skin just enough to behave like a passive-aggressive jerk.

When irritated, characters may get snarky in their responses, offer backhanded compliments, or deliver a narrow, you’re so stupid stare. Decisions in the moment can be emotion-driven, too. Maybe they withhold advice, information, help or even share a half-truth, knowing it will mess up the other’s plans. My point is, have fun with your friction, especially if it leads to well-deserved consequences!

Also, Friction Isn’t Always Negative

Not all friction is hostile. It can come from navigating healthy boundaries that characters aren’t used to. It can be a part of the learning curve of new cultures and customs. Even people who want the same thing must figure out how to work together, encountering friction through trial and error.

In romance, attraction creates tension. And much of what makes chemistry sizzle on the page is emotional friction—conflicting desires, fears, and how each handles vulnerability.

Friction happens in friendships, family dynamics, the workplace, and other relationships. Whenever two people are wired differently, there’s an opportunity for tension. Unravelling the ‘why’ behind it is what readers show up for.

Choose a Character’s Personality Traits Carefully

While it might seem like a fun way to add drama, clashing traits shouldn’t be assigned without thought. Each character’s personality is a unique window into who they are, where they came from, and the people and experiences they were exposed to before your story began. Credible characters have traits that make sense for their unique history–that’s a big part of what makes them authentic to readers.

If you’d like to understand more about personality traits and how to choose the right ones for a character, give this a read. Happy writing!

What clashing personality traits have you woven into your relationships? Let me know in the comments!

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 Using a Character’s Personality Traits to Generate Conflict appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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…

Fled a Crime Scene

ABOUT THIS SECRET: Fleeing a crime scene—on purpose or unintentionally—is a secret that clings like gunshot residue. The character might not have committed the crime, but being there at the wrong time makes them look guilty, or at the very least, deeply suspicious. Staying silent isn’t just about avoiding legal trouble, it’s about dodging the endless fallout—like being blacklisted from jobs, losing friends, or becoming the hot gossip at every dinner party.

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Being Attacked, Being Unsafe, Being Watched, Government, Letting Others Down, Losing One’s Social Standing, Losing the Respect of Others, Not Being Believed, Rejection, Trusting Others

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Being fearful of situations similar to where the crime was committed
Avoiding public activities out of fear a witness may recognize and out them
Fearing that if they come forward, they’ll face legal and social repercussions or jail time
Close relationships being compromised due to the character’s dishonesty about what happened

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Destroying evidence that places them at the scene of the crime
Avoiding the location where the crime was committed to prevent being recognized
Lying about their whereabouts during the time of the crime
Breaking off contact with anyone who may suspect the truth
Becoming isolated out of fear for their own safety

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
Exhibiting avoidance tendencies when the topic comes up with a partner or spouse
Lying “tells” being activated when topics around the event come up—e.g., excessive sweating, stammering, or not making eye contact
Becoming obsessed with the victim
Being unable to explain evidence that points to a crime (a crumpled fender, bloodstains on a shirt, bruised knuckles, etc.)

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE 
Being asked directly about the events surrounding the crime
An accomplice wanting to confess
Being connected to the setting or people involved in the crime in a way that others know about
Being roped into the investigation because of their connection to an involved party, one of the investigators, or another witnesses

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.

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus: Fleeing a Crime Scene appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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…

Made an Anonymous Financial Donation

ABOUT THIS SECRET: There could be many reasons your character decides to support a particular person or organization anonymously. Their altruistic actions may be offset by the desire to avoid being solicited for donations by others. If the recipient is controversial in some way, the donor want to support them without inviting undue conflict. Keeping the peace could also be a motivator if certain relatives wouldn’t be happy about money leaving the family coffers.

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Being Judged, Being Labeled, Being Taken Advantage of, Being Watched, Conditional Love, Conflict, Criticism, Discrimination, Letting Others Down, Losing One’s Social Standing, Losing the Respect of Others, Putting Oneself Out There, Rejection, Trusting Others

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Being identified with selfishness and stinginess instead of generosity
Having to hide their true allegiances
Not being able to publicly embrace the recipient and engage with others who are likeminded

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Never mentioning the person or organization they’ve donated to
Donating the money from a secret or foreign account
Starting a rumor that the donation was made by someone else
Feigning support for people or organizations whose values or goals are opposed to those of the recipient

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
Money being withdrawn from their bank account with no paper trail
The organization sending the character literature via the contact information provided when donating
Someone discovering the character’s alias or pseudonym
Having meetings with a lawyer for the organization

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE 
The character being audited
The family falling on hard times and needing money that’s no longer there
A letter of gratitude coming in the mail
The money being used for something the donor didn’t intend

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.

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus: Being an Anonymous Financial Donor appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Writers hear it all the time: Show, don’t tell. This advice is so iconic that I wouldn’t be surprised if a few tattoos are kicking around the community. After all, our job as writers isn’t to explain what’s happening to readers, it’s to help them experience the story themselves. And show, don’t tell is how we do it!

Showing Creates an Experience.
Telling Hands Out Information.

Imagine your story as a culinary masterpiece and your reader a dinner guest. Sure, you could slap a plate down and say, “It’s lasagna, enjoy,” or you could slide the steaming dish in front of them and let those saucy layers, bubbling cheese, and heavenly aroma rev them up for the first bite.

Telling has its place -and for more on that, zip over here- but showing engages readers. It will bring them in close, make them feel involved, and awaken their emotions and memories.

One problem with show, don’t tell?

Somewhere along the way, it became so integrated with character emotion that writers didn’t necessarily think to use it for other things.

To be clear, showing emotion is great advice! I’m sure you’ve attended workshops and been told not to say your character is sad—instead, describe them standing at their school locker, clutching a break-up note, blinking fast and swallowing hard. If you’ve read The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression, you know Becca and I preach loud and proud about showing emotion. But it has so many other applications, so let’s recap a few.

Showing Can Anchor Readers in the Setting

When it comes to worldbuilding, readers should be able to imagine the character’s world and feel part of each scene.

Telling: The castle was massive, with stone walls and high towers.

Showing: The castle loomed over the village, its stone walls etched with centuries of wind and war. Torchlight flickered along the high towers, where banners snapped against the night sky.

Telling works for delivering details that aren’t important, but showing can draw a reader in, help them imagine what they reader, convey the history or importance of a location, and more.

Showing Can Set the Mood

Part of creating an experience is steering how readers should feel. The details we share, especially sensory description, can nudge them to view a setting a certain way—safe, dangerous, calming, worrying. It’s up to us.  

Telling: The alley was dark and scary.

Showing: The alley narrowed, its brick walls leaning inward, swallowing the last flickers of streetlight. Garbage bags sagged against dented cans, the air thick with something damp and rotting.

Here, telling is factual, but showing creates foreboding. Only one will push readers to eagerly read on to see what sort of bad thing is waiting in the dark.

Showing Can Define a Relationship Without Labels

Characters shouldn’t have to say they’re best friends, mortal enemies, or hopelessly in love. Their actions should make that obvious.

Telling: Jake and Connor had been best friends for years.

Showing: Jake barely knocked before pushing open Connor’s door. “Bro, I got a problem with someone and need backup.”
Connor shut his textbook. “Let’s go. I’m driving.”

Best friends? Yup! Telling would work if this friendship wasn’t relevant, but if it is, we need to see that closeness in action. Showing does that, pulling the reader along for the ride.

Showing Can Reveal Character Motivation

Characters need to have agency, doing and saying things for a reason. But if we just tell readers what’s driving them, it falls flat.

Telling: Olivia wanted to prove she was just as capable as her older brother.

Showing: Olivia tightened the laces on her running shoes. She could still hear her brother’s voice from last night: “You won’t last a mile.” Gritting her teeth, she stepped onto the track. She’d make it ten.

A character’s motivation is more likely to land with readers if they empathize with their reasons. Showing here utilizes a common human experience—a lack of support and voiced doubt—and places readers in Olivia’s corner. They want her to succeed.

Showing Helps Deepen Conflict and Stakes

If the stakes matter, readers should feel it.

Telling: If Sam lost, he’d have to leave town for good.

Showing: Sam rolled his poker chip across the felt. One hand. One chance.

Across the table, Mason smirked. “Don’t worry, I’ll pass on your goodbyes to everyone at the wedding tomorrow.”

Here, telling readers what’s at stake is equivalent to a sad trombone (womp-womp). Showing makes readers care about Sam and invest in what happens next.

Showing Can Showcase Characterization

Each character will have their own personality, talents, beliefs, tendencies, quirks, etc. How you convey who they are can mean the difference between a cardboard character and someone so authentic it feels like they stepped out of the real world.

Telling: Jonas was a germaphobe.

Showing: Jonas pinched the edge of his plate, avoiding contact. Across the table, a man sneezed into his palm, then grabbed the breadbasket. Jonas stiffened. Bacteria—everywhere. He chewed fast, breathed shallowly. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could scrub this place off his skin.

When we show it, Jonas’ fear feels authentic. Readers can surmise how this phobia will shape his life in the story.

Look for Opportunities to Make Your Story Immersive!

Showing can vastly improve a story, but crafting the right descriptions is not easy. This is why it can be so tempting to slip into telling. It’s worth the worth, though, when the situation in the story warrants showing.

It comes down to knowing what to show, and what to tell. Readers never need to know every little thing about the story and your characters, but they know the important stuff that helps them follow the story, care about the characters, and feel invested in the outcome.

Focus on what’s important, what readers need to know, and what makes them care the most. If you need help finding telling that you suspect needs to be converted to showing, try 7 Ways to Find Telling in Your 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 How to Use Show, Don’t Tell to Strengthen Your Story appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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…

Withheld Help When It Was Needed

ABOUT THIS SECRET: A complex web of emotions can develop if a character saw someone in need and chose not to help. While this could be a dark secret stemming from refusing to be a good Samaritan or a desire to see a rival fail, your character might also withhold help for fear of being taken advantage of or enabling destructive behavior (if the other party is battling an addiction, for instance). Whether their motivations were selfish or good-natured, guilt will muddy the waters, creating inner conflict and self-doubt over their choice.

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Being Responsible for Others, Being Taken Advantage of, Failure, Hope, Humiliation, Infidelity, Isolation, Leading, Leaving No Legacy, Letting Others Down, One’s Instincts Being Unreliable, Putting Oneself out There, Rejection

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Feeling immense regret and guilt that they didn’t act when they should have
Worrying about how friends and loved ones would react if they knew the truth
Their relationship with the person in question being strained
Their refusal to act immobilizing them in other areas of life
Doubting their instincts

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Claiming they didn’t know that aid was needed
Acting surprised when they’re told the other party needed assistance
Avoiding the person who needed help
Overcompensating by going above and beyond to help others
Getting out of the spotlight by blaming someone else for not helping

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
Expressing doubt about whether the person really needed assistance
Protesting too much about their ability to help
Reverting to a superficial relationship with the person so they won’t have to discuss their needs or how they’re doing
Asking too many questions about the person (out of guilt)
Behaving recklessly to assuage their guilt—drinking, driving dangerously, etc.

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE 
An official investigation into the situation being started
The incident going viral on social media
The other party getting angry and being vocal about the situation

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.

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Secret Thesaurus: Withholding Help from Someone in Need appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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!)

This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar).

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 Details

• This 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.

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

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

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 Hiding Their Wealth

ABOUT THIS SECRET: Transparency is a vital part of healthy relationships. But not everyone is comfortable sharing their financial status, for a variety of reasons. Whether a character’s motivation is noble, self-serving, or coming from a place of fear and distrust, no one likes being lied to, and a secret this big is bound to come out eventually, laying the foundation for inter-relational conflict down the road.

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Becoming What One Hates, Being Judged, Being Labeled, Being Responsible for Others, Being Taken Advantage of, Being Unsafe, Betrayal, Competition, Conditional Love, Criticism, Isolation, Leading, Losing the Respect of Others, Rejection, Relational Commitment, Trusting Others

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Having to live well below their means to maintain the façade
Always worrying that if people find out they’re rich, it will change the way they view the character
Money taking up too much space in the character’s mind and choices, making it too high a priority for them

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Living frugally
Helping friends or family surreptitiously through anonymous donations
Using a lawyer or steward to manage their wealth, or channeling it through a business
Claiming to be struggling financially

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
Maintaining a modest middle-class lifestyle but placing children in expensive private schools or joining elite clubs
Purchasing new vehicles, the latest tech, or high-quality clothing
An audit of the character’s business showing finances that don’t match the character’s claims

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE 
Encountering an unexpected personal, legal, or financial issue, such as a medical emergency or expensive repair, that requires large expenditures to handle
Being targeted by government institutions for audits or other financial scrutiny
Having to disclose financial documents as part of a lawsuit

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.

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus: Hiding Wealth appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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…

Knows Where a Body is Buried

ABOUT THIS SECRET: The stakes are high with this kind of secret whether the character discovered the site by accident, was directly involved in the burial, or was entrusted with the knowledge by someone else. Fear of legal consequences, retaliation from dangerous people, or trying to protect someone involved in the death can keep them silent.

SPECIFIC FEARS THAT MAY DRIVE THE NEED FOR SECRECY: Being Attacked, Being Unsafe, Being Watched, Betrayal, Conflict, Death, Letting Others Down, Losing One’s Social Standing, Losing the Respect of Others, Not Being Believed

HOW THIS SECRET COULD HOLD THE CHARACTER BACK
Having to engage in further crimes to protect the secret
Becoming overly cautious and withdrawn due to fear, anxiety, or paranoia
The character experiencing flashbacks or emotional distress from what they saw
Relationship friction with a friend or family member who shares the secret and is pressuring the character to stay quiet

BEHAVIORS OR HABITS THAT HELP HIDE THIS SECRET
Destroying evidence at the site (covering tracks, changing the landscape, etc.)
Cleaning or destroying any tools and clothing used in the burial
Encouraging others to investigate the wrong places or people

ACTIVITIES OR TENDENCIES THAT MAY RAISE SUSPICIONS
Having an unexplained emotional reaction to a specific location
Expressing excessive interest in (or avoiding) crime-related news about missing persons
Holding onto something related to the deceased out of guilt, sentimentality, or fear of discovery

SITUATIONS THAT MAKE KEEPING THIS SECRET A CHALLENGE 
Personally knowing the person who was buried and their family
New forensic technology—e.g. ground-penetrating radar—making discovery easier
Discovering that the buried person wasn’t dead and was able to escape

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.

BECCA PUGLISI

Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.

The post Character Secret Thesaurus: Knowing Where a Body Is Buried appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.