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Articles by Angela Ackerman
Storytelling Secrets: How to Write Authentic Fear
by Angela Ackerman Fear is a universal emotion, something almost everyone experiences, and yet no two people respond to it in the exact same way. One person might rush toward danger, while another runs from it. A third shuts down, paralyzed, while a fourth attempts to smooth things over. Understanding why is the key to writing authentic fear. Fear exists to alert us to potential harm.
8+ Ways to Signal Your Character’s Fear to Readers
With no shortage of things that can trigger a character’s fear, learning how to show it becomes just as important to writers as plotting, character-building, and crafting a realistic story world. Here’s the good news: Fear kickstarts an automatic survival response that affects a character’s behaviour, perceptions, thoughts, choices, and more. With so many cues that can signal our character’s fear (showing), there’s no need for us to name the emotion outright (telling).
How Fear Affects Your Character in Real Time
Photo by Jahoo Clouseau Today’s guest post is by Angela Ackerman, co-author of the new book The Fear Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to What Holds Characters Back. Fear is much more than an emotion—it is one of the biggest influencers of human behavior. Whenever we encounter a situation with unknowns, fear kicks in. Even if we do not yet know what is triggering our unease, our senses heighten, our blood pressure rises, and we go on high alert, searching for possible threats.
How to Write Authentic Emotion
In the real world, no two people are alike, which means each of us expresses emotion in our own way. Some people find it natural to share what they feel with those around them, while others find the idea of revealing what they feel horrifying and will avoid situations that could lead to such vulnerability. Most fall somewhere between these extremes.
How to Use Character Tropes Without Writing Cliches
By Angela Ackerman Character tropes—familiar character ‘types’ used often in stories—are sometimes condemned as being cliché and something to avoid. And it’s true that in the wrong hands, tropes can lead to flat characters and stereotypes. But used skillfully, tropes accomplish a ton of things at once, including: Giving writers a valuable starting point for character-building. Just as a blank page may intimidate, so can a lump of character clay.
The Key to Writing Authentic Characters
by Angela Ackerman Some stories stick with us more than others, and why? The characters. They feel so real. How they view life, the way they interact with others, the beliefs that steer them and their reactions to setbacks…it somehow all rings true. They might be nothing like us. We may not agree with their choices. But even when they mess up, their behavior makes sense. It’s because their motives and actions are consistent with who they are, making it easy for us to understand them.
Workshop: How to Write Compelling Inner Conflict with Angela Ackerman
Ready to dive into your character’s internal struggle and put all that incredible gut-twisting conflict on the page? If so, don’t miss this upcoming Zoom workshop on Saturday, May 24th, 11 AM Eastern Time. Not only is internal conflict central to character arc, but it’s also a magnet for reader fascination and empathy.
Using a Character's Personality Traits to Generate Conflict
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.
Want Readers to Empathize? Use Hidden Experiences!
by Angela Ackerman No matter who your protagonist is—a formidable galactic emperor, a morally complex teenager, or the retiree down the street with too many cats—readers must find something fundamentally relatable about them, something that resonates with their own human experience. This causes them to feel bonded to the character in a way they didn’t expect, and we need that to happen to get them invested in the story. Tapping into our reader’s psyche to pull on their emotions is essential.
2024 Black Friday Deals for 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).
Authors Are Assets, Not Competition
Most industries are competitive. Athletes go head-to-head for the medal or trophy. Car companies vie for market share as do grocery stores, restaurants, and delivery services. Reality TV show contestants duke it out for prize money, prestige, and in some cases (ugh) roses. And our favorite retail Godzilla, Amazon? They compete with everybody. Know who isn’t your competition? Authors. Sure, on the surface, it appears a competition is taking place.
Using Light and Shadow to Convey Mood
by Angela Ackerman Fun things can happen at writing conferences, especially after hours. In fact, a year ago I was winding up a conference with a drink along with a few others, and as the hour grew late, the interesting stories started to come out. You know, the ones spoken in a quiet voice: paranormal experiences, ghost stories. One writer passed on a bit of lore regarding the hotel we were in: one of the conference rooms was known to be haunted. I perked up. She was speaking my love language.
How to Write Compelling Inner Conflict
Today’s post is by Angela Ackerman, co-author of the new second edition of The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility. Readers connect with characters who are true-to-life, so as we build our story’s cast, we want to ensure they think and behave as real people do. This is especially important when it comes to inner conflict as readers are exposed to a character’s personal struggles and insecurities.
The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus (May 2024 Release)
We’re adding to our Thesaurus family! It’s been a while since our last book as we needed to recalibrate our release schedule from fall to spring (resulting in a year gap), but now we’re back in the thesaurus-making saddle. May 13th is coming fast, so it’s time to dish some details about our next writing guide! As this is an upgraded second edition and companion to The Emotion Thesaurus, we wanted the style of the books to match.
Writers, A New Thesaurus Guide Is On The Way!
What’s better than being able to say a new book is coming soon? Sharing that it has close ties to The Emotion Thesaurus, of course! Emotion is HUGE in storytelling, so we’re circling back to bring you The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Stress and Volatility. If the topic of emotion amplifiers sounds familiar, it may be. Many years ago we created an ebooklet under this name as a companion to The Emotion Thesaurus.
Why Writers Should Be Their Own Valentine This Year
Valentine’s Day is coming, and people have big feelings about it. On one hand, it’s nice to have a set day to celebrate loved ones, but on the other, pressure to buy overpriced chocolates and flowers to ‘show’ love can cast a shadow on things. Me? I think gifts are nice to give and receive, but pressure shouldn’t be part of it. But on the subject of Valentine’s Day, I have a question for you: When you’re showing others you care on V-Day, are you giving yourself some of that love, too?
Tension and the Power of Unanswered Questions
Have you ever been a bit hazy on the difference between conflict and tension? If so, you aren’t alone. It’s common to confuse the two because they’re often used together to deliver a one-two dramatic punch. The difference between them is subtle, but important: Conflict is a force that stands between your characters and what they want most. Tension is the feeling of anticipation surrounding what will happen next. Conflict is concrete—a roadblock, dilemma, danger, adversary, etc.
Free Gifts for 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! 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.
Stocking Stuffers for Writers: Gift #3 Is Here!
It’s time for another Stocking Stuffers for Writers post, meaning we’ve dropped another early holiday gift in your stocking, and all you have to do is pick it up! (This one will help you create stronger & more interesting antagonists!) But what if you’ve only just heard about this? Can you go back and claim earlier gifts?
Early Black Friday Deals for Writers
The economy is tough right now – inflation is high, and everyone needs to stretch their dollars further, including writers. Black Friday is an excellent time to get what we need to succeed and save. To save you time, we’ve rounded up some of the best deals we’ve found, including one from us! 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.
NaNoWriMo: Top Tips for Smashing Out 50K
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)?
Writing Flawed Characters Who Don't Turn Readers Off
No one in the real world is perfect, and so characters shouldn’t be either. To seem as real as you or me, they should have flaws and strengths, and these sides of their personality should line up with who they are, how they were raised, and reflect the experiences they’ve had to date, good and bad. While we develop our characters, however, we need to remember that flaws come with a tipping point.
Want to Show Your Character's Pain? Here's Everything You Need to Know
For the better part of two months, Becca and I have been exploring pain, and how to write about it in fiction. It’s been enlightening for us, and we hope for you as well. So many ways to torture characters, who knew? (Well, we did. And you did. Pain is sort of our bread and butter, isn’t it?) But maybe you missed a post or two. It happens. You were on a writing retreat, or vacationing at the lake.
Happy 8th Birthday, One Stop for 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.
Writing About Pain: Describing Minor Injuries
When we push characters to their limits, sometimes they get hurt. Injuries can range from annoyances to mortal wounds, and handled well, can add tension and complication to the story, drawing readers in deeper. We’re always looking for ways to make sure our characters struggle as they navigate new situations, uncertain environments, dangers and threats. Let’s dive into what minor injuries you might want to inflict that will also bring a dose of authenticity to your fiction.
Writing About Pain: Three Stages of Awareness
If there’s one thing writers like to do, it’s to make characters suffer. We are all about bringing forth pain and crises, whether it be emotional, physical, spiritual, or existential. Is it because we’re a little messed up and we enjoy torturing characters? Or do we create difficult scenarios in our stories to illustrate the fact that life is painful sometimes? Probably both.
Improve Your Storytelling in 5 Minutes
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.
Writers, Are You Breaking the Cardinal Rule?
by Angela Ackerman Ah, the euphoria of holding one’s own book. Nothing compares, does it? In that moment, the months (or years) of writing, revising, editing, polishing, and finally publishing are in the rearview mirror. All we know is the joy of seeing our hard work compressed into pages and fitted with a stunning cover. We dream of happy readers, bestseller lists, and maybe even awards.
Writing About Emotional Trauma Without Triggering Readers
Trigger warnings are often debated in the writing world. Some opine that readers should be warned if something potentially harmful is included in a book, and others feel the audience shouldn’t be bubble-wrapped and need to chin up if they want to read fiction. Like most things, the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle. It can be easy to scoff away the idea of “being triggered” if one has never experienced damaging trauma, or if they have, they were able to process it in a healthy way.
Adversarial Conflict: Who Is Making Trouble In Your Story?
Is there anything better than well-written conflict? The vengeful enemy, sharks circling a sinking boat, a carefully guarded secret getting out in the open. Readers, fearful for the characters they love, grip the book tighter when conflict is close. What will happen? Will everything be okay? The more dire the threat, the more uncertain they feel. Conflict holds power in storytelling because it touches everything: pacing, plot, stakes, characterization, character arc, emotion, you name it.
We've Reached the One Million Books Milestone!
Once upon a time… Two novice writers met in an online critique group called the Critique Circle and became fast friends. Angela (a Canadian) wrote about zombies and pirates and a magical bookstore that kidnapped customers. Becca (an American) wrote everything from a coming of age YA during California’s Gold Rush to a dark tale of a doughy gingerbread boy being baked alive (and here you thought Angela was the weird one). The two also shared something else: a passion for learning and helping others.
What Are Your Protagonist's Flaws?
The most relatable characters are ones who mirror real people, meaning they are complex individuals with a blend of strengths, failings, attributes, and flaws. Of these four, flaws are often the most difficult to figure out, because knowing which negative traits will emerge in someone means exploring their past to understand who negatively influenced them and what painful experiences they went through.
Does Your Story Need a Hit of Organic Conflict? Look to Your Setting.
Every writer’s mission is to pen a story that draws readers in, offering familiarity when it comes to certain genre expectations while also delivering something fresh so to be distinctive and memorable. This is how to cultivate a loyal–and, fingers crossed, rabidly obsessed–reading audience. But heck, there’s a lot of stories out there. And didn’t someone say there’s only so many plot forms to choose from? Is “fresh” even possible? YES.
How to Uncover Your Character's Deepest Fear
Fear is a disruptive force, even though its job is to keep us safe. When there’s a perceived physical or psychological threat, our brain blasts us with a shot of adrenaline so we respond, fight, flight, or freeze, whichever helps us navigate the danger we’re in. But fear is also insidious. It can sink into our thoughts and memories and become an ongoing dark force that cloaks us, changing our behavior and how we see the world.
How Much Time Do You Waste as a Writer?
It’s a touchy topic, I know. On one hand, we may putter a bit as a way ‘into’ writing–getting supplies together, pouring a cup of coffee, and putting a few cookies on standby. Most of us have a pre-writing ritual. But, on the other hand, after we do those things, how many of us suddenly remember something that needs our attention? Maybe, Oh, I forgot to send that email and so we head to the inbox. We send our message, but as we do, see another about a friend’s new book.
How Writers Can Be Their Own Valentine
When February 14th rolls around, it’s a reminder to let certain people know that we love and cherish them. So, we buy chocolate, flowers, or go for a night out. Maybe we give the gift of time and make a favorite meal or dessert. In reality, most of us don’t need a special day to show our love for the people in our lives. But we do need a reminder to show love for the person we tend to forget about: OURSELVES.
Fighting Attraction in Romance (Body Language Help)
Emotion is the heart of any story, and there is no genre where this holds more true than romance. Readers look forward to a romantically tense roller coaster ride (how’s that for alliteration) that feels authentic and satisfying as characters are drawn together. Often though, characters fight this attraction. They might have goals or responsibilities they believe require all their focus or have something to prove and so are determined to remain independent.
How to Write a Book From Start to Finish in 13 Steps
by Angela Ackerman Every writer’s journey is unique, but there’s one iconic moment we all experience: the decision to stop thinking about writing a book and actually do it. And then? Euphoria. Finally, our ideas will live on the page! We imagine characters, plot twists, and future readers clutching our book, unable to put it down. Of course, this high usually curdles into terror because now we must write the book. And we have zero clue as to how to do it.
Force Your Character to Make Hard Choices
One of the best things about conflict is that it pushes your characters to act. In every scene, your characters are making choices—big ones and small ones, and thereby steering their fate. Some decisions will be obvious and require little to no thought, but others will be muddier, with no clear “better” option, generating inner conflict. These choices, provided the characters feel personally invested in the decision, act as a test, revealing who they are.
Writers, Have You Watched This Free Webinar on Reader Engagement?
Hi lovely folks! We know that the clock is ticking down to the holidays, and it’s easy to lose track of everything, so Becca and I wanted to remind you about our gift to you: a free recorded webinar on how to leverage psychology & the show-don’t-tell mindset to hook readers & keep them engaged.
A Gift from Us: Secrets to Engaging Readers (Webinar)
This time of year, we usually host a spectacular giveaway called Advent Calendar for Writers, and you may have noticed it’s missing this go-around. I’ll be honest – life’s been hectic. Both my boys had weddings this October (so awesome!), but then a house move and my husband’s major surgery followed (he’s recovering well, thank goodness!). Needless to say, my mental tank is pretty low, so we made the call to skip Advent this year. But are we skipping the gift-giving?
Writing Antagonists Readers Can’t Help But Like
There’s a dirty little secret among many of us readers: well-written antagonists get our blood pumping. When a scene come along with them in it, well, we lean closer. Grin a little more. Not because we’re a bunch of budding psychopaths and this is some alter-ego role play–okay, maybe a little–no, it’s that deep down, there’s something we like about them. Maybe even admire. What now? you say. How is that possible? He (or she) is the baddie, after all! Indeed. And we know it.
Our Favorite Gifts for Writers
It’s that time of year when we’re thinking about upcoming holidays and the people in our lives who love writing as much as we do. Critique partners, accountability chums, fellow scribblers in the trenches…this is a great time to give them a little something to show them how special they are to us, and to show support of their author goals. This year we wanted to share a few of our favorite things because we think they’ll make great gifts.
How to Uncover Your Character's Inner Conflict
Conflict is a powerful element within the story and can be loosely categorized as either Outer (external) Conflict or Inner (internal) Conflict. The difference is that outer conflict is something external keeping the character from his goal, while inner conflict is a mental struggle over wanting things that are at odds or compete.
The Key to a Successful NaNoWriMo? Using October Wisely
Are you one of tens of thousands of intrepid writers participating in NaNoWriMo? If so, know this: you’re a rock star. Writing a novel is something many people talk about doing, but few actually do it. And here you are, pulling out your keyboard to enter the challenge of completing a novel in a month! If NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is new to you, think CHALLENGE meets CREATIVITY. Writers all over the world set the same goal: to write 50,000 words in the month of November.
Happy 7th Birthday, One Stop for Writers!
It’s hard to believe another year has passed, but it’s birthday time again. One Stop for Writers is seven! Over the years, Becca and I have stuffed this web app with innovative tools that help you think and write like story experts. And it’s been so great to see your confidence grow as you use them, and to know you’re getting more and more books into the hands of your readers.
Want Lifelike Characters? Create a Character Bible – Elizabeth...
by Angela Ackerman, @onestop4writers Some characters are so dynamic on the page it’s easy to imagine them as real people. Everything they say, do, and think is consistent with who they are, they have a past and present, and readers never have to guess at what they feel, want, or need.
Want to Build Tension? Encourage the Reader to Ask Questions
Today’s post is by Angela Ackerman (@WriterThesaurus), co-author of The Conflict Thesaurus, Volume 2: A Writer’s Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles. Have you ever been a bit hazy on the difference between conflict and tension? If so, you aren’t alone. It’s common to confuse the two because they’re often used together to deliver a one-two dramatic punch.
Release Day: The Conflict Thesaurus (Volume 2) Is Here!
A new writing guide is joining the family today, so please say hello to the SILVER Edition of The Conflict Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Obstacles, Adversaries, and Inner Struggles. In this second volume of The Conflict Thesaurus, we continue our in-depth exploration of challenges, roadblocks, adversaries, and hindrances in all forms.
How to Amp Up Your Conflict – Elizabeth Spann Craig
by Angela Ackerman, @onestop4writers Conflict is a powerful tool for storytellers, allowing us to place roadblocks, challenges, adversaries and more in a character’s way so the road to their goal is much more difficult. Deployed well, conflict creates tension and intensity for reader, capturing their attention for the length of the book. So what does deployed well mean? For conflict to have a strong foundation, we need to focus on three things.
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