From Cathartic to Intentional: How to Write When It Feels Hard

Ever feel like you’re having such a hard day or week or month that you’re not sure how to write anything at all? You’re not alone. Recently, someone in the writing community on Substack posted the following: “Don’t you love it when you don’t work on your WIP for three months and then you write...
The post From Cathartic to Intentional: How to Write When It Feels Hard appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2026/04/how-to-write-when-it-feels-hard/

#Motivational #ResidentWritingCoach #WritersBlock #WritingLife

What Your Story Problems Reveal About Your Writing Brain

Much as we may have things in common as writers, our brains are wired differently. How one writer creates a story is likely to be quite different from how another one does it. That doesn’t mean that one is wrong—it just means our processes differ. Figuring out how your writing brain operates and how to...
The post What Your Story Problems Reveal About Your Writing Brain appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2026/04/writingbrain/

#ResidentWritingCoach #WritingCraft #WritingLessons

What Your Story Problems Reveal About Your Writing Brain

Much as we may have things in common as writers, our brains are wired differently. How one writer creates a story is likely to be quite different from how another one does it. That doesn’t mean that one is wrong—it just means our processes differ. Figuring out how your writing brain operates and how to...
The post What Your Story Problems Reveal About Your Writing Brain appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2026/04/writingbrain/

#ResidentWritingCoach #WritingCraft #WritingLessons

From Idea to Page: The Journey of a Romance Novel

Romance is the #1 genre of all time. Whether you love it or loathe it yourself, it’s fair to say readers LOVE it! As someone who enjoys romance novels of ALL kinds – classic and Rom-Com, through to romantasy, paranormal, steamy, LGBTQ+, young adult (YA) and beyond, I thought I would share my tips on...
The post From Idea to Page: The Journey of a Romance Novel appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2026/03/journey-of-romance-novel/

#ResidentWritingCoach #Romance #WritingLessons

Ooo La La: 5 Steps to Write Uncomfortable Scenes

For many authors, the most difficult type of scene to write (and write well) are sex scenes. However, any type of uncomfortable scene can feel awkward to write, as we may struggle with descriptions or complex emotions, or we may feel judged or ashamed of our writing, and all of that can make our writing...
The post Ooo La La: 5 Steps to Write Uncomfortable Scenes appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2026/03/write-uncomfortable-scenes/

#ResidentWritingCoach #Romance #WritingCraft #WritingLessons

Story Beats

Dialogue without anything else on the page feels like a screenplay—all setup for actors who will never arrive. In a film, the actors carry the scene. In your novel, the writing has to do that work itself. Writers often reach for action beats to fill in the gaps, sprinkling in gestures, expressions, and blocking to...
The post Story Beats appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2026/03/story-beats/

#Dialogue #ResidentWritingCoach #WritingLessons

Hierarchy of a Submission Package & Giveaway!

I’ve been thinking a lot about submissions lately, not only because my co-author and I are launching a new book about the querying process, but also because I will be in the trenches soon with my next novel. A typical submission usually includes a query letter, synopsis, and writing sample, but which one is most...
The post Hierarchy of a Submission Package & Giveaway! appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2026/02/submission-package/

#PublishingandSelfPublishing #ResidentWritingCoach #Synopsis #WritingCraft

20 Ways to Get Paid as a Writer

What do we, as artists, think about making money for doing our craft? This question will make a lot of you cringe. Why should we get paid for doing something we love? Well, simply put, if the work you do brings the world joy, there is value in that, and your voice is needed. When...
The post 20 Ways to Get Paid as a Writer appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2026/02/get-paid-as-a-writer/

#Promotion #ResidentWritingCoach #TheBusinessofWriting #WritingLife

Make Retreats Part of Your Writing Life

It’s that time of year when writers and non-writers alike make huge aspirational lists of resolutions for the coming year. One of the most common things writers build into their new year resolutions is how to make time for writing in the busy-ness of work and family and…
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2026/01/writing-retreats/

#ResidentWritingCoach #RetreatsWorkshopsandConferences #WritingCraft #WritingLife #WritingTime

See Why Three Types of Character Motivation Matter

All About Character Motivation Character motivation is key in any good story. A great character wants or needs something for a reason … and they must struggle to get it. Your characters should drive the plot through their own choices, behavior, worldview, backstory and…
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2025/12/why-character-motivation-matters/

#Characters #Motivation #ResidentWritingCoach #Romance #WritingCraft