Remember when I mentioned last week that The Bookshelf Muse had become Writers Helping Writers?
And how the phenomenal Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi behind the site had two new books coming out this week: The Positive Trait Thesaurus and The Negative Trait Thesaurus?
And how they were going to have a great kickoff for their releases that would help other writers?
Well, that time is here! *smile* And I have a review of their new books down below.
Announcing the Writers Helping Writers Amazing Race!
To celebrate the release of their two new writing craft books, Angela and Becca are hosting a race, and not just any old race either. It’s the…
Writers Helping Writers Amazing Race
Yay! Er, wait… What does that mean?
Just like how the Amazing Race TV show is all about teamwork, the WHW Amazing Race is the same. A huge group of writers (me included!) is volunteering their time this week to see how many writers we can help.
Writing is hard. Pitching is hard. Marketing is hard. Heck, it’s all hard. But maybe with a supportive group at your back, it won’t be as hard.
Get feedback and assistance this week on all things writing. Create the perfect hook. Make your first page compelling. Craft an amazing 25 word pitch. Knock out a query that will blow an agent’s mind. On and on it goes.
Writers can ask for help in 10 categories:
- 1st page critique
- 1 paragraph hook critique
- Query letter critique
- 25 word pitch critique
- Tweet exposure
- Mini Blog review
- Book exposure on your blog
- Request a future guest post
- Ask a Question
- Social Media help
Sounds amazing, right? *smile* Just go to the WHW Amazing Race post and fill out the form. The form will be open until October 27th, 2013 for any writer to request help in any of the categories.
(Note: You’re allowed to request help in as many categories as you wish. You’re guaranteed to receive help only once, but we’re aiming for more.)
Don’t miss this opportunity to request help from other writers. Did I mention there are Celebrity Racers too–amazing authors and editors who know their way around a first page. Maybe one of them will help with your request!
Angela and Becca want this to be huge. All of the Racers want this to be huge. Seriously, we’re aiming to help 2000 writers in one week. And we want to help you!
Even after you enter your request for help, be sure to stop in at Angela & Becca’s new Writers Helping Writers website every day this week so you can enter their daily giveaways. They’ve lined up one-on-ones with agents and other prizes I’m not allowed to spill the beans on yet.
My Special Offer to My Readers
If you let me know in the comments below that you’ve entered a request in the WHW Amazing Race, I’ll help you with one of your requests—even if one of the Racers has already helped you. I want to make sure all of my readers receive help.
So enter the WHW Amazing Race, and in the comments below, let me know the name you used in your Amazing Race request. Then let me know which category you’d like to receive my help on. If I can, I’ll fulfill your special request to me. Ta-da! Bonus help.
Get the Scoop on the New Character Trait Books
Angela and Becca never cease to blow me away with their awesome help for writers. In addition to the WHW Amazing Race, this week also marks the release of their new Character Traits Thesaurus books.
The Positive Trait Thesaurus leads off with helpful tips on writing characters worth rooting for and then dives into the psychological background on how positive traits develop and how we can use them in a character arc. A section even shares how villains can have positive traits too. The appendices include bonus character development tools for making a well-rounded character.
The Negative Trait Thesaurus
opens with insights on how flaws make our characters believable and create the necessary journey and conflict for our characters’ arcs. Additional tips help with making non-cardboard cutout villains and avoiding other issues when designing our characters’ flaws. The appendices dig into our characters’ needs and those false beliefs I posted about a few weeks ago.
That doesn’t even count the trait entries themselves, with details on possible causes, associated behaviors, thoughts, and emotions for each, along with the good and bad aspects of that trait. Each trait also includes examples and suggestions on conflict.
I love Angela and Becca’s The Emotion Thesaurus, so I had high hopes for these books but didn’t see how they could live up to the ET. I’m happy to say I was wrong. These two additions are fantastic resources for writers. *smile*
Do you have any questions about the WHW Amazing Race? Do you have any questions about the new books? (Since I have them in my hands already, I’m happy to answer questions if you’re on the fence about purchasing them.) Are you entering the WHW Amazing Race? If so, leave your name and the primary category you want help with in the comments, and I’ll give you bonus help if I can!
wpDiscuz