There are 9 books in the Writers Helping Writers Series series. The newest book is The Conflict Thesaurus Volume 2 which came out in 2022.

The bestselling Emotion Thesaurus, often hailed as “the gold standard for writers” and credited with transforming how writers craft emotion, has now been expanded to include 55 new entries! 

One of the biggest struggles for writers is how to convey emotion to readers in a unique and compelling way. When…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

2
The Negative Trait Thesaurus

By Angela Ackerman , Becca Puglisi ,

Book cover of The Negative Trait Thesaurus

Crafting likable, interesting characters is a balancing act, and finding that perfect mix of strengths and weaknesses can be difficult. But the task has become easier thanks to The Negative Trait Thesaurus. Through its flaw-centric exploration of character arc, motivation, emotional wounds, and basic needs, writers will learn which flaws…

3
The Positive Trait Thesaurus

By Angela Ackerman , Becca Puglisi ,

Book cover of The Positive Trait Thesaurus

It’s a writer’s job to create compelling characters who can withstand life’s fallout without giving up. But building authentic, memorable heroes is no easy task. To forge realistic characters, we must hobble them with flaws that set them back while giving them positive attributes to help them achieve their goals.…

4
The Rural Setting Thesaurus

By Becca Puglisi , Angela Ackerman ,

Book cover of The Rural Setting Thesaurus

Within the pages of a book exists a world drawn from a writer’s deepest imaginings, one that has the ability to pull readers in on a visceral level. But the audience’s fascination will only last if the writer can describe this vibrant realm and its inhabitants well. The setting achieves…

5
The Urban Setting Thesaurus

By Becca Puglisi , Angela Ackerman ,

Book cover of The Urban Setting Thesaurus

Making readers care and feel like they’re part of the story should be the number one goal for all writers. Ironically, many storytellers fail to maximize one of fiction’s most powerful elements to achieve this: the setting. Not only can the right location become a conduit for emotion, it can…

6
The Emotional Wound Thesaurus

By Angela Ackerman , Becca Puglisi ,

Book cover of The Emotional Wound Thesaurus

Readers connect to characters with depth, ones who have experienced life's ups and downs. To deliver key players that are both realistic and compelling, writers must know them intimately-not only who they are in the present story, but also what made them that way. Of all the formative experiences in…

7
The Occupation Thesaurus

By Angela Ackerman , Becca Puglisi ,

Book cover of The Occupation Thesaurus

What if there was a shortcut for helping readers get to know your characters? Would you take it? 

Characters are as complex as people and revealing their inner layers without chunky blocks of pace-stopping description is a challenge. The Occupation Thesaurus can help you unlock one of the best tools…

8
The Conflict Thesaurus Volume 1

By Angela Ackerman , Becca Puglisi ,

Book cover of The Conflict Thesaurus Volume 1

Every story starts with a character who is motivated by a need and has a goal that can resolve it. Whether their objective is to find a life partner, bring a killer to justice, overthrow a cruel regime, or something else, conflict transforms a story premise into something fresh. Physical…

9
The Conflict Thesaurus Volume 2

By Angela Ackerman , Becca Puglisi ,

Book cover of The Conflict Thesaurus Volume 2
A story where the character gets exactly what they want doesn’t make for good reading. But add villainous clashes, lost advantages, power struggles, and menacing threats…well, now we have the makings of a page-turner. Conflict is the golden thread that binds plot to arc, providing the complications, setbacks, and derailments…