Conflict vs. Tension: The Difference That Makes Stories Impossible to Put Down

From Edie: Sarah Sally Hamer helps writers discover the difference between conflict and tension in fiction and learn how tension keeps readers turning pages while conflict alone cannot.

Conflict vs. Tension: The Difference That Makes Stories Impossible to Put Down

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Writers often talk about conflict as if it’s the engine of story. And it is—but only in the way a parked car technically has an engine. Conflict is the machinery. Tension is the ignition, the fuel, the forward motion. Without tension, conflict just sits there, inert, a list of problems rather than a living narrative.

Understanding the difference between the two—and how they work together—is one of the most important skills a writer can develop. Because once you do, your scenes stop lying flat on the page. They start to hum.

Why Writers Procrastinate at the Blank Page—and How to Quiet the Mental Chaos

From Edie: Sarah Sally Hamer helps us understand Why writers procrastinate at the blank page. With her help, discover the mental games, creative resistance, and practical ways writers can calm distraction and return to joyful, focused writing.

Why Writers Procrastinate at the Blank Page—and How to Quiet the Mental Chaos

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Oh the games our minds play when writers sit in from of a blank screen. 

Are you one of those lucky writers who turn on the computer and focus on the brilliant words that pour from your fingertips? Or are you more like me and the moment you sit down to write, your mind transforms into a hyperactive game show host who has just chugged three espressos and discovered the joy of chaos? You’ve set your time for writing, you have a project in mind and, all of a sudden, your fingers hover over the keyboard and your mind leaps onto an imaginary stage, confetti cannons firing, shouting, “WELCOME TO TONIGHT’S EPISODE OF ANYTHING BUT WRITING!”

How Writers Can Overcome Fear and Self-Doubt: Turning Fear Into a Creative Companion

From Edie: Struggling with fear or self-doubt as a writer? Sarah Sally Hamer Shares how to turn fear into a creative companion and use it to fuel stronger, more meaningful writing.

How Writers Can Overcome Fear and Self-Doubt: Turning Fear Into a Creative Companion

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

The Presence Beside You

Every writer possesses a quiet companion, a presence that settles beside them before a single word appears. This creature lingers at the edge of thought, breathing softly against the back of your mind. It leans close when you hesitate, asking questions that can tighten your chest and thin your breath. Are you sure? Will they like you? What if they turn away? What if you’re not good enough?

Is Creativity a Gift or a Skill? What Writers Need to Know to Grow Their Creative Ability

From Edie: Is creativity a gift or a skill? Discover how writers can strengthen imagination, overcome perfectionism, and build lasting creative habits that lead to better, more consistent writing.

Is Creativity a Gift or a Skill? What Writers Need to Know to Grow Their Creative Ability

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

We writers have been wrestling with this question for ages, usually while we stare at a blinking cursor and wonder why inspiration behaves like a shy cat—under your feet when you don’t need it and hiding under the sofa when you do. Some people insist creativity is a gift, something you either have or don’t. Others argue it’s a skill, something you build the same way you build leg muscles, except with fewer squats and more caffeine. After years of teaching seminars, watching writers surprise themselves, and occasionally surprising myself right along with them, I’ve learned that creativity refuses to sit neatly in either category. It’s far more interesting than that.

How to Overcome Writer’s Block with a Simple Writer’s Affirmation Video

From Edie: Struggling with writer’s block? Learn how a simple writer’s affirmation video can calm your mind, restore confidence, and spark creativity so you can begin writing again with clarity and purpose.

How to Overcome Writer’s Block with a Simple Writer’s Affirmation Video

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Most writers have had that moment when they sit down to work and suddenly feel like their imagination has stepped out for the afternoon. The ideas are there somewhere, but they’re not exactly lining up to help. Creativity doesn’t respond well to pressure. It responds to atmosphere, encouragement, and a sense of calm. And one of the simplest ways to create that calm is by letting your affirmations come alive on screen.

Finding Inspiration to Write: How Body, Mind, and Soul Work Together

From Edie: Discover how writers find inspiration by engaging body, mind, and soul. Learn practical ways to notice ideas, spark creativity, and write with depth.

Finding Inspiration to Write: How Body, Mind, and Soul Work Together

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Willie Nelson once said, “The air’s full of melodies, you just reach out.” That line captures the essence of creativity—not just for musicians, but for writers too. Ideas are everywhere, floating around us like invisible notes waiting to be caught. The challenge isn’t whether inspiration exists; it’s how we tune ourselves—body, mind, and soul—to receive it.

How Secondary Characters Strengthen Plot, Character, and Story Flow

From Edie: Learn how secondary characters strengthen plot, reveal character, and improve story flow—without info dumps—in fiction writing.

How Secondary Characters Strengthen Plot, Character, and Story Flow

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

The Unsung Power of Secondary Characters in Storytelling

When we think about memorable stories, our minds usually concentrate on the protagonists—the heroes, heroines, or central figures who drive the narrative forward. Yet, behind every compelling main character stands an entire cast of secondary characters who enrich the world, deepen the plot, and often carry crucial information that shapes the story’s direction. Far from being background noise, these supporting figures can be the secret ingredient that transforms a good story into a great one.

4 Anchors Every Writer Needs: How to Slow Down, Find Your Voice, and Reclaim the Joy of Writing

From Edie: Discover four essential anchors that help writers slow down, find their authentic voice, and rediscover the joy of creating. Learn how gentle writing practices, personal rituals, and intentional presence can transform your writing life and strengthen your confidence on the page.

4 Anchors Every Writer Needs: How to Slow Down, Find Your Voice, and Reclaim the Joy of Writing

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Writers often think that writing is a race. We’re told that we need to produce pages or we won’t have a career. Helpful friends and family ask us, “Did you finish that book? Did you sell it?” And, worst of all, we stare at an empty page and pray for the Muse to give us an idea. Any idea! 

But that’s not really what being a writer means. Instead, it’s a reclamation. A slow unfolding. Setting anchors to hold us to what’s important. A return to the voice you forgot you were allowed to have.

Emotional DNA for Writers: How to Write Characters Unlike Yourself

From Edie: Learn how to write believable characters whose experiences differ from your own by tapping into emotional DNA—your internal library of feelings, instincts, and empathy. This practical guide helps writers create authentic emotional depth, avoid stereotypes, and bring every character to life with honesty and nuance.

Emotional DNA for Writers: How to Write Characters Unlike Yourself

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

One of the biggest challenges we as writers, both fiction and non-fiction, face is how to write characters whose lives, choices, or personalities are completely different from our own. We create characters, both “good” and “bad” who act in ways we never would. How do you write a serial killer if you’re not one? Or a grieving father if you’ve never lost a child? Or a jealous friend, a corrupt politician, a runaway teen?

It’s not about searching your soul every time you want to put a real villain in your story, since the chances are that you’ve never killed anyone. (And, if you have, I don’t want to know!) It’s about understanding the emotions that drive the bad guys —and recognizing that you’ve felt versions of those emotions yourself, even if you’ve never acted on them. In so many words, you’re lending your emotional DNA to your character.

How to Know the Ending of Your Story from the Beginning: Using Goal, Motivation, and Conflict

From Edie: Discover how to predict your story’s ending from the first page by mastering Goal, Motivation, and Conflict—your key to stronger plots and characters.

How to Know the Ending of Your Story from the Beginning: Using Goal, Motivation, and Conflict

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

One of my favorite things to do when I teach a writing class is to brag a little. I love telling the eager, bright-faced, writers (newbies or oldies) that I can tell them the end of their story if they tell me the beginning. Of course, they don’t believe me but, truly, if you know the system, it’s not hard at all.

So. Tell me the beginning of your story. Tell me who your main protagonist is, the one the book is really about. Give me a couple of character traits. Then, tell me what that character wants. 

How to Write Scenes That Drive Plot and Deepen Character

From Edie: Scenes are story DNA. Find out how to craft scenes that propel plot, raise stakes, and reveal character in powerful, memorable ways.

How to Write Scenes That Drive Plot and Deepen Character

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Scenes are the heartbeat of a story. Scenes pulse with emotion and tension. Scenes create plot. But a single scene, no matter how vivid, can’t carry a story alone. Each one builds on another, one by one, interlocking with character, and leading readers farther into the story. Understanding how they work together and evolve is essential to creating a functional and cohesive story.

The Top Four Mistakes New Writers Make (And Why You're Not Alone)

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Do you remember your first book? I do! It was terrible, with every single trope a book could have. My characters pontificated their views ad nauseum, with long, convoluted speeches that went on for paragraph after paragraph. I created beautiful plot points that went nowhere. And, my villains twirled their mustaches. I just didn’t know my craft.

But, like most writers, I learned. I took classes. I wrote lots of words, I was lucky to have brilliant and supportive critique partners and lots of great craft books. And, I shifted from being a newbie to an award-winning writer, with two Golden Heart finals to my name. Doesn’t make me an expert. And, I am still making mistakes. But I’m certainly a better writer than I was before.

So, let me share four of the writing mistakes I’ve made and what I needed to know to correct them.

1. Trying to Write Like Someone Else

We all have writers we love and want to be like. Which is not at all a bad thing. But why can’t you be you? You have a voice of your own, a style that is very specific to you. That style is so recognizable that even J. K. Rowling was outed on her non-Harry Potter books by an AI from several years ago. Someone recognized her way of writing, plugged it into a computer program, and found that she was the author of a completely different style of books. Voice is that exclusive to us.

I wanted to write like one of my favorite authors. And, unfortunately, I did. People even recognized her style in my writing. It took me a while to break myself from that habit and find “me,” but I finally did.

Because we are distinct and unique, our writing must follow suit. 

My best advice? Write how you think. Really—your natural cadence has power. Remember, your voice is the soul of your writing. It evolves best through authenticity.

2. Obsessing Over Perfection 

There is no perfection. And chasing the illusion that you can achieve it can make you doubt everything you write. We all want to find that perfect word or sentence or story. That isn’t going to happen. I know a whole bunch of people who write amazing books that never get out from under their bed, because they don’t think they’re good enough. 

My best advice? Be creative when you’re writing and be analytical when you’re editing. But remember that, even if you’re not ever completely happy with your story, it doesn’t mean it’s not good. And sellable. Call a halt at some point and go on to the next book, taking the lessons you’ve learned with you. Give yourself permission to write badly. Terribly, even. But don’t give up because you don’t think you’re perfect enough.

3. Skipping the Reading Part

There are so many writers who don’t read other people’s books. Or only read within their genre. This can easily cause us to get stuck in our own head. Market trends should NOT be your only guide, but not keeping up with what is selling today is a mistake if you want to be relevant. 

My best advice? Read. Read extensively. Read the good stuff AND the bad. Evaluate what you read. Why is it bad or good? (And remember, you have a right to your opinion about what that constitutes.) Compare and contrast. It’s really one of the best educations you’ll ever give yourself.

4. Underestimating Structure and Purpose

If you’ll think about the books you love, the ones that made a difference in your life, you may find that most of the most important ones have a distinct theme and/or purpose. The characters go through a journey by knowing what they want, working toward it, learning to deal with obstacles, realizing they need to change, sacrificing their old, stuck ideas, then triumphing in the end and creating a new, improved life (check out The Hero’s Journey, if you haven’t already found it – here’s a link to a video I use in my classes—great example! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhk4N9A0oCA).

Building that structure and purpose helps a writer in three ways:

1. It gives us a road map to help us get from the beginning to the end.
2. It allows us to construct a true character arc. We don’t have to flounder around, getting lost as we scurry down those rabbit trails.
3. It establishes unforgettable characters – ones that our readers keep coming back to.

My best advice? “Sit down” with your characters and ask them questions. Remember, they really are just a tiny slice of your own personality. Give them a voice that will resonate with you and your readers, by understanding who they are.

Bottom line? Never give up. Never surrender! (Quote from Peter Taggart, Galaxy Quest) Very few people were famous writers on the day they were born. Most of us have been slogging through, uh, working our way through the understanding of how stories actually are told for most of our life.

But the good news is that true writing comes from your heart. You may never become famous or rich from it, but finding your own voice is magic.

What have you learned on your writing journey? 

TWEETABLE

The Top Four Mistakes New Writers Make (And Why You're Not Alone) from @SarahSallyHamer on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Sarah (Sally) Hamer, B.S., MLA, is a lover of books, a teacher of writers, and a believer in a good story. Most of all, she is eternally fascinated by people and how they 'tick'. She’s passionate about helping people tell their own stories, whether through fiction or through memoir. Writing in many genres—mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, medieval history, non-fiction—she has won awards at both local and national levels, including two Golden Heart finals.

A teacher of memoir, beginning and advanced creative fiction writing, and screenwriting at Louisiana State University in Shreveport for over twenty years, she also teaches online for Margie Lawson at WWW.MARGIELAWSON.COM and atHTTPS://NOSTRESSWRITING.COM/. Sally is a free-lance editor and book coach, with many of her students and clients becoming successful, award-winning authors. You can find her at SALLY@MINDPOTENTIAL.ORG

A Love Letter to Writing

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Why do we write? Why do YOU write?

Sometimes, especially when I’ve just gotten a rejection letter or a bad review, or someone has scribbled edits across a manuscript, I wonder why I write. Why do I stick the rejection letter into a file and go write something else, or take a big, deep, cleansing breath and start working through the red ink? 

Six “Soft Skills” To Make You a Better Writer

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

When we think about the skills it takes to be a better writer, we usually think of characterization or structure or word choices. But writing is not just about what we write on the page, it’s about a depth of understanding that a reader can resonate with. Honestly, anyone can write a book – it just takes putting words on paper in some way or another. But a book that people WANT to read? It takes a lot more than just words. Here are some skills I recommend, not only for writing, but ones we could use in almost any situation of human interaction. 

Learning to Set the Stage with Description in Your Manuscript

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

How often do you get lost during a scene change in a book? You’re reading along, minding your own business, enjoying the story. Check. You come to the conclusion of a great chapter and/or scene. Check. Good ending, with a cliffhanger that leaves you panting to turn the page and start the next section. Check.

Then the books goes off to Oz. Or to Mars. Or to somewhere with someone with something going on that has NOTHING to do with what we just read. 

Going Deep into Character Descriptions to Connect with Our Readers

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Writers are always trying to improve the way we describe our characters. Usually, I suggest my students concentrate on four basic ways for our characters to express: dialog, body language, action, and, if in that character’s point of view, with thoughts. But today I was looking for a specific book on my shelf and came across one that might convince me add another way for characters to express. And it all comes down to what they’re holding in their hand.

The book is Fiction is Folks: How to Create Unforgettable Characters, by Robert Newton Peck. I’d never heard of him when I bought this book, used, about five years ago, but he was well-known for his children’s stories. He brought characters to life, simply by describing ordinary people with ordinary objects any of us might use in our daily lives. For instance, Captain Ahab was a whaler in the mid-1800s. “Let your Captain Ahab hold a harpoon, finger the barb of its point, and balance its shaft.” Things that make Ahab more real. Because, as Peck says, “Characterization is physical.” But it’s not the color of the eyes or hair or even the height of a character that makes the difference, unless you’re trying to force a 6’6” basketball player into a Volkswagen bug. It’s how the character uses and experiences the item that makes all the difference.

Fatal Flaws: Not Just for Characters We Write

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

We writers use fatal flaws to describe how our characters deal with their arcs. Most characters, at least major ones, have arcs where a character is presented with a problem and, after a lot of lumps and bumps, finally makes a change that allows them to meet their goal. The hero/ine's journey is the basic structure that allows and explains those arcs, making characters interesting and relatable. But have you ever thought about where the concept of fatal flaws comes from? 

Characters are built on humans. Writers often create characters based on their own knowledge and experiences and find familiar traits in their own lives to write about. But do humans actually have fatal flaws? Or is it just our characters who learn those lessons?

Finding Power When We Find our Point of Difference and Write From There

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

No matter what we write, no matter who we are, there is a point of difference between us and every other writer and, ultimately, between every other person. This is an amazing part of the What is our point of difference? It's what makes us who we are, it's our core, our belief system, the way we express ourselves, and the things we write about. It's the part that makes us real. 

It also directly affects what we write and how we do it. 

How to Add Deep POV in a Scene You're Writing

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Getting deeply into a character can be one of the hardest, but most necessary, ways of creating character and many people struggle with getting deep Point of View (POV) right. Deep POV is usually what the reader can't really know about a character unless it's in a thought, but there are other ways to allow our characters to express, 1) dialogue, 2) body language, 3) action, and 4) thoughts when in the POV character.

The Power of Power Words To Connect Writers with Readers

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Power words are, well, powerful! Evocative words tighten and enhance the theme of a story, enticing the reader to turn the page. But how do we choose our power words? And how can we insert them in the right places?

We have many really good examples of stories that are wrapped around a theme and use power words to boost the “flavor” of the story. Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, written by the Bronte sisters, for instance, are great cases in point of using weather and creepy houses and stormy relationships as a part of the setting. Try to imagine another classic, Gone With the Wind, set in any place except the Deep South. The heat by itself is almost another character, much less words like “survival” and “hunger” and “desire.”