Robin Woods
Creative Writing Resources, Word Lists & Writing Tips
A list of my most popular posts by category. See what made the cut.
Practical tools for fiction writers, teachers, and creative-writing students.
Explore Robin Woods’s most useful articles on character development, dialogue, plotting, descriptive language, manuscript preparation, and the writing life. Start with a featured resource below, or browse by topic.
Start Here
New to the library? These reader favorites are a great place to begin.
- SUPERPOWERS & ABILITIES: Lists, information, printables, and science of “What if Super Powers Were Real.”
- EIGHT OR EIGHT: USING NUMERALS IN TEXT: Are you wondering how to write numbers in the text of your document? Here’s a quick tutorial to clarify (includes rules and examples).
- WORD COUNT 101: How many words in a novel, novella, novelette, short story, and more. Plus, word counts on some famous novels.
- WORDS TO DESCRIBE VOICE: Find precise words for describing a character’s tone, pitch, volume, rhythm, and vocal quality. See more lists below.
Writing Tips, Tricks, & Reference
Author 101
- NEW AUTHOR CHECKLIST: 10 THINGS TO DO
- WRITING ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMS
- WORD COUNT 101
- BUSTING WRITER’S BLOCK
- WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE A BOOK BIBLE FOR YOUR NOVEL
Do you have a story in your head?
Prompt Me Novel can help.
- Brainstorming and Outlining
- Plotting and the “Tent Pole” Method
- Character Worksheets
- Conflict and Setting
- Space for Easy Journaling
- Reference and More!
The Craft
- 8 TIPS ON DIALOGUE
- USING NUMERALS IN TEXT
- 10 TIPS FROM AN EDITOR
- WRITING ROMANCE IN 3 ACTS AND 12 BEATS
Writing Resources
- WHAT’S IN A NAME? CHARACTER NAMING RESOURCES
- SYMBOLISM OF FLOWERS: What do they mean?
- SYMBOLISM OF NUMBERS
- WHERE DO WE FEEL EMOTION Physical places we experience emotion
- REALISTIC TRAVEL TIMES: Plane, train, auto, horse, or on foot?
- SUPERPOWERS & ABILITIES
- ART OF WRITING WITTY DIALOGUE
Marketing, Social Media, & Graphic Design
- INCREASE TRAFFIC AT AUTHOR EVENTS FOR FREE
- ONE LINK TO RULE THEM ALL: How to update links efficiently
- 3 REASONS I LOVE PINTEREST
- 7 EASY TWITTER TIPS
- 7 FREE DESIGN RESOURCES
Character Profiles to Use for Writing
- Classic Narcissists
- Vulnerable Narcissist
- Borderline Personality
- Histrionic Personality
- Antisocial Personality
- Writing Manipulative Characters
Miscellaneous
- INCREASE IQ WITH CREATIVE WRITING
- HOW TO CALCULATE READING TIME
- ROOM PLANNER
- 6 TIPS FOR WRITING A NOVEL
- WRITING SONNETS, HAIKU, AND TANKA
- HOW MANY SPACES AFTER A PERIOD
- BUSTING WRITER’S BLOCK
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Most Popular Guest Posts
- WRITING ROMANCE IN 3 ACTS AND 12 BEATS by AUTHOR BROOKE E. WAYNE: A fabulous blueprint on how to write a romance.
- YOGA FOR WRITERS: REST [Part 1] by SARAH NELSEN
- YOGA FOR WRITERS: REFRESH [Part 2] by SARAH NELSEN
- YOGA FOR WRITERS: RELEASE [Part 3] by SARAH NELSEN
- STARTING YOUR CHILDREN’S BOOK by AUTHOR ELLWYN AUTUMN
- NOTES FROM AN EDITOR by EDITOR BETH BRAITHWAITE: 5 Do’s, 5 Don’ts, plus Resources
- BUSTING WRITER’S BLOCK by AUTHOR BROOKE E. WAYNE
- WRITING ORGANICALLY: STOP WORRYING ABOUT PACE by AUTHOR MIA TSAI
Are you a writer who would like to guest post and increase your visibility? Pitch an idea to me via my contact page. 🙂
Word Lists
There is a sweet spot to achieve when writing. You don’t want to overuse a word, but you also don’t want to use so much variety that you exhaust your reader. Moderation in all things. Here are some word lists to inspire and keep you from overusing.
- WORDS TO DESCRIBE VOICE
- BAD HABITS FOR CHARACTERS
- ANGRY WORD LIST
- WORDS FOR TASTES & AROMAS
- OTHER WORDS FOR ASKED, LAUGHED, REPLIED, SAT, & WAS
- 188 WORDS FOR SOUNDS
- OTHER WORDS FOR LOOK
- WORDS FOR DARK & LIGHT
- OTHER WORDS FOR SAID AND WALK
- OTHER WORDS FOR WHISPER & WENT
Reading
- READING CHALLENGE FUN 2023: Where to read, What to Read, and Pro-Book Challenges to spice up your reading. Plus optional monthly themes.
- READING CHALLENGE 2022
- HOW TO CALCULATE READING TIME
- MY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
Recipes & Misc
- OVERNIGHT STICKY BUNS
- ROBIN’S EASY GRAVY
- 10 THINGS I LEARNED FROM MY MOM
- FAVORITE WRITER GIFTS
- FAN QUESTION ABOUT DATING ADVICE
Shopping
- GIFTS FOR WRITERS. A few of my favorite things.
- MY BOOKISH ETSY SHOP. Okay, this isn’t a blog post, but it seemed appropriate for this section.
Feel free to contact me to suggest a new topic. 😀
LATEST STORIES
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Consistency Over Intensity: Why Predictability Creates Emotional Safety
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Reciprocity in Relationships: When Care Only Flows One Way
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An Apology Isn’t the Same as Repair: What Rebuilding Trust Requires
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Taking Space or Giving the Silent Treatment? How to Tell the Difference
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The Prompt Me Within Series Is Here: Guided Journals for Safety and Self-Trust
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The Fawn Response: When You or Your Character Keep the Peace to Feel Safe
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