In this week’s Tony Tips Tuesdays™, we’re exploring how to write grief with authenticity and purpose—how to let loss shape your characters in a way that feels honest, moving, and deeply human.

This week’s Tony Tips Tuesdays™ dives into the nuanced art of writing characters who protect others but not themselves—and why they leave such an indelible impact on readers.

No one wins when we start competing with the past. Whether it's a deceased ex, an old flame, or even an idealized version of someone who once "got away"... The past is a poor foundation for building anything new. And if we’re not careful, we will become architects of our own emotional ruin—trying to prove we’re worthy of being chosen this time. But you don't have to compete. You have to heal.