Want To Be A Better Writer? Take Acting Classes
From basic games to complex script analysis, actors have a thing or two to teach writers.
Wassailing with Wenceslas - Christmas Carol Origins
In:
Word Play
What does it mean 'to wassail'? Why did King Wenceslas go out on Boxing Day? Why does figgy pudding come with a lighter? Find out the origins of these and other odd Christmas Carol lyrics.
Magical Thinking and Santa Claus: How Holidays Help Create Writers
In:
Research
Magical thinking, including an early belief in Santa Claus, may play a role in how imagination and creativity develop.
Storyville: My Ten Favorite Short Stories of 2013
In:
Voice
Here are my ten favorite short stories for 2013.
It's Made Of SCIENCE: Evolution
In:
Research
Everything you need to know about evolution, natural selection, and SCIENCE!
Storyville: Dissecting "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates
One of the most talked about, published and taught stories, I dissect "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates.
It's Made Of SCIENCE: Amnesia
In:
Cliche, Literary Devices
Everything you need to know about memory loss, amnesia, and SCIENCE!
Different Ways to Tell the Truth: A Primer on Creative Nonfiction Subgenres
In:
Theme
There are many ways to tell a true story--here are just a few.
The Pen and the Sword: Ten Books That Instigate Conflict and Promote Peace
In:
Theme
Books are not always innocent creations. Time and again, the written word has helped to both inflame and resolve human conflicts.
5 Reasons A Good Writing Group Can Save You
What can a good writing group do for you? Almost everything.
Remember To Wear Pants: Tips for Surviving NaNoWriMo with Your Dignity Intact
In:
Research
NaNoWriMo can be a hectic time, even if you're not trying to juggle writing with a job, family, going to the gym, and occasionally breathing.
Storyville: 10 Hot, Emerging, and Underappreciated Genres
In:
Voice
Looking for something new to write? Here are ten hot, emerging, and underappreciated genres.
Dystropia: How The Damsel in Distress Has Evolved
By Troy Farah
In:
Cliche
From ancient Greek myths to Snow White to today, Dystropia looks at the trope of the Damsel in Distress.
UPDATED WITH WINNER: LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown: October Edition
In:
Theme
I dare you to scare me. 25 words. 2 sentences. Endless opportunity for horror and pre-Halloween fright.
Symbolism: Storytelling and the Invisible Hand
In:
Literary Devices
Symbolism allows writers to get themselves off the page and lets their words do the talking.
It's Made Of SCIENCE: Zombies
In:
Research
What you need to know about zombies, infections, and SCIENCE.
Ask the Grammarian: Missing Semi-colons, Distinguishing Dashes, and Punctuating Quotations
In:
Grammar
The elusive semi-colon, confusing dashes, and where-oh-where to put the punctuation in quoted material.
Storyville: Supernatural and Speculative Fiction—Getting Weird Without Losing Your Audience
In:
Voice
Supernatural and speculative fiction—getting weird without losing your audience.
The Devil That You Know: Literature's Evil Archetype
In:
Theme
Old Nick has left his stamp on literature ever since men began putting pen to paper. Whether literally or figuratively, nearly everyone has a demon or two waiting to jump onto the page.
Books on Writing: What Authors, Agents and Editors Read
By Erin Reel
In:
Research
What books on writing are worth your lunch money? Erin Reel asks a handful of writers, agents who write, and one publisher what books stand the test of time.
Updated With Winners: LitReactor's Flash Fiction Smackdown: September Edition (...and another chance to win Chuck Palahniuk's new book!)
In:
Plot
Get another chance to win one of three copies we are giving away of Chuck Palahniuk's next book Doomed by writing a metaphor for Purgatory in 25 words or less.
How Precocious is Too Precocious? Writing Smart but Believable Kids
In:
Character
There’s a fine line that authors tread when writing from a child's perspective. A balance must be found between a voice that is unrealistically adult, and one that is too naive to be engaging.
Storyville: Fiction As Film—Writing Scenes That Are Visual
How can your fiction be as visual and engrossing as a film? Here are some suggestions.
Ask the Grammarian: Multiple Hopes, Lay vs. Lie, Basically Useless Vocabulary, and a Stumper
In:
Grammar
In this episode, we will attack the grammatical conundrums in the following sentence: Basically, our hopes have lay with the children.
