An inside view of the publishing industry from a foot soldier.
Storyville: 8 Tips For Growing Your Brand
Column by Richard Thomas May 23, 2013 (2) comments
Here are some quick tips for growing your brand and enhancing your image.
Storyville: Ten Ways to Evaluate Fiction Markets
Column by Richard Thomas May 14, 2013 (7) comments
Here are ten ways to evaluate fiction markets, so you can place your stories with confidence.
Storyville: Why Write Short Stories At All?
Column by Richard Thomas May 1, 2013 (8) comments
Why should you even bother with stories, novels are where it's at, right? No--walk before you can run.
Storyville: 20 Things I've Learned About Writing
Column by Richard Thomas April 24, 2013 (18) comments
Over the past five years I've learned a lot of things about writing — here are 20 of them.
Storyville: Ten Ways to Avoid Cliches and Stereotypes
Column by Richard Thomas April 11, 2013 (6) comments
Ten tips to avoid clichés and stereotypes in your fiction.
Storyville: Dissecting "Fireflies"
Column by Richard Thomas April 2, 2013 (6) comments
Dissecting my story, "Fireflies," I shine a light on my first attempt at magical realism — craft, process, and structure.
Storyville: Writing the Grotesque
Column by Richard Thomas March 11, 2013 (7) comments
Damaged, deformed, and dysfunctional characters—we still have compassion for them. This is the grotesque.
Storyville: Top Ten Things Literary Journals Need to Do. NOW.
Column by Richard Thomas March 1, 2013 (15) comments
There needs to be a symbiosis between the journal and the author. Here are some ways that we can make that happen.
Storyville: Breaking Hearts
Column by Richard Thomas February 12, 2013 (3) comments
In order to break a reader's heart, you first must get them to care.
Storyville: Researching The Best American Short Stories Anthology
Column by Richard Thomas February 5, 2013 (5) comments
When you are looking to do research on literary short fiction, start with the Best American Short Stories anthology.
Storyville: Writing Dialogue
Column by Richard Thomas January 14, 2013 (13) comments
What is the function of dialogue, and how do you make it sing?
Storyville: Where to Send Your Stories
Column by Richard Thomas January 3, 2013 (45) comments
No idea where to send your writing? Consult this list of the most common genre markets, as well as Richard's BIG LIST, five years in the making.
Storyville: Happy, Not Sappy
Column by Richard Thomas December 13, 2012 (10) comments
It's not easy to write a happy story that is not melodramatic, but here are some tips on how to get there.
Storyville: Top Ten Best Short Stories Ever
Column by Richard Thomas December 4, 2012 (48) comments
This is a personal list of my favorite short stories, ten to be exact.
Storyville: Ten Awesome Authors You've Never Heard Of Before
Column by Richard Thomas November 19, 2012 (18) comments
Here are ten authors you've probably never heard of, and they are absolutely killing it.
Storyville: NaNoWriMo and Free Writing
Column by Richard Thomas November 2, 2012 (9) comments
Whether it's during NaNoWriMo or on your own, free writing can help you channel your visions.
Storyville: Dynamic Settings
Column by Richard Thomas October 25, 2012 (9) comments
Setting is one of the most important aspects of your story; don't overlook it.
Storyville: Story Dissection - Maker of Flight
Column by Richard Thomas October 4, 2012 (8) comments
Richard dissects another of his short stories, this time, the contest winning, "Maker of Flight."
Storyville: Narrative Hooks
Column by Richard Thomas September 19, 2012 (8) comments
Writing a great narrative hook isn't easy, but it's one way to grab your audience and never let them go.
Storyville: Writing About Sex
Column by Richard Thomas September 5, 2012 (11) comments
How do you write a good sex scene? By utilizing the right language, all five senses, and empathetic characters, you can seduce the reader into living the moment.
Storyville: The Horror of Editing and Revision
Column by Richard Thomas August 29, 2012 (11) comments
It's been said that the difference between a good writer and a great writer is editing. So let's hop to it.
Storyville: Endings, Twisted and Otherwise
Column by Richard Thomas August 16, 2012 (3) comments
A beginning, a middle, and an end. Let's talk about the end. Make it resonate.
Storyville: Promotion
Column by Richard Thomas July 20, 2012 (10) comments
In this column, we talk about some of the ways you can promote your writing, for little or no money.
Storyville: Balancing Life and Writing
Column by Richard Thomas July 5, 2012 (10) comments
In this Storyville column I talk about the many different ways that I try to balance my writing and personal life.
Storyville: Writing Horror Stories
Column by Richard Thomas June 6, 2012 (8) comments
What does it take to write a terrifying story? Every tool in your writer's toolbelt.
