Columns

Should You Join A Writers Organization?

August 23rd, 2023

There are multiple reasons for joining a writers organization. Some writers join for access to writing resources, while others join for networking opportunities. There are even those who might join an organization out of curiosity, to see what exactly that group can offer them and their career. Or maybe they're just after a little social interaction.

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10 Years Ago, Librarians Predicted What Today's Library Would Look Like

August 21st, 2023

image: pixabay In 2010, a group of library professionals got together and wrote essays that answered the question: What will the library be like in 2020? Before you get too excited, no, nobody predicted a global pandemic would kill a bunch of people. Also, nobody predicted that a subset of doofuses would attribute the ravages of this virus to the introduction of faster wireless network speeds.

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Using Peace, Quiet, and Introspection to Intensify Your Writing

August 18th, 2023

I want to talk to you about the concept of using peace, quiet, and introspection to add some intensity to your writing. While your story can certainly be an insane sprint for the finish line (such as in my 1,501-word story, “Undone” that’s ONE SENTENCE) or a continuous barrage of horrifying elements, never letting up, let’s look at the ways that taking a break from the action, from the darkness, from the fast-pace unfurling of your story can actually make those moments stronger.

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Restricting Kids' Reading Through Bans Is Bad For Everyone

August 16th, 2023

Original image by Alycia Fung  Lately it seems like everyone is trying to poke their noses into kids’ reading habits. From their own parents to their friends’ parents to the literal government, kids and teens are having their reading scrutinized — and restricted.

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Book vs. Film: "Dracula" vs. "The Last Voyage of the Demeter"

August 14th, 2023

Dracula just won’t die. This is a universally understood fact, that the good old Count will always be around, no matter how many stakes get driven into his heart, how many sunrises burn him to smithereens, how many times a Van Helsing or some other protagonist lops off his head. Dracula will always come back. This is especially true when it comes to cinema, where the character tends to proliferate wildly.

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The Don'ts And Definitely Don'ts of Writing Stupid-Funny Books

August 11th, 2023

Image: pexels Most of my writing advice is questionable, but if you want advice on writing incredibly stupid, incredibly fun books, I’m your Dingleberry. Or Huckleberry. Whatever berry you like, I’m that. Off to a stupid start already. Let’s keep this rolling. Quick Definition A stupid-fun book is a book that's meant to be fun, funny, and when people call it "stupid," you have to agree, it's pretty stupid.

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Chat GPT Part 2: Unemployed Boogaloo

August 7th, 2023

Images via Cottonbro Studio & Pixabay Previously on Megan: my job as a professional writer was eliminated in favor of utilizing ChatGPT. I was moved to a more admin/technical role for two months. Then I was laid off.

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Authors Slap ChatGPT With A Lawsuit: What Happens Next?

August 4th, 2023

Header images via pixabay 1, 2, 3 Celebrities are walking out of premieres, writers are striking all up and down the streets, and now real writers, book writers (take that, Hollywood!) are getting in on the anti-AI action.

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Grad School Residency IV: Leaving Fear Behind

August 3rd, 2023

I just finished up my fourth grad school residency, and I don’t know how to process it. Truly. I have no idea where to start.

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Spellbinding Reads for Young Adults

August 1st, 2023

Header image by Sierra Koder via Pexels This summer, I’ve been trying to relax—a concept I’m still learning to wrap my head around, admittedly—but one way I’ve decided to do that is to read a bunch of witchy, supernatural middle-grade/ YA graphic novels that bring me joy and make me smile. I wanted a who-will-take-me-to-prom dilemma or does-the-cute-barista-girl-like-me kind of problem.

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