Chuck Palahniuk's 2014-2015 Essays
In:
Abstracts, Character, Dialogue, Grammar, Literary Devices, Narrator, Objects, Phrases, Plot, POV, Research, Rewriting, Structure, Verbs, Voice, Word Play, Workshop
Chuck surprised us all with a new batch of essays for 2014 & 2015! There is no exact timeline on how these will roll out, so just keep an eye on the site.
Notes on the Craft
In:
Dialogue, Literary Devices
Concrete, practical methods for improving your writing.
36 Writing Essays by Chuck Palahniuk
36 exclusive craft essays on writing you won't find anywhere else online. The knowledge here is equivalent to what you'd get in an MFA program.
Storyville: What We Can Learn From Reading Bad Fiction
What can a bad story teach us? Turns out, it's a lot."Lack of Character Development" is Not Always A Problem
By Peter Derk
In:
Character
Characters don't need to develop all the time. We're fine.
Storyville: Anthology Calls—How to Write to Theme, and Stand Out in a Crowd
In:
Research
Writing to an anthology theme while trying to stand out in a crowd.
Taxonomies for Storytelling
Dissecting the threads that make up the tapestry.Storyville: The Big Reveal—Adding Up to Ten
In:
Structure
The big reveal—adding up to ten.
Fostering Inclusivity: Sensitivity Readings and Content Warnings
By Lor Gislason
In:
Research
Lor discusses two tools to create a more inclusive experience: sensitivity readings and content warnings.
6 Books with Warped Timelines to Celebrate Groundhog Day, Bill-Murray-style
In:
Structure
It's Groundhog Day, the perfect excuse for you to read about time travel and warped timelines.
Storyville: Dissecting Body, Mind, and Soul
Dissecting body, mind, and soul in our storytelling.Dialog Journals and Writing Good Dialog
By Peter Derk
Start a dialog journal, fix up your dialog, write better characters, and basically rule the world.
You’re A Writer, But Is MasterClass Right For You?
In:
Cliche
MasterClass offers numerous courses for aspiring writers. But are such classes worth the investment? This article seeks to address that concern and give you a brief overview of some of the sessions.
Walter Mosley, Natural Language, and Empathy
By Joshua Isard
In:
Dialogue
Everyday language is a way to understand different kinds of people. Diving in to those differences is vital.
Storyville: 10 Tips and Exercises for Generating New Story Ideas
In:
Research
Having a hard time coming up with new story ideas? We're here to help.
So You've Won NaNoWriMo — What Next?
In:
Rewriting
After winning your first NaNo, you may be wondering what to do. Here's some advice.
Storyville: The Symbolism of the Four Seasons
In:
Setting
Some tips on how the seasons can service your story.
The Edible Complex: Food-based tips for research and editing
In:
Research
Eating and writing sometimes feel inextricably linked. Here are three food-based tips for research and editing.
Storyville: How Grateful, Compassionate Protagonists Can Add Depth to Your Fiction
In:
Character
If you have a likable protagonist, does that make for a more appealing, layered, and satisfying experience?
When Fiction Sells, Why Write Speculative Poetry?
In:
Poetry
There are a lot of ways that poetry can not only strengthen your writing career and author brand, but also your bank account.
Storyville: How Various Media Can Change You as a Writer
Influence can come from any medium, not just the one you are working in.Storyville: Hate From Love—Complex Emotions in Characterization
In:
Character
In order to truly hate, you must love first, so write your characters with this complex relationship in mind.
Writing Advice for Non-Writers
By Peter Derk
In:
Rewriting
So you have to write something. Maybe it's the first thing you've written since high school. Don't worry, it's not that hard. We'll get through it together.
"The Autodidacts": Thomas Kendall On Writing Without An Outline
In:
Structure
Fortunately, your source is infinitely replenishable: On writing without an outline, out of an image you don’t understand, towards a beauty you’re not sure exists.