Dear Charlotte Perkins Gilman
An open letter to Charlotte Perkins Gilman that reflects on postpartum and her story "The Yellow Wallpaper."
Storyville: Writing Horror in a Post-Covid World
How do you write dark fiction in a post-Covid world? Be a phoenix, rising from the ashes.
Storyville: Universal Truths Can Help Your Readers Relate
Examples of how to use universal truths in your fiction.
Storyville: Living Vicariously Through Our Fiction
Some thoughts on how and why we live through our stories and protagonists.
How to Write Edgy Fiction Without Being Obnoxious
Edgy fiction is difficult to pull off - and requires a depth and understanding of history, literature, and yourself. It's not about repeating what's been done before. It's about expanding it.
Improve Your Stories By Eliminating Agendas
By Joshua Isard
The agendas with which you approach your story might be holding the narrative back.
Clarity vs. Experimentation: A Letter To Myself
By Peter Derk
Does your work have a worthwhile story underneath the experiment? In other words, are you going to pay off the work a reader does to understand what’s going on?
Storyville: Activities to Feed Your Dark Creative Soul Around Halloween
A few ideas on how to tap into your inner darkness, as we approach Halloween.
The Art of the Pitch and Synopsis
You want to sell your novel or land an agent? Well, you need an elevator pitch and synopsis to do so. Here's Elevator Pitch 101.
Productivity Methods for Writers
You want to write words, but you'd rather watch some TV and eat nachos. Don't, I'll help you get writing.
NaNoWriMo vs. The Three-Day Novel Contest: Pros and Cons
Are you a tortoise or a hare? NaNoWriMo isn't the only writing marathon, and participating in different challenges can help you discover more about your own habits.
Five Real Book Thieves
Who doesn’t love a good heist story? Markus Zusak may have popularized the idea in his YA novel, 'The Book Thief,' but literary theft isn’t exclusive to the realm of fiction.
Why Are Textbooks So Fucking Expensive?
Differing studies have found that the average U.S. student spends between $600 and $1,200 a year on textbooks and supplies. What exactly makes textbooks so expensive?
The Machine With a Soul: Typewriters In the Past, Present, and Future
Perhaps our fondness stems from that image in the collective cultural imagination: a man with his typewriter, clacking away in a lonely hotel room, bottle of cognac at his side.
Believing In the Nonexistent: An Introduction to Fictional Realism
Have you ever wished that Rivendell existed so that you could go there next spring break? Fictional realists argue that technically, it does.
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.
Nuts and Bolts: “Thought” Verbs
You've always heard the maxim, "Show, don't tell..." but almost no writing teacher ever explains... How. Discover how to strengthen your prose by unpacking abstract and static verbs into descriptive action.
Ten Obvious Truths About Fiction
Ten obvious truths about fiction and its relationship with your readers.
Writing Powerful Descriptions
Why the best descriptions are the ones that are easily understood, yet leave a lasting impression on readers’ minds.
Beware the ‘Thesis Statement’
In:
Abstracts
Abstract and summarizing lead statements feel natural to journalism and academic writing, but will suck the life from your fiction. Learn to unpack and rearrange these abstractions for greater effect.
